The Lowdown:Whoa, that was freakin' awesome! Star Trek Into Darkness is one of those rare sequels that not only equals the sheer awesomeness of the first film, but probably surpasses it thanks to fantastic directing, storytelling, visual effects, and best of all, one of the best villains in recent years. Some would (and have) argue that the film possesses a pretentious script that goes against the entire concept of rebooting Star Trek in the first place, but I find that to be nit-picking because the villain here, played by the amazing Benedict Cumberbatch, is one of the best parts of the film. Really, Star Trek Into Darkness will leave you breathless and wanting more.
1. The Plot:After a daring rescue mission to save an entire planet, the crew of the Enterprise successfully completes their mission...and violate at least a dozen Starfleet rules that results in the break-up and reassignment of Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto). Meanwhile, a terrorist by the name of John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) blows up a Starfleet record archive in the UK and flees to Kronos, the Klingon planet. Through various circumstances, most of the original Enterprise crew are reassembled on special orders to go to Kronos and capture Harrison. Upon retrieving Kronos, deep, dark secrets come to light, resulting in the unveiling of what could be a massive conspiracy that involves both Harrison and Starfleet. Will the crew of the Enterprise be able to unravel the mystery and save the planet, and will they be able to do it before the Enterprise is destroyed?
2. The Characters: A sign of excellence: the filmmakers were able to bring back the entire cast from the first film. This is an ideal cast; all of the actors have the right chemistry and thespian chops to play their respective characters, and we have seen them mature throughout the first film. Personal conflict is largely present in Into Darkness, and it adds to the depth and complexity of the characters. Kirk and Spock, played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, are the perfect on-screen duo. They are polar opposites, but at the very core of it, they are best buds, and the whole friendship between them strikes a strong emotional chord.
Also affecting is the relationship between Spock and Uhura (Zoe Saldana), which is on the breaking point due to Spock having put himself in peril, seemingly without regard for their relationship. Comic relief is brought by Simon Pegg as Scotty and Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy. These two actors embody their roles so well that it's almost impossible to see anyone else in the roles. Sulu (John Cho) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin) get a bit less screentime, but each have their "big" moment in the film. John Cho, notably, seems to channel a bit of George Takei in his voice in one key scene. It's enough to make one smile. Bruce Greenwood also makes a return as Commander Pike, who still remains one of the few higher-ups to believe in Kirk despite Kirk's notorious reputation as a rule-breaker. There are a few new characters. Alice Eve plays Carol, a young, brilliant weapons specialist who joins the crew of the Enterprise, which results in the ever growing suspicions of Spock. It would not be spoiling too much to reveal that Carol is actually the daughter of Commander Marcus (Peter Weller), who sends the Enterprise crew on the dangerous mission to Kronos.
Because fan service.
But the one character who steals every scene he is in, and quite possibly the whole film, is John Harrison, played by the riveting Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock).
He puts the "bad" in "badass".
Benedict Cumberbatch retains that self-assured brilliance that he has in Sherlock, but is also given the opportunity to show off his powerful acting abilities. Harrison is a cunning, comtemplative character who has his brilliant plans mapped out to the very last detail, and when he is being deadly serious, he is also eerily calm. Kind of like if Sherlock Holmes was angry. However, Harrison has a sadistic, maniacal side to him, and when angered or in the heat of battle, he is frighteningly ruthless and brutal. Watching Benedict Cumberbatch (god, I love saying this guy's name) is electric; every scene he is in will have you gazing at the screen with awe. Aside from being super-strong and super-smart, he also has regenerative abilities, making him nearly impossible to take down. Really, Harrison could very well be the greatest foe that the crew of the Enterprise has ever faced.
Forget this guy.
3. The Aesthetics: There isn't a whole lot to say except that the visuals in this film equal the visuals in Star Trek in terms of quality. The CGI is fantastic, and the sight of new places where no man has gone before always makes your jaw drop a little in awe. Shiny surfaces are abundant in this film, of course, and the heavy use of lens flare makes everything seem even shinier. If you had a magnifying glass, you could probably roast ants using the light reflecting off of the surfaces in the film. Really, what makes Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness so exciting aside from the visual style, is the dynamic filmmaking that J.J. Abrams employs. The camera is hardly ever staying still. There is so much motion and energy in the film, and it is apparent that the camera and the people working the camera are getting a real workout while filming. Wild chase scenes, intense shootouts and fistfights, and even just moving from point A to point B all feature a sort of manic energy; so much is happening and the filmmakers ensure that nothing ever gets boring. Basically, this is not lazy filmmaking. There is tension during most of the scenes in the film, and the breakneck pacing of the film pretty much requires that nothing ever be static.(ATTENTION: MASSIVE SPOILER SECTION AHEAD!!!)
