New Star Trek Movie

I have been a Trekkie all my life. When I was five years old I first got into the series via the early Star Trek films that my parents used to rent on VHS. In no time, I was watching the original series in reruns and soon became hooked on Star Trek: The Next Generation in first run syndication.

I was a true fan.

However, I became disillusioned when the Next Generation cast made their way to the silver screen. I thought Generations was only okay. And while First Contact was pretty good the next two films, Star Trek: Insurrection and Star Trek: Nemesis were truly awful. I could see my love for Star Trek disappearing before my eyes. And then there was nothing.

For several years Star Trek disappeared from my consciousness. There were no new movies being produced and it seemed likely to stay that way. Then, long after thoughts of Star Trek had passed from my mind, I read a story online that Paramount wanted to relaunch the series with a new, big budget feature film. J.J. Abrams was on board to produce. Suddenly, I was excited again.

It was with a great deal of emotion that I watched the first trailer for the new Star Trek movie and I immediately felt like a kid again. Kirk and Spock were back and they looked great. The new movie looked and sounded great and immediately I was hooked again.

When Star Trek (2009) was released nationwide, I was at the theater on Thursday night. The film was a pure treat. The visuals were excellent, the performances were spot on, and once again, my old friends were back -- literally in the case of Leonard Nimoy.

I was unlike so many of the other longtime fans who felt that the new Star Trek was a little bit different, a little off, from the old Star Trek canon that we had all grown to love. For me, it was just a joy to see a Star Trek back. I was thrilled that the favorite characters of my youth, for I had really grown up on Star Trek, were back in my life.

It may sound silly, but I think of Captain Kirk, Mister Spock, Scotty, Uhuru, etc. as members of the family and it was a joyous reunion to be able to spend a couple of hours with them at the cineplex.

Star Trek went on to become one of the smash hits of the year. It's box office currently ranks it as the fourth highest grossing movie of 2009. After the release, Paramount announced plans for a sequel -- the twelfth movie in the Star Trek line.

As I write this it is fall 2009, and the Star Trek 2009 DVD will be released in a matter of weeks. I am excited to see what extras J.J. Abrams has in store for us long time fans. I suspect that there will be a number of great features on the DVD and especially the Blu-Ray.

So, I am excited. Star Trek is back and the future has never looked brighter. For fans like me, it is truly a great thing to Star Trek live long and prosper.