STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

US, 2013, 132 minutes, Colour.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch.
Directed by J.J.Abrams.

We are into it instantly. We are in the middle of a mission, Kirk and Bones fleeing from a primitive, spear-brandishing tribe, with Spock descending to deal with a fiery-fierce volcano. This review is based on a 3D version on an IMAX screen with pounding score.
But, the tribe and the volcano are not the main story. In London, a Starfleet expert, John Harrison, wreaks destruction on a vast plant. In San Francisco (both cities 200 or more years hence looking futuristic, of course, with tall buildings and speeding vehicles), the Starfleet conference room is attacked by the same expert. He is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is having an increasingly important film career in films but also as Sherlock in the modernised television movies. Yes, another British villain! But, as we listen to his speeches (and he has quite a few), we realise that Americans don’t have the diction, accent or voice modulation that a clipped, clear, rounded, vowel-perfect British voice can give to such rhetorical interventions.
But, back to the crew and the plot.

We are four years on from J.J.Abrams first Star Trek film which brought the franchise alive again on the big screen and which brought a younger cast in to replace, with as many similarities as possible, the orginal crew of Starship Enterprise.

Chris Pine became Captain James Kirk and continues his adventurous, sometimes pig-headed, leadership of the Enterprise – with some scenes of American superiority at its gung hoest. Zachary Quinto is a very effective new Spock. Simon Pegg provides humour and his scientific know-how as Scotty (with some beaming ups – or beamings up), Zoe Saldana is something of glamorous Uhura, John Cho is a Korean Sulu, instead of the original Japanese, Karl Urban a wry Bones and Anton Yelchin fiddling with an Eastern European accent as Chekov. There is another addition to the crew, Alice Eve as another expert, daughter of the Starfleet admiral (Peter Weller).

So, there is quite some satisfaction with the crew. There is more than satisfaction with the set and production design, the vast sets of the space ships and their docking bases, the enormous interiors. And, as for special effects and stunt work, they are most impressive. Plenty of action.

At one stage we see Leonard Nimoy on the screen, the older Spock talking to the younger Spock. In probing the identity of John Harrison and his cargo of cryogenic allies planted secretly in powerful space torpedoes, the older Spock makes a vital link with the past, a connection in characters, plot and issues with the films of the past. Which, of course, makes it that much more interesting.

Lots of heroics, of course: Kirk prepared to give his life in the radiation core of the ship to save his crews’ lives, which gives Spock the opportunity to do invidividual battle with Harrison, Uhura coming to the rescue. Bones helps dismantle torpedoes as well as looking after health. Scotty races and uses his wits so that Kirk and Harrison, in flying suits hurtling through space can rendezvous on the admiral’s ship. Sulu has the chance to be acting captain.

Mix all that together, especially in a plotline that is always clear, even when it is convoluted, and you have a spectacular screen experience, vast action along with 3D cameras which enable you to see every contour, every line, facial hair on Kirk’s face in minute close-up!

It has been announced that J.J. Abrams’ next project is directing Star Wars Episode 7. On this evidence, no wonder. And, as fans might say, ‘Bring it on’.

1. The place of this film in the new franchise? The 2009 film and a fresh start? A satisfying sequel?
2. The role of the director, his vision? The new cast and the re-imagining of the series?
3. The series, the traditions, the fans have for many decades? Starship Enterprise? Boldly going… The exploration of space, the space battles in the planets, the worlds and civilizations, alien worlds?
4. The Star Trek movies and the tradition? Characters, situations? The link with this film? The appearance of the older Spock? Kahn?
5. The budget, 3 D, the vast sets and design, action, the score?
6. The film opening in the middle of action, the strange looking planet, Kirk and Bones being chased? The savages, spears? The volcano and its fire? Spock descending? The danger, Kirk and the rescue, decisions about Spock, to save his life? The submerged ship appearing? The natives and the fears, their drawing? Spock and his freezing the volcano? The rescue?
7. San Francisco, the return of the ship, the look of San Francisco, futuristic, tall buildings, vehicles… Admiral Pike, talking with Kirk, terminating his commission, issues of obedience and rules? His being severe, yet a father-figure to Kirk? The report, Spock telling the truth, Kirk and his irritation? The change of plan, the attack on the Starfleet headquarters? In the bar, Pike coming to Kirk, reinstating him?
8. London, the look of the future, the familiar sights, new buildings? The little girl, her illness? The intervention of Harrison? The surgery? The father going into the vast office, setting the bomb? The destruction? The group working out that Harrison and would attack headquarters, the attack on San Francisco? The deaths, especially that of Pike?
9. Admiral Markus, his age and experience, the father figure to Pike? The attack, Pike, the wounds, the pathos of his death and Kirk with him? Markus and the threats, the attack plan, destroying Harrison, the torpedoes? The issue of whether to arrest in or not?
10. Spock, the voice of reason, ethics and truth? Kirk and his gut feelings? The Spock and the logic for arresting Harrison and not destroying him? Kirk, the Enterprise, reinstating Spock?
11. The crew, their characters, idiosyncrasies? Parallels with the original crew? Sulu and his having to be acting captain, Scottie and his refusal to work on the torpedoes, offering his resignation, accepted? Uhura and her clash with Spock, love for him, the danger with the volcano? Collaborating with him? Chekov, his accent, taking Scottie’s place? Bones, doctor, wry comments, with Kirk on the planet, experiencing the dangers, the dismantling of the torpedo?
12. Alice eve and her posing as an expert, her work, the discovery that she was Admiral Markus’ daughter? Her being accepted? Her work on the torpedoes? Her being ashamed of her father?
13. Going to the Klingon area, the danger of war, the difficulties with the ship, the mission?
14. The landing, the fight, the Klingon attack, their being saved by Harrison? His allowing himself to be taken? Behind the glass? The explanations, the truth about his family, the cryogenics? About Markus? Markus’ daughter and her being beamed back to his ship? Markus appearing on the screen? His scenario, compared with that of Harrison? The torpedoes, the frozen bodies inside? Markus’ plan, to create war with the Klingons? Megalomania?
15. Kirk, the decisions to be made, using Harrison, Harrison using him? The information to Scottie in San Francisco, his travelling to the ship, discovering the truth? The plan for Harrison and Kirk to fly to the main ship? The visuals of the flight, the space debris, Scottie and his being able to open the door? The confrontation with Markus, with his daughter, Markus’ death?
16. Return to earth, Harrison and his rhetoric, his speeches, articulate and credible? His plan to go to San Francisco, plans of destruction and dominance?
17. The difficulties with the Enterprise, Scottie and Chekov trying to rectify the power? The core of radiation, Kirk willing to go in, his dying, Spock’s grief?
18. Spock going to San Francisco, the confrontation with Harrison, fighting him? Uhura going to earth, saving Harrison for his blood, to save Kirk?
19. Bones, the work on Kirk, the use of the blood, reviving him?
20. The younger Spock, the older Spock appearing on screen, the information about Khan? The linik with the earlier stories?
21. The New Mission, Kirk’s speech, the Enterprise rebuilt, the five year plan for space exploration?