Star Trek into Darkness

Rating: 7/10 (9 March 2017)

The first in reboot movie, the prequel to the original TV series, was a big success for fans and "Trekkies" alike, so there was big excitement for the sequel, from Lost creator and director J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III, Super 8, Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Basically in the 23rd century, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is removed from command of the USS Enterprise for violation, after saving the ship and Commander Spock (Heroes' Zachary Quinto) from a volcanic eruption on the planet Nibiru, exposing the ship to the primitive inhabitants. Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) is reinstated as commanding officer, while Kirk is demoted and Spock is transferred to another ship. Shortly after, the Section 31 installation in London is bombed, the perpetrator is renegade Starfleet operative John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), he then attacks Starfleet Headquarters, Pike and other senior officers are killed, Kirk tries to stop him, but Harrison escapes transporting to Kronos, the home world of the hostile Klingons. Kirk and Spock are reinstated to the Enterprise by Admiral Alexander Marcus (Peter Weller), they are ordered to kill Harrison, Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Simon Pegg) resigns in protesting after objecting to untested torpedoes on board the ship, he is replaced by Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin). En route to Kronos, the Enterprise's warp capabilities have been disabled, Kirk leads Spock, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and a team onto the planet, there they are ambushed by Klingons, dispatched by Harrison, but he surrenders after learning the number of torpedoes aboard the Enterprise. These torpedoes in fact contain humans in stasis, this is discovered after one is opened by Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban) and Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve), Marcus's daughter, Harrison reveals his true identity as a genetically engineered superhuman named Khan, he awakened after centuries of suspended animation by Admiral Marcus. Khan also reveals it was Marcus that sabotaged the Enterprise's warp drive, in order for the Klingons to destroy the ship, and to trigger a war, Kirk is given a set of coordinates by Khan, he contacts Scotty to investigate, in his search he finds a covert Starfleet facility near Jupiter. A much larger Federation warship commanded by Admiral Marcus, USS Vengeance, intercepts the Enterprise, Kirk ignores Marcus's demands to deliver Khan, the warp drive is hastily repaired, but Marcus disables the Enterprise near the Moon, Marcus stops attacking when realising Carol is on the ship. But Carol is transported to the Vengeance and Marcus orders the Enterprise be destroyed, he rejects Kirk's offer of himself and Khan to spare his crew, suddenly though the Vengeance loses power, after Scotty sabotages it. Kirk and Khan are forced to work together, with the transporters down they space-jump to the Vengeance, Spock meanwhile contacts his older self (Leonard Nimoy), he warns that Khan is ruthless and untrustworthy, he was only defeated at a terrible cost. Khan manages to overpower Kirk, Scotty and Carol, seizing control of the Vengeance, he eventually transports the three of them back to the Enterprise, but then betrays their agreement by critically damaging the ship, both starships are caught in Earth's gravity and plummet towards the surface. Kirk sacrifices himself, entering the radioactive reactor chamber to repair the warp core, he loses his life in the process, the Enterprise is saved, while the Vengeance crashes into San Francisco, with Khan attempting to destroy Starfleet headquarters, Spock transports down in pursuit. Khan is captured, Bones discovers his blood has regenerative properties, that may save Kirk, in the end Kirk is revived and reinstated as the Enterprise's captain, Khan is arrested and re-frozen, sealed in his cryogenic pod, and the Enterprise crew embarks on a five-year exploratory mission. Also starring John Cho as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, Noel Clarke as Thomas Harewood and Heather Langenkamp as Moto. The cast of younger actors playing the well- known characters remain suited to their roles, Cumberbatch is just about as sinister as Ricardo Montalban was, the story has good moments, the special effects are of course fantastic, to create the alien creatures and big explosive action sequences, a terrific sequel to continuing franchise, a worthwhile science- fiction adventure. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, it was nominated the BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects, and it was nominated the BAFTA Children's Award for Kids Vote - Feature Film. Very good!