Star Trek (2009) NYT Critics' Pick

Zachary Quinto, left, as Spock and Chris Pine as James T. Kirk in "Star Trek."
A Franchise Goes Boldly Backward
By MANOHLA DARGIS
Published: May 8, 2009

A bright, shiny blast from a newly imagined past, “Star Trek,” the latest spinoff from the influential television show, isn’t just a pleasurable rethink of your geek uncle’s favorite science-fiction series. It’s also a testament to television’s power as mythmaker, as a source for some of the fundamental stories we tell about ourselves, who we are and where we came from. The famous captain (William Shatner, bless his loony lights) and creator (Gene Roddenberry, rest in peace) may no longer be on board, but the spirit of adventure and embrace of rationality that define the show are in full swing, as are the chicks in minis and kicky boots. More