Back in 2009, über-nerd director
and producer J.J. Abrams breathed new life into the Star Trek TOS franchise with
his sleek and stylish alternate-universe reboot 'Star Trek,' which is no mean feat considering how
demanding and picky the passionate and outspoken Star Trek (Trekkies) fanbase
can be. Four years later, the eagerly
awaited follow-up is finally upon us.
'Star Trek Into Darkness' had large shoes to fill, but with Abrams
at the helm (or in the 'Captain's Chair') again, the return of the dynamic writing duo of Alex Kurtzman and
Roberto Orci, plus the addition of talented 'Lost' scribe Damon Lindelof, 'Prometheus' notwithstanding, I
had absolutely no doubt that we have yet another winner in our hands.
Despite the movie's overwhelming
positive reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), some diehard Trek fans criticized
the movie for being overly action-packed at the expense of character development
and interaction. While I do understand to
a certain degree, since 'Into Darkness' is more furiously and frenetically paced
than 'Star Trek,' the movie does not suffer at all for it. Like its predecessor, this movie upheld the
Star Trek tradition and mythology with the utmost respect. For instance, if you pay attention you'll find numerous
references to the source material in the characters' speech and exchanges, such
as the popular Freudian concept of id, ego and super-ego reflected in McCoy,
Kirk and Spock. Once again Chris Pine,
Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and Simon Pegg captured the essences of their respective roles
with aplomb, as did Zoe Saldana, John Cho and and Anton Yelchin, while British 'Sherlock Holmes' thespian Benedict Cumberbatch shined as the movie's believable villain (despite the fact that his true identity was
never a secret, I will not divulge it). Although the many fight and chase scenes are undoubtedly exciting, the movie is at its absolute best during those invigorating, tension-filled moments when Kirk and crew are staring down the barrel of a gun (or Federation Dreadnought) in a high stakes game of brinkmanship, bluffing for their lives and buying time to escape by the skin of their teeth.
Action packed with a good dose
of humor and heart (such as the 'bromance' between Kirk and Spock), 'Star Trek
Into Darkness' is another solid contribution to the Star Trek canon that fans
should be proud of. This is an end as
well as a beginning. As Abrams has taken
on the challenge of continuing another beloved sci-fi franchise for Disney,
something called 'Star Wars' I believe, the future of Star Trek may well lie in the hands
of others yet unknown. But he couldn't
have left it any better, as the USS Enterprise begins its five-year mission ”to
explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, and to
boldly go where no man has gone before." Cue music please.
Grade: A"Houston, we have a problem..."
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