Review by HotlineSF

Some complain that the new Trek films are just blockbuster action movies, that they lack the wonder and sense of exploration of Gene Roddenberry's vision.

Star Trek Beyond is still a blockbuster action movie. However, it's a refreshingly new and self-contained story that avoids the pitfalls of it's predecessor. For the most part Justin Lin and Simon Pegg steer clear of the annoying things from Into Darkness: the silly plot turns, the cheap drama and bickering between Spock and Uhura, and the annoyingly shallow and unimaginative fan service tributes.

The best part of this film is the renewed emphasis on the relationships between Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. The interplay between these characters is entertaining and feels natural. There's less melodrama in this movie. And why should there be? Star Trek has been never been the soap opera that Star Wars is.

The rest of the movie is pretty solid. The action and music has always been great. The bio weapon employed by the enemy is inventive and terrifying. Each character in this ensemble cast has ample screen time, however none of it feels forced or unnecessary. It's a well-directed fun and streamlined movie.

I think one of the best decisions made with this movie was to write a new original story. After Into Darkness I was worried about the direction this franchise would take. Would they make a sequel, or would they continue to rehash old story lines and characters in a bid to milk our wallets dry with fan service mediocrity? It was a great move to bring in new blood (writer + director), and hopefully the next films will explore newer ideas and boldly go where no one has gone before!