Movie Review: Star Trek

I am by no means a Star Trek fan. In fact, I would say my opinions of this series would anger any "trekkie." That said, a good movie is a good movie, and J. J. Abram's "Star Trek" deserves its credit.

The J. J. Abrams name carries some weight, particularly in the science fiction world, having produced television shows such as "Alias" and "Lost," and been involved in films such as "Cloverfield" and "Mission Impossible III." He was a great choice to bring Star Trek to a wider audience.

Adherence to years of complex canon and tie-ins to past "Star Trek" films should satisfy any hardcore fan of the series. Much more impressive, however; was how easy it is to follow the plot for someone with little to no knowledge of the "Star Trek" universe, while managing to be entertaining and avoiding predictability.

Abrams and the rest of Bad Robot Productions made this delicate balance possible by essentially resetting the series with "Star Trek." It follows a young James T. Kirk, played by Chris Pine, and his transition into Starfleet, an exploratory and defensive force made up of multiple alien races. While training at Starfleet, he meets future members of the U.S.S. Enterprise, such as Spock (Zachary Quinto), Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) and Uhura (Zoe Saldaña). Kirk, who is charming and humorous, is also brash and arrogant. His incipient relationships with these future friends aren't always smooth, and the interactions between this surprisingly good cast are a highlight of the film. There is a good amount of humor in the film, effectively breaking up the monotony of two hours of action and long explanations for all the trekkies. Simon Pegg, ("Shaun of the Dead," "Hot Fuzz") is quite entertaining as the wild and spunky engineer, Scotty. The film never really drags, but instead moves briskly and keeps the audience entertained.

The real strength of the film lies in its action and the visuals. The many computer-generated special effects and beautiful landscapes set the table for a visual feast for audiences. The visual aspects of "Star Trek" will entertain those who aren't necessarily fans of the series. Without giving anything away, viewers should look forward to a wide range of exotic alien scenery and plenty of entertaining fight scenes.

"Star Trek" is a great summer movie and easily the best Star Trek film to date. The plot is not overly convoluted and the characters, despite some extraterrestrial appearances, are relatable and human. "Star Trek" is a perfect choice for any movie-goer looking for a fun and conventional 2-hour film to see with their friends. And don't worry, trekkies; it pays plenty of homage to the ever-expanding Star Trek universe.

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