This year for my Mother’s Day gift, my daughter treated me to a movie. We watched the new Star Trek.

As a teen, I grew up with the original show. My older brother was a science-fiction addict. One of his favorite authors was Robert Heinlein. Since I loved to read, I picked up these books and was introduced to the science-fiction world. So when Star Trek hit the air waves, my brother was hooked and I watched along with him.

Dad, however, would almost always turn the channel. This meant I didn’t watch every show, but I saw enough to know the characters and to develop a keen interest.

Years later when the series entered syndication, I was able to watch all I wanted. When the first movies came out with the original stars of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, I saw those too.

When this 2009 “remake” was announced—and especially with the advanced special effects—I was eager to see what the writers would come up with.

I don’t call myself an expert regarding the storylines of Star Trek. But I’ve learned what I like and what I don’t like.

I do like the actor who played Spock. Zachary Quinto captured the character well, acing the Vulcan’s mannerisms, and sounding almost exactly like Nimoy.

Karl Urban as ‘Bones’ is perfect. He looked as I’d expected a younger Leonard McCoy to be. I loved getting to know how he and James Kirk first met.

In the old series, I never realized Kirk was so full of himself. In this new movie, it’s quite a revelation to see how Chris Pine plays a womanizing, ultra self-confident James T. Kirk.

Simon Pegg as Scotty and John Cho as Sulu are both great picks.

Actress Zoe Saldana plays Lt. Uhura. She’s certainly attractive enough to showcase the leading female role.

But it’s her characterization of the communications officer that I frown and go, “hmm.” And here is where, to me, the movie does a major “hiccup.”

I’d like to ask the writers, “Why did you change Uhura’s personality?” 

The television series' Uhura understood that the U.S.S. Enterprise was a military ship and she was an officer respectful to rank. Today’s Star Trek writes Uhura as smart-mouthed, carrying a ‘chip-on-my-shoulder’ attitude.

That is so not realistic, nor in keeping with the original version.

Another disloyalty is that Uhura attempts a romantic relationship with Spock. Yes, he’s half-human, so his emotions are stronger than a pure Vulcan. However, he strove to always restrain that ‘handicapped’ side. To show him and Uhura in caressing embraces is, in my opinion, an insult to Gene Roddenberry.

Still, the movie is action-packed and full of adventure. I laughed out loud during the comedic scenes. And the special effects were thrilling. If I were a reviewer, I’d give a four-and-a-half star out of five rating.

I hope in any forthcoming sequels Uhura’s character will be critiqued and appropriately ‘ship-shaped’.

Copyright 2009 by Lula M. Thomas 

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