The third and most probably final Star Trek trailer is out as of today. You can watch it in Quicktime HD on Apple’s movie trailer site or at the official Star Trek link here. For those who want to experience it in its full glory then you’re going to have to go and see the comic book adaptation of Watchmen, which opens today in North America.

Paramount marketing is definitely working overtime by placing the new Trek trailer in front of the biggest movie of the spring, which should work wonders for brand recognition and boost audience awareness. With an anticipated box office blow out by Watchmen and the inherently sci-fi geek audience in attendance there’s no doubt that the new trailer will make an impact.

Of course, all would be for not if the new trailer stank or under whelmed but thankfully that doesn’t seem to be the case. Early reviews and comments springing up around the net seem to indicate almost universal praise for the Trek trailer that has succeeded in capturing everyone’s’ attention. Hopefully, those on the fence, non-fans and the mainstream moviegoers will take notice that Trek is back….big time.

So what about the new trailer itself? Without going too deeply into a verbose review it succeeds beyond all expectations although there’s always the danger that those clinging to canon are going to be livid. In fact, I have an inkling that Trek fans who oppose any sort of change are going to be worried at what is happening here but hopefully they come around and realize that this is Trek’s best shot at not only resurrecting the franchise but propelling it into the upper echelons.

Can it really make 200 million plus? Well, that’s up for some serious debate but let’s just say this new trailer helps promote it even further. I’ll eventually get around to posting my box office predictions for 2009 although I’m finding it harder this time around due to the many genre films that have the potential to do big business or be big busts. The month of May alone is packed with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels and Demons, Terminator Salvation and Night At The Museum 2 and it is very unlikely that all five will cross 200 million.

Anyways, back to the trailer and some initial thoughts. First off, the overarching atmosphere and tone here keeps things in line with J.J.Abram’s previous comments that this is going to be an epic adventure. With a booming orchestral score replete with choral elements this harkens back to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight with a strong sense that the audience is going to watch an origin tale like no other. Finally, we’re presented with the plot’s framework, which undoubtedly spins the tale of how our intrepid crew gets together with a strong emphasis on Kirk himself.

This is not the Kirk you know yet he will be. Yes, purists will sigh but the storyline is clear that Romulan bad guy, Nero, goes back in time to mess up history and changes Kirk’s upbringing. His father, George Kirk, apparently takes command of the USS Kelvin and saves the lives of over 800 people including his son but dies in the process. Of course, even if Kirk’s past has been changed there’s no doubt by the way the trailer plays that he’ll undoubtedly reclaim is birthright.

Other things to look out for:

• The apparent destruction of Vulcan in a spectacular FX shot of the planet collapsing upon itself.

• The spine tingling moment when Kirk finally takes the center seat.

• Kirk’s dad blowing up on the bridge of the USS Kelvin.

• Nice panning shot of a huge auditorium at Starfleet Academy replete with the Federation symbol

• Chrome throttle to take the Enterprise to warp

• Spock and Uhura hugging

• Enterprise arriving at Vulcan amidst a debris field with a huge broken saucer piece floating in front of it – destroyed starbase?

• Enterprise’s neck getting hit with a torpedo.

• Eric Bana’s Nero finally looking pissed and foreboding as the villain.

I can drone on but it’s best you experience the trailer by yourself and come to your own conclusions. As a trailer it works marvelously as a two minute look into the greater film which supposedly runs 2h 6 minutes if reports are true and the emphasis on Kirk’s origin and the magnificent effects work by ILM is on display. Abram’s eye for visual élan is on true display here with some snazzy camera work that really makes the battle scenes feel dynamic and fully realized in three dimensions. The submarine battle mentality from Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan is long gone here.

The Kelvin money shot from the previous trailer and the Super Bowl commercial is gone replaced by the new money shot – a first person point of view angle as Romulan torpedoes go flying towards the Kelvin as phaser fire and multiple explosions rock the screen. Nice stuff and some of the best work ILM has done in years. No offense to Star Wars purists and fans but the effects work on display here seems a step above Revenge of the Sith. J.J. Abram’s love for Star Wars is easily discernable here – check out the alien standing on the bridge when Kirk takes command or the yellow/orange filter that makes the space scenes resemble the opening of Sith. There’s almost a bit too much reliance on lens flares that seem to be in every effects shot but at least the quality is through the roof.

Who knows if the storyline or dialogue will hold up but it’s clear that Abrams and the new crew in charge of the Trek franchise have finally given it a long overdue polish and a huge budget to boot. Those lucky journalists who have seen the 20 minute or so footage a few months ago were raving about it and industry buzz is high. Let’s hope that translates to big box office numbers but more importantly a great movie experience.

© 2009 The Galactic Pillow