MOVIE REVIEW - Star Trek

The summer blockbusters keep rolling out, and this week it's the much anticipated prequel, Star Trek. Not to be confused with the other Star Treks, this one goes back to the early life and rise to prominence of the young crew we've known for a couple of generations on the star ship Enterprise. You know the names. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Sulu, Scotty and the rest. They are all here.

Let me first tell you I am not a huge fan of the whole Star Trek thing. Like you, I watched the TV show in syndication, and have seen some of the movies too. I didn't like many of them, but I loved Star Trek: The Wrath Of Kahn. I didn't care much for the Next Generation crew, TV show or movies. But I will say this, I loved this movie.

Star Trek is so skillfully done, it's tough to know exactly where to begin. A quick over view of this movie is simple. All good movies begin with a great story and Star Trek has one. This franchise never ceases to amaze people with the sheer smartness of the scripts, and twists and turns that you've not seen before. This has been their trademark since the TV show, and continues today. Great characters, wonderfully cast, and brilliantly refreshed for 2009, Star Trek really is great movie making as it reinvents itself yet again. Although this Star Trek could have used a stronger villian both in character and casting, it doesn't sink the ship here. It still works.

This Star Trek is filmed in the spirit of the TV show. Actors cast to resemble the original TV cast, (as younger versions of themselves) and their individual performances of each major character is terrific. Toss in a couple of fun cameo's and a really great performance by Leonard Nimoy as an aged Spock, and you have a real winner. He really makes this movie work.

Tons of action, slick special effects, a killer soundtrack and visuals a plenty, Star Trek is great summer time fun. But the real separator is the story, writing and the script. Star Trek is much smarter than the majority of summer movies, and that successfully takes it out of the "summer movie" category, and just flat out makes it a great movie - period.

Star Trek. Outstanding!