Star trekkin' across the universe

Today we were treated to a special screening of the eleventh Star Trek movie, a month before its release in the States.  Now, I've never blogged a movie review, and I've never been one to give away movie plots when I know no one else has seen them.  But oh, what the hell -- SPOILER ALERT:  all the good guys live in the end of this one and, equally as predictable, the first no-name red uniform guy dies a horrific death.

The new Star Trek movie was an absolutely riveting event to remember.  The main actors came and visited as well as the director, J.J. Abrams.  They were all graciously cool, and came in after the show for a Q&A and a few pics and autographs.  I got to shake hands with the new Kirk, Chris Pine (he said "Hey thanks, brother!"), and got a pic with the new Sulu, John Cho (from the Harold & Kumar movies).

The movie was by far the best one yet -- definitely better than any of the cheesy Star Wars prequels (I'm lookin' at YOU, Jar-Jar Binks)  -- and certainly should prove to be a huge hit even for the uninitiated young'uns who don't even know what a Vulcan mind meld is.  I sat next to a friend and fellow officer who, even though she is in her thirties, had never before seen any of the movies or TV shows -- like, what rock has she been living under all this time, eh?  About half an hour into it, she whispered that she was lost -- in the movie's buildup, you kinda have to know at least some of the original series to appreciate it -- so I told her to savor the moment, and then she was lost in Karl Urban's aura the moment he came on screen anyway.

For those that don't know, this adaptation the mother of all prequels, going back to the very genesis of the whole Star Trek story.  It certainly has the best of everything good about the entire series -- dazzling effects, awesome action, brain-hurting time travel, and even young Kirk gettin' it on with an alluringly green alien.  The actors were all spot-on playing the younger incarnations of all the main characters, and deftly manuevered the great comic banter between Kirk, Bones, Spock, Sulu, Chekov, and even Scotty.  Purists will appreciate the absence of overly large ductworks, but I curiously noted that the starship Enterprise's maiden voyage included no less than five unceremonious changes of command -- like everyone was too eager to give up command of the ship!

The film even had one of my favorite actresses, Winona Ryder, who did a cameo as Spock's mother.  Not her sexiest role -- alas, her character only has three lines and doesn't live long or prosper.  And I was disappointed to see that Winona didn't come to the screening.  If you're reading this, Winona, call me.

And if either of my sons are reading this, you are forbidden to see this movie until I get home!  Well OK, maybe just once.

I'm sure James Doohan and Gene Roddenberry are smiling somewhere, toasting over Romulan ale.