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MoviesOnline sat down with Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Bruce Greenwood, and Leonard Nimoy at the Los Angeles press day for “Star Trek,” J.J. Abrams’ brilliant re-booting of the long running Star Trek franchise. The superb story written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman is brought to life by a terrific cast with undeniable chemistry on screen.

Zachary Quinto plays the young First Officer Spock; Leonard Nimoy, who originated the iconic role of Spock, cameos; Bruce Greenwood is Captain Christopher Pike; Karl Urban plays the ship’s Medical Officer Leonard “Bones” McCoy; and Zoe Saldana is Communications Officer Uhura.

Set in the 23rd century, the adventure begins with the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created:  the U.S.S. Enterprise. In the midst of an incredible journey full of optimism, intrigue, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.

“Star Trek” is truly a masterpiece in innovative cinematic storytelling inspired by the spirit of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of an enlightened future. Abrams takes that spirit and puts a fresh spin on it to advance the legacy of Star Trek in this movie and his brilliant cast hits every note perfectly.

When the U.S.S. Enterprise leaves the dock for the first time headed for the stars, one officer aboard stands worlds apart from the rest: the man known simply as Spock. Spock was born on the planet Vulcan, a world where emotions became so out-of-control that they were done away with forever in favor of pure logic. However, Spock's mother is human, leaving Spock to grow up fighting an internal battle between the rational and the instinctual. As Spock's father, Sarek, tells him: "You are fully capable of choosing your own destiny . . . this is something only you can decide."

"Star Trek" gives audiences a chance to experience Spock in his formative years facing the choice between his human side and his Vulcan side. "Spock has to decide if he should control his emotions or embrace his humanity and struggles with the duality of who he is throughout the story," says Abrams. "I loved the idea of this character trying to figure out his place in the world."

In the beginning, Abrams admits, "we were very uncertain we could ever find the right guy to play Spock, given how much Leonard Nimoy is associated with the role." When the filmmakers saw Zachary Quinto, who is perhaps best known for his role on television's hit series "Heroes," he was convinced he'd found him. "Zach had an intelligence and thoughtfulness that is rare in a young actor. He was able to honor what Leonard achieved without in any way becoming an imitation."

Quinto also got the thrilling opportunity to work with the man who had originally created Spock, Nimoy. Abrams notes: "This was not an easy or capricious decision for Leonard. In a sense, it was motivated by wanting to give the character a sense of closure and to pass the baton to Zach. Taking the role really meant something to him but, at the same time, he had a lot of fun with it."

Nimoy says it was his initial conversation with Abrams and his first meeting with Orci and Kurtzman that spiked his interest. "I got the sense that they really understood what the very best things were about 'Star Trek,'" he says. "I felt they were going to do justice to the story and elevate the movie to a level we had not been able to reach previously. The writers had done a wonderful job of capturing the characteristics of the original characters and I was very encouraged by all of that."

Dr. McCoy is a self-professed "country doctor" who hates to fly yet, in the wake of personal problems on earth, has devoted himself to becoming a Starfleet medical officer. His methods of healing might take advantage of the latest medical technology, but his demeanor is as salty and earthy as they come, which will help him to play an essential, if often thankless, role in keeping both Kirk or Spock from taking themselves too seriously.

To take on the role of the man who will become known simply as "Bones," played in the original series to memorably comic effect by the late DeForest Kelley, the filmmakers turned to Karl Urban, the New Zealand-born actor who came to the fore in "The Lord the Rings" trilogy and played the Russian assassin in "The Bourne Supremacy." His audition left those who saw it with the impression that he was the perfect choice for the role of the cantankerous, curmudgeonly doctor who will boldly state "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence," yet ironically takes a secret satisfaction in exploring it.

The brilliant, beautiful, xenolinguist known as Uhura brings her exceptional skills for listening and interpreting to her vital job as the Enterprise's Communications Officer.

Uhura was a groundbreaking character on the original television series. Played by Nichelle Nichols, she became one of the first major African-American characters on TV and a participant in American television's first interracial kiss. To take up her mantle, the filmmakers' search led them to Zoe Saldana, the rising actress of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent who came to prominence as the tough pirate Anamaria in the modern adventure classic ": The Curse of the Black Pearl." It was the power of her presence that made her right for the role, says J.J. Abrams. He says: "Zoe is so beautiful, with these wide eyes that just kill you, but she's also tough. I love the dichotomy of her soft femininity and confident strength. It's so right for Uhura."

When she researched the shows, Saldana was especially moved by the role of Uhura on the original series. "Not only was she an African-American, but she was the only woman in a cabin full of men and she held a very high rank," she notes. "The character and Nichelle were true pioneers for all types of women in Hollywood, not just women of color, and I felt it was a beautiful honor to get to reprise this role."

The legendary first captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Captain Pike appeared in only three of the original TV series episodes, played first by Jeffrey Hunter, then by Sean Kenney. Seen for the first time in depth, he is now played by Bruce Greenwood, the Canadian actor whose roles have ranged from President John F. Kennedy in "Thirteen Days" to a former surfing hero in the offbeat HBO series "John from Cincinnati." "Bruce was the perfect father figure to Kirk," says Abrams. "He has such a strong, confident, adult presence that it's suddenly very noticeable when Pike leaves the ship. It makes for a real shift in the energy."

It was the script that drew Greenwood. "I loved the way the writers had explored the characters," he says. "It's a journey into the motivations of Kirk and Spock and their inner conflicts and I thought it was filled with tremendous drama."

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