The rewrites by Jonathan Nolan and Paul Haggis were supposed to have made this movie better, but there no sign of that heavy-duty writing. The only surprise was the presence of a character from the old movies. Excellent action compensates for lack of plotting or acting, and the only one with acting chops (surprisingly), is the on again, off again Oz-accented Sam Worthington (perhaps because his role is not as one-dimensional as the rest of the cast's). Much blame for that should go to the creative minds behind this enterprise. The only reason for watching this is the spectacular action, which would have been better served by a better plot.
This is perhaps the closest to a perfect reboot for a franchise ever, delving into time travel and alternate realities, while at the same time re-introducing known and beloved characters to a legion of new fans. Those elements come at a price to the overtly thinking mind - good enough to spark discussion among fans though - almost like the guilty pleasure one derives from watching 'Heroes'. Quinto makes us forget Sylar, and that's an achievement. And Winona Ryder - what a fall from grace! Wish there had been a way to re-cast DeForest Kelley and Shatner as well, the way Nimoy was cast. Look forward to the discussions on the forums.