I’ve been a TREKKER for a very, very long time.  I’ve enjoyed partaking in the many visions of the Star Trek universe.  Some more than others.  So it should come as no surprise that I was looking forward to watching Star Trek Into Darkness.  I will try to sum up my thoughts about the new movie in the following dribble of thought:

First, the movie is worth the price of admission – for fans and those who have never mingled in the Star Trek universe.  It was an action blast and special effects spectacle.  I did find it a bit lacking on story…that’s the wrong word…lack of soul or heart fits a bit better.  It seems that J.J. Abrams, the director of this and the first remake “Star Trek” in 2009, is intent on making the film look right and letting the story come second (my opinion).  This isn’t a terrible thing, it’s just that the balance is off.  Star Trek is one of those universes where the tech (read look and special effects) and the story need to run hand-in-hand.  J.J.’s versions of Star Trek lean heavily to the tech.  It is obvious that  he’s tried to bring Into Darkness back to the proper balance.  But it’s not quite there.  May be in the next one.

Still, I did enjoy the movie and give it “Thumbs Up” to any who are as yet undecided about watching it.

Positive Points

The cast and characters in this movie were spot on.  I’m starting to be drawn into this alternate Star Trek universe and it’s because of these characters.

The plot – while I feel there’s something missing (see problem points below) the general idea behind the movie is a good one.  This is a re-imagined vision of the Khan arc from the original series and as such it generally pulls off the idea.

The visuals.  What can I say – they are stunning.

Problem Points

I do have a couple of things that I feel are problems though…and they rely heavily on material that will spoil the movie for you, so if you haven’t watched it yet…stop reading this now.  Go watch the movie and then come back and finish the discussion.

Problem No. 1:

Really??!!  You had to go there? I don’t know who “YOU” are – whether that be J.J. or Paramount or whomever decided that we needed to dip into the Khan pool again – but seriously, if you’re going to try to make another Khan, please try to make something better than the original.

Why do I say that?  Simple.  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is, by far, the BEST Star Trek movie.  PERIOD.  End of discussion.  In my mind it’s perfection – for it’s day.  Which is my point.  With today’s capabilities a Khan remake could (and should) be an epic movie.   While Into Darkness tries to be that, it falls short.  Except in one area.  The Khan character.  Khan is played by Benedict Cumberbatch and his Khan actually comes closer to the genetically engineered warrior-genius that I have pictured in my head than to the one portrayed in either the original series or the second movie.  I say this not because Mr. Cumberbatch is a better actor than Ricardo Montalbán.  The character is written better and as such displays more tactical control and brains.  The first half of the movie is one chess maneuver after another that leads to the ultimate goal of seeing Khan get what he wants.  The TV series couldn’t get that done in an hour and the second movie centered more on the hate and age of the adversaries than tactics.  I do give the writers and Mr. Cumberbatch props for this new, more potent Khan.

In my mind, this should have been a two-part movie.  And in fact, it may be that way because Khan and his 72 comrades from the 21st century are still contained in their cryotubes, just waiting for some mishap to release them  into a sequel.  If that happens, I may have to come back and eat all of the words that I have just written.  But until that happens, I’ll just say that it’s a valiant attempt at making something done before better, but it missed the mark for me.

Problem No. 2:

Haven’t we played this card already?

As much as I love Leonard Nimoy and the original Spock, we’re past that.  We have a Spock and this new one needs to solve his problems for himself.  I don’t know if the cameo was in the script or if it was fabricated just to include Nimoy in the film, but please stop already.  That two minute intervention where new Spock learns about Khan in the alternate timeline was NOT needed.  Spock should have been able to piece that together simply by Khan’s remark “What would you do for your family?”

Problem No. 3

Remember I said this movie lacked a soul or heart?  Well, here’s the proof.  This is Into Darkness‘ version of the death of Spock from Wrath of Khan.  I won’t give it completely away, but I’ll tell you that it did not affect me the way that Wrath of Khan’s scene did.  Put simply, if you ever want to see me cry like a baby, show me the ending minutes of Wrath of Khan.  This scene, Kirk’s eulogy speech, and Scotty playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes will make me curl into a fetal position and cry like nothing else on this planet.

This scene in Into Darkness didn’t affect me at all – mainly because I knew it was coming.  I knew it was coming because nothing was done to hide the fact that they were going to rip off the best part of Wrath of Khan and use it to gain some emphatic link to the viewer.  I’m sorry to say that they failed.  Nearly everything else about this Khan remake told a different story than the original – which is a redeeming fact – but this was plagiarism short and sweet.

I did, however like the scene that followed:

I liked it because it DID show heart – it showed how friends are supposed to act and how the friendship between Kirk and Spock is a major piece of the Star Trek saga.

Final Thoughts:

I like the show – problems aside.  I would love to watch it again.  I hope Paramount gives Bad Robot and J.J. Abrams another film opportunity to extend what is quickly become a favorite universe of mine.

Live Long and Prosper!