'Star Trek'
In a future measured in stardates, it turns out that kids are still yakking on Nokia phones, racing in wheeled vehicles and rocking out to Beastie Boys.
The new "Star Trek" proves that some things never change, including Hollywood's need to attract ever-younger viewers. A revival of the beloved but moribund series that began in 1966 as a television show and fizzled after 10 films, "Star Trek" reinvigorates old characters using younger, firmer bodies (at least one of which belongs to a bona-fide actor). That jolt of energy may resuscitate the franchise; its breathing, however, feels shallow.
Like another current release, "Wolverine," this is an origin story. On the not-yet-legendary U.S.S. Enterprise, a multicultural crew of cadets fresh from Hogwarts -- er, Starfleet Academy -- makes its maiden voyage. Chief among them: the rebellious James Kirk (an amiable Chris Pine), cranky medical officer Bones McCoy (Karl Urban), the dispassionate Spock (Zachary Quinto, of NBC's "Heroes") and, in a larger role than usual, the linguistic wunderkind Uhura (Zoe Saldana).
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The plot, driven by a vengeful, time-traveling Romulan improbably named Capt. Nero ( Eric Bana, bearing the facial tattoos of an industrial-music fan), borders on incoherency. That's all right: The action scenes move quickly, and in any case we're mostly interested in seeing the first glimmers of lifelong friendships. But director J.J. Abrams wastes time with filler (a battle between two snow-creatures), Trekkie trivia (the Kobayashi Maru training game) and a weird tendency toward repetition (two black holes, two wrecked planets, even Leonard Nimoy as a second Spock).
That half-human, half-Vulcan character has always been the secret hero of "Star Trek," and Quinto is terrific in the role. A brooding outcast, tightly coiled and surprisingly dangerous, Quinto's Spock has something new: sex appeal. He's a dark-eyed, pointy-eared Brando for a future millennium. Spin-off, anyone?
RATED PG-13
PLOT The familiar crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise returns, this time as group of young newbies.
CAST Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana
LENGTH 2:07.
PLAYING AT Area theaters. Find "Star Trek" showtimes and tickets
BOTTOM LINE Youthful energy, non-stop action and a downright sexy Spock, but this "Trek" lacks the heart and wit of its predecessors.(action, violence, mild sexuality)
