City Times

Issue date: 5/19/09 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: PARAMOUNT PICTURES Courtesy Photo Kirk (Chris Pine, left) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) in "Star Trek."

Director J.J. Abrams has captained the Star Trek franchise warp speed into the new millennium, taking movie audiences on a thrilling maiden voyage and leaving some Trekkies staring foolishly from the original series' docking port.

"Star Trek" opened in theaters May 8 and took number one at the weekend box office, grossing close to $80 million its first weekend.

But some Trekkies are still criticizing the reboot. One was even noted as saying that there is nothing better than the original Star Trek with William Shatner as Capt. Kirk and therefore he wasn't going to see the new movie.

Hardly the attitude you would expect from a Trekkie. Apparently, boldly going where no one has ever gone before doesn't apply here. And that's too bad because this Star Trek reboot proves to be another brilliant addition to the franchise.

The movie begins with the first glimpse of the expected use of CGI effects. But "Star Trek" manages to present the effects tastefully, without overpowering the scene or the movie itself, unlike the results of CGI effects in George Lucas' latest Star Wars trilogy.

Within the first half hour of the film, audiences experience a space battle, an earth-bound car chase and a couple of bare-knuckle fights. In fact, the action moves so quickly from scene to scene that it makes one wonder if the absence of William Shatner is due to the inability to suffer impatiently through the Shatner-esque dramatic pauses.

Although it is considered science fiction, "Star Trek" does not limit itself to the genre, openly encompassing action, romance, suspense and comedy into its clever time-altering storyline. Not to mention a cast of the sexiest crewmembers ever to board the U.S.S. Enterprise.

The film has won the hearts of many non-Trekkies who found that the reboot brought a sympathetic understanding for the characters and a quick (almost Cliff Notes quality) history of the film's canon.

Chris Pine's skillful reincarnation of James Kirk does little in the way of impersonating and more to carry on what was important about Shatner's portrayal; the bravado and charming sarcasm of a man arrogant to a fortunate fault. And true fans will enjoy Pine's homage to some Shatner-esque mannerisms sprinkled throughout the movie.

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