'Star Trek Into Darkness' Opens In Theaters Today

By Darlene Donloe

Ok, I’m just going to say it – Star Trek Into Darkness is out of this world!

The franchise has been on the radar since the 60s.  But, that doesn’t make it a stale brand.

It’s soooooo good. It has more heart and more laughs than the first one. It’s expected to make about $100 million its opening weekend – which it will undoubtedly hit and probably exceed. Lines started forming on Thursday at some theater with true Trekkies buzzing about the latest 3D addition, which opens today, May 17, nationwide.

Whether you’re a Trekkie or not, you will get your fill from this high-octane, full-speed-ahead blockbuster, which is already considered even better than its predecessor.  This film is for everyone. You don’t need to have seen the first film or the series. This one is bigger and better and goes deeper. It goes into new territory.

In the 2009 film, Star Trek, Spock was grappling with his humanity. In this one, he finds it.

 ZACHARY QUINTO, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and CHRIS PINE

Director/producer J.J. Abrams’ film has all the elements to make it a success. It has suspense, a love story, drama, action, more action, evil, good and even more action. 

All the characters are back –with a pleasant cameo by one of the original television series Star Trek cast.  Spock (Zachary Quinto), James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Dr. Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban).  They are joined by Bruce Greenwood, who plays Captain Pike; Alice Eve, who plays Carol Marcus; Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays John Harrison; Peter Weller, who plays Starfleet Admiral and Anton Yelchin, who plays Pavel Chekov.

 ZOE SALDANA and ZACHARY QUINTO

To his credit, Abrams and his crew have maintained the spirit of the original and keep the archetypal characters of Kirk, Spock and the rest of the Enterprise crew intact.

The Enterprise continues its Final Frontier.  The film starts off with an action sequence that leaves Spock in an exploding volcano. Does he survive?  You’ll have to buy a ticket to find out.

 ZACHARY QUINTO as SPOCK

In any event, Kirk does something that it against regulations and, as a result, his command is taken away from him. He blames Spock.

With the Enterprise returning to earth in the wake of a controversial galactic incident, its brash Captain still itching to head back into the stars on a longer mission of peace and exploration.  But that’s only the beginning, an act of terror occurs and the Star Fleet is attacked from within. This science fiction drama focuses on the efforts of the Enterprise crew to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction who has infiltrated their ranks.

 BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH

Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrision is the delicious bad guy, who seeks revenge on the Star Fleet.  At times it’s not quite clear whether he is a good guy or a bad guy. Even Kirk asks whether they are helping him or he is helping them.

It doesn’t even matter. Just grab a friend, run to the theater, buy your popcorn and sit down for a wild and satisfying ride!  Star Trek Into Darkness is fabulous, out of this world fun!!!

Star Trek Into Darkness is rated PG-13. It runs 2 hr. 9 min.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Star Trek Into Darkness gets an E (excellent).