This Trek movie is the best of both worlds: Easily accessable to old and new fans alike! You don't need to know the history of this franchise to follow the story or the characters but it certainly enriches the experience for devout followers of the Star Trek mythos. Some die-hard fans may snipe at certain key plot points but the main purpose of this film is bring in a new audience and it succeeds greatly! Abrams and his writing team make you connect instantly with every character (Kirk,Spock, McCoy,Uhura, et al.). I personally can't wait for the next film!!