Major Science Fiction Contender

Rating: 10/10 (17 May 2013)

There seems to be a lot of sour grapes going on still from original Trekkie's, when if pondered in the light of what alternative sci-fi films we've been given in the past few years (e.g., Prometheus was a miserably written mess), this latest Star Trek version rides high with intense entertainment value in contrast to so much sci-fi genre mediocrity. There's nothing really to complain about as a stand-alone film; therein lies the conundrum. Fans of the original Trek universe are still in a tizzy over what the new canon writers are perpetrating on them. Understandable, I'm a huge original Trek fan; I've spent most of my existence trying to emulate that universe here on this devolved planet of xenophobes.
For me, when a film moves me to tears 3 separate times, then I have to take notice of how it all fits together, regardless of how other Trek films have played out. Doctor Who doesn't resemble much from its predecessor either, but it's such a brilliantly produced and written show that original fans no longer stress over continuity and canon. But then again, Star Trek and its fans are a very unique breed of critical and over-analyzing nerds. Further, there is nothing lazy about bringing an original character back (Cumberbatch's exquisitely acted performance as Khan), especially when the storyline is completely fresh & updated.
10/10 for superb acting, stunning visuals, and genuine ecstatic entertainment.