Director: JJ Abrams
Screenplay: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman.
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Weller, Alice Eve
Synopsis is here
At least one film academic or critic is bound to be a
little perturbed by the opening of JJ Abrams’ space rock opera in
which an action sequence involving a tribe of "native"
aliens begin to hail praise and worship on the enterprise with its corn fed,
all American boy captain. Things only become odder when we delve deeper into
this second summer package of the revamped star fleet. Particularly as much of
the film relies on concepts of this group of explorers becoming more heavily
armed to combat what looks for be an impending war. It's obvious that the
filmmakers are not making any profound commentary such moments. Thinking about
the 2009 entry, I'm reminded at how well race was displayed. But
believe me when I say this, someone will say something.
That aside, I was
far too happy to see what would happen to these next to care too much about
such moments. Star Trek displayed enough love for the original series that it
did not feel like a smash and grab number. It did so with a jazzed up, youthful
but well picked cast that really held everything in place. The banter put in
place along with the timing of the cast were of course half the fun of such a
film. This new Star Trek was less about diplomacy as it was for trying to put a
zing in mainstream summer blockbuster viewing. So here comes the difficult
second album. Star Trek set the bar quite high as a piece of fluffy fun and
now, its sequel "into Darkness" now has the job of
either levelling for exceeding expectations.
For me, I found
there to be something underwhelming about this recent venture. Something not
sitting right as I sat stuffing popcorn into my face (could be the
reason). Four years ago, Star Trek was a shiny and glossy thrill ride. However;
while Abrams hasn't changed too much to the proceedings, he doesn't make
the evolutionary jump I had expected. The small lull I felt in the
first film has expanded here. After a beguiling start which looks set to
match the leap into chaos we found with The Dark Knight, I found myself
more than a little distracted with the films second act. If it wasn't bogging
you down with plot (not all of it feels needed) then it's slapping you around
the face with another frustrating to follow action sequence.
Much of the film
feels more about its loud bangs than its large characters. If not for the forcefulness of
the films villain, the film could have really lost its way. It's
hard not to enjoy Benedict Cumberbatch as he expertly demoralises his foes with
the utterance of one word. However, he is nearly lost amidst all
the pulling of the strings the script and Abrams must do. An example is Alice
Eve, who seems to be rivalling Rebecca Hall as most unfortunate bright young
actress in a big blockbuster with little to do. When the film resets its focus
upon the couples and groupings which made the 2009 entry what it was, the
sparkle comes back.
As I've said
before, I'm no TV Star Trek fan so this no fanboy rant or retort. However, it
does feel that Abrams has missed a trick slightly, giving us
a villain that really ups the stakes but nearly forgetting some of
the essence that makes John Harrison such an interesting prospect. There's
still some fun stuff here, with Abrams and Co still having fun poking in and
around Star Trek lore and the final act having a decent emotional payoff. But
all in all, the film feels more than a little overblown. Here's hoping that
Abrams regains a bit of composure for the third entry.
