STAR TREK

That's right. I'm back, and with an early review of a highly anticipated film, no less.

I was very nervous about this one, y'all. I mean sure it's J.J. Abrams and he has good history with telling wonderfully-twisty and yet engrossing stories...but when I saw the baby-faced primary players in the first trailer? I just clapped my hands under my chin, squeezed my eyes shut, and whispered a quick "...please don't let this be 90210 in space...".

Well, folks? I can assure you it's far from that. In fact, dare I say?... It's almost level with Wrath of Khan. Definitely better than First Contact, my second fave.

Yup. J.J. hit the ball out of the park. The film was a tight, efficient, little story-telling machine that had just the right proportions of everything needed to suceed in the ultimate goal. ...Creating the basis for a whole new franchise. :)

Folks worried about the actors being able to pull off the spirit of the O.G.'s?? Stop. They did it with comfortable ease. I was pleased that they did keep Uhura, Miss Zoe Saldana classy and gave Mr. Sulu, John Cho a nice moment. I especially give props to the new Bones Karl Urban ("I've dug ya' since Hercules, bruh!"), Mr. Quinto as Spock, and Chris Pine, especially for his all-too-brief, spot-on shatnerjog *that seriously, he had me rolling!*.

And that jog is just tip of the iceberg when it comes to subtle nods to the show. I actually believe even the picky hardcore Trekkies will be pleased. Shoot, they better be. J.J. just performed a miracle, bringing their fandom's obsession back from the brink of death.

The only thing that took me out of the film were the random smattering of "WTF's?" illicited by the random cameo by Tyler Perry. ...Yup, THAT Tyler Perry.

My question is this. If you are a Trekkie Mr. Perry, as I suspect, how about making some afro-sci-fi, instead of the stale chicken circuit gospel play-movies??

Still, this film is a must-see. All that could go wrong, didn't.
...I think Star Trek may be this year's Iron Man, y'all.



PARENTS: Take the kiddies! It's very tame by PG-13 standards.