Kevin Smith Also Loves “Star Trek”

Is he the next Harry Knowles, lavishing every film with effervescent praise, or are there just a pair of really good nerd movies on their way? After calling Watchmen “astounding”, Kevin Smith is now saying that he’s seen J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek film, and that it’s “fantastic” and “phenomenal.”

“It is fantastic. Anybody who was worried doesn’t need to be worried–about this film I cannot talk about…It was in very capable hands. The director did a phenomenal job–the director and his crew. Top notch cast and the guy that plays the lead is an instant star. That dude is going to be so famous. He is so wonderful. He picked up a role that I would say is pretty challenging for someone to step into the shoes of, because it is a role that has been played before many times by the same guy.”

“That dude” is Chris Pine, who’s playing Captain James Tiberius Kirk. He’ll never replace William Shatner in our hearts and minds, but maybe he can do a bang-up job anyway. Do Smith’s words hold weight, or does the fact that he made Jersey Girl negate them?