A good portion of Trekkies (or Trekkers, depending on one's level of
Star
Trek obsession) have special affection for episodes of the original TV
series that related to Earth and other-Earth cultures visited by the crew of the
Enterprise, version 1.0. Some of the shows unfolded in distorted forms of
the past, some in the present day of
Star Trek's future reality. Director
J.J. Abrams recognized the importance of this relationship in his origin-story
reboot of the franchise in 2009, and in
Star Trek Into Darkness he has
made it an even greater touchstone to the roots of
Star Trek creator Gene
Roddenberry's defining philosophy from nearly 50 years ago. The human home world
is key to the plot of this spectacularly bold leap into
Star Trek lore,
which cleverly continues along the alternate path that was established as
separate from the "original"
Star Trek universe in Abrams's first
whiz-bang crack at advancing the mythology. But it's not just Earth that is cool
and imperiled in this rendering of adventure in the 23rd century;
Into
Darkness also plays with the original conceit that Earthlings were member to
a multi-species United Federation of Planets ruled by a "Prime Directive" of
noninterference with other civilizations. The conflict comes when rogue elements
in the Earth-based Starfleet Command hunger to shift focus from peaceful
exploration to militarization, a concept that is anathema to the crew of the
Enterprise and her ongoing mission. The new cast is again inventively
reunited, each of them further investing their characters with traits that
reveal novel acting choices while staying true to the caricatures that are
ingrained in our popular culture. The interplay between Chris Pine as Kirk and
Zachary Quinto as Spock is deeper, and Zoe Saldana as Uhura is a solid third in
their relationship. John Cho (Sulu), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Anton Yelchin
(Chekov), and Karl Urban (McCoy) all have standout roles in the overall ensemble
mystique as well as the plot-heavy machinations of this incarnation's narrative.
Fortunately, the burdens of the story are well served by some important
additions to the cast. Benedict Cumberbatch's Shakespearean aura, ferociously
imperious gaze, and graceful athleticism make him a formidable villain as the
mysterious Starfleet operative John Harrison. Harrison has initiated a campaign
of terror on Earth before leading the
Enterprise to even greater dangers
in the enemy territory of Klingon-controlled space. That his background may make
dedicated Trekkies/Trekkers gasp is just one acknowledgment of the substantial
and ingrained legacy
Star Trek has borne. There are many references, nods
and winks to those with deep reverence for the folklore (some of them perhaps a
little too close to being inside-baseball), though the fantastical and
continually exciting story stands as an expertly crafted tale for complete
neophytes. Another new face is Peter Weller--iconically famous in sci-fi-dom as
RoboCop--here playing a steely, authoritative Starfleet bigwig who may
also be following a hidden agenda. Not only is he running a covert operation,
he's also at the helm of a fearsome secret starship that looms over the
Enterprise like a shark poised to devour its prey. Which brings us to the
awesome CGI effects driving the dazzling visual style of
Into Darkness
and the endlessly fascinating cosmos it makes real. The wow factor extends from
the opening set piece on an alien world of primitive humanoids, garish
vegetation, and a roiling volcano to the finale of destruction in a future San
Francisco that is elegantly outfitted with gleaming-spired skyscrapers and all
manner of flying vehicles. (London also gets a breathtaking 23rd-century
makeover). With a coolness that glistens in every immaculately composed shot,
the movie never forgets that humanism and creativity make the myriad design
details and hyper-technology pop out as much more than eye candy. The biggest
achievement of
Star Trek Into Darkness is that it hews to the highest
standard of a highly celebrated tradition. Though Kirk and co. may bend it a
little, the Prime Directive remains unbroken.
--Ted Fry
Price: $29.99
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
OK folks first of all, this is a movie. J.J. is not trying to re-invent the
wheel here. What J.J. Abrams has accomplished here is to re-imagine a burned out
brand and series (that I loved as much as any true fan) and had the guts to go
where no director has gone before with it. He shows his total respect for the
best of the previously done films, his respect for the fans of the original
films, and bravely creates a marvelous environment for the future of this
series. I cannot tell you the last time I have sit in a darkened movie theater
(full of fans and first timers) and had so much fun listening to the audience
ooh and aah at what they were seeing and hearing from the screen. I along with
them laughed, oohed, aah-ed, and even shed a tear, as this movie unfolded, and
cannot remember the last time I felt so satisfied in seeing a film.
To
all of the families with teens and tweens out there, Yes! this is the whole
family movie experience you've been waiting for (and to be fair, there are some
really intense scenes, and a four letter word uttered, but you just know the
character would really say it in the heat of the moment) !!! It Is Fun! The cast
is pitch perfect, the look, sound, and feel of "Into Darkness" is a joy to
behold, and a loving homage to all of us who loved the original characters and
films, and to those of us who just love good old fashion science fiction. It is
a first class roller coaster ride and a true challenge to film makers to up the
ante for audiences, if you want us to continue to shell out the movie bucks. By
the way, this is a repeater for me as I will go back to see it again.
To
J.J. Abrams and your entire crew, Thank You! for being so fearless, so brave to
tweak and tamper with a sci-fi original, and re-remind me why I like to go to
the movies. I think that Gene Roddenberry would be so proud of your take on his
universe.
To the entire cast, Thank You! for being true to the original
actors and characters, for giving them your spin, and making the roles your own.
I have not had this much fun in a movie theater in a long, long, time, and in a
galaxy far, far, away. BRAVO !!!
And to those of you that are leaving
such horrid and negative comments to my review, WAKE UP!! These are MOVIES that
we are talking about. I now understand why some actors comment at some point in
their careers, about some fans needing to get a life. Movies are not real life
changing events. They are meant for ALL of us to ENJOY (or not)for the two or
three hours we sit in that theater, and maybe learn a little something (or not).
Movies allow us to escape our sometimes droll and stressful lives for just a
moment, to fantasize, to dream for a moment, to forget how different our lives
have become. If you don't like or feel the same way about a movie as I do, I
understand. But understand this, I don't try to keep people from seeing,
renting, or buying a film because I don't like it, nor do I spend my time trying
to drag someone else down because their opinion is different from mine.
I
saw this film and I had Fun!! It took me back to the early days of Bart Sloane
(The 4D Man - The Blob), Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts), and Stanley
Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey) when special effects were in their infancy. I
felt the same way when I saw my first Steven Spielberg film (Jaws), my first
Ridley Scott movie (Alien), George Lucas (Star Wars), and now J.J. Abrams. These
are but a minute few of the hundreds of great filmmakers (I could go on
forever)that have gone the extra mile to entertain us, to give us a break from
the real world that is so full of Intolerance, Hate, Fear, Hunger, Struggle, and
Disease. Give them a break guy's, they are just making movies for us to enjoy
(or not).
Remember, the world will still turn tomorrow, that is unless
God decides that he has had enough of us, and the way we treat each other, and
decides to just shakes us off of this little blue planet that we do not respect
at all.
