Review of Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) by Julian T — 25 Aug 2014

I have never been into Star Trek. I don't think its bad, but I just have never seen the hype around it. My stance was reaffirmed with the soulless and lackluster Abrams Star Trek reboot a few years ago. As much as I didn't care for its dead-behind-the-eyes tone, it had enough going for it that I wanted to see the follow up. I am very glad I did, because this was a dramatic leap forward, and probably Abrams best effort to date.

On a side note, J.J Abrams is a tough one for me to figure out. Almost every project he is involved is one I'm interested in. 'Cloverfield', 'Super 8', 'Star Trek', 'Lost', 'Fringe', etc. They all have super cool sounding plots and great effects and ideas. However every time I watch an Abrams production, I leave thinking 'That was ok, but it should have been so much better.' With this film, Abrams has finally satisfied his projects potential.

With the origin story out of the way, this film can just jump right in and it wastes little time in establishing itself. The plot is slick, twisty, intelligent and fast moving unlike the plodding and unwieldy story of the first film. The effects are fantastic, and all the actors seem to grow into their roles a bit more, particularly Pine who seemed quite out of place during his first foray into the final frontier. Cho and Yelchin also come around quite a bit. The notable exception here is Urban, who just can't figure out what he's doing.

While the acting is strong and the story is good, there is really one reason this movie is as good as it is, and that is Benedict Cumberbatch as the infamous Khan. He is fantastic, creating an intense and ruthless villain whos menace permeates the entire film. He strikes me as a cross between the Joker and Hannibal Lector; a well spoken gentleman who happens to be an unstoppable bad ass with a big time problem with establishment and a fondness for hand to hand brutality. Cumberbatch is also able to convey Khans sympathetic angles, making him a multifaceted character with a lot going on.

From a technical standpoint, the film is in great shape. Unconventional shots and great cinematography take full advantage of its great sets and effects. The score is very good as it really amps up the tension without being distracting. As I said, I don't know a ton about Star Trek so I'm not entirely sure how it compares as far as continuity with the originals, but I did recognize plenty of references and Easter-eggs pertaining to its predecessor. A really well handled piece of film making.

There are some drawbacks of course. It does get a bit convoluted at times particularly during the third act. A few plot holes and head scratching moments jump the rails a bit, but it does manage to find itself again. I didn't care for the whole 'emoting Spock/BFF Kirk' angle, as it came across as out of character and over the top. None of these problems are debilitating, but they are noticeable.

Overall, I have to give credit where credit is due. Abrams has done a great job here. Even as a non Star Trek fan, he had me hooked. Good story telling, good acting, a fantastic villain and beautiful composition combine to make this a surprisingly intelligent summer blockbuster more than worthy of its reputation.