The less-than-engaging third 'Ice Age' outing starts off on the wrong foot with a mix of mammoths, saber-tooth tigers and dinosaurs that wouldn't have a remote chance of occupying the same timeframe. The trick to success isn't all that tricky: Just tell a good story that's moving and engaging with the characters you've already spent a couple of films developing. Grade: C-.  

With this prequel, director J.J. Abrams aims to give us the legendary back-story of one of Starfleet's great leaders, James Tiberius Kirk. Of course, the truly great leaders achieve that status thanks to the support of top-notch subordinates. Where would Kirk be without Spock, Chekov, Sulu, Uhura, Scotty and Doc "Bones" McCoy? This film races right to the heart of that question, defining each and every one of these loveable characters in deft strokes. Grade A.