One-upped the last movie

Rating: 9/10 (17 May 2013)

I cannot help but review this film in two ways. First, as regular film-goer... I thought J.J. Abrams' new film one-upped the last one in terms of action, humor, and drama. Brilliantly acted, written and directed, this is definitely one movie you have to watch on a big screen! Though there are some minor plot holes and it has a slightly more convoluted plot, nothing can slow down this spectacular juggernaut of a film. Also, Benedict Cumberbatch steals every (dramatic pause) single (dramatic pause) scene (dramatic pause).
That said, I must also review this film as a fan of Star Trek... This is a beautifully crafted love letter to Star Trek fans, with nods to specific scenes, episodes and even previous films-- from the original series to Star Trek First Contact. This movie takes everything we know and love about Star Trek and pumps it full of adrenaline. Everybody in the ensemble got their time to shine... more than any other Trek movie! Scenes paid homage and re-contextualized lines and shots from past Trek outings. And I thank the writers for that. I went into this movie with high expectations, and I left the theater feeling very happy that I knew all those references and that I appreciated it on a deeper level than most people at the cinema.