Well, it’s been a long time coming. It’s crazy how busy it is trying to finish a dissertation. But here it is: my review of Star Trek Beyond. (Dramatic pause…)

That was awesome!

Star Trek Beyond, directed by Justin Lin, is the thirteenth Star Trek film and the third of the reboot/new timeline. And it is hands-down the best of the new movies. I thought Star Trek was pretty good. Star Trek: Into Darkness was a mediocre remake of The Wrath of Khan. So according to the curse, in which alternating films are good and bad, this movie ought to be good…and it delivers. This is the best Star Trek since First Contact.

This isn’t your typical Star Trek film. The Enterprise is destroyed in the first half hour with little more than a glimpse of the mysterious villain, Krall. But that’s thankfully pretty much the only nod to Star Trek III and IV. The story of Captain Kirk and his crew picking up the pieces and stopping a deadly plot is original and brilliantly pulled off, complete with humor, drama, adventure, and a surprise twist at the end.

And don’t get me started on the visuals of Starbase Yorktown. That was some of the most beautiful sci-fi scenery I’ve ever seen. The artists really outdid themselves on that one.

If you haven’t had a chance to see it, definitely check out Star Trek Beyond.

My rating: 5 out of 5.