If your a fan you can name each of those captains in the picture. Now imagine all that back story never happened. I’m a Trekker not to be mistaken with Trekkie. Trekkers love Star Trek but leave at that. Trekkie eat, breathe and dream all things Star Trek. They go to conventions and name their kids after the show characters. Now that is clear, I will sum up the movie in one word and go from there. Overhyped. Ok, I may have cheated since technically that is not one word. But you get the point.
J.J. Abrams’ reboot of the franchise will generate enthusiasm among Trekkies which leads to repeat viewings will enable the film to do very well at the box office. Why? Because even if the movie sucks it is still a Star Trek movie and Trekkies only care about that fact. Now a Trekker such as I and others like me will go see the movie once and leave it at that. Why? Te movie lacks in key parts that would make it a great movie. The DNA of Abrams is all over this movie from the time traveling paradox to father/son conflict that is in all his shows. He did leave in all the catch phrases such as “Beam me up!” and “Set phasers to stun!” but there were done in a classy way. They worked with their respective scenes. All cannot be put on JJ’s shoulders, writers, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman who collaborated with Abrams on Mission: Impossible III have come up with a head-achingly (think LOST) plot that effectively has no relevance to nearly 40 years of Trek. Six TV series and 10 movie history was brushed under the carpet like they never happen. It felt like JJ read about the show (Yes read because he admits to never watching the show or movies) and took just the characters names and worked with that.
As a fan of Star Trek your left feeling kind of cheated. I understand the movie had to appeals to a greater audience but at the cost of core fans is not the way to do it. Transformers did a great job or appealing and appeasing the core fan boy.
Bottom line. This is a good movie but not a great movie and definitely not a summer blockbuster. Here’s to hoping Transformers does not let me down.