Zachary Quinto as Spock in the 2009 Star Trek film (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Chris Pine poses for a photograph at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait following a screening of Star Trek. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The sequel to the the first Star Trek movie came out on Thursday and since I saw the first one, I felt obligated to go see the second one. Just like every time I go to see a sequel, I was praying that it wasn’t going to be a bust. Let me assure you that Star Trek: Into Darkness was certainly not a bust. Once again, my overview of the movie now and the spoiler’s edition later on.
For starters, something I liked straight off about this movie was that once again J.J. Abrams was directing. Pretty much everything I have seen that Abrams has directed I have enjoyed, from his work with TV shows like Alias and Lost (up to like the end of the fourth season because let’s be honest, after that, it stunk), to his work with movies like Mission Impossible III and Ghost Protocol, as well as the first Star Trek. Abrams knows how to produce success.
The original cast all came back for the sequel, something I appreciated because for the most part, I hate recasts. (for example, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachael in The Dark Knight instead of Katie Holmes?!) The plot line was great for this movie and in my opinion much better then in the first one. I’m sorry, but if you come from the future with a massive ship accompanied with advanced, revolutionized technology that the world has never seen and you still can’t win a battle with the tiny Enterprise, you’re a pretty crappy villain.
Anyway, as I was saying, the plot was much better than in the first one. The infamous Khan, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, was a much better villain and he did an incredible job making his character come to life, so props to him. I’d never heard of him before, but I think I’ll be remembering the name for a while. The love interest between Spock and Uhura continues, even though in the original series there never was such a thing. I originally was against this being included in the original plot, but I don’t mind it so much now, partly because it helps add to character chemistry and development and partly because we only get short glimpses of it so that it doesn’t interfere with the main plot and action of the movie. The action scenes in this movie by the way were epic, so epic that I bet Michael Bay is asking for a paternity test to make sure that Abrams isn’t his long-lost brother or something. Regardless of whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original series or not, I think the cast that Abrams has brought in has done a fantastic job. Chris Pine has brought a new flare to Kirk’s character and Zachary Quinto has portrayed Spock to near perfection. Both actors really impressed me in this movie and I’m looking forward to a third one.
Once again, if you’re new to my blog, I’ve always ranked movies on a scale of 0-100 (I don’t know why, I just always have). Here’s the grading scale.
90-100 It’s a great movie and definitely one worth buying. (Iron Man 3)
80-89 It was a pretty good movie and definitely one worth seeing, but it doesn’t quite scratch my top ten percentile.
70-79 It’s okay but I’ve seen better. It has its moments, but it has its flaws, too. (Oblivion)
60-69 It’s got plenty wrong with it but I still got enjoyment out of this one.
50-59 This movie isn’t intolerable but it’s not blowing my mind either. I’m trying really hard to get some sort of enjoyment out of this.
40-49 This movie is just mediocre. It’s not doing anything other than the bare minimal, so morbidly boring that sometimes I’m actually angry I watched this.
30-39 Definitely worse than mediocre, the 30’s ironically define the 1930’s, full of depression, lack of accomplishments, poverty and just so dumb.
20-29 What did I just watch? Cliches, stupidity, nothingness, did I mention stupidity? Just…wow.
0-19 Watching this movie resulted in one or more of the following: seizure, loss of brain cells, falling asleep/unconsciousness, feel you wasted your time/day, accomplished nothing for you, left the movie knowing less about it then you did going into it, constantly asking yourself why you came to see this movie, or near-death experience. In short, staring at a wall was just as entertaining as watching this movie. This movie deserved a sticker or a label that said, “WARNING: EXTREME AMOUNT OF SUCKAGE”.
My score for Star Trek: Into Darkness: 89
This movie’s action scenes and special effects were just as good as in any other action thriller I’ve seen. The cast really made the characters come alive for me. Only one thing bothered me about the movie, which I’ll discuss in the spoiler’s edition, but aside from that, great movie. When I was younger, I watched the Star Trek movies with my dad and overall, I found them really boring. Abrams recognized this is how many young people today would view the original Star Trek series and modernized it, using more action scenes and special effects to wow young audiences. A truly great job. Not sure if I’d buy it, but it’s something I’m considering, that’s for sure.
*SPOILER ALERT* IF YOU DON’T WANT THE MOVIE SPOILED, STOP READING!!!!!!!!!
*SPOILER’S EDITION*
There were very few things that I didn’t like in this movie. I would’ve liked to have learned a little more about Khan’s character since I don’t remember everything from the original series, but they gave me enough that I was able to follow, so not a big deal there. My one major complaint is following the attack on the research lab, Kirk, Spock and all the other higher-ups in Starfleet Command all get together in the same place for an emergency meeting, the purpose being to discuss the attack on the lab. Starfleet protocol says that after an attack like this, Starfleet Command must all get together in the same place for an emergency meeting. I don’t know about you, but that sounds sketchy to me. Some of you will say, well the president, the cabinet, and all the higher-ups get together after a terrorist attack. This is true, but do they all get together in a room with no walls, full glass windows, and no nearby security planes or anything to stop a terrorist attack? I’m sorry but as soon as Khan started shooting the place up I was like, “wow, really?”. Whoever decided that having a meeting with all the leaders of Starfleet Command in the same place, that place being not an underground bunker or a fortified installation defended by armored vehicles, tanks, anti-air, and/or air support like common sense would suggest, but a high level of a building with non-bullet proof glass windows with two security guards and no other form of security, was incredibly stupid. I just thought that was really lame. Aside from that though, great movie.
wordsofwistim 