Beam Me Up Scotty, I Am Ready to Ride

Before I watched this movie I had never seen anything Star Trek, not an episode of the show nor any other film. I knew enough to recognize some of the famous lines and characters but that's about all. This movie was good enough however to make me want to rent all that other stuff that I missed, but you do not have to be a fan to watch this film. And in the time since I saw the film I have watched a few of the 1966 episodes thanks to Netflix's instant watch system. This movie was an incredible ride. Good acting, story, script, effects and everything. If you like Science Fiction films this one won't disappoint even if you are not a Star Trek fan.

The story for this film is one of beginnings; of how the famous Captain Kirk became the Captain of the Enterprise and of the beginnings of the other entire well-known crew. What begins as a simple natural disaster help request becomes a problem of mass proportions for the newly minted crew of the Enterprise, one that will test their mettle and mold them into the crew that is love by all Star Trek fans. I will give away no spoilers here you will have to watch the film for the rest of the story, suffice it to say there is an interesting enough story there to keep you in your seats.

I love movies that can appeal to old and new fans. That's what re-invent films should do for a franchise, bring in new watchers while making the life long fans happy, and I think that Star Trek does this. My dad who was a fan of the series at least, loved the film as much as my brother and I who have never watched a Star Trek anything.

This is a good film in its own right. The story is sound as is the script (famous lines--check--without sounding too cheesy). I thought the acting was good but then again I didn't have set characters in my head to compare it them too. The effects where great, just what I could want in a futuristic space film.

Chris Pine does an excellent job as the young Captain Kirk. He is fearless yet smart. He has a lot of bravado but he has heart and genuinely seems to care for his friends. Zachary Quinto plays the young Spock. He looked and acted like the Spock I have seen in clips and commercials, the emotionless, first commander. I think some will find this movie a unique look into what makes Spock, Spock. Eric Bana is our bad guy, a Romulan with an axe to grind. Karl Urban is Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy. I really liked this character but I know I am missing something important about his and Kirk's relationship, I gather they are friends but its more that. He has a really animated face and seemed to have the cheesiest lines but somehow Urban makes it all work. Simon Pegg plays Scotty. Even I know Scotty. What an excellent character. Pegg did an excellent job and I thoroughly enjoyed his character. Even Winona Ryder makes an appearance in this movie as Spock's mom. Not many lines but she convey much in them. Overall, I thought the acting was excellent. I thought they all looked a lot like the characters they were supposed to portray (from the couple of episodes I have now seen) and acted like them too. They even found a role for the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy.

Star Trek was a great film. I would see it again. It had everything one could want in a summer space film. I will be adding it to my movie collection when it hits DVD, and you should see it before it leaves the theater--don't want to miss all those great effects on the big screen.