Review of Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) by Dillinger P — 18 May 2014

Star Trek Into Darkness attempts a "Dark Knight" Of the franchise and although hits a lot of the right marks, its predictability and lack of confidence to see things through, hold it off from being a monumental film, however it does enjoy a phenominal action packed success.

Almost tripling the action and set piece from the series reboot in 2009, JJ Abrams boldly attempts to get our pulse racing from the very beginning with a gorgeous and heart racing opening. The character art and location is visually unique and stunning, using CGI to push the vibrancy of a doomed planet and its occupants.

This will continue throughout the film, however a mixed bag of irritating lens flare and trying to keep this too family a film, almost does it a disservice. The story begins as Kirk, played amazingly by Pine, and his team are forced to save Spock, yet again amazingly played by Quinto, as he decides to save a species from extinction.

This is obviously against protocol and upon completion of the mission and successful return to earth, Kirk is pulled from his captaincy of the USS Enterprise for recklessness and lack of rule following.

Felt betrayed by Spock, Kirk goes off the radar and all the while, John Williamson, Yet again a extraordinary performance from Benedict Cumberbatch, uses the will of a dying daughters father to commit sabbotage against an archive facility in London.

Thus leading to all the leading members of the star fleet to meet in the one location. This predictably is where John wants them and after slaughtering Pike and other heads of the enterprise, John hides out on a Klingon planet as refuge and Kirk and his team are ordered to head to this "Uninhabited" planet in order to nuke John from orbit.

It is all naturally a bit fishy and before you know it all hell has broken loose and of course, John isnt quite who we thought he was and offers Kirk and his crew quite possibly the worst threat they could encounter.

.. Sorry the film would let you believe it is going to do that, however the outcome is one thats bark is much worse than its bite. Firstly the cast is just jaw dropping, talent from Urban, Pegg, Pine, Quinto, Salander, Cumberbatch and Yelchin are all top notch.

Playing the characters expertly, paying homage from whence they came, however not parodying it. Its a tough call but JJ ensures its execution perfectly. In fact you genuinly love every character you encounter, apart from Benedict but thats because hes doing his job properly.

The CGI is extremely impressive for its time and for the most part does an excellent job of not becoming to irritating... Apart from that trademark JJ lens flare, it pains me to say it but its close to crippling at points, there is no need for that effect every 3 shots.

It brings you completely out of the experience and from what I could tell, only hightens one if not maybe two effects on the grand scheme of things. Luckily the DOP does some stunning and imaginitive work in order to keep our eyes invested beyond the CGI and the mix of sets and green screen is a welcome one, after such films which shall not be names decide to use entirely green screen.

Michael Giacchinos score is pounding and accompanies these visuals wonderfully, never is there a dull moment in this film and the music only services to ensure this is the case. Now where the films biggest flaws lay and no its not the lens flare, come from its predictability and its lack of "Cahoanies" without giving too much away, Cumberbatch plays a massive villainous role within this film, and to be honest from the get go, we can see the twist coming.

Much like we can see the outcome of many things coming in this film. the script and director feel the need to spell things out every 15 minutes or so, just incase you as a viewer decide that over the length of two hours is too much to hold your attention for.

.. The amount of times I was narrating in my head what was going to happen next was unbearable and even in some cases, quoting lines I hadnt heard yet. This is not good, had this been any less of a film it would be a catastrophy, luckily it has its eye set on spectical and character that its gaping obviousness is allowed through.

It's second fault is that Into Darkness, clearly highlighted by its title, wants to get get gritty and dark and visceral. Good, so why then do I feel like im watching a tamed down version? Why doesnt the director or the writers actually put us in a position where there is no going back? Why does the "Wrath" of a certain character, actually just end up as a bunch of CGI destruction and a small "tear jerking" moment that enduces no tears because for the past few hours it has spelt out the ending for you? I know that not all films need to be pitch black to be perfect, however it feels here that JJ wanted something a lot darker than he submits for our viewing pleasure.

Thus making it fall short of "Dark Knight" stature. All that aside though, as a action block buster, it is without a doubt bombastic and a film where you actually give a rats ass about the characters.

Enjoyable, fun and fast paced, let down only by not doing as it promised, taking us truely "Into" the "Darkness".