LOS ANGELES — J.J. Abrams’ hugely anticipated summer extravaganza “Star Trek” boldly goes to the past within the distant future of the “Trek” universe, years ahead of the TV series and the myriad movies and spin-offs it spawned.

And in doing so, he and his longtime collaborators, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, change everything you know — or obsess about, if you’re into this kind of thing — about the kitschy pop-culture phenomenon.

It’s a daring and exciting approach that’s sure to tickle and provoke purists, while at the same time probably cause neophytes to feel a bit lost.

A major plot twist pops up — which includes the arrival of Leonard Nimoy — about halfway through the film, a twist that doesn’t exactly work and from which the film never completely recovers.

Having said that, Abrams clearly aimed to appeal to the broadest possible audience with this dazzling visual spectacle while also leaving plenty of Easter eggs for the hardcore fans to find. If there’s any social or political subtext, as in the original series, it’s difficult to determine; this “Star Trek” seems solely made to entertain. It’s an absolutely gorgeous film with impeccable production design — the lighting is wondrous, almost heavenly — and lovely, tiny details frequently emerge from within the larger, grander images.

Abrams certainly puts on a good show — between television’s “Lost” and the 2006 “Mission: Impossible” sequel he directed, there’s no question the man knows how to stage an action sequence, and the opening gets things off to a thrilling start. He efficiently and satisfyingly presents the back stories of the men who will become Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and the half-Vulcan, half-human Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) and puts them on a collision course with each other, which ups the excitement level early.

Kirk and Spock, you see, weren’t always pals — at least not in this revisionist history. This “Star Trek” pits them as opposites and adversaries until they must reluctantly learn to function side by side for the greater good once they join the Starfleet Academy and ultimately climb aboard the shiny U.S.S. Enterprise — which looks familiar but has been significantly updated from 40 years ago.

Among them are the usual cast of supporting characters: Communications Officer Uhura (the graceful Zoe Saldana); over-the-top Medical Officer Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban); Chief Engineer Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (Simon Pegg); reliable Helmsman Sulu (John Cho) and 17-year-old supergenius Chekov (Anton Yelchin).

Their shared enemy is the angry Romulan leader Nero (Eric Bana). The source of his vendetta against Spock, and the entire Federation, is revealed as the film progresses, and it’s a crucial part of that distractingly perplexing twist.

Either you’ll go with it or you won’t. Regardless, based on Abrams’ ambition and scope in rejuvenating the franchise, it’s clear it still has plenty of room to live long and prosper.

<B>TITLE: </b>“Star Trek”<B>CAST: </b>Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwo, Zoe Salaldanna, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin<B>DIRECTOR: </b>J.J. Abrams<B>RATED: </b>PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content<B>GRADE:</b> 3 Stars (out of 5)