‘Star Trek’ dazzles, bends the mind

Anything’s possible in the new “Star Trek,” the sci-fi extravaganza directed by J.J. Abrams of ABC’s “Lost.” Bigger and bolder than ever, this pre-summer blockbuster will knock your socks, uh, space boots off.

Having a full, or even partial, knowledge of the Trekkie world is not required to enjoy this movie, only a penchant to believe in outer space. Yes, there’s something else out there, and it’s quite compelling.

Besides time and space, the gleaming star of 2009’s “Star Trek” is first-time movie actor Zachary Quinto from NBC’s “Heroes.”  He plays Spock like Leonard Nimoy did the first time — all brooding seriousness and internal struggle.

Half Vulcan and half man, young Spock, like old Spock, has little need for emotion, even when he loses his mother (Winona Ryder in a very watch-able role) or is locking lips with Uhura (Zoe Saldana as the resident linguist/eye candy for men).

You can’t crack Spock and Quinto nails it.

“Star Trek” traces Spock’s strict upbringing on the Vulcan planet to his early days as head of the USS Enterprise. Here, he meets scrappy James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine as eye candy for the ladies) and the two are not immediate best friends.

They are, however, both thoroughly passionate about exploring new worlds and seeking out new life forms and civilizations. Pine as the iconic Kirk is fine in this role down to the sexy swagger and impossible impertinence.

“Star Trek” provides interesting back-story on the rising space explorer — he’s from Iowa — especially the part about the father he never knew.

Young Kirk has a hard time finding his place in the universe until he graduates from the Starfleet Academy and starts hopping planets, hunting villains.

A heavily done-up Eric Bana as Nero the Romulan is the primary villain, cruising the galaxy destroying planets and civilizations in a monstrous, impossibly large mining ship that looks like something from your worst nightmare.

He makes malice with a black hole drill, banishing life and anything else in his way.

“Star Trek” is very violent in places, but more than redeems itself with humor, adventure and wit, ala, Nimoy as the old Spock.

That’s right. There’s old Spock and young Spock and they coexist in alternate universes. Hmmm. “Star Trek” is a huge mind tease in this regard; so don’t ask me to explain it. It’s JJ Abrams, after all.
(Has anyone seen “Lost” lately? I’m totally lost).

He bends time and wrinkles times and time is never an object when saving the cosmos (both of them) is at hand.

Apparently the guy that ties the two worlds together is Capt. Chris Pike (Bruce Greenwood), the second captain of the USS Enterprise who knew Kirk’s dad.

Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) exists as part of the young space crew, as does good old Scottish Scotty, portrayed uncannily by Simon Pegg, the hilarious Brit from “Shaun of the Dead.” He’s the guy to go to if you need beaming up. It’s pure energy.

Scotty can even beam you up at warp speed and/or through the time-space continuum. It’s enough to make you dizzy.

The one thing about the movie I couldn’t take serious, however, was John Cho as Sulu. Cho is Harold from the “Harold and Kumar” go to White Castle movies. Enough said.

Still, 40 years after the original went off the air, “Star Trek” is back in an enormous way, proving that space movies where the good guy wins defy the ages.