Great Star Trek Movie

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2014)

While the previous Star Trek gave the franchise a desperately needed shot of adrenaline, Star Trek Into Darkness resurrects the franchise into full force. Kirk and Spock are on a planet where they must save the alien race from certain doom. Both violate the prime directive so many times, it is enough for Pike to yank both of them off the Enterprise, or at least out of the captain's chair. Then, things turn dark. A mysterious federation officer has staged a terrorist act against the Federation. Kirk's job now is to track down this man and kill him under the order of Admiral Marcus. Kirk, though, captures the fugitive and discovers his secret: he is Kahn, a ruthless 21st century genetically altered human. He wants Marcus killed for a sinister betrayal. Ironically, Kirk cannot trust either Marcus or Kahn. This movie has a few strikes against it. The idea of reusing Kahn for a nemesis was a good idea, but terribly marketed. Abrams denied it was Kahn for a long time. However, that is marketing. The cinematic problem was a movie a bit too long, and one that desperately wanted to play homage to the original Star Trek Kahn movie. I laughed at Spock's "Kaaaaaaaahhhhhhhn." It was forced and downright stupid. Finally, because of this plot piece, it drags the movie out a little too long. Another gripe is that, just like the previous installment, Dr. McCoy is not used well. My biggest issue was that JJ. Abrams makes the galaxy much smaller with the warp drive - which makes planets that should be days or possibly weeks away a mere three or four hour jaunt. Adding to that silliness was the new transporter technology makes it capable to beam hundreds or thousands of light-years across the galaxy. On the other hand, it has a lot going for it. The Kirk/Spock relationship is the core of the movie. The characters also have to learn and grow. Scotty becomes alienated because of the secrecy and sinister nature of the assignment. The space battles are epic, and we get something we have always wanted to see: a star ship falling through the atmosphere. This is a good movie providing some good, epic, battles and stories for a new generation of Star Trek fans to enjoy.