I may not
be a “Trekkie,” but I loved 2009’s Star
Trek, where J.J. Abrams teamed with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto to breathe
new life into the historic science fiction franchise. As far as high-profile sequels go, Star Trek Into Darkness may not have had
the pedigree benefitting Iron Man 3,
but Paramount Pictures was still swinging for the fences with its marketing
campaign priming what could be the biggest blockbuster of the 2013 Summer Movie
Season. The first nine minutes of
footage from sequel featured before The
Hobbit were spectacular, and with high-energy trailers and creative partnerships
alongside everyone from Microsoft to Esurance, even the most casual of
audiences were ready for a cinematic event.
In terms of the new cast members, a majority of the buzz surrounded
Benedict Cumberbatch, whose villain was being universally lauded, and the male demographic
had to appreciate the shameless inclusion of a scantily-clad Alice Eve. The 3D post-production conversion was going
to amplify the already-impressive action sequences and critical reception was
off the charts, so I couldn’t wait for Michael Giacchino’s epic score to strum
up and signal another voyage of the starship Enterprise.
Chillingly
exciting, visually spectacular, and filled with truly enjoyable character
performances, Star Trek Into Darkness
is a must-see for fan and non-fan alike, making this sequel one of the
strongest action blockbusters of the year.
Whether Spock is deactivating a live volcano, Kirk is diving through
space at high-velocity, or the Enterprise is crashing towards Earth, there is
enough special-effects driven action to given adrenaline junkies the goose
bumps...3D and IMAX are a damn-worthy investments. And while the return of familiar dynamics
like the friendship between Kirk and Spock or the indignation of Scotty and
Bones is enjoyable, Benedict Cumberbatch is the scene-stealer. An elusive and mysterious antagonist, Cumberbatch
is downright venomous and the type of iconic villain that will be discussed for
years. Finally, the script stripped away
the complicated story arcs that plagued the original, leaving Star Trek Into Darkness as a memorable
cinematic adventure representing the perfect kind of summer movie.
Overall
Recommendation: Very High
