Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness

Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Intriguing, action-packed, engaging and well cast, J.J Abrams' latest venture into the world one of Hollywood's sci-fi titans is highly entertaining, even stronger than its predecessor.

The Good

This is a rather common opinion, but I definitely felt that Eric Bana's Nero was a rather lacklustre villain in the 2009 film, especially when you look at the digital scope of the film. This time, Benedict Cumberbatch (known famously for his role on BBC One's brilliant Sherlock) takes the position of villain. This time, the villain is dark, sinister, posing a great threat and supremely well acted. The rest of the cast act well enough, but none of them match Cumberbatch's.

The effects and production values are great too. The Enterprise has never looked so modern, with crisp sets and, yes, sufficient lens flare.

The script is solid as you'd expect, with a story far more engrossing and typically more Star Trek than the previous. There are plenty of action movie lines and a bit of humour too, provided mostly by Karl Urban's humourous "Bones, as with the last film. You feel like you're watching a Star Trek for the new age, not just a rehashing of previous stories.

The Bad

It's pretty long and the bombastic finale is exciting, but exhausting. Besides that, I can criticise nothing.

To Conclude

It's funny, exciting, featuring lots of great plot and character development. There's plenty of enjoyable nostalgia, including cameos from Leonard Nimoy as old Spock and plenty of thrilling action sequences. You leave the cinema exhilarated and perhaps even excited for another installment.

Trekkies will love it and newcomers will love it. Abrams' Star Trek is modern, fluid and as far from  as superflous as my mother imagines. It's glorious sci-fi entertainment, absorbing and well crafted.

A treat.