Star Trek: Into Darkness: Nothing But a Brilliant Good Time

Wednesday night I had the pleasure of seeing an advanced 3-D screening of the new J.J. Abrams film, Star Trek: Into Darkness. No sophomore slump here; an achievement considering that the 2009 revamp of the franchise is such—and still—a solid piece of filmmaking. Into Darkness is a thoroughly satisfying mix of super-exciting action with lots of heart. It’s this combination that made the first outing so effective. (Did anyone not cry during the first ten minutes of that film?) Throw in a stone-cold villain, played by the amazingly talented Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock), and you’ve got a sequel that makes you immediately start planning your own sequel back to the theater.

For this outing, the Enterprise and her crew of fearless rule-breakers, and one “fascinating” Vulcan, set out to capture a mysterious rogue member within the Federation. Filled with its share of references from the classic TV series, as well as one of the iconic films from the ‘80s in particular (Hint: revisit 1982), Into Darkness must’ve begun art and production work right after the 2009 film. Its visuals are just so outstanding, enveloping and believable. The camera work often brings the viewer right into a scenario, even from the outside of a spacecraft right into its interior. This is especially noteworthy when Uhura (Zoë Saldana) is about to step off a shuttle to communicate with a seriously imposing group of characters.

The heart of the film plays upon this group of misfits, if you will; the highly intelligent group of young men and women who break the rules and throw away the book in order to help and save each other when it counts. The selfless act is definitely a common theme. In a minor way, Into Darkness is reminiscent of Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, another second outing with lots of action, and smart with heart. There’s nothing like being trapped in space in a craft to make you see your co-workers essentially, as friends, if not family. In another nod to The Empire Strikes Back, check out this fantastic clip from Into Darkness, which features Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Saldana) commanding a shuttle through a tight squeeze while being “preyed upon” by an ominous craft. Into Darkness is such a must-see that to not see it would be “highly illogical.” BSo