Star Trek Into Darkness: Criticisms aside, Still Great Fun

Generally speaking, I do try to approach each film I watch with a certain amount of critical, dispassionate distance. However, I am human, and there are just some films and series (maybe more than some) out there that bring out the "fan" in me. Star Trek films are exactly those types of films for me. It's hard not to get emotionally involved in the series. After all, it's a series I have grown up with.

While I did not watch many of the the original series episodes growing up, I loved the movies with the original crew. Even when I didn't necessarily love one of the entries in the series (Final Frontier, I'm looking at you!), there was still a measure of love for the effort and for seeing my favorite galaxy-hopping crew.

So, where is all of this leading? I'm getting there.

In the weeks leading up to the release of Star Trek Into Darkness, I've felt compelled to read a few of the early reviews. For films like this I normally avoid reviews because there's a chance my feelings might get hurt by what the critic has to say. Over the past two weeks, my head and heart have been battling it out. Reviews with negatively suggestive titles, I avoid. Reviews with more positive titles, I read. Some times this worked, other times... not so much.

Not exactly fair and balanced, I know, but then again, this is Star Trek.

Anyway, from the reviews I've read there have been considerable criticisms leveled at Abrams and company regarding the new installment. Some feel that the essence of what made Star Trek great is being lost in the push for a more action heavy summer blockbuster. Others feel that specific plot points pushed them passed the threshold of belivability.

To some extent I agree with these criticisms. The philosophical quandries presented in the earlier films and television series seem to be severely limited in favor of practically tearing the Enterprise to pieces. (I am worried that poor Enterprise won't survive its five year voyage at the current rate of destruction.) Little time is given for the characters to truly contemplate the consequences of their actions, and the film does end in a quick and lazy manner.

However, I'm taking this film as a step in character development, an episode in a new series, if you'll allow.

Critics have been complaining about the immaturity of Kirk (Chris Pine) in this film. While I agree with them that Kirk is far from the morally-centered captain of the original series, what I feel is forgotten in the rush to complain is the fact that Abrams' Kirk is a fresh, young captain, not the experienced version we have seen in William Shatner's Kirk. Even in the original series, Kirk was already a mature and capable captain. Pine's Kirk, while quite capable, has yet to reach that level of maturity, so I actually find it refreshing to see him making mistakes.

Another criticism I've read involves the fact that Spock (Zachary Quinto) is far more emotional in this film than Leonard Nimoy ever was. There is an answer for that as well. In this alternate timeline, Spock's character is in the midst of reconciling his emotional human half with his logical Vulcan half. The vacillation Spock experiences in this film, like with Kirk, indicates a lack of maturity. These are young characters, not quite mature, but almost. They are learning, and I find witnessing this process
fascinating.

Star Trek Into Darkness does, at least, correct a major problem I had with the first film in Abrams' series: a complete disregard for modern science. Yes, years and years ago, a common trope of sci-fi was the black hole. Any problem in the plot that cannot be fixed? Use a black hole.

However, today, our knowledge of black holes is substantial enough to suggest that the events in Star Trek are quite improbable, if not impossible. I'm still wondering why they didn't just use worm holes, something that's been around for a while now in sci-fi, having taken the place of black holes. It seems like such an easy fix, especially considering the backgrounds of all the people involved (Fringe, Lost). For this film, I didn't have any such reservations, so that in and of itself is an improvement.

There is one problem I do have with the "science" of this film: Beaming seems to be both a insurmountable obstacle and a safe and easy escape route. Characters seem to have no problem hoping across the galaxy thanks to Scotty's (the hilarious and perfectly cast Simon Pegg) "trans-warp beaming" equation. However, beaming one person from the center of an active volcano is a massive problem. The logic here escapes me, and I can usually argue such problems (part of the joy of Trek-science discussions among friends).

That being said, this lapse in scientific know-how doesn't bother me as much this time around because these obvious plot devices serve a much larger purpose: the moral growth of the crew and the larger critique of a war-mongering state. Because these plot devices work to establish an intriguing rhetoric, I can forgive them. The same cannot be said of the first film.

And now, my friends, I have written my way into spoiler territory. Much of this review has lacked any plot specifics because I've been trying to save that for the end, where I must discuss another character, and I'm afraid I have to give the film's major secret away. So, if you have not yet seen the film, I'll leave you with the following: Star Trek Into Darkness is an overall improvement, a welcome addition to Abrams' stamp on the Trek universe.

Spoilers begin now.

Benedict Cumberbatch, oh what a glorious name! For months, plenty of people have been speculating on the true identity of Cumberbatch's villain. And for months now plenty of people have guessed right. Cumberbatch's John Harrison is none other than Khan Noonien Singh.

The moment Cumberbatch finally reveals his true name, I got chills. This dude is seriously creepy and a far cry from Ricardo Montalban's iconic, scene-chewing/stealing, villain from the original series and the classic Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Again, some critics have cried foul because of rehashing of a classic. However, I don't consider this a rehashing at all. In fact, the film's writers have gone out of their way to change as much as possible. This story has very little to do with the original series episode or the previous film. There are similarities, of course: how Khan was found (kind of), Khan's basic history, and Khan's own psychosis. But everything else is different thanks to the alternate timeline. Indeed, I'm hoping any future entanglements with Khan will revolve around Spock's brilliant subterfuge at the end of the film. This time around, Khan will have a much bigger beef with Spock than with Kirk.

As far as Cumberbatch's performance goes, I loved it. He's fierce, charming (not to mention a bit sexy), manipulative, intelligent, and Scotty's reaction to seeing Khan take down three Starfleet officers is priceless and quite appropriate. Khan is a much more physically intimidating presence this time around, no wonder both Spock and Uhura (played by the lovely Zoe Saldana) are needed to take him down.

Well, if you've stayed this long, thank you. Believe me, I had no intention of writing a lengthy review, but that's how writing goes sometimes. And as my family and partner have experienced on multiple occasions, I can be quite talkative when the "fan" in me comes out. It's the essence of fandom, I'm afraid, and I'm hardly immune.

Overall, despite and because of its flaws, Star Trek Into Darkness is a great summer movie and a wonderful continuation of the Star Trek universe.

*On a lighter note... Here's some grammar humor for you. And look! There's a Contact reference in there, too! :)