The first one was wonderful. The sequel is a near miracle.

Rating: 10/10 (27 May 2013)

When J.J. Abrams's last Star Trek movie came out, everyone was excited but me. I was not a Trekkie, I didn't want to be a Trekkie. I thought it was for freaks. Then I saw it, and I understood. The film was a wonderful introduction to the characters, and it made stars out of Chis Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and the rest of the unknowns in the cast. I loved the movie, it made a Trekkie out of me. I eagerly awaited a sequel. Four years have passed now, and it has finally arrived. Now only does it arrive, it soars.
Where the first one wonderfully introduced us to these characters, Star Trek Into Darkness goes deeper into them. We grew to love them the last time, but now we feel as if we actually know them. The actors, in particular, Pine and Quinto, have sunken into these roles, and that is a good thing. They are perfect at them.
The film takes place sometime after its predecessor. Captain James T. Kirk (Pine) is now the captain of the starship Enterprise. Spock (Quinto) and Kirk are friends. Spock and Uhura (Saldana) are a couple, but she doesn't exactly like how Spock feels nothing towards everything, which is sort of a re-occurring topic throughout the film. But the foundation of the Enterprise gets shaken with the arrival of a mysterious terrorist (played superbly by Benedict Cumberbatch). Kirk and the Enterprise set off to find him and hunt him down. But if you have any idea who this guy is, it isn't going to be easy.
The special effects are a knockout. The cast is terrific. Cumberbatch plays one of the more fascinating villains in recent movies. I love the friendship between Spock and Kirk. There isn't a boring second in the entire film, and the last half hour is powerful. Into Darkness accomplishes just what the previous film did, but it takes it a step further. They take the characters that have already been developed, and it digs deeper. I have always been fascinated by Spock's character, and it was nice to see the writer's go further.
Star Trek Into Darkness is the best movie of the summer so far. It is a smart, occasionally funny, visually arresting, and over-satisfying sequel that will either leave some Trekkie's irritated or dying and going to heaven. The reason why I say that is because it may or may not tamper with the Star Trek storyline. There is an obvious reference to another Star Trek movie in there, and only Trekkie's will catch it. They will either love the reference, or loathe it. I personally loved it. But that said, nothing can really sway me from this movie.
Abrams has done a fantastic job with these films, and I can't wait to see him take a stab at the next Star Wars movie. But my question is this: Will he make a third part? God I hope so. He has proved himself to be a terrific filmmaker. He is the heart and soul of them, and the fate of the series truly rests in his hands. If not, then we still have this film to remember him by. If this his last journey with the Enterprise, it was a great one.
A