Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) J.J. Abrams

 

Because there's been so much written about Star Trek Into Darkness and it's still fairly early in the game, I won't give away many spoilers, no major ones, anyway. I think it's fairly safe to say that long-time fans of the original TV show and movies will find much to like and, perhaps, much to dislike. Fans who came on board with the 2009 movie: much the same.

Star Trek Into Darkness is good, but certainly not great. I won't get into the plot here, but I will say that the first 3/4 of the film is just plain good, fun storytelling. It's not necessary to have watched the first film, but it helps. The main trio of characters (Kirk, Spock, McCoy) are developed further and the normal goings-on in the Trek universe are continued as well.

All is good, if not air-tight. Plot holes and inconsistencies abound, but we're watching a movie here, not debating philosophy or performing surgery. We're having a good time.

Until the last 1/4 of the film, where Abrams either thinks he's giving us a legitimate tribute to the old-school Trek or descends into full-blown silliness. I just kept shaking my head, thinking, "Really? You're really doing this?"

Abrams, with the first film, took our historic Trek, rebooted it, and recreated an exciting franchise, keeping just enough of the traditional while expanding outward to something fresh and vibrant. Yet Into Darkness, instead of breaking the bonds of tradition, clutches even more tightly around it's mother's apron strings, refusing to venture out into a life of its own.

3.5/5