Good as far as it goes...which isn't far.

Rating: 5/10 (22 May 2013)

I have to say at the outset I am puzzled as to why people seem to like this movie so much. It does have wonderful sets (even if it seems to feel like they were all recycled from the last Star Trek movie or a Mission Impossible set piece). The characters are likable enough, but paper thin. The script seems like it was written by a 14 year-old, obvious and un-nuanced. The photography is supremely well crafted, but without an ounce of creativity or artistic flair. There seems to be no real vision here, some of the dialog is embarrassingly obvious and unjustified.
I also have to say that there seems to be a real lack of honoring Gene Rodenberry's intentions at almost every plot turn. Kirk actually says at the beginning something to the effect of "Violating the Prime Directive....What's the big deal?" After Rodenberry, who was so groundbreaking with casting choices, the new character introduced here is a cute, young blond with a unexplained New Zealand accent.
So as light entertainment, I think the movie does fine. Why a star trek fan, or anyone looking for any kind of substance, would think this movie was good...I just don't know.
I don't think it is even worth exploring some of the weird thematic elements (like the seeming celebration of uncontrolled rage, not only from Kirk, but then from Spock who mercilessly beats the Khan because of his anger, and this is supposed to show he has become more "human"???) Is this the future of big budget screen writing??