Star Trek: Into Darkness Review

J.J. Abrams has done it again. I reviewed his first Star Trek movie last week, and I absolutely loved it, but I think that Into Darkness could possibly be even better. The action is fantastic. The characters are great, and all get their chance to shine, and the plot is full of twists and turns. It really just makes me so happy. The music industry might be pretty diabolical at the moment, but we can count on the film industry to give us fresh, new and exciting stories that not only peak our curiosity, but require our attention. Star Trek: Into Darkness is the second summer blockbuster to come out this year after Iron Man 3, and if those two are anything to go by, we are in for a pretty excellent summer of movies.

Like its predecessor, Star Trek: Into Darkness begins with a prelude. This one is quite different to the first movie's though. The Enterprise crew are now in place, and are out in space discovering new worlds and getting into adventures. I like the fact that the movie begins with them in the middle of a mission. It was a great way to re-establish all of the characters, and to show us that the Enterprise hasn't been doing nothing since the last film. By showing us the end of their mission it leaves the impression that they get into these kinds of situations on a regular basis.

Another point in this film's favour is that the character development that happened in the previous movie is all still intact. Sometimes in a sequel the characters can revert to the way that they were at the beginning of the previous film thus negating their entire development and arc in that film. Into Darkness is never in danger of this happening. Spock can still be a pain in the ass for Kirk, but it is clear that there is an underlying level of respect and friendship between the two. In fact, it is clear that the entire crew of the Enterprise trust and respect Kirk which also implies that they have been through a lot together. I like it when things are implied, but never explicitly spelled out in films, and Abrams does this to perfection.

One of the biggest complaints that critics had with the previous film in this franchise was that it didn't have a strong enough villain. I must say that I don't really agree with this, but I can see where they are coming from. If that was a mistake, though, it has not been repeated. Benedict Cumberbatch is absolutely brilliant as John Harrison. His voice is just so menacing, and he exudes an air of intelligence and confidence that only an actor like Cumberbatch can. However, he is not a simple villain, and for a long time, it is hard to see what he is trying to achieve, but when it is revealed, it is totally worth it.

This film is also shot beautifully, but that was expected after the first one. I think that Abrams upped his game, and made the film a complete thrill ride. When the Enterprise goes to warp, I was actually in awe. It just looked so cool. The lens flare was back too, and I loved it. It just adds so much colour to the film, and it suits this franchise perfectly. This film is also very emotional, and plenty of scenes, especially those involving Kirk and Spock, really hit home with me. This is a sci-fi extravaganza, but the characters are still relatable. Also, there is one shot that is just the Enterprise in the sky that almost took my breath away.

Cumberbatch, Abrams and Pine

All I can say is well done writers, well done actors, well done J.J. Abrams. Star Trek: Into Darkness is The Shit.