Another Glimpse of The Final Frontier

So, while everyone was out seeing Watchmen this weekend, I was at home editing (madly...) the fourth episode of The House Between's third season. .But -- even with my brain in an editing program -- I knew there was a new Star Trek trailer burning up the old Internets.

So, after having watched the new trailer about a gazillion times, here are my thoughts:

1. The more I see of the Abrams re-imagination, the more sold I am on Pine as Kirk. And conversely (and rather unexpectedly...) the less sold I am on Quinto as Spock. For one thing, Pine has a good voice for Kirk. Quinto for Spock? Not so much.

2. It looks like the plot is going to involve Star Trek's version of the Death Star, a "doomsday"-type weapon capable of destroying an entire planet. Now, we've seen planet killers on Star Trek before (V'Ger, the Genesis Device, the "ribbon"/nexus, Nomad, Spinrad's "Doomsday Machine" and the space amoeba of "Immunity Syndrome" to name just a few...), so I hope this isn't too much of a retread. Then again, if this universe's Kirk is going to quickly develop some captain credentials with Starfleet and the Federation government, saving an entire planet is a good start, no?

3. Not even a glimpse of Leonard Nimoy. Boo. Come on, J.J....throw the longtime fans a bone.

4. The moment when Kirk takes the center seat of the U.S.S. Enterprise for the first time gives me goosebumps. If I get that feeling from a trailer -- and without it being Shatner -- then the movie must be doing something right. On the other hand, maybe it's just the portentous score...

5. "Fire everything!" Well, this re-boot is really going for the throat in terms of action, isn't it? Which, honestly is the way to sell a very expensive outer space movie to the masses. Even Gene Roddenberry had to sell Star Trek as an action-vehicle to NBC back in 1966 when he crafted the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before." Of course, Star Trek is also supposed to be valuable social commentary, and this trailer reveals nothing of that franchise aspect. Will it be present, or is this a Star Trek simply going to be eye candy, not brain candy?

6. "James T. Kirk was a great man. But that was another life." That's a line of dialogue that should have been avoided at all costs, especially if Pine proves disappointing in the role of a lifetime.