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Star Trek Darkness

STAR TREK – INTO DARKNESS

With Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Alice Eve, Leonard Nimoy

Written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof (based on the TV series by Gene Roddenberry)

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Abrams' first reboot of these classic sci-fi characters was a very impressive one, breathing new life into what was originally a mere late-'60s two season camp TV series that grew into a phenomenon (in fact, I've been flicking through channels as I'm writing this, and landed on an episode of the original series with Klingon actor Michael Ansara, who died at age 91 in August 2013).
In this sequel the captain Kirk and Mr. Spock push-pull bromance continues amid the race to stop a seemingly indestructible rogue Starfleet agent from laying waste to everything the command has built and achieved. The clashing characters of an impulsive man driven by his gut, contrasted by another who only complies to logic, play out beneath a spectacular action scenario, with a sense of morality, honor and humanity woven into the visually striking on-screen spectacle. While ordered to destroy this uber-villain with specially supplied weapons loaded onto the Enterprise, the decision is taken to capture him alive so he can be tried for his crimes. Not an easy task as you may expect, and as a result a whole conundrum of secrets, deceptions and half-truths come to the fore.

If you know the original motion picture sequel with Shatner and Nimoy, you'll have an idea who this new formidable villain is. While cataclysmic disaster is afoot, that sense of humour built in with the now legendary original hammed characterization of Shatner has not been neglected, with Simon Pegg's portrayal of Scotty adding some more. But the overall seriousness of the story and huge special FX landscape, and sometimes emotional core, overshadows any moments of silliness.

Even though the 3D was done in post-production, it was effectively executed as opposed to far too many movies doing it without really utilizing it.

Like the Batman re-invention, these new Star Trek movies resurrected a franchise that seemed to lose its way, and here overshadows almost all of its early incarnations and many mediocre spin-offs (except for the deliciously kitch original TV show, of course).

5 / A
- Paul Blom

1 2 3 4 5 6
-A - B - C


Click image below for the previous Star Trek movie :

Star Trek




never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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