Star Trek Into Darkness

Released:  5/16/2013

OVERALL RATING:  *  *  *  .5
(on a scale of 1 to 4 - 4 being best)

Director:  J.J. Abrams
Writers:  Robert Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof
Producers:  J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk
Main Actors:  Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg

Directing:  *  *  *  *
Plot:  *  *  *  
Predictability:  *  *  *  
Acting:  *  *  *  * 
Entertainment Value:  *  *  *  * 
Costumes / Makeup:  *  *  *

As a stand alone movie, this was awesome.  As a Star Trek movie, not as awesome.  This is a personal issue for me and probably not problematic with the general population.  I have to give this movie high marks as it is a well done, entertaining film, but if I was only viewing it as a Star Trek movie, the score would not be as high.

Here is a list of WHY I don't totally love this movie.  Spoiler alert if you haven't seen it.
1.  At times I was wondering when Princess Leia would come in - the music, background aliens, and some of the costumes were very Star Wars like.  This is not bad cause I love Star Wars, but I like keeping my Star Trek and Star Wards separate.
2.  Spock saying Khan... Just didn't feel right.
3.  Klingons were a bit too different for my taste.
4.  Star Trek always had a clean, institutionalized feel to it for me.  This didn't feel very 'clean'.  I don't know if any of you get what I'm saying, but that is the best way I can think of to describe it.  The feel of the film wasn't as crisp / clean as I usually get when I watch a Star Trek film.  It wasn't bad, just, well, not my normal feeling.
5.  A little too much suspension of disbelief at the end with Spock and Khan.

I do recommend seeing this of course, but I think I need to change my mindset a bit about my Star Trek films.  I am very curious to see what J.J. Abrams does with Star Wars.

Favorite Scene:  Kirk trying to explain to Spock why he lied in his report and why he was upset.  Very Star Trek - Loved.