After watching the new Star Trek trailer leaked on YouTube and coming away completely confused, I was happy to discover that the spot was receiving a proper, official release this morning. But after also watching the higher-quality version on Apple.com, I’m not any more enthused. It still looks cluttered with too much CG and potentially weak direction — kind of like the first Star Wars prequel, of which I’m also reminded thanks to that lame, child version of James “Siberius” Kirk. And it still lays on the characters and sets up the plot as messily as possible. Worst of all, it doesn’t at all pique the interest of a non-Trekkie like myself.

I know, looking at the recent marketing of Twilight and Watchmen has informed me that the first trailer is for the fans and a later spot will be a better introduction to the characters and will feature more appealing elements for newbies. But I figured that teaser trailer we saw way back in January was the one for the followers. There’s not much time left to get me, a guy who has only seen Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (and only for the whales), fully excited.

Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that this movie isn’t still arriving this Christmas, and so there’s plenty of time between now and May 2009 for Paramount to release another trailer that will woo me sufficiently. Hopefully presenting me with better views of both Winona Ryder (is that actually her laying down in the white outfit?) and villain Eric Bana (am I the only one who thinks that shot of him too much resembles Zachary Quinto as Spock?), not to mention the principal crew of the Enterprise (more Simon Pegg especially).

However, if the trailers keep on seeming directed primarily at the Trekkies, Paramount might want to expect another disappointing box office take from the franchise.