STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS – The Review

Review by Dana Jung

In 2009, producer/director J.J. Abrams took the nearly impossible task of relaunching a beloved and storied franchise.  That film of course was STAR TREK, and though Abrams created an “alternate history” version of that world that both reimagined and refreshed the series, he was wise enough to recognize that the character interplay of his three leads was the most important key to the original series’ charm.

As entertaining and action-packed as it was, that first film by Abrams now seems almost a complete setup for this sequel, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS.  Here Abrams and his writers,  Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof, continue deconstructing the TREK mythology, and again have succeeded in creating a vastly entertaining movie, one of the best in the entire series, and one of the best films of the year so far. As the title suggests, however, this TREK has a heavier tone than the funhouse ride of the first film.  With its themes of terrorism and self-sacrifice, Abrams and his crew have simultaneously ramped up the action quotient in DARKNESS, and taken the franchise to new levels of dramatic complexity.

The story begins with a spectacular and fast-paced prologue that playfully nudges that old Trek plot device, the Prime Directive.  However, the young Enterprise captain Kirk (Chris Pine) soon discovers that his brash decisions during this exploit have not only tested his growing friendship with Spock (Zachary Quinto), but jeopardized his Starfleet career as well.  The consequences of choice and responsibilities of command are elements woven throughout DARKNESS, as Kirk matures as a Starfleet officer, and as Spock, McCoy (Karl Urban), and even Scotty (the fabulous Simon Pegg) all have moments of crisis to deal with.

The introduction of the villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch (SHERLOCK on BBC TV) brings a new level of danger to the world of TREK, and his actions have resonance to the terrorism we live with in the current day. Cumberbatch is excellent in his role, striking sinister notes while also engendering a great deal of empathy, if not for his cause, then for the passion with which he clings to the things he holds dear.  With this performance, Cumberbatch finally creates an adversary to the Enterprise crew that is worthy of STAR TREK (but which has been sorely lacking in many films of the series).

Visually, Abrams delivers the stunning vistas of different planets, future cities on Earth, and several breathtaking action sequences, just as we expect of him.  Opening up the story to show not only Starfleet HQ in San Francisco, but also futuristic London, gives Abrams the opportunity to ground the story in a more believable world filled with people going about their daily business.  The action scenes include everything from footchases to epic space battles—there’s even a (STAR WARS-inspired?) dogfight.  The 3D effects and IMAX cinematography add tremendously to these sequences, resulting in a greater sense of depth and feeling of immediacy.  Abrams keeps his camera moving constantly and edits at near light speed to give the viewer the experience of being directly caught up in these events.  In many scenes, Abrams also takes the opportunity to illustrate the size and scope of this Enterprise starship we have almost taken for granted.  In one exciting scene after another, we are able to view the incredible open spaces and sheer immensity of the ship’s engines, including the mysterious (before now) nacelles.

The cast that enlivened the first film, really delivers the goods in DARKNESS with its more somber dramatics.  Pine is even better here playing a man who begins to question some of the decisions he makes, his self-doubt even evident on his face at times.  Quinto is again perfection as the Vulcan struggling (as we all do) with how much emotion to show.  Urban is wonderfully testy as the irascible Bones McCoy, and Pegg’s Scotty is principled but loyal to the end.  Zoe Saldana gets more involved in the action this time as Uhura, while John Cho’ Sulu and Anton Yelchin’s Chekov also have their moments.  More familiar names in the Trek icon pop up (Pike, Marcus, etc.) with Peter Weller, Bruce Greenwood, and Alice Eve fitting in nicely.

From start to finish, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is full to the brim with danger, excitement, laughs, and that timeless camaraderie we as an audience have come to know and love.  The question is, can Abrams keep up this pace, and deliver yet again with what will surely be the third installment of this saga?  As fans of the original series know, this film leaves many plotlines yet to be developed and is perfectly set up for another sequel.  If Abrams can fill that film with as much sense of drama, as much sense of humor, and as much sense of wonder that he has with STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, we’ll all be a happy audience indeed.