A long time ago in a galaxy, wait — wrong space opera. Star Trek is that other massively successful sci-fi saga that spawned 10 feature films, four TV series and all the related toys/games/fetish-wear that goes with it. Trek inspired the adoration of millions of our more interesting citizens and enjoyed a string of big-time success throughout the 1980s and '90s. But then the franchise fell on hard times, the movies started to suck (see: Star Trek: Nemesis) and the remaining TV show (Enterprise) was canceled. Star Trek was never "cool," per se, but this rapid descent into irrelevance was ridiculous.
Enter J.J. Abrams. The mastermind behind Lost and Alias, Abrams had already hopped aboard an existing property only to see his Mission: Impossible III fail at the box office. Don't fret, Trekkies, this time out the news is good. Abrams has made the best Star Trek film in a while, at least since 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and he has succeeded in breathing new life into the Trek franchise. However, he's done this at the expense of jettisoning the entire existing mythology of the original Trek series. You still with me, superfans?
This article appears in May 6-12, 2009.