Star Trek Into Darkness

I have been waiting for the sequel to Star Trek since the lights came on in the theater when I first saw it. I finally got to see Star Trek IntoDarkness last night and it did not disappoint. The follow-up to the 2009 film was just as exciting as the first one. J.J. Abrams has quickly become one of my favorite directors. Overall, this was an excellent film that is definitely worth seeing in theaters.

My Star Trek knowledge only extends to the first J.J. Abrams film, so I am by no means a Trekkie. I cannot debate the story or where it fits into the overall world of Star Trek, but this is very well written.

The crew of the USS Enterprise returns to track down a fugitive that has escaped to Klingon territory. They face numerous threats as they find themselves trapped behind enemy territory. Captain Kirk grapples with whom to trust and how to save his crew when he finds himself in what only looks like a no-win situation.

All of the crew from the first film returns for the second installments. Many characters take an even larger role in this film. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) becomes much more important to the story, as does Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). Alice Eve joins the crew as Carol, a weapons specialist. The ensemble includes: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban and John Cho. They are fantastic together. I was floored by Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Khan. He clearly stood above the rest with his award-worthy performance. 

J.J. Abrams is a master of sound manipulation in film. He knows how to perfectly use it to grab the audience’s attention and play with their emotions. While nothing will beat the opening of Star Trek, this is a very close second. Michael Giacchino did the music for the film. He worked with Abrams on many series and films; he is also noted for his work with Pixar films, such as: Up and Ratatouille.

This was the best 3D film I have ever seen. Usually, I don’t go for the 3D films, but I decided to for Star Trek Into Darkness. I was flinching at the film; it was so realistic. The direction of the film was perfect for 3D. It is definitely worth the extra ticket price.

Star Trek Into Darkness is fantastic. It is a great blend of humor and action. Plus, there is not harm in staring at Chris Pine’s eyes for two hours. I absolutely recommend this film to everyone, even if you are not a fan of the series. It is worth the time to see it in theaters. I'm still waiting for the next film!

The Great Gatsby

If you enjoyed the book, The Great Gatsby, then Baz Luhrmann’s version is not for you. I went to see The Great Gatsby on the night it came out. I was so excited to see one of my favorite books brought to life, but I was truly disappointed. The film was beautiful and well acted with a fantastic soundtrack and costume design; however, this was not enough to save the changes to the story.

The film version added onto the story Nick Carraway, blatantly mentioned the symbolism and revealed the secrets of Gatsby too quickly. F. Scott Fitzgerald certainly had his demons. He was a noted alcoholic, which contributed to death. In this version of the film, the lines between Nick Carraway and F. Scott Fitzgerald were blurred. The film opens with Nick in sanatorium being treated for alcoholism. It is at this time he tells the doctor, and begins writing, the story of Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby is filled with symbolism. In Luhrmann’s version, Nick says all of the meanings behind the symbols. They are completely overplayed. Early in the film, Gatsby is literally grabbing at the green light on Daisy’s dock. Nick narrates its as if he is grabbing at the green light of hope… I felt the film completely discredited the intelligence of the audience.

Gatsby is a mystery. He should be a mystery to the audience. Only at the end should the truth about him be revealed to the audience. However, the film tells Gatsby secret in the middle of the story. It completely kills the awe of the man. I was very disappointed by the writing of the film. I felt like it was overkill for the story.

The Great Gatsby did stand out in many ways. Baz Luhrmann’s directing style is very opulent. This was the perfect film for him to direct. I would love to attend a Gatsby party, with the music and dance. It was very similar to Moulin Rouge.

The soundtrack for the film blew me away. Jay-Z is an executive producer on the soundtrack. Music definitely sets Baz Luhrmann’s films apart from others. He completely manipulates songs to alter their genre. Luhrmann even co-wrote the song “Young and Beautiful” with Lana Del Ray. I believe this song will win Best Original Song.

The acting was a wide range. Leonardo DiCaprio and CareyMulligan were fantastic. They had wonderful chemistry throughout the film. Tobey McGuire did not impress me at all. He was the weak link amongst the cast. Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, and Jason Clarke rounded out the main cast. Elizabeth Debicki, who is relatively new to film, did an amazing job playing Jordan. I expect to see great things from her.

Overall, it was a decent film. The people I talked to who were not familiar with the book really enjoyed it. I think it was a bad adaption. It’s worth seeing for the style and art. Though, don’t worry about seeing it in 3D.