Review: New 'Trek' Boldly Goes for the Gusto

With "Star Trek Into Darkness", director J.J. Abrams proves his first "Trek" outing in 2009 was no fluke, completing the resuscitation of Paramount's once-ailing flagship franchise and setting the scene for what one can only hope will be many more adventures with this winning cast. As he did with 2009's "Star Trek", Abrams has crafted a film that will appeal to casual popcorn-flick fans while still respecting hard-core Trekkies.

"Into Darkness" begins at mid-gallop and only rarely slows through its 132-minute running time. The movie opens with the Enterprise crew working frantically to save an alien world from certain doom, in the form of an impending volcanic eruption. A monkey wrench gets thrown into the works when first officer Spock (Zachary Quinto) gets trapped in the throat of the volcano and Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) cannot save him without revealing the Enterprise to the planet's primitive inhabitants. To do so would violate Starfleet's Prime Directive -- an absolute prohibition on interference with less-advanced cultures.

Kirk being Kirk, he ignores the regulations to save his shipmate. But back at Starfleet headquarters, he finds himself in hot water when rule-conscious Spock files a report on the incident. Kirk soon finds himself demoted and once again serving under Admiral Pike (the always-effective Bruce Greenwood), while Spock is reassigned.

All that goes out the window, however, when a pair of back-to-back terrorist attacks destroy Starfleet facilities in London and San Francisco. Taking responsibility for the attacks is John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), a rogue Starfleet operative with a score to settle. Kirk is quickly reinstated and sent after Harrison, with orders to shoot first and ask questions, well, never.

From there, Abrams piles on the action thick and fast, but without sacrificing the humor and graceful character touches that have made the "Star Trek" universe so beloved over the last 50 years. Even the plot is shades of classic "Trek" -- exploring current issues by placing them in a sci-fi milieu. The film meditates on how democratic societies should respond to terrorism; indeed, the long-range, remote-controlled photon torpedoes with which Kirk is ordered to take out Harrison could well be a subtle jab at the current administration's love of targeted Predator drone strikes.

But this heady stuff doesn't get in the way of the action, which is eye-popping (if a bit too chaotic at times), or the characters, who are as familiar and comfortable as ever, even with fresher-faced actors playing them. With the possible exception of Chekov (an amusing but under-used Anton Yelchin), all of the Enterprise's crew members get their chance to shine. Sulu (John Cho) shows steely resolve at a couple of crucial moments. Bones (Karl Urban, once again channeling the late DeForest Kelly) is as irascible and amusing as ever. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) is tough and funny as she balances her shipboard duties and her romance with Spock. And Scotty (Simon Pegg), given criminally short shrift in the 2009 film, finally gets to flex some action-movie muscles of his own.

Even in the face of excellent work by the main cast, Cumberbatch, as Harrison, nearly walks away with the film. Anyone who's seen his work on BBC's "Sherlock" knows Cumberbatch is a formidable actor, and here he plays the most chilling of villains: a terrorist whose methods are abhorrent, but whose cause is understandable, even just. Harrison's silky voice, shark-eyed stare and capacity for both seductive logic and sudden brutality make him a force to be reckoned with, and Cumberbatch plays the role to the hilt.

But the heart of "Star Trek" has always been relationship between Kirk and Spock. Say what you will about William Shatner's distinctly ham-flavored Kirk, but he and Leonard Nimoy shared an easy chemistry that most actors would kill for. So it's sort of amazing that Pine and Quinto share a chemistry every bit as potent after a mere two films. Both characters are forced to confront things they'd rather not, to plumb emotional depths they'd prefer not to plumb, and Pine and Quinto are both up to the challenge.

Pine perfectly communicates Kirk's dawning understanding that his previous brash cockiness may not be enough to win the day this time. Real sacrifice is required of him for the first time, and it's a joy to watch Pine trace the emotional arc as Kirk finally earns the captain's chair he was given in the 2009 film.

Quinto once again pulls off the seemingly impossible -- embodying a man who is in deep emotional turmoil, yet rarely shows emotion. His Spock, perplexed by humans, driven by emotion yet tightly controlled, continues to be a revelation.

In sum, "Star Trek Into Darkness" is a great summer blockbuster that doesn't skimp on the action, but also remembers to make time for its characters. Abrams and his new cast are firing on all cylinders now, and one can only hope they keep boldly going for many years to come.

"Star Trek Into Darkness" is rated PG-13. It's playing in both standard and 3D formats at Carmike Cinemas and the Millstone Theater.

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