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Back in 2009, director J. J. Abrams’s Star Trek reboot turned me into an instant Star Trek fan. While most sci-fi films are a little too cold and clinical for my taste, Abrams managed to make the long-running series seem human—and accessible. Now, with the follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness, he once again strikes a balance of action and drama.
Abrams wastes no time in getting right back to the action. Star Trek Into Darkness opens as Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise are scrambling to save a primitive planet from destruction. After the mission doesn’t go as planned, they’re brought back home to answer for their mistakes.
While the crew is still grounded, Starfleet agent John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) carries out an attack that results in the loss of several high-ranking officials. When he escapes to the Klingon planet of Kronos, Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) sends Kirk and his crew into enemy territory to bring him to justice.
Like Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek debut, the eagerly-anticipated follow-up perfectly blends sci-fi action and effects with character-driven drama that’s rarely found in the genre. In just the first scene, Abrams manages to capture the characters’ personalities in a way that endears the characters to the audience while setting up personal conflicts to come—and he continues to carry that thread throughout the film.
The cast, meanwhile, couldn’t be better. Though they all have iconic roles to play—and really big shoes to fill—they manage to do so in a way that feels perfectly natural. Instead of simply acting out a caricature, they add new depth and personality to each beloved character. There’s a perfect balance here—and just as Kirk’s impulsiveness balances out Spock’s logic, Simon Pegg’s comic relief as Scotty balances out the over-the-top intensity of Cumberbatch’s villain.
Of course, if you’re just in it for the action, you won’t be disappointed. The action sequences are frequent—and often breathtaking. From massive Starfleet destruction to clashes with Klingons, they’re flawlessly filmed and absolutely thrilling. But if you need more than flashy effects and explosions to hold your attention for a couple of hours, the characters and their stories add insight to the action and effects.
At the same time, Star Trek Into Darkness strikes another important balance: the balance between serious fans and nervous newcomers. The Star Trek franchise has such a rabid following that it could deter newbies from giving the latest reboot a shot. After all, its decades of history (not to mention its costumed fanboys) can be more than a little intimidating. But there’s nothing intimidating about this movie. Even if you barely know Kirk from Spock, you’ll feel perfectly comfortable with the characters—and you’ll soon find yourself caught up in their story. Lifelong fans, on the other hand, will be treated to a more layered experience, filled with subtle references to classic Star Trek and younger versions of characters who go on to play important roles in the franchise.
Thanks to its careful balance of old and new, of action and drama, Star Trek Into Darkness works on many levels, for many kinds of viewers. So if you’re looking for some smart summer blockbuster fun, don’t let the costume-clad fanboys scare you away.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
