Critic's Grade: B+

Frank's film tip: The late Gene Roddenberry's intergalactic creation STAR TREK returns to the Trekkie's treasured consciousness in this promising space adventure that vibrates on its own terms

The exuberant sci-fi space adventure Star Trek has entered a new frontier for the millennium audience as its refreshing and new approved package sparkles with zesty ambition. Armed with the notable anticipation that Trekkie enthusiasts were eagerly waiting to jump-start this film franchise once again, director J.J. Abrams’s sprawling and keenly energetic space opera aptly introduces us to the familiar yet modernized youthful faces of James T. Kirk and the crew with a flashy sense of vibrancy. Thankfully, both diehard and casual observers of Gene Roddenberry’s original 60’s televised “Wagon Train to the Stars” blueprint will be zapped with stimulating giddiness more effectively than an errant phaser gun gone wild.

The popular belief is that the Star Trek phenomenon had run its course or better yet overstayed its welcome in the consciousness of an indifferent Trekkie Nation. Well, Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman breathe some distinctive kinetic air into this prominent pop cultural footnote that should easily revive the interest and intrigue of the late Roddenberry’s cascading creation embroiled in “boldly going to where no man has gone before.” Penetrating as a sci-fi escapist popcorn flick donning an imaginative makeover while looking quite relevant at warp speed, Star Trek will definitely get the juices flowing as the year’s first official excitable blockbuster to lead moviegoers into a promising summertime movie season.

The tricky aspect to Abrams’s polished edition in Star Trek is to appease the old-time purists while satisfying the latest generation at the tail end of the Trek trail of wonderment. It is an indelible balance that Abrams accomplishes with resilient aplomb. Consequently, the movie does provide the crucial nostalgic reminiscences while instilling some added blood into a fantasizing foundation meant to launch a new perspective for this long-time classic sci-fi staple that has dutifully entertained generations for nearly four and a half decades. By injecting well-known and well-rounded characterizations, boasting dazzling special effects, showcasing breathtaking action sequences, highlighting devilish antagonists and promoting an adventurous angle that flourishes, Star Trek hits its cherished mark with thunderous effect.

Interestingly, Abrams and his handlers decided that serving up the Star Trek landscape to appreciative heights was better suited to revisiting the origins of Kirk, Spock, Bones and the rest of the gang by venturing back to the humble beginnings of the U.S.S. Enterprise. This is not a bad move at all as painting an early portrait of the Star Trek personalities guarantees an eye-dropping observation about these treasured characters. In return, this enhances the film’s pacing and pays reverence to previous Star Trek sensibilities that spawned the countless television shows and movies from yesteryear.

Young Iowa native James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) is recruited by current Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) from the USS Enterprise to join the Starfleet Academy. Obviously, Pike sees the potential in the determined yet reluctant Kirk foreign to the virtues of discipline and structure. Kirk may have been destined to the life of seeking out various galaxies and negotiating with diverse alien races. After all, Kirk’s late dedicated father George (Chris Hemsworth) had been a sacrificial lamb at the mercy of spaceship-related responsibilities so it is only fitting for wild child James T. to venture into space exploration and carry out his departed daddy’s good name and revered reputation.

In addition to the background strife as sketched out for Kirk, we are asked to take notice of one Spock (Zachary Quinto), a conflicted half-human/half-Vulcan soul whose astonishing mechanical reasoning skills and intelligent assessments is his enduring, odd-like quality. Thus, a unique connection will transpire between The Odd Couple-esque pair in the spontaneous and unruly Kirk and the logical and by-the-book Spock. Incidentally, one of the critical time-traveling scenes to an ice planet will enable Kirk (and a giddy audience as well) to meet up with the maturing persona of an older Spock (as played by legendary Star Trek icon Leonard Nimoy). Sadly, Nimoy’s pointed-eared Vulcan doesn’t register enough time on screen for fans to soak up his valued return as the indomitable and indispensable Spock.

Predictably, we’re soon exposed to Pike’s key crewmembers (whom the bombastic Kirk will inherit in the immediate future under his own tutelage). The highly regarded personnel include surly medic Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), capable Sulu (John Cho), independent and curvaceous Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (Simon Pegg) and teenaged Russian know-it-all Chekov (Anton Yelchin).

The main subplot focuses on the impishly villainous Nero (Eric Bana), a space-created behemoth emerging from an ominous black hole. Nero’s agenda is quite clear as he wants to eradicate the functioning of the Federation planets—particularly Earth and Vulcan—in retaliation for his personalized suffering.

Basically, Star Trek kicks into high gear its brand of stylized acceleration that is realized courtesy of everything from the aesthetically customized techno-design of the USS Enterprise to the chic fashion of the contemporary sharp-looking starship uniforms. Remarkably imaginative and instrumental in potentially carving a pathway for more generated installments, Star Trek follows suit in giving exceptional liveliness to an ailing film franchise that still resonates with playful fierceness. The movie’s score by Michael Giacchino definitely compliments the orchestrated movements of inspired action and captures the relentless spirit of the overall celebrated production values.

Pine’s Kirk and Quinto’s Spock are pretty much on spot as the younger USS Enterprise renegade tandem that would meet with the approval of William Shatner’s cocky-minded interpretation and Nimoy’s stoic-faced Vulcan. The supporting players are effectively convincing and Bana’s Nero is deliciously diabolical (side note: the late Ricardo Montalban’s Khan still reigns supreme as the all-around favorite bad guy in the Star Trek filmdom universe). The ultra-slick aura of Abrams’s Trek-oriented trivialities is felt with a colorful spiritedness that radiates profoundly.

For heaven’s sake we are undeniably sold on the newest vehicle that caters to the continuous Star Trek mythology. So what are we waiting for...an invitation to disdain a Klingon delicacy? Scotty, beam us up now...okay?

Frank rates this film: *** stars (out of 4 stars)

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