When Paramount Pictures decided to reboot the Star Trek franchise in 2009, the primary question would have been, how do you take forward the tales of the original crew of the Enterprise? Do you start from the very beginning and re-tell it all to a new generation? Or do you continue from where they left off? It's a tricky question, one you need to ponder on to get it right, because just relaunching a famous series does not assure anything. Rebooting the Superman series through Superman Returns in 2006 failed so badly that the producers have to reboot it again now, this time venturing back to the origins. Batman on the other hand was splendidly brought back in Batman Begins by distancing itself from the previous movies which had turned rotten. A series like Fast & Furious came back by placing the fourth movie after the second movie in the timeline, thereby going back to the original crew. Star Trek though tried something quite novel and splendid. J.J. Abrams and his team, using the sci-fi background that the series already provided them, created a shift in the timeline itself, an 'alternate reality' right from the day of James Kirk's birth, thereby allowing them to explore the adventures of the crew of the Enterprise on their own terms but managing the keep the characterizations the same. A brilliant move, satisfying the original 'Trekkies' and giving an altogether new series for the latest generation of movie watchers.
Star Trek Into Darkness begins with crew of the USS Enterprise, in this 'alternate reality', locked in an adventure on the planet Nibiru to save the primary inhabitants from extinction. The movie starts off at a fast pace as Captain James Kirk (Chris Pine) and Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) are chased by the inhabitants, while Spock (Zachary Quinto) is engaged in work to stop an erupting volcano. Eventually, this initial adventure leads to Kirk breaking one of the Prime Directives and setting things in motion for the adventures to follow. The Starfleet is at this time facing an attack by a new nemesis who is identified as John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), a Starfleet member himself. Captain Kirk is allowed to venture on in search of Harrison by Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) and that is how the Enterprise crew of explorers are turned into a group of combatants. Harrison is though not who he seems to be, and as things develop, one is rendered deeper and deeper into an intriguing plot which evokes admiration, love, rage and a sense of honour above it all. Bonds are tested more than once, between friends, between lovers, between students and mentors. And by the end of it all, only the toughest and strongest bonds are meant to survive.
The script written by the original team of 2009's Star Trek, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, along with new joinee, Damon Lindelof, forms the heart of the movie. While Star Trek explored the origins of two of the central characters, Kirk and Spock, their differences and their similarities, Star Trek Into Darkness brings into focus the challenges in their friendship due to the vast differences in their personalities. And yet it in no way holds back to bring forth the admiration that they have of each other, and how they will stand up for one another when required. In one of the most emotional scenes of the movie, Spock speaks out his heart to Kirk (in the small way that he can) saying, "Because we are friends!" and that is when you realise the extent of their love for each other. If you are asking whether this is a James Kirk film or a Spock film, you are asking the wrong question. Star Trek Into Darkness belongs to them both, unquestionably, and makes for one of the best partnerships between two leading male actors, ever seen.
With the excellence of the script, follows the excellence of the director, J.J. Abrams. His masterclass was in display with Star Trek and his reputation remains untarnished with the sequel. Abrams masterfully blends in emotions in an action-filled sci-fi flick, in a manner only a few can. His understanding of the bonds between different characters is there to be seen, whether he shoots a scene with Kirk and Spock, or Spock and McCoy, or Kirk and Sulu, or Uhura and Spock. The camera placements are perfect, the scenes showcasing the vastness of space are extraordinary, and especially the battle between two starships at warp speed is worth highlighting. Abrams has always said that he has never been a great fan of the original Star Trek series which has allowed him to create something new here, but there are quite a bit of influences of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in this one which would excite the original Trekkies thoroughly.
The movie is filled with quality acting from start to end as was the case with the previous Star Trek. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto have matured as actors as have their characters in the course of these two movies and for the new generation of watchers, they will always be James Kirk and Spock. As is with their characters, Pine and Quinto seem to add something more to each other when they are together in a scene than when separate, and this conflict of gut feelings of Krik and logic of Spock when combined, truly completes things. The rest of the crew of the Enterprise complement the duo at every step, making them appear rightly as a 'family'. Dr. McCoy has some of the best one-liners in this one and his cynicism brings another shade of colour to the movie. Uhura, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov, each have their moments to shine, testing their strength to rise on the occasion, and along with the characters so do the actors with aplomb. Admiral Pike is lovable as always, and Peter Weller as Admiral Marcus enjoys good screen time and makes a strong impression overall.
Coming to Benedict Cumberbacth, he is a name to remember, if you have not done so yet. Many will recollect him from the TV Series Sherlock. You will hear him in the Hobbit trilogy as he voices the dragon Smaug. You will meet him this year itself when he plays Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate. And you will never forget him once you have seen Star Trek Into Darkness. Cumberbacth is one of the upcoming stars in Hollywood, talented to the core and has a screen presence which is electrifying to say the least. His role really kicks off in the second half of the movie but when it does, oh boy, he dwarfs the rest. Playing a character filled with pride, rage and ambition, Cumberbatch seems to simply will himself to be that person and enacts it with such ease that you forget he ever played a charming but annoying Sherlock Holmes. Great things can be expected from this young British actor.
Star Trek Into Darkness, in short, is more than just a sci-fi movie and keeps the essence of Star Trek alive. It raised no eyebrows when J.J. Abrams was offered to direct the next of the Star Wars movie, for no one else can touch the right emotional chords in a sci-fi movie than him. While many would be jubilant to see Star Wars in safe hands and awaiting the planned 2015 release of the next movie, today one just feels a pinch of sadness that the next Abrams directed Star Trek movie cannot be seen soon. What path does the Enterprise take from here on, one does not know. But is that not the point of the starship's adventures after all? To seek the unexplored! So till we hear from the crew once again, live long and prosper!
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