It's definitely not just Star Trek. When was the last time a big budget sci-fi (especially a space epic) was actually both emotionally and intellectually satisfying? I have a really difficult time coming up with that, even thinking back fifteen years or so... all the satisfying sci-fi comes from relatively small-budget productions (Gattica, Moon, District 9, etc.).
I really enjoyed both of the Abrams Star Trek films as summer sci-fi blockbusters... but I also totally respect the perspective that they don't have the same values as the originals. None of the ST:TNG movies were really thought-provoking either. Mostly they were just cashing in on nostalgia in an even more blatant way than the recent movies.
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