Star Trek is dead.

Rating: 1/10 (31 March 2014)

"Space, The Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. It's continuing mission to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilisations. To boldly go where no man has gone before".
The Star Trek motto. Abrams didn't need to watch all of Trek's back catalog to understand the basic concept. He just needed to read that. It's a shame he hasn't. Star Trek Into Darkness is completely and utterly void of any of the elements that have made Star Trek what it is. A positive hopeful future, furthered through the exploration of space and one's own humanity. In two movies we have seen only one new planet explored, and even then only for a five minute teaser. Otherwise it's been nothing but explosions, plot rehashes and fan winks.
I've been a lifelong fan of the franchise. But this movie has killed it for me, so much so that I will not look forward to any new films in the future while this team is still in control. I found the whole experience deeply insulting. The writers, particularly supposed fans like Robert Orci, really should know better. In fact I don't think any of them are as big a fan as some of them claim. Gratuitous reuse of iconic villains such as Khan (a poor shadow of the wonderful Montalban original, despite Cumberbatch's best efforts)and scenes from the classic Wrath of Khan directly lifted and reused. Characters pointlessly squeezed in to remind us that the writers supposed know their Trek (Carol Marcus being the chief offender). Convenient plot contrivances that insult anyone with half a brain (Khan beaming to the Klingon homeworld). Basic physics disregarded, when the shows and classic movies went to great lengths to formulate scientific logic. Kirk a petulant child. Spock still overly emotional. McCoy relegated to a bit-part character. Ugh.
This movie doesn't get why Star Trek inspired people and stood the test of time for nearly half a century. This movie doesn't understand how to explore the human condition. This movie does not explore anything, either figuratively or literally. This movie doesn't get why McCoy was an essential part of the emotion vs logic triumvirate. This movie contains no social commentary, either by allegory or otherwise. This movie does not make you feel positive about the future.
This movie is not Star Trek. It is unintelligent schlock make for low brows who get their satisfaction from endless action and violence.
RIP Star Trek.