“Star Trek: Into Darkness” opens right in the middle of an Enterprise mission. As you would expect, the simple mission (save a primitive planet from total destruction) is not going according to plan. Spock (Zachary Quinto) is stuck in a volcano and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) is stuck with the decision to leave his first officer or break protocol. You can guess which one he opts for.
It’s a fitting opening for this action-packed film.
In the second installment of the revamped series, the Enterprise crew is after the superhuman terrorist Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch), who, it turns out, is a rogue pawn in a much larger scheme.
The movie is high-stakes from beginning to end, but it never gets tiring. Director J.J. Abrams has managed to keep the same feel and style of his first film, without overdoing it. The series still feels fresh.
A lot of the credit goes to the incredible cast.
Reprising their roles as Spock and Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine still impress. Taking over such iconic and beloved roles is no easy feat, and yet both of these talented young actors manage to make the parts their own while still paying respect to the originals.
Of course, any decent hero is only as good as their villain, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan proves to be a formidable foil for our two heroes. Cumberbatch’s poise, cool delivery, and charm make for a likable, but truly terrifying foe.
Whether you’re a diehard Trekkie or a newbie to the series, it’s hard to not enjoy this film. J.J. Abrams may have strayed from the purists’ “Star Trek,” but what he’s created is a modern, sleek, funny, and smart version of this beloved series.
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