"Star Trek Into Darkness" Review

 In 2009, J.J. Abrams (Lost, Alias) successfully gave Star Trek a much-needed cinematic reboot. Witty humor, rousing action, strong performances from the aptly-cast leads, and reverent nods to the original television series won over critics and "Trekkies" alike, while also introducing Kirk, Spock, Sulu and the rest of the crew to a new generation of fans.

In 2013, Abrams does it again with his sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness.

The latest voyage of the Starship Enterprise sees the crew going after one John Harrison, (a foreboding Benedict Cumberbatch, best known for TV's Sherlock) after he launches a one-man offensive against the Starfleet organization while still a member of its ranks. Determined to bring Harrison to justice, Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) prepares his crew for all-out war as they boldly journey to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in search of their elusive target.

No strangers to the summer blockbuster season, scribes Alex Kurtzman (Transformers), Roberto Orci (Mission: Impossible III), and Damon Lindelof (TV's Lost) craft a screenplay that balances non-stop action, laugh-a-minute humor, and engrossing character drama. You're not just on the edge of your seat drooling over the polished special effects or the stunning Alice Eve (She's Out of My League) as Dr. Carol Marcus. There's also a surprising amount of depth to this popcorn feature that's enough to keep the audience guessing at all times. What more could you ask for from a Summer blockbuster?

The action is much more intense and frequent than it was back in 2009. That being said, it doesn't detract from the story and only serves to make a running time of just over two hours feel like a smooth, quick "whoosh" down a giant ski slope.

But Into Darkness doesn't just engage your eyes and brain. It goes for the funny bone as well. The film's funniest moments come from the buddy-banter between Kirk and Spock, with Zachary Quinto's Spock rattling off deadpan one-liners with Vulcan aplomb. Karl Urban and Simon Pegg contribute to the hilarity as well. Urban's Dr. "Bones" McCoy lends some fun metaphors that work thanks to his down-home demeanor. Pegg's Scotty also takes some of the edge off by making light of the occasional dark moments involving his character.

Speaking of actors and their contributions, Benedict Cumberbatch truly outdoes himself in the role of John Harrison. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the crew are perfectly enjoyable in their roles for the way they take Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's beloved characters and reverently make them their own. But Into Darkness is truly the villain's show, much like The Dark Knight before it. 

In 2008, Heath Ledger dominated the screen with his bone-deep, no-holds-barred portrayal of The Joker. Since then, audiences have been ill-pressed to find another cinematic villain worthy of even holding a candle to Ledger's Joker. Cumberbatch's Harrison may be the first (or second, depending on your opinion of Tom Hardy's Bane) to come close. 

The Sherlock actor has a face that's distinct and terrifying, yet handsome. His gaze is comforting, yet piercing, as he looks into your soul with steely eyes as if to say, "Trust me, but if you do, you won't stand a chance." Watching him is almost like seeing an embodiment of yin and yang, though maybe not to the extent of, say, the Incredible Hulk. There's certainly something wrong with Harrison, as witnessed early on in the film, but on several occasions the heroes of the Enterprise are forced to trust, and even work with, him. And that's horrifying. 

I think that the best villains are the ones that truly know how to get under the skin and into the head of the hero and force them to endure unforeseen circumstances. By this, I mean events where it's nearly impossible to predict if the hero will actually be able to save the day. It shows that the hero can't always be invincible, and I think that thematic idea is one that distinguishes "good" good-versus-evil stories from "outstanding" good-versus-evil stories. With Cumberbatch as the villain, he does a hell of a job getting inside the head of, not just the heroes, but of the audience as well, forcing them to think every light-year of the way and keeping the plot unpredictable. For that reason, I consider Star Trek Into Darkness an "outstanding" good-versus-evil story. (By now, it should go without saying that Cumberbatch blows Eric Bana's villain from the 2009 Star Trek clear out of the water. There's a reason Abrams had him sucked into a black hole.)

Boasting a much stronger villain, more intense action, a slightly less-preposterous plot, and the same sense of humor and reverence for it's source material that made the 2009 reboot a hit, J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness hits harder than its predecessor and manages to be the most exhilarating and wholly satisfying experience of this young summer season. 

Oh, and Peter Weller (a.k.a. the original RoboCop) is in it. 'Nuff said.

9/10