JJ Abrams' New Trek Film Was Screened Last Night

They had a surprise screening last night at a theater in Texas. Trek fans thought they were going to be watching a new print of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and a short "sneak peek" at the new Trek film. Ten minutes into Khan, the film "broke." As they were trying to "fix" it, Leonard Nimoy himself comes out to ask everyone if they'd like to see the new film instead -- the whole film! As you might imagine, everyone in the house went crazy.

Even though there are some gripes on the part of some fans in attendance, over all the word seems to be very positive. Some of the feedback:

I can't believe how great the new Star Trek movie is.

This is the kind of movie that the Star Wars prequels should have been.

With this movie, the Trekkies have won the argument. Right now Star Trek is the most exciting science fiction franchise. And I never thought I'd say that.

Star Trek accomplishes far more than I ever thought it would or could. This is on par with the Star Wars trilogy in terms of the big screen entertainment and sheer imagination on display.

Chris Pine as Kirk. Highly impressed. He doesn't have the faux-gravitas like Shatner, obviously, but that's a good thing.

Zachary Quinto as Spock. There's one problem with Quinto, and it's not his fault-- the voice. Nimoy's voice is so distinctive and so very much Spock, and even though Quinto is able to match the pacing and cadences, he's just genetically incapable of fully realizing the character.

If nothing else, know that it is certainly the best Star Trek film since First Contact, and definitely ranks up there with Khan.

Bana's Nero is not given enough time to become the kind of villain that Montalban's Khan was, and much of his motivation is inferred rather than developed onscreen.

The design and look of the film is absolutely fantastic in every sense. This is essentially the main element that sets this particular outing in the Star Trek franchise apart from the others and will probably be the thing most talked about right off the bat. There are scenes in this movie you wish you could have rewound and watched over and over again, they are so incredibly gorgeous.

The fast pace of the film is part of the reason the film never quite reaches the slow burn emotional height of something like Wrath of Khan.

There's a reason why this got moved from Christmas to summer. J.J. Abrams really did it. He has revitalized the franchise. He made a movie that is smart and funny and charming and thrilling and reverent and is totally accessible to people who previously thought Star Trek was not for them.

Star Trek opens in theaters May 8. To read more details and comments surrounding the fan screening in Texas, go to Ain't It Cool News.