Though I’ve watched episodes of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, I never considered myself a Trekkie. Though I had action figures of Cmdr. William Riker and Data, I never considered myself a Trekkie. Never had the costumes, didn’t dressed up like a Klingon, and never been to a convention year after year – unless you count going to the exhibit inside the Detroit Science Center. Still, I’m not what you would say a full-fledged Trekkie fan.
The synposis of director J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek is an alternate reality that starts with the death of James T. Kirk’s father who sacrifices his life to save his crew and his pregnant wife (House‘s Jennifer Morrison), who’s about to give birth to their son.
The film fast-forwards several years later, with Kirk (Chris Pine) as a hot-headed, rebellious, arrogant young man. But Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), a friend of Kirk’s father, sees potential in him, and wants him to enlist in Starfleet Academy. His know-it-all, cocky attitude doesn’t exactly win Kirk with points with candidates Uhura (Zoe Saldana), “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), and Spock (Zachary Quinto, Heroes), a child of two worlds: the son of a Vulcan (Ben Cross) and a human (Winona Ryder), leaving him always conflicted whether to remain logic or emotional.
The vengeful Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) travels back through time to destroy the Federation because he blames them for the destruction of his planet and the death of his pregnant wife. When Capt. Pike is held hostage by Nero, Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise crew must learn to put aside their differences to work together and rescue Pike – with help from a familiar face from the future.
Director J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek doesn’t aim at loyal, faithful, and passionate Trekkies out there, but the film also aims at those who may have never heard of Star Trek, and those in the middle such as yours truly. Still, this is one that everyone should see, for it marks the rebirth and resurrection of a new and old final frontier for the Enterprise.
Abrams brought his own fresh perspective into the film while remaining true to the franchise as well as its mythology (such as Pine channeling William Shatner in one scene), as the new Star Trek lays the groundwork for what is ahead in future sequels: exploring new worlds and new civilizations, and boldly going where no man has gone before.