Franchise reboots have become a go-to moneymaker for Hollywood in the past few decades. Find a popular, but overexposed series of films that has all but breathed its last breath. Add a new cast of pretty, bankable faces, updated and explosive special effects and a script that toes the line between tribute and parody, stir, and hope audiences will show up for the results. But nine times out of ten, a franchise reboot pales in comparison to the original and succeeds at little but making the audience long for the movies they initially loved. Thankfully, J.J. Abrams' reboot of the 'Star Trek' saga avoids all of these pitfalls and emerges as a smart, fun and original version of the world of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Star Trek starts from the very beginning as George Kirk is named captain of the Enterprise for 12 minutes before a tragic attack by a vengeful Romulan named Nero (Eric Bana) ends his brief rule. He manages to keep his ship sailing just long enough to allow the birth and escape of his son, James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) and a legend is born. Meanwhile, on the planet Vulcan, a young Vulcan named Spock (Zachary Quinto) struggles to keep the emotions of his half-human side in check. Both men grow up to be rebels of their respective societies and find only one place to help them fulfill their enormous destinies—the Starfleet Academy.

Kirk and Spock bump heads on more than one occasion and their disagreements follow them all the way to space when a "natural disaster" on the planet Vulcan demands that Starfleet cadets board ships to help in the emergency. When it is discovered that the "natural disaster" is actually a plot by Nero to commit a truly hideous deed, chaos emerges.

The cadets, including Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Bones (Karl Urban) and Scotty (Simon Pegg) swiftly find themselves at the control of the ship and with the abrupt departure Captain Pine (Bruce Greenwood), the Enterprise’s original captain, Spock is placed in charge with Kirk as his reluctant first mate. The novice crew initially falters and in-fights in the face of their terrifying foe, but with the help of a surprise mentor and some surprising emotional revelations, they discover a way to fight back. 

Producer/director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman are no strangers to twisting the sci-fi genre with television shows like Lost, Alias and Fringe under their respective belts. They understand the necessary and difficult balance that must exist between plot, character development, special effects and humor in order to elevate a science fiction film to more than pulp status. And they know how to push and play with audience expectations, whether it be the identity of Uhura’s love interest or the dangers of playing with warp speed transporting. Audiences hoping for that perfect blend in films like 2005’s Serenity or Episodes 1-3 of the 'Star Wars' series have found themselves repeatedly disappointed. But Star Trek is the film that Joss Whedon and George Lucas had wanted to make—one that pays respect to the original films while playing with the mythology in such a way that opens this world to a new generation of fans.

This is not to say that Star Trek isn’t without its faults. The opening segments of the film that focus on the origins of Kirk and Spock borrow too liberally from Lucas’s classic films. The writers also borrow from themselves, featuring plot points that fans of Alias and Lost will most likely recognize. And appearances by actors like Winona Ryder, Tyler Perry and several cast members from Abram’s show Felicity are jarring enough that they pull the audience momentarily out of the action.

But these problems are minor and not enough to detract from the energetic performances given by a cast of lesser-known actors. Chris Pine, whose biggest credit up to this point was the Lindsay Lohan flick, Just My Luck is a perfect combination of cocky, playful and angry. Zachary Quinto has the tougher job of portraying Spock’s highly logical side while keeping his emotions boiling underneath the surface—and he performs the task admirably. Cho, Saldana and Yelchin follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, making the most of their featured moments. And Karl Urban so authentically captures DeForest Kelley's McCoy that it almost seems as though he's channeling the late actor's spirit.

As always, Simon Pegg steals the show the moment he steps on screen as the transporter guru, Scotty. Maybe even a tad too much; a point of debate among serious fans.

Star Trek was a true blockbuster this past summer and will doubtless pave the way for several sequels to come. The universe that Gene Roddenberry delivered to the world over 40 years ago is as relevant today as it ever was, and the decision to set the crew of the Enterprise on a new timeline — offering them the opportunity for 40 more years of space travel — is also as welcome today as it was over four decades ago. 

The Blu-ray release of this film is nothing short of magnificent. Sadly, those annoying lens flares are still there, but so is a breathtaking transfer that makes the film "pop" even more than what was possible in the theaters. Special features are abundant — three hours' worth — so if you fancy a peak at how everything came together, along with some great gag reels and reveals of familiar creatures from Trek lore that didn't make the final cut, you're in for a real treat. Assuming that they haven't already rushed out and bought it, this is a great Christmas gift for any Trek fan, old or new.