'Star Trek Beyond' Takes an Ethical Leap Forward

If you’re looking for a diversion after two weeks of heavy convention viewing, I’d recommend a trip to the multiplex to see “Star Trek Beyond.” The reason isn’t just that the movie is by far the most fun of this summer’s tentpole offerings. The film is a paean to the value of diversity, and perhaps heralds the end of “speciesism” on the big screen.

Here’s the story in brief: Three years into its 'deep-space mission, the Enterprise is lured by a distress call into an uncharted nebula, where the ship is attacked by a seemingly unstoppable villain who plans to rain death and destruction upon the galaxy. If you’re a Trekker -- or even a casual sci-fi fan -- this isn’t exactly new stuff. But it’s presented with a delightful gusto and verve. I actually went to see it twice -- once to take notes, once for sheer enjoyment.