5/5 stars
When J.J. Abrams released his Star Trek in 2009, many longtime fans of the iconic series wondered if the director would be able to find the right actors to bring the characters to life. Could anyone match William Shatner’sswagger, Leonard Nimoy’s calculating brilliance orDeForest Kelley’s sass? If the 2009 release showed that Abrams could find the right actors, Star Trek Into Darknessshows just what his talented young cast is capable of — a thrilling, emotional installment.
Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto had electric chemistry in the first film as Captain James Kirk and Commander Spock; their bromantic relationship carries the second film as well. Their interactions are not only humorous, but also provide most of the film’s emotional grounding. Pine’s Kirk is hot headed and rash, just like Kirk ought to be, but he’s sincerely concerned about being the best leader he can be, about protecting his crew and about saving lives. He’s not just a shallow playboy. Quinto’s Spock is, of course, logical, and he brings the otherworldly, alien-like tendencies that the role needs while also embodying the humanity it requires. Watching Kirk and Spock’s friendship evolve is one of the film’s many pleasures.
But it’s not just the old cast members who bring the film to life. Benedict Cumberbatch, best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes on the popular BBC series, dazzles as the mysterious John Harrison, the defected Star Fleet officer who baffles the audience and Kirk. Cumberbatch is intimidating, smart and calculating; you know he’s trouble the minute he appears on screen (though, granted, he’s helped by some dramatic music and an excessively long close up). He serves a worthy foil to Kirk, starting a rivalry that will likely carry the franchise forward in the future. Cumberbatch and Pine have a rapport that seamlessly transitions from loathing and hate to one of respect and back again.
But the rest of the cast brings its A-game to the film as well. Zoe Saldana’s Nyota Uhura is fierce and capable, a heroine defined by her intelligence and skills. There’s a moment when she faces down a squad of Klingons with nothing but her words and she brings bravery and strength to her role. Karl Urban is a perfect McCoy — and not just because he looks just like Kelley. He is sarcastic, reluctant and delivers lines that callback to the classic series without making them seem awkward or forced. Simon Pegg brings more humor as Scotty, the chief engineer and John Cho gets a few scene-stealing moments as helmsman Hikaru Sulu. Alice Eve also joins the cast as Carol Wallace, bringing another woman to the otherwise male-dominated cast. Despite how crowded this might make the ship seem, the ensemble cast effortlessly gels into a family, playing off each other to bring the fun and adventure that a successful Star Trek film needs.
Visually, the film is dazzling. I remember watching the first one and feeling like I had been transported into outer space. Abrams created that feeling again. Though I personally found the 3D a little overwhelming and the fast-paced, detailed scenery takes a bit to get used to (the first scene is extremely red, which is jarring), Abram creates beautiful shots of outer space and the ship that transports you to another time where space travel isn’t so uncommon. Michael Giacchino’s masterful score also heightens the film.
But it’s not just the characters or the visuals that make this film so good. Star Trek Intro Darkness is a film that doesn’t shirk away from ambiguity. As the crew of the Starship Enterprise faces foes it never expected and problems it never considered before, neither they nor the audience know what the morally correct thing to do is. The questions it poses about the ethics of armament, the importance of the bonds of friendship and when it’s OK to break the rules transcend a future where we’re worrying about an intergalactic war. Abrams asks these without providing easy answers, leaving the audience with something to mull over long after the film is done.
In the end, this film presents compelling characters — both heroes and villains — that light up the screen with chemistry, wit and phenomenal emotional performances. Abrams will now take on an even more high-profile franchise that certainly needs a reimaging (and there are moments of this film that strangely feel very Star Wars). If this is his audition, I can’t wait to see what he does next.
