Great actors and great fun

Rating: 7/10 (12 July 2013)

The newest installment of the Star Trek movies continues to aim to please. Led by director J.J. Abrams and his entourage of special effects, the film picks up where the 2009 story left off, focusing on two characters that are well known in the series world, Captain Kirk and Khan. Opening with a chase scene on a red-tinged planet and an exploding volcano, Kirk, replayed by Christ Pine, is breaking rules from the beginning and is still full of ego and womanizing ways. But as the film progresses, he shows more and more heart as he finds protecting his crew is more valuable than the primary missions he is assigned.
The other primary character, Khan, is perfected by English actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who lends a menacing air coupled with deep intellect and dangerous good looks to the genetically-enhanced villain, who was played in the 1982 Star Trek movie by Ricardo Montalban. Other familiar faces return to reprise characters Bones, Scotty, Uhura, and the rest of the crew, all of them adhering well to their personality qualities and quirks. In terms of the storyline, you can expect a scattering of sadness and humor and some character interactions that will be extremely familiar to long-time watchers of the movies. There are also a few changes in the appearance of common species, such as the Klingons. Overall, the film is still fun, full of action, and good for both new Trekkies and seasoned fans to enjoy.