The Plot

Captain Kirk and the intrepid crew of the Starship Enterprise find themselves tested like never before by a one man weapon of mass destruction that threatens their entire way of life. Voyaging to alien worlds and deep into hostile space they must avoid triggering intergalactic war whilst somehow facing this deadly threat from within their own ranks.

The Good

J.J. Abrams 2009 re-boot of the Star Trek movie franchise was an emphatic success. It perfectly combined subtle homage with exciting re-invention. It took all the familiar characters and elements of the beloved Star Trek universe and finally injected a much needed jolt of adrenalin. Star Trek Into Darkness is a sequel that lives up to its name, adding even more danger and darkness to an already exhilarating mix.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is a fantastic fit for the villainous new threat of John Harrison. He easily twists the familiar ferocious intelligence of his small screen performances to become a memorably menacing sociopath. He’s certainly a worthy adversary for our heroes and a nemesis that will mean even more to dedicated Trekkies.

The returning cast of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, John Cho and Simon Pegg all do equally excellent justice to the iconic crew of the Enterprise. It’s great to see Kirk, Spock and Scotty once again boldly going where they haven’t gone before. They’re all instantly recognisable without ever being mere caricatures. They’re also credibly dramatic despite frequent flashes of humour courtesy of quick quips and a well-placed array of franchise in-jokes.

So many big screen reboots fall into the trap of lazy homage and cheesy parody. The resurgent Star Trek series distinguishes itself by instead combining the best elements of the original franchise with the latest special effects, a solid cast and impressive action adventure.

The Bad

It’s genuinely a challenge to find any obvious criticisms of this sequel. Those who previously felt Star Trek was perhaps too tame and cerebral should be satisfied that the franchise has finally found some real peril, sex and violence. The crew of the Enterprise become genuine action heroes without the film having to sacrifice too much overall intelligence.

The most determined critics might attempt to accuse the film’s plot of being a tad predictable and lacking the ability to genuinely surprise.  Angry aliens and an evil genius villain are of course entirely expected foes for such genre blockbusters. But rarely is this familiar adventure told with quite so much style as in the Star Trek Universe.

The Ugly Truth

J.J. Abrams continues to steer the Star Trek franchise to stellar new heights, delivering an action packed sequel that matches high fan expectations and successfully eclipses his previous efforts. Ardent Trekkies will be delighted by the latest exploits of the Enterprise crew, but the film is equally accessible to uninitiated audiences.  Boldly go and see it as soon as you can.

 Star Trek Into Darkness Premiere Interviews and Full London Press Conference  below as a bonus: