Good, But.......

Rating: 7/10 (18 May 2013)

I enthusiastically loved the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie, even with all of the whining naysayers and fanboys claiming that he ruined Trek forever. While I still think those naysayers have been drinking too much Romulan Ale, I must say that after seeing this movie I'm starting to see what they meant...just a little.
Don't get me wrong here; I really liked most of this movie. So much so that I will see it a few more times in the theater as I did with the last one. But, I do have some gripes about it, and I'm still trying to figure out if they're major or minor.
Let's start with what I did like: First, I love how the new cast (Pine, Quinto, Saldana, Urban, Pegg, Cho, Yelchin) have settled into these old characters. They're portrayals are fresh, yet familiar. And their interactions are very reminiscent of their predecessors. Second, the plot is much easier do absorb. Unlike the last movie, where everything was shown to us at almost breakneck speed, this story is slowed down just a tad, allowing for a more organic flow and more screen time for the "minor" main cast characters (Sulu, Chekov, Scott). Also, less lens flares! Abrams really listened to the fans on this.
Now, for my gripes, and here's where the spoilers come in: The story starts with a bang, but slowly starts becoming predictable, and at times really silly. Unless you've gone into this completely spoiler free, you've figured out by now that Benedict Cumberbatch is really Khan Noonien Singh. I didn't mind this. In fact, I loved the almost Hannibal Lecter way he played Star Trek's signature villain. What I didn't like was the lack of originality in the third act. A key scene from The Wrath of Khan is almost photocopied into the climax, and while it was going for an emotional punch, it wound up being almost laughable. In fact, it's painfully obvious how it becomes resolved. Also, I audibly groaned when the writers brought back **** (I won't say who. This review has enough spoilers) to explain how Khan operates to the understandably ignorant crew.
All in all, this movie is bordering on solid. Just an average Trek. But, I think it will be enjoyed by fans and non fans alike. I haven't seen it in IMAX 3D yet, so that's something to look forward to.