Many many thanks, Rob, for the gifted DVD. I owe you BIG time. Watched it Saturday night (when I should have been in bed preparing for my brutally-early and brutally-long Sunday) and my adrenaline is still pumping.
I'm one of those fans who love the OS. To me, that IS Star Trek, although TNG is a close second. However, I'm also one of those fans that can appreciate/tolerate other actors in the classic roles. For example, take Hamlet: it's a classic role--Olivier, Brannagh, and Gibson have all played it.... they all have their different takes, and different styles, but they're all Hamlet.
That's how I see Kirk, Spock, etc. I've seen some good fan-films with great production values. Now this movie. I've enjoyed them all. They manage to evoke just enough of the classic, but manage to make the characters their own. I would very willingly watch a weekly series with these characters.
My brother, on the other hand, is a die-hard OS fan. There IS no other Star Trek. He has proclaimed he would never watch this film because it is an abomination and a travesty to have other actors assume these roles.
Maybe I'm not as much of a purist? Maybe my mind is too open? Either way, I loved this movie. So, Rob? Thanks again.