Star Trek: Into Darkness

In case you don’t know, Star Trek began as a television series in the sixties. It utilized Styrofoam rocks, model ships on strings, sliding panels to make lights seem to flash, and robotic dogs without heads put inside old earmuffs. (That was to make tribbles.) Star Trek as it began was a low-budget show that was never expected to make it very big. However, as hard core fans with Spock ears on their shelves will attest, Star Trek became a large cultural influence. 

                Fast forward to the present day. Star Trek was rebooted a few years ago with Star Trek: XI, featuring an alternate universe that still has the original Spock, but old, a much more powerful Uhura, and a Chekov that is cute as all get-out. Fans of the original series often complain about the changes in character and setting- Vulcan was destroyed; there were like three movies that can’t happen now without Vulcan! Oh dear Vorta-vor, how will we make it? Also, these new movies don’t seem to promote cultural understanding as much as they do bar-hopping, and have much less emphasis on professionalism and integrity than the original series did.

                But, they’re trying. This brand new movie, Into Darkness is fantastic. I shall do my utmost to provide a fairly good review without spoiling anything major. The film utilized a villain from the original series, and the way they did it was ingenious. Love it. Plus, he was incredibly attractive. What is this trend in making villains attractive? Oh well, I like it. Benedict Cumberbatch. He wasn’t the only eye candy in the movie, though! From the special effects that would have knocked us through the roof in the sixties, to the other re-introduced (female) character who apparently has no modesty, there was eye candy aplenty. The film was an excellent action film, and was driven by character traits and logical circumstances, featured wonderful interpersonal dynamics, and also made me cry. That’s right. Fans of the original series who have seen the associated films, take tissues. There’s a scene… okay, no spoilers. But wow.

                Star Trek; Into Darkness continues the new film franchise in excellent form, and I would highly recommend that everyone see it at some point, particularly if you are a fan of the original series, but no foreknowledge is really required. The plot and characters will make perfect sense even if you are completely unfamiliar with the original series. They do not reference their original counterparts, though if you know who they were in the beginning you will love the film all the more.

Also, Benedict Cumberbatch.

*furiously fans self*