I went to see the new Star Trek movie today and I was pretty pleased with it. I'm a casual fan of the series so I went in with only a basic knowledge of the franchise. Even then I was able to pick up on a lot of the references to the older works so this movie should please fans of all types. At least that's what I think.
The pacing was okay, though there were a few scenes in the beginning that weren't necessary to the story such seeing a vintage car go over a cliff. That was sorta random. Other than that I was happy how things progressed. Even at two hours, I never felt that things were moving slowly. In fact, some might complain that some of the plot points happened too quickly and unnaturally though that's a matter of opinion.
One thing I'll nitpick about is that I think the makers of the film were a little too clever in putting in references to the original series. It seemed like they had to cram in as many classic lines as they could which I think didn’t allow for an original script. There's paying homage and then there's recycling lines that I've heard before. However, it was cute and I had plenty of chuckles at watching the characters (who played their roles to a T) interact in the way many fans will remember them in.
Overall, good stuff. I'd recommend it even to casual or new fans of the series as the story is pretty easy to follow if you don't think about it too much. It wouldn't be a Star Trek movie if there weren't plot holes to pick apart though they’re kept to a minimum I think. Go see it and have a good time. That's what movies are for.