Firstly and most importantly
The movie was supported by both Majel Barrett and Leonard Nimoy. They wouldn’t have participated unless they liked it. Nimoy turned down a role in Generations for example. Both of them were with Star Trek from its original pilot and were the best qualified to judge.
LN turned down the role in Generations due to not having any input or creative control (something he has stated in interviews of portraying the character in the story) ) was a major reason for doing so.
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Leonard_Nimoy
Abandonment of tired Star Trek clichés
The Enterprise is not the only ship in range. 7 ships go to meet the Narada and there is an explanation for why there are not more.
I never needed a reason or excuse of why the Big E was the only ship in range, or the quadrant even. It fit the story at the time. In the TOS era Kirk stated in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" that there are only 12 Constitution Class ships in Starfleet at that time.And my isn't the galaxy a big place even in that time?
Lack of technobable, technology is there to facilitate the plot not to solve it.
Along with many others that liked the movie that is the opinion. I
like a little technobabble.
Overuse of the transporter. For once the transporter isn’t an easy solution and has a sense of danger attached to it. When was the last time it was used in as exciting a way as it was over Vulcan?
There shouldn't be a "sense of danger" to an very important piece of equipment that is used every day.
Engaging characters
The interaction between Kirk, Spock and McCoy feel true to the how I remembered them. They are all interesting to watch and faithful to the original crew. For the first time since Star Trek IV each character also go their moment to shine. Even Chekov and Uhura, who were regularly just named back ground characters with a few lines.
Too bad they didn't feel like that to me. more is spent on the minor characters and "dumbing" them down" or "sexing them up" that didn't appeal to me.
Great music
The sound track is stirring and the main theme strikes just the right balance of being new yet keeping the Star Trek feel.
I felt disconnected to the soundtrack,..Why? I guess I didn't get connected to the characters as stated above.
Great action
Not many space scenes have been so fun to watch. With battles that are fast yet also make sense. Being the first movie since the motion picture to have a decent budget they definitely used the money well.
Great in the sense that there was too much IMO.
New Enterprise
The Enterprise has changed but it’s no more drastic than the change that happened when the ship was brought to the big screen. The Enterprise in Star Trek: The motion picture may as well have been a new ship. The creators of Star Trek XI did a good job with the latest design managing to stay true to the original style. They also introduced the glass windscreen which makes a lot of sense considering the location of a star fleet bridge. Now watching the other Trek shows I often think this. It would have helped in a lot of stories.
Again his own opinion. Sitting in the theater on opening day waiting to see the "refit" was exciting. Hell I knew the ship was going to be different (not that it was a "drastic" new ship and I was only 12.This new ship, and yes that is what it is,...could have a design that stuck with the original one.
The uniforms
Did anyone honestly think they could pull off the original costumes in a way that didn’t look cheap and unbelievable on the big screen?
No they do not,...it looks like something Aquaman would wear.
Genuinely funny
Definitely an area the TNG outings fell flat in this movie has some great lines.
I thoroughly enjoyed every "funny" line in the TNG movies.
Characters listen to music which isn't Classical or Jazz.The bar scene was very refreshing as we see that a positive view of the future doesn't have to ban club music.
And just what is wrong with classical music or jazz? Although I don't listen to it everyday I don't think there is nothing wrong with it in Star Trek. It's the characters hobbies is all I think. Now on the Beastie Boys never liked them probably never will....
Proper use of time travel
With all the complaints made about the plot people forget one important thing. The time travel wasn’t under anyone’s control it happened by accident! This avoided many of the pit falls that plagued Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek Enterprise. It wasn’t used as a magic trick which could allow characters to do what they liked and try again if they failed. It ine of the main reasons people hate the movie but its use is far more effective than in many Star Trek stories.
There have been good time travel stories in Trek and there have been bad. There could have been a better plot on just WHY it happened is my opinion.
The shot of the Enterprise rising above Titan
One of the best ship shots in any of the Star Treks.
I can name more although if I thought about it I can come up with more than 3:
1.The "E" and the Reliant engaging each other in the Mutara Nebula (and those were a lot more shots than that one...

2. The Enterprise-E first engaging the Cube in FC.
3. The same in the "Briar Patch" battle (even with the "joystick...

) in INS.
The best compliment I can give this movie is that it took me back to my childhood. It felt like I was watching classic Star Trek again. A feeling I haven’t had since Trials and Tribulations. The director JJ Abrams and the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are clearly fond of Star Trek being loyal to what its about. They have also rediscovered the raw excitement and cowboy style that has been lost over the years. It will hopefully have saved Trek the way Wrath of Khan had.
I could tell the are fond of Trek but not really fans.
Again his opinion. I too grew up with Trek but did not feel like that. And what was wrong with Picards "cowboy diplomacy" in the TNG films?