Old fashioned fan who loved it !

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2009)

Now let me first introduce myself since I find it necessary to let other Trekkies know that I am a huge Sci-fi fan, and always regarded Trek as the best of all franchises. Besides a few seasons of DS9, I've watched each and every episode of all the other series, as well as reading five Star Trek novels and watching each film dozens of times.
This film was a treat, and the best birthday gift I have ever had. I will go into detail as I continue to write this review, but will start off by summarizing it in a few words- SATISFYING and EPIC in scale! Besides some flawed editing and pacing, the direction was tight and JJ is indeed the new Spielberg of our time, or at least will eventually become.
Kudos to the writers for sticking to the Star Trek formula. I had to really watch this film twice to appreciate it. After the denial ended after my first trip to the theaters, I realized how easily producers could have messed this film up and they didn't. It's not easy re-booting Star Trek, the last time it happened, we had Roddenberry supervising TNG and DS9. Enterprise wasn't really a re-boot, just an alternate universe so it doesn't count as a re-boot.
Star Trek by JJ Abrahms is a re-boot!! Trust me when I tell you. The acting sometimes made me feel as if I was watching a Saturday Night Live skit because of all the Nostalgia but I still laughed and even choked up a bit in some scenes. If anything was missing, it was a bit of the old Trek's ways to make a point about things, and this film wasn't the most philosophical Trek film. However, the plot was very good which involved a re-booting of the entire time-line that I found no problem with. I was perplexed as to why Old Spock would break the prime directive since I don't think he would do that in his prime.
The Special Effects were stunning! Nothing groundbreaking, but just lots of it, and on par or better than Battle Star Galactica's effects also by the great ILM company. I was miffed about some little things, like the effects of beaming and warp speed causing a haze around the Enterprise. Speaking of the Enterprise, she wasn't treated with proper respect in this film, maybe we get a director's cut soon? I would like to see scenes from the first trailer, when she is being built.
I give this film a 9/10 because it's not my favorite Trek film. I am too old fashioned to put this #1 after just two viewings. But its' up there because of the good writing and performances by all of the cast. I hope the next film will be less of an intro film and more of the Hard Core Trek! Finally, Leonard Nimoy in his cameo role. What a treat!! I was rubbing my eyes and pinching myself, numb with emotion. The Vulcans were really introduced to the world in this film, and it's what propelled this film for me. One of the Best Trek films ever for sure!