4. The "Dark Knight" Model of Storytelling: Ok, discussion time. I’ve noticed this recurring pattern in big blockbuster films within the past few years. Ever since Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008) made film history, many films became heavily influenced by it. Most notably, parallels can be seen in Skyfall (2012), mainly in terms of story structure, plot and character details, and visuals. Star Trek Into Darkness definitely doesn’t roam in the quasi-realistic settings and also features a far more diverse cast, but in terms of story structure, it is evident that there are similarities to The Dark Knight and Skyfall. I’ll make a list of things I noticed.
1) Huge Action Setpiece in the Beginning: All three films start off with a thrilling action setpiece that that is only indirectly connected to the main plot; in The Dark Knight, the Joker robs a bank; in Skyfall, Bond chases a man who has stolen a hard drive containing the identities of MI-6 undercover operatives; in Into Darkness, the crew of the Enterprise saves an alien race from extinction.
Also, all three action sequences are totally epic.
2) The Villain Detonates a Bomb to Start Things Off: In Skyfall, Silva bombs M’s office at the MI-6 headquarters and making her watch. In Into Darkness, Harrison detonates a bomb at a Starfleet record archive. The purpose of this scene is to initiate the villain’s evil plot, and to inform the audience and main characters of what the villain is capable of. As a result, we dislike the villain.
3) The Villain is a Maniacal Genius: The Joker, Raoul Silva, and John Harrison. All three villains have chaotic plans that will cause untold chaos and destruction. Each of their plans is extremely convoluted and detailed, and yet, when the plans are executed, every single element falls perfectly into place. Watching the Joker pull off his murder of all of the high officials (how did he know that the mayor would pull out that poisoned liquor and drink it?), when Silva escapes his cage and flees through the subway to kill M, and when Harrison is able to psychologically manipulate and convince everyone that he is a good guy, resulting in him accompanying Kirk onto Marcus’ ship. Even if all of this was planned out well in advance, the targets would have to be the most predictable people ever and do everything at the right moment. It's ridiculous, but if the plan fell apart, we would have no movie.
4) The Glass Cage Scene: All three films feature a key interrogation scene where the villain is locked in a cage with glass windows. Once the protagonist gets face-to-face with the villain, both characters can match wits with each other, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of each character. In all cases, the villain seems to end up on top by remaining eerily calm and collected, while our main characters are agitated and emotionally unstable, conveying weakness on their part.
5) Character Similarities: · - Lucius Fox = Q = Scotty: All three films feature a tech wizard who plays with fancy gadgets and assists the hero from behind the scenes.
· - Alfred/Gordon = M = Commander Pike: These characters are ones that the hero has developed a close emotional attachment to. They believe in the hero’s abilities and serve as moral guides during difficult times.
6) Death of a Main Character: In The Dark Knight, the Joker kills Rachel Dawes, the love of Bruce Wayne’s life. This ultimately drives Bruce into depression and solitude at the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises (2012). In Skyfall, M dies during the very emotional climax. M knows Bond through and through, and has been almost like a mother to him over the years. In Into Darkness, Commander Pike is killed during an attack by Harrison. Kirk loses the father figure who has believed in him despite all of the reckless decisions he has made. However, Pike’s death actually occurs close to the beginning of the film. As a result, it serves as a motivator for Kirk to capture Harrison. Revenge is a slippery motivator though, since being emotionally compromised makes one appear more vulnerable and weak.
(END OF MASSIVE SPOILER SECTION!!!)
The Bottom Line: If J.J. Abrams can keep this up, then the new Star Wars trilogy is going to rock. But enough about Star Wars. Star Trek is the toast of the town right now. Star Trek Into Darkness is a polarizing sci-fi masterpiece that will surely rank among the best Star Trek films, as well as the best films of 2013. The filmmakers ventured into darker territory with the addition of the maniacal, wrathful supervillain played by Benedict Cumberbatch, but still retained the character-driven elements of the film. The entire cast from the first film returns and it is still apparent that they make a great team. Brisk pacing, gorgeous visuals, and exhilarating action scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you breathless. If you’re like me, you won’t want the film to end, and that is one of the highest compliments I can give a film. So what are you waiting for? Boldly go to the theater, now.
Star Trek Into Darkness is property of Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions, and Bad Robot. This review was written by me.
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