This Is How A Sequel Should Be

Rating: 8/10 (26 May 2013)

It's been several years now since I saw Abrams' first attempt at Star Trek, but I remember truly enjoying it. It was smart, fast-paced, funny, visually quite pleasing, well-acted, and it even had a good story. In essence, it was everything you could ask for from a summer blockbuster. When news of a sequel first surfaced, I was worried that Abrams would lose sight of these factors, and would make a lackluster sequel to turn a hefty box-office profit, while alienating fans of the original (as so many directors have done; Exhibit A: The Hangover). However, after seeing the film, I'm very pleased to say that Abrams brings everything that made the first a critical and commercial success back for this film, and with fantastic results.
Star Trek: Into Darkness opens by thrusting viewers immediately into the action. The first 20 minutes or so of the film all happen at breakneck speed, and I was initially worried that the entire film would suffer from a rushed plot. However, this worry turned out to be short-lived, as when the introductory act concludes, the film slows right down and begins telling its story.
And hey, guess what? It's actually a pretty good story.
The second act (if you will) of the film is all about unraveling the many mysteries and complexities of the plot. The film seamlessly glides through this act, with just enough action, some genuine humor, plenty of suspense, and a handful of truly incredible emotional scenes with the main cast. Zachary Quinto really shines here; his depiction of Spock is pitch-perfect. Chris Pine is also fantastic as Kirk; he really does an admirable job at carrying the story. The supporting cast nails their parts too, with Karl Urban as "Bones" shining in particular.
Now, in addition to the returning cast, Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a solid performance in his role too. As an actor, Cumberbatch tends to be very... theatric. Some will say he overacts, but personally I really enjoyed him. Every scene he was in, I found that he snatched my attention and didn't let go.
As the film wraps up its second act, it starts moving toward it's action-packed conclusion. This is where my attention began to waver slightly. The third and fourth acts happen very quickly, and aside from one or two slower scenes, it's an action-packed marathon of special effects to the conclusion. That's not all bad, mind you, it is very entertaining and a film like this needed to have a grand climax, I just wouldn't have minded trimming this section down a bit; it felt quite long to me.
All in all, it's a great film. The story is really enjoyable, the acting is great, the special effects dazzle but don't steal the show, and it was genuinely hilarious when it wanted to be. Star Trek: Into Darkness is a perfect summer blockbuster, and is exactly how a sequel should be.
RATING: 8/10