Bittersweet outing

Rating: 5/10 (7 July 2013)

Well, after all was said and done, we went to the late screening of the 2D version of Star Trek: Into Darkness. Having weighed all aspects, I'm divided squarely down the middle about the movie, so I'm forced to give it a 5/10.
SPOILER ALERT!!! Positives: Technically brilliant and engaging, of course, with dashes of humor and action galore. We'd expect no less these days. But then come the negatives: Benedict Cumberbatch miscast as Khan (though I enjoy his acting, I was quite enamored of Ricardo Montalban's original portrayal), and the cheap, abhorrent "tip of the hat" to 1982's The Wrath of Khan plot line (you know, the "needs of the many"), in this case Abrams reverses Kirk and Spock's roles and destroys what really was a poignant, moving piece of earlier Star Trek cinema. I know this is the Trekkie in me coming out, but that scene really impacted my enjoyment of the movie, leaving a rather sour taste. I think Abrams needn't have included that scene, it was awkward and I felt almost embarrassed for it being there at all, even though I played no part in the making of the movie.
Guess I'll have to surrender to my inner Trekkie and say, bad call Abrams! Try not to screw it up so badly next time. (And we know there'll be a next time.) Sometimes it's what you DON'T do, that reveals intelligence and a caring touch...