Movie Review: Star Trek: Into Darkness..lights up the franchise

I just love it when a movie goes beyond the plot and understands its characters and what they stand for. I love it when a sequel in a franchise looks to be more than just a money spinner; when plot matters and plot development even more so; when the audience is kept guessing and interested till the very end. The good news is that all these boxes are checked in this sequel in the ever popular Star Trek franchise so go book your tickets right away

While the original movie itself was highly acclaimed and lauded – I wasn’t so impressed by it. I thought it slowed down at precisely the wrong moments and there were plenty of dull moments as Captain Kirk came of age. The sequel, in my opinion, goes one better - it stays true to the franchise – in rich exploration of the central characters, the relationship between Spock and Kirk and yet, spins a tale that keeps you interested all through. Add to that brilliant visual effects and great action and you have almost the total package.

Almost, I say, because the unnecessary post production 3D ruins what is a perfectly enjoyable 2D experience, without adding anything of value, save one or two brief frames. That and the predictable dialogues – some pretty much the cheesy ones you have come to expect in such movies – cast a minor shadow

More than performances, its really the characters that stand out. Kirk and Spock are all of legendary status already but John Harrison is perhaps the most intriguing to watch – Benedict Cumberbatch completely nails it and you quickly forget Sherlock (he plays Sherlock Holmes in one of the best TV series today). You could hardly ask for a better Spock than Zachary Quinto (in this day and age) though the same cannot be said of Chris Pine (Kirk). As the protagonist of the film, let’s just say Chris Pine is only convincing in parts – in some scenes he’s in his element and in others he looks completely off.

However, this movie really belongs to its director, J J Abrams. As someone, who clearly understands Star Trek and its characters, Abrams gets it bang on target (Pay particular attention to the voiceover at the end if you are a Star Trek fan). In one sequence, while I felt, he had gone a bit too far, he quickly inserts one dialogue that explains why that scene was so necessary. That said, there was still potential for this movie to be a tad shorter though Abrams does a fine job of it as it is.

So, if you haven’t beamed yourself into the theater already, you better get there at warp speed to see a promising sequel live up to its expectations – for a change