Star Trek Into Darkness
Starring: Chris Pine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban
Directed By: J.J Abrams
Reviewed by Danielle Muir
[rating: 4.5/5]
Wow. Abrams sure knows how to entertain his audience. Re-invigorating Star Trek in 2009, he brought forth not only a plethora of action, charisma and those all-important lens flares to rapturous applause. Well put some earmuffs on because Abrams has delivered a product even more spectacular than the first – an absolute spectacle of entertainment.
The story carries on from the first – Captain James Kirk is kicked from his post after his trademark headstrong nature violates protocol. With the team in disarray, headquarters is then attacked by an unknown assailant, hell bent on bringing the organization down to rubble.
As per the first, the performances illustrate just how perfect J.J cast this iconic crew. Crystal-eyed Pines is brilliant as rebel Captain Kirk, he’s played with such passion and resolve that you can’t help but admire. The originals have all returned in fine form, Simon Pegg is exasperated as ever as Scotty, Urban cracks wise and worries as Bones, Saldana kicks you-know-what as Uhura and Anton Yelchin is adorable as Chekov. But the absolute standouts come from Quinto, who I believe had the hardest job of the lot as the resident genius, emotionally monotone Spock and Benedict Cumberbatch as the all important villain. Ahhh, Cumberbatch. What a powerhouse. The man seems to be genetically designed to exhibit evil stares and calculating coldness – his performance is worthy of awe and the highest praise.
What’s wonderful about Into Darkness is that the writers have developed each character’s story and given them their time to shine rather than focussing on our main hero Kirk (who of course drives the show.) Chekov is promoted to the engineering room, and boasts infectious enthusiasm as he struggles with blown pipes and whatnot. Spock gets one hell of a fight scene, John Cho’s Sulu copes with stepping up to the reigns of running the ship for a brief time, every character whether main or support gets to develop and test themselves which is admirable to watch and makes you sincerely care for the lot of them.
Of course the VFX are stunning, from opening on an eye-popping foreign planet to the spacecraft crash hinted at in the trailer, everything is larger-than-life but completely seamless and necessary. In fact, that goes for every facet of the film really – the story, characters and world in general are bountiful and adventurous, and you really can’t help but enjoy yourself.
Star Trek Into Darkness is an absolute ball of entertainment and pushes every element further than the first instalment – not only will the actors be remembered as these iconic roles, but J.J will be revered as one of the most accomplished sci-fi directors of the ages.
