The Brilliance of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

J. J. Abrams (Super 8, Alias, Fringe, Lost) has excelled in television and movies particularly resurrecting Star Trek by reinventing its essence for new audiences while respecting its origins.  In Star Trek Into Darkness, he expands on keys characters and continues his mastery of plot and non-stop action.  As summer entertainment, it is a class act and sends the science fiction/adventure series on a spectacular trajectory.  It is also the best Star Trek movie since The Wrath of Khan.

Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban) are pursued by a primitive tribe on an alien planet as Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) attempts to prevent a catastrophic volcanic explosion from within.  Their activities call into the question The Prime Directive where nothing should alter a civilization from without.  In fact, Kirk’s outrageous, rule-breaking behavior gets him in hot water with mentor, Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) and Starfleet.  At the same time, a horrifying explosion in London reveals the presence of a mysterious man (Benedict Cumberbatch) named John Harrison, who exhibits a remarkable intellect and physical prowess.  The cryptic Harrison is pursued to Kronos, home planet to the warrior race of Klingons and the threat of all out war.  Overseeing the mission directive is Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) whose presence is felt in unexpected ways.  It all leads to a revelation that threatens not only the Enterprise, but Starfleet and Earth. 

As the original TV series often dealt with contemporary issues, there are strong parallels with current headlines in the form of terrorism.  In fact much of the film has a grim, dark tone as the crew must face a superior, ruthless adversary, and a couple scenes of mass destruction have a 9/11 feel.  There are a number of references to the old TV series and original Trek films as names, locales, music, and even dialogue are lifted and cleverly interjected.  Tribbles, anyone?  And you’ve got to love those retro uniforms especially Saldana’s!

Pike and Kirk have what amounts to a father-son relationship, and this is tested in a pivotal moment.  We witness this relatively new crew as it becomes more cohesive under duress, and that is part of the fun as we watch McCoy’s character and the beginnings of his amusing, trademark gripes.  There are plenty of heroics from our stars, and Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) shine in key moments.  You only wish to see if the classic trio (Kirk, Spock, and McCoy) could mix it up more, but you do see the core beginnings of their dynamic bond.  There are strong, recurring themes of loyalty and sacrifice for the good of the majority, or in other words, “the needs of the many…”

Cumberbatch, (TVs current Sherlock Holmes) is outstanding as a powerful adversary.  Weller is particularly effective as the imposing Admiral with a hidden agenda. 

The visual effects are impressively on display when the starship Enterprise explodes into warp speed and when devastating terrorist acts decimate a major city.  The pacing is quite good, so don’t think too hard on credibility gaps.  Where does Harrison come from?  Anybody check his blood type?  Why is Starfleet headquarters virtually unguarded?  And what’s the deal on those torpedoes?

Abrams is a master showman and he knows how to engineer cliffhangers upon cliffhangers.  The film has a memorable climax that will ring déjà vu with a twist, but is nonetheless quite emotional.  It solidifies the Kirk-Spock relationship forever and could have served as one of the best endings in Trekdom, but the filmmakers chose to springboard to another exciting moment which leaves the door open for future adventures of the five year kind.  To say any more would spoil things.  A third film in this installment would be hard pressed to surpass the energy and sheer acumen he demonstrates in this sequel, but Abrams has proven he can followup a directing gig by remaining the producer with another talented director taking the reigns and still achieve spectacular results (see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol).  For the man who has been chosen to take over Star Wars franchise, the sky’s the limit.

***1/2 of **** (add ½* for Star Trek fans)

IRON MAN 3 Stands Alone

 Following on the heels of one of the greatest superhero films (The Avengers) ever, Iron Man 3 had the daunting task of being the first film to initiate Phase 2 of the next set of Marvel films.  Add to that the fact that third acts rarely do well in these individual film series (Spiderman 3, X-Men 3).  Directed this time by Shane Black, (former director Jon Favreau still plays bodyguard Happy Hogan), there was every reason to believe that this installment would fall short of expectations. Surprisingly, this film is pretty good and benefits from a strong plot and the usual Robert Downey Jr. performance.  By keeping the audience guessing, this action packed film not only kick starts the next set of films in the Marvel plan, but sets new expectations going forward in the series.

Tony Stark (Downey) has been traumatized by his near death experience in The Avengers with a little help from his friends and must contend with trying to find some normalcy in his life, and that includes his relationship with girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).  Stark recalls a past relationship with a female scientist, whose potentially revolutionary, regenerative process called Extremis is found to have explosive side effects.  At the same time, a young genius name Aldrich (Guy Pierce) proposes an idea for high tech think tank, Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.), which will later have severe implications.  Further, a terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) is hijacking the airwaves and threatening catastrophic events. Are these events related?  The story takes Stark out of his comfort zone and drops him in a nowhere town in Tennessee, and he is thus forced to improvise, relying upon his skills and wit to battle a formidable opponent while forging an unlikely bond with a local boy.  A deadly, convoluted plot begins to take shape which has far reaching consequences to not only Stark’s home but the world.

Downey owns this character, and he gets nice support from Paltrow in an expanded role.  Pierce makes a worthy antagonist with tricks up his sleeve so to speak, and Kingsley is a hoot playing up his mysterious role as The Mandarin.  Paul Bettany again amusingly voices Stark’s computer Jarvis.

Shane Black’s talent was notable in the screenplay for Lethal Weapon, and it shows in the dialogue especially between Stark and Pepper and his interactions with the boy.  He also was astute enough to challenge his main character by stripping him of his closest allies (no sign of S.H.I.E.L.D either) and his armor and stranding him in the middle of nowhere. 

What set Marvel characters apart from most other super hero comics was that they experienced real, personal problems, and that, combined with a real threat, formed an emotional response from the audience.  It’s nice for comic book fans to see the Marvel films incorporate the established comic book lore including A.I.M. and pushing the ante on supporting characters like Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle) as The Iron Patriot.  At times you feel a bit of James Bond influence and then a bit of The X-Files which is not bad thing.  

There are some clever plot twists and unexpected surprises in characters including one revelation that may upset some comic book purists.  The standout highlight is a spectacular action sequence in midair as Air Force One is attacked and its passengers are thrown out helplessly.  What’s a superhero to do?  The result is a terrific, beautifully shot maneuver that raises hairs.  Then there is that magnificent armor that Start is constantly perfecting to the point that he can remotely get suited up by sections.  Special visual effects are top of the line as witnessed in the pyrotechnic climax at a shipyard.

Not content to paint by numbers, Black and Downey have fashioned an entertaining, superior third film that is almost as good as Iron Man 1.  There’s a certain finality in the way it ends which makes one wonder how will they do another Iron Man film.  This is Downey’s last contractual Iron Man for now and it would be a shame to deny fans another go at a fascinating character especially with The Avengers 2 in the not too distant horizon. And yes, do stay through the lengthy credits for a brief but amusing scene and cameo. 

*** of **** stars (add ½* for Marvel fans)