Taking down the "Members Only" sign

Rating: 10/10 (19 June 2009)

Like a group of elitist schoolboys, the makers of "Star Trek" have worked hard over the years to make the "Star Trek" Club as inaccessible and out of reach as possible for the everyday film-goer/television viewer. Luckily, thanks to JJ Abrams and his cast and crew on this film, the "Members Only" sign that so dauntingly covered the door of the franchise has been taken down, hopefully once and for all.
Taking a cue from the bigwigs of television, this film has put together a cast of likable and attractive young upstarts for a relatively tight, action-packed, and sequel-worthy plot line with a throbbing musical score and awe-inspiring visuals.
Chris Pine leads the cast in a star-making turn as Captain Kirk. He oozes charisma and doesn't fall into the trap of imitating Shatner. Similarly, Zachary Quinto creates a Spock for this generation, bringing nuances of youthful emotion to the unforgettable character. Great support comes from Zoe Seldana as a feistily intelligent Ahorra, Karl Urban as the spitting image of the original Bones McCoy, and Bruce Greenwood as the cool and collective current captain of the Enterprise. Only Eric Bana comes up short, sporting an uninspired makeup job and dishing out his lines in a questionable accent.
Of course, a cast is nothing without a screenplay and a plot. Fortunately, the plot here is sure to be loved by fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. The origin stories of Kirk and Spock play out beautifully. The opening scene, which centers around Kirk's father, is filled with emotional impact, starting the film- and Kirk for that matter- off with a bang. The remainder of the scenes leading up to the inevitable launch of the Enterprise sustain marvelously as well, blending funny lines and slapstick moments with more dramatic touches.
Once the crew finally gathers together for the mission that comprises the rest of the film, sparks are ready to fly and the adrenaline of the audience is already creeping up the scale.The film's final Act is a blast, full of exciting battles between spacecrafts and people alike. At the end of the film, emotional swelling is perfectly understandable. While the movie does have some great inside jokes for fans of the franchise, it can and should be experienced not just by the insiders, but by everyone.