Monday, November 4, 2013
Star
Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Cast:
Christopher Pine, Zachary Quinto,
Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, Peter
Weller, Bruce Greenwood, Alice Eve, Anton Yelin
Director:
J.J. Abrams
Synopsis:
Christopher Pine, Zachary Quinto, and
Benedict Cumberbatch star in the next chapter of the Star Trek for a new
generation. The Enterprise is sent on a dangerously abnormal Starfleet mission,
which Kirk and Spock must bring to justice rogue Starfleet Operative Jon
Harrison. As the mission unfolds, there is more to both Harrison and the
mission itself. J.J. Abrams continues this adventurous reboot further growing
Kirk’s abilities, Spock’s humanity, and their philosophies of Starfleet and
their own missions.
Reviewer’s
Rating: 4/5 Reels
Review:
In
one of the most anticipated summer blockbusters, J.J. Abrams delivers once
again. With the entire cast of the Star Trek (2009) reboot returning to screen
everything that we loved about the previous film continues to build upon. Kirk
continues to lead the Enterprise as he sees fit despite the council of others
and Starfleet regulations. Spock continues to be the voice of reason Kirk ought
to have in himself all the while going through his own development and
relationship with Uhura (Zoe Saldana). Uhura once again proves her own
abilities while still being the cliché girlfriend. Bones (Karl Urban) continues
his trademark idioms, Scotty’s (Simon Pegg) genius is under appreciated, Chekov
(Anton Yelin) and Sulu (John Cho) continue to take the results of Kirk’s pride.
This
132 minute sequel wastes no time dropping the audience in both action filled
chase of what appears to be a minor mission, which develops into the
conflicting philosophies of Kirk and Spock while laying the groundwork for the
greater issues that the crew will have to work out as they navigate through
space, their mission, and their relationships with one another. Is Kirk indeed
ready to be Captain following his ascent from probationary cadet to Captain?
Can he listen to the council of his crew without endangering his pride or their
safety?J.J. Abrams’ blockbuster offering remains true to the alternative universe to justify the remake while giving the present generation an Enterprise and crew they can take ownership of. Abrams gives both homage to the original trademark characteristics of the crew while offering much more than a repackaged movie with updated special effects, which has been Hollywood’s leading genre in recent years. The cinematography and epic theme music from the first reboot returns to us at the most opportune moments giving the same sense of awe both visually and mentally. At the same time, in true summer blockbuster fashion, Abram’s still manages to utterly destroy another city in a movie that primarily takes place in space.
Lens
flares aside, J.J. Abrams seems to have taken some notes from Zack Snyder’s
Batman reboots giving both engaging plot while at the same time offering themes
and conflicts that our own society is trying to answer. There are masked
references to the United States’ use of drone warfare in a foreign sovereign
land, extra judicial killing, and pre-emptive strikes as national policy. In
this film, both the action-seeking film fan, the gamer, and the war theorist
can come together over a smoothie to discuss the generational shout-outs like a
HALO inspired space jump, lens flares that blow the mind, or the deeper
philosophies of each character and how they apply them to the supposedly
non-militarized Starfleet on mission to peacefully explore sentient life across
the universe.
By
Joseph Lake
