Star Trek–Slippin’ into Darkness

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 10:59 pm by Ben Witherington

Star Trek–Slippin’ into Darkness 2015-03-13T22:59:28-04:00 Ben Witherington

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

[Spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the film yet, skip paragraph three below]

Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the whole Star Trek idea and series (for TV no less), was known for his cerebral plots, in an age before CG and endless shoot em up bang bang took over the film industry. He, was the proverbial hard act to follow, and so was the strong ensemble cast led by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Yet still the reboot of the Star Trek series with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto did a fine job in the first re-up of the series, with a little help from the old Spock himself. Could they top that? As it turned out— they could, by throwing into the mix a rising star on the small and big screen– Benedict Cumberbatch (with a name like that, you have to be good or else). It is always a danger to throw another strong actor, and strong character into the mix, when you already have several hogging the screen, but somehow J.J. Abrams manages the juggling act just fine and ‘Into Darkness” turns out to be likely the best of the summer popcorn movies available— here already in early May.

Abrams is properly respectful of the characterizations from the original shows and films, and only the man who plays Bones seems to be over egging the pudding a bit. But Simon Peg is pitch perfect as Scotty, and Zoe Saldana does a fine job of carrying on the legacy of Uhura. The problem with a legacy is that it is a lot to live up to time after time. But this film will be a welcome edition to the canon, and I predict Trekkies will like it, except of course the Klingons amongst them.

Speaking of which, one again there are Klingons involved in this film, but the really bad guy, played to the hilt by Cumberbatch, turns out to be a revival of Khan… as in the Wrath Of. So what did I really like about this film. For one thing, I liked the humor in it. There are some zingers, and some fun exchanges in this film. For another thing, I like the pathos in the film as the bonding (call it a mind meld maybe) between Kirk and Spock continues to intensify, at the same time that the relationship between Spock and Uhura takes a backseat in this film.

I saw this film in Durham in 3D, and in this case, the 3D in outer space was especially effective. The audience was ducking as space debris went by. My favorite scene in the whole film was Khan and Kirk rocketing through space dodging flotsam and jetsam as they try to board the enemy vessel. That was a thrill ride. And when the craft goes to warp speed, you feel yourself being sucked into outer space. An effective use of 3D.

The movie is 2 hours and 3 minutes long, and is without any steamy sex scenes. It does of course have some violence, but surprisingly little. The story is made vital by the exchanges along the way between the characters, the decent plot, and the strong acting. If you are choosing whether to spend your money on Iron Man or Star Trek, I would say– you will live long and prosper if you choose Star Trek 🙂

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 29, 2013

Johnny Hates Jazz--- Magnetized

Next Post

May 31, 2013 The Rankin Files----Strip Jack

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz