The Film
Director J.J. Abrams has produced a Star Trek movie for people that don't really like Star Trek movies. That said, Star Trek Into Darkness should also please fans of the franchise. After all, it's a pretty entertaining film.
After a routine mission goes horribly wrong, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) loses control of the Enterprise to Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). The whole transaction is pretty fleeting though, because Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch) is afoot.
Abrams gathers up bits and pieces of the classic TV show, but certainly puts his own high-octane twist on things. He's also giving audiences an updated version of a classic sci-fi villain. If you can get past the fact that he doesn't have the glistening chesticles (Khaaaan!), Sherlock's Cumberbatch is one of the best things about this film.
The rest of the cast does a nice job, when they're actually given the chance. For a movie that runs over the 2-hour mark, you'd think some of these people would be given more to do. (John Cho and Anton Yelchin are blips and we can never have too much Simon Pegg, please.) Now, I'm also not 100-percent sold on Pine as the leader of the group. He's got the jawline, but seems like a graduate of the William Shatner School of Acting. Maybe it's part of the throwback vibe. That said, there's so much adrenaline pumping in this film, it won't really matter all that much.
Ready to boldly go where several readers have gone before? Check out Joe Lozito's theatrical review of Star Trek Into Darkness.
The Picture
Paramount has delivered another 3D conversion for viewers to feast upon. While this trip into the third dimension certainly wasn't necessary, it's fine. That's right -- just fine. It adds a nice level of depth, but very little else. Some of the pop-outs include the opening volcanic ash, as well as other occasional debris and even some glare during the ship's travels. I didn't find the latter to be all that pleasurable, but it's fleeting. In fact, if you take off your glasses at various points throughout the film, you probably won't notice too much of a difference. That said, the 3D certainly doesn't hurt the release in any way. It's still bursting with the sharp imagery and gorgeous colors you'd expect from a brand-new, big-budget sci-fi extravaganza.
The Sound
Star Trek Into Darkness has an extremely active Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track, whether it's cranking out the Beastie Boys or sounds of the Starfleet. The film's musical score is also a strong one, but it's really the special effects that make this audio track -- well, special. The sounds of the Enterprise are the most impressive, both inside and while whipping through the galaxy. Also, the Klingon attack literally made my dog jump up and exit the room. It's a forceful track for sure, with explosions, gunfire and other adrenaline-pumping moments. However, it never drowns out the little sounds or any of the dialogue. It's exactly the type of audio you'd expect in a big-budget action flick, but gets bonus points for all of the little bits of atmosphere that pop up throughout the soundfield.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Director J.J. Abrams is obviously a Star Trek fan and has delivered a nice homage here. Of course, fans will find plenty to pick apart -- both good and bad. That said, Star Trek Into Darkness is more of a film for the masses. Viewers don't need backstory or even a love for sci-fi to enjoy this installment. It's pretty action-packed from beginning to end. All of the weirdness with the special features is disappointing and even a little confusing, but it shouldn't detract you from picking this one up. The 3D isn't all that necessary, but certainly doesn't hurt the film's demo-quality AV presentation. Enjoy.
Product Details
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