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EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN There are few things that get remade, revamped, remodeled or resurrected in such a way that actually makes me happy to see/visit it again. The newest take on the Star Trek franchise has made me a happy camper for sure. I blame this on several things actually...

SEVERAL THINGS Director J.J. Abrams, popular television maestro of Alias, Felicity, Lost, and Fringe uses his talents to guide us on this Trek. P.S. - Abrams has commented that he was not a Star Trek fan prior to directing the film.

Writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have woven together a smart, witty, self-referencing, action story that does its best to please both old and new fans. Orci and Kurtzman have both collaborated with Abrams on previous projects. I assume the writers were fans or did a lot of homework. I have been a mild mannered Star Trek fan throughout the years. I know enough to keep up when talking to uber geeks. I repeatedly found myself impressed with the dialogue.

NOTE: At the time of this review IMDB.COM shows J.J.Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman attached to the sequel. Which leaves me with one thought for the potential wonderment...YIPPY!!!

CAST YER NET The casting is amazing! Clearly the original cast could never be outdone. However, the recasting of these time-tested, mother-approved characters does nothing short of build something exciting and new on the foundation that the original cast and creators have already established.

James T. Kirk is "boldly" played by the handsome-faced Chris Pine. He spends much of the film getting knocked around and defying orders [sound familiar?]. He is complimented perfectly by Karl Urban as the fidgety Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. There is a sequence in the film involving medical attention that plays to great comic effect. One of my favorite parts!

The ever-stoic imp Spock is played by Zachary Quinto, of Heroes bad guy Sylar fame. It took me a while to warm up to his coldness but it worked for me in the end. I'm particularly fond of his emotional outburst.

Zoe Saldana as the sultry chief communications officer Nyota Uhura, Simon Pegg as the kick start engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, John Cho as Hikaru Sulu the ship's humble helmsman, and Anton Yelchin as the heavy accented navigator Pavel Chekov round out the crew.

OH VILLIANY No Star Trek adventure is complete without a villain, insert Eric Bana as Nero. Nero's a raucous Romulan with revenge on his mind. I felt his vengeance suffered a little from a lack of screen time. I like bad guys and want to see them all the time. He and his crew sport enough face tattoos to put Mike Tyson to shame! They have shaved heads. They are a bunch of cranky Nosferatu looking mofos.

HEY, ISN'T THAT... Yes, there are a couple of random cameo roles in this one. Winona Ryder [Heathers, Edward Scissorhands] and Tyler Perry [Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Why Did I Get Married].

WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY Much like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan this Trek is trenched in revenge against an Enterprise crew member. The member in question is Spock, not unlike Kirk in the above mentioned Wrath. Instead of Khan this time it's the Romulan Nero. In the vein of Star Trek II this film also sports a parasite that, once introduced into its victim's anatomy, causes some interesting effects...A true moment of Star Trek geekiness! Oh, the fun of science fiction.

NOTE: Pay attention during the torture scene on the Romulan spaceship. For no apparent reason the torture chair is in some kind of small pond. You can see and hear Nero clearly walking around in water. It is never talked about once. Perhaps Romulans like to have mid-day pedicures while torturing their victims? Metros in space?