Health & Fitness

Film Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

"Star Trek Into Darkness" is absolutely a trek into tour de force of a colossal masterpiece. It is buoyant, radiant, and lucid--- indeed, not a hint of darkness!

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS-Beau Behan (BeauBehan.com)

Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch
Director: J.J. Abrams
PG-13, 132 min


J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to the 2009 Star Trek, is absolutely a trek into tour de force of a colossal masterpiece. It is buoyant, radiant, and lucid--- indeed, not a hint of darkness! It could be likened to the literary genius of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, but updated with today’s relevant moral issues including the use of mass destruction weaponry.

The first act opens with a scene of Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (Karl Urban) running for their lives as the natives of planet, Nibiru, chase them relentlessly. While the hot pursuit is happening, Spock (Zachary Quinto) is set to drop a very potent ice-cube into a flagrant volcano threatening to ruin Nibiru. However, this mission becomes embroiled, and eventually leads to an argument between Spock and Kirk. The scene’s cinematography is simply outstanding with that blazing fire imagery.

Upon returning to earth, while the crew is barely enjoying their respite, a bomb explodes in an intelligence facility. A powerful villain, John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), claims responsibility of the attack, and escapes into the Klingon planet. With a directive from the chief Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller), The Enterprise Crew is dispatched to pursue Harrison in this unchartered galactic abyss--hence “Into Darkness”. After reaching their destination, they are met by atrocious inhabitants. Suddenly, Harrison appears with that renegade attitude in defense of the Starfleet crew and finally surrenders to the command of Kirk.

What ensues next is the mystery surrounding the decision of Harrison to surrender. The mystery is intriguing, and J.J. Abrams keeps us on the edge of our seat like a pendulum at the beat of a well-timed metronome. The performance of Cumberbatch is exciting to watch. He carries the appeal of both a likable friend and a brazen foe wrapped into one. Bewildered, our senses will undoubtedly gravitate towards the question of “To be with Harrison or Not to be.”  It is almost as resplendent of that Shakespearean existentialism, “To be or Not To be”.

On that note, we become seekers of the plain truth about the deepening love of Spock with Lt. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and the level of Kirk-Spock friendship that is exhibited by that seemingly unbreakable bravado. Just imagine being so captivated especially with that roaring musical score by Michael Giacchino.

Star Trek Into Darkness
 is into meaningful questions. Despite of the film’s serious paradigm, it never fails to impress us with that unexpected bite of engaging suspense, thriller and action for the punch! Do you hear ‘Bravo’? 


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