Quasi-spoiler alert...even though this whole thread is
This may sound strange, but I enjoyed most aspects EXCEPT the plot of this movie. I loved the throw backs to the original characters and their quirks. (particuarly Karl Urban as McCoy...awesome) I felt like they did a great job encompassing the spirit of the original series. The battles were both enticing and exciting, especially the first one. Effects were of course pretty...which is nowadays standard I suppose.
However the plot I thought was lacking in many, many ways. Everything felt waaaay too coincidental and in a way, gimmicky. Characters seemed shoved together by a weird twisting scheme which felt forced. (Kirk meeting old Spock being the worst of the encounters) However, even this I could ignore, since after all I get to see my beloved characters coming of age and interacting for the first time with one another.
However, what I could not ignore was the decision to use the "alternate reality created through a black hole" plot "twist." Basing the entire movie on the "alernate reality" concept and encompassing every cliche "I can't meet myself but I will anyway!" moment was really irritating. I realize they did this in a few episodes over the course of the several shows, but of the movies I expect more. As soon as you bring in time-travel of any sort you immediately discredit your entire plot and by extension every plot of every show or movie which became before. You fall into the "terminator" cycle, wherein you may as well just keep going back 1 minute earlier than you did last time, in order to make everything "right." Ugh. Shame on you, writers.
Anyway, in the end it is still worth seeing, no doubt. Particuarly for those of us who enjoyed the original series...I really do think they did a good job with the characters. See the movie, it is certainly worth it. But this is not the epic which I was so desperately wanting. Also, I completely agree Wrath of Khan is the best, followed perhaps by First Contact and the Undiscovered Country.
