Khan u believe it?

Rating: 7/10 (26 May 2013)

As the second installment in the rebooted "alternate reality" Star Trek universe, this film does a passable job of introducing a few new faces for some old characters. Plot wise, it does not follow very closely on the heels of the first installment. Like the original TV series, it could just as well be viewed independently from the first, though if you happen to have grown up in an alternate reality yourself, you may not understand who the principal characters are. But this isn't much of a disadvantage, because as an alternate reality project, the film deals somewhat unexpectedly with many of the characters. Christine Chappell is mentioned but not shown - maybe int ST3? Pike does not wind up in a wheelchair. And Khan, well, he doesn't quote Herman Melville, or do his own stunts, apparently. Cumberbatch is sadly just not as convincing as a super warrior as Montalban. He is as coldly calculating as you please, but just not physical, devious, or demonic as the role demands. Mostly he seems a little lost, a guest actor who is unsure of his welcome. As far as the rest of the film, there is one tribble, which kind of misses the point of tribbles. And the silly use of Khan's super blood raises the question of how Carol Marcus will be utilized in the next film. One thing for sure the next sequel will not be titled The Search for Kirk.