I was expecting a good show but was not holding my breath for the story - I know all the old ones too well. The use of a time breach was clever but not overplayed - it allowed for all the best things about Star Trek and some new ones too. Leonard Nimoy was neither gratuitous nor overbearing as he has been in some of the other movies - a great piece of directing I would say. Compassion for the Romulans? A twenty first century touch, perhaps, but again not overplayed as folks trapped in their own story. Not trying to bring in every character, ever was good as was the gradual introduction of the principals.
Good movie - don't play by the book for the next one either!!