Another long 2 weeks have gone by but I’m finally back with another review, procrastination is a powerful motivator when you’re trying to avoid doing actual work, such as revise for an imminent image processing exam for 3rd year physics. Instead I’m talking about the latest installment in the Star Trek franchise and one which is very interesting for more reasons than just the fact the previous Star Trek was awesome and the entire cast and crew have returned. This film is the first from director J.J. Abrams after it was announced that he would be the person responsible for bringing the next Star Wars film to the big screen, for many people, including myself, Star Trek Into Darkness serves as an indicator for what we can expect from Star Wars: Episode VII which is scheduled to be released in 2015. So, on with the review.
07/09/13
26/07/13
Star Trek Into Darkness was an above average summer sci-fi blockbuster with plenty of exhilarating action to keep you entertained throughout. The follow-up to the 2009 re-boot of the franchise picks up where the first movie left off; Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise are off having adventures in space, exploring new planets and yadda-yadda you know the drill. I should point out that my Trekkie knowledge is fairly limited and just covers what I found out in the 2009 Star Trek, a movie which a really really enjoyed, more so than the sequel. What they really got right in these movies was the casting, all the principal roles are portrayed damn near perfectly and the interactions between them is what makes the films so compelling and fun.
Into Darkness introduces a new antagonist in the form of Khan, played by Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock fame, and suffice to say this guy is seriously badass. Eric Bana did a fine job in the first movie as the villenous role but he was one of the weaker points of Star Trek. They changed that around though because Khan makes for such an intimidating opponent and he pushes the crew of the Enterprise to their limits. I’m sure there are a lot of nods to the previous movies and TV show that are lost on me and would have enhanced my experience but there were a few I picked up on, lines like “Damn it, man, I’m a Doctor…” just bring a huge smile to your face.
Michael Giacchino gives the film such a rousing score that makes you just want to leap out of your seat and cheer on the heroes, full credit to him and director J.J. Abrams who really knows how bring action to the screen and pace it well, over abundant lens flares aside. I’m also feeling pretty confident in his ability to revive the Star Wars franchise just like how he has breathed life into this one. One scene in particular was truly spectacular and involves a thrilling race through space from one ship to another through a debris field that blew me away.
7.4 out of 10. There’s a lot of fun to be had here and I’d certainly welcome a third movie as long as all the key cast and J.J. Abrams are on board.
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