Star Trek

Director J.J. Abrams, with a script by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, raises the craft of rejuvenating a movie franchise to something like a fine art. Abrams returns Star Trek to its roots, not only by bringing back the original characters, but by reviving the original series’ dazzling gleam and sense of fun. The story cleverly twists the Star Trek universe, changing its origins while underlining the idea that this crew was meant for each other. Casting is impeccable—Chris Pine as Kirk, Karl Urban as McCoy, John Cho as Sulu, Simon Pegg as Scotty, Anton Yelchin as Chekov. Best of all, and the movie’s intuitive masterstroke, is Zachary Quinto as Spock. It’s as much a star-making turn as the original Spock was for Leonard Nimoy, and Quinto channels Nimoy while simultaneously making the part his own.