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!