Software development in Redmond appears to have ground to a screeching halt as Microsoft employees flock to screenings of "Star Trek."

A number of Twitter messages -- here, here and here -- have popped up from employees who say they are at private screenings of "Star Trek," thanks to Microsoft.

The company has made no secret of love for all things "Trek." The lobby art in one of the entertainment and devices offices in Redmond features a light-up bead curtain with the images of Kirk and Spock, as played by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

So what did you think of the movie? Are Chris Pine and Sylar worthy of wearing the uniform?

Here's video of Nimoy on David Letterman giving an abridged Top Ten list of lines never said on "Star Trek."

Update 5:28 p.m.: Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos said the entire Microsoft Research group did take off to see the new Star Trek movie this afternoon.

"Indeed some of our Microsoft researchers boldly went where only a few had gone before," Gellos said. That's just one of several Star Trek jokes he made in our phone conversation. Set phasers to funny.

It's a tradition for Rick Rashid, a senior vice president for the division, to take the group to the movies every time there's a new Star Trek movie. He pays for it out of his own pocket, Gellos said.

(Photo credit: The Associated Press)