Review: Star Trek Into Darkness Directed by J.J. Abrams

Title:  Star Trek Into Darkness

Director:  J.J. Abrams

Written by: Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, and Damon Lindelof
Based on Star Trek created by Gene Rodenberry
Rated PG-13

Release Date:  May 17, 2013
For More Information visit the Official Site

I received advance screening tickets for Star Trek Into Darkness from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Thank You. Let me start by saying that I’m not attempting to summarize the movie, because there would be simply too many spoilers. These are merely my thoughts about Star Trek Into Darkness directed by JJ Abrams.

A heart-wrenching sacrifice was used in an attack against the Federation. The catastrophic event was arranged by none other than Harrison AKA Kahn. There was corruption within the organization. Consequently, the USS Enterprise was tasked with stopping Khan and averting a full-fledged war.

My first thoughts were that the cast of characters presented didn’t measure up to the original cast that I grew to love. Yeah, the same characters were there but something was just different. It was a modern day twist to a classic movie, which is sure to demand the attention of a new generation of movie goers/Trekkie fans. The action at the beginning of the movie was attention grabbing as Spock's life was in jeopardy and Captain James Kirk makes a rash decision regarding whether he should adhere to protocol or take actions based on the needs/safety of just one man. I just couldn’t picture anyone but the original actor, Leonard Nemoy, playing Spock. Then it happened--the plot started rolling, Spock was in danger, the USS Enterprise was revealed to the indigenous people,  corruption was among them, friendships were strengthened, and Kirk begins to adapt to his role as Captain. That’s when I realized that the movie had the perfect ingredients for success. Chris Pine (Captain Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock) were exceptional in their roles. Bones and Scotty added a nice touch of humor to the plot. And I must say that Dr. Leonard McCoy AKA “Bones” was my absolute favorite character, because he was the crews dedicated doctor that would go to the extreme to complete a crew member’s examination.

Overall, Star Trek was more than the story of the USS Enterprise’s mission to protect the Federation and search for new civilizations. It portrays the crew as they learn to work together under the command of Captain Kirk. The growth of the crew was evident, as we are provided with details pertaining to their strengths and weaknesses. We learn why Spock appears to be emotionless and witness Captain Kirk’s development into a true leader.  In short, albeit, the modern day Star Trek had a different feel than the original version, it’s a new era for Star Trek fans, and it’s a movie that’s sure to be loved for generations to come.