Here's a little something I was tooling around with earlier...Nothing final, just playing with some ideas.

Hey Jaiman, Did you notice this? - Early on as the Excelsior encounters the shockwave Dimitri is standing next to Sulu, then he appears in one of the alcoves, then he is back next to Sulu and and runs over to one of the alcoves...you probably wont notice a thing like that unless you look out for it. at about the 4 minute mark.
Might try to put in the alternate shot of Kirk non-verbally retracting his "Let them die!", if and see how it plays, since it was Shatner's wish.
which part exactly were you referring to?
I agree about the mind meld scene.
There was something else but I can't remember right now...