Unexpectedly Entertaining

Rating: 10/10 (23 September 2013)

I watch a lot of movies, and it's easy to get jaded. I remember hearing about this new Star Trek movie and then I just forgot about it - never even made it to my queue - just what we need, another Star Trek movie! Fortunately a friend invited me over to watch it in his excellent home theater, and I found my expectations exceeded at least once every five minutes. It reminded me of taking my kids to the first Star Wars movie. No fundamental novelty, but executed in way that was totally entertaining. Fast-paced plot, five-movies-worth of action scenes with terrific effects, and characters that engagingly moved the story forward while having a blast evoking the original Star Trek characters. What fun! I gather from the negative reviewers that for this movie I must have the right amount of Star Trek familiarity together with lack of attachment to its (or at least the reviewers') canons. (I do understand - I can't enjoy anything Dune related other than the original move! "Usul no longer needs the weirding module!")