Director J.J. Abrams manages to deliver an edge-of-your-seat action movie, but at times STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS feels a bit melodramatic.
STAR TREK INTO THE DARKNESS New Movie Clip: Spock vs Volcano
Both Uhura and Kirk throughout the film try to appeal to Spock’s human side, which Spock fights against. By the end, we actually see a transformation of Spock that almost seems unlike him. I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’s got anger issues he’s holding back. It seemed a bit out of character, but the filmmakers are obviously taking the character into a different trajectory than what we’re used to seeing from the original Spock played by Leonard Nimoy.
Zoe Saldana’s Uhura has more to do in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS than just man the communications desk on the U.S.S. Enterprise. We know the actress (Colombiana, The Losers) can kick some serious bad guy butt, but Abrams didn’t put her skills to work in Star Trek, but after urging the director for more action, she got her wish in the sequel. The Dominican actress certainly has more to do including the complex romance with Spock, but in the sequel she wears her emotions on her sleeve probably a bit too much. As a Federation officer, you would think she’d have to hide her emotions from the crew to avoid being seen as weak. Maybe she needs some pointers from Spock.
SPOILER ALERTS
Actually, there may me too many emotions going on this sequel. Besides Uhura, Kirk is also an emotional wreck, especially after someone’s death. I’ll admit I shed a tear during that poignant moment, but when another death scene comes around later – the reaction is almost overkill. Hey, I’m a chick and I’m saying it’s too much. I can imagine what Trekkies will have to say about that.
The villain Benedict Cumberbatch proved himself a formidable foe. His resounding voice sends chills down your spine along with those cold eyes and porcelain skin. Of course its no surprise as to who he is once it’s revealed, but the twists and turns at a few key moments cast a shadow as to who or what he is.
While I enjoyed the film aside from the melodrama, my husband felt it was retreading familiar ground. “If I wanted to see Wrath of Khan, I would’ve stayed home,” he said. It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen that film, so I’d like to play the ignorance is bliss game and say the two hours watching it in 3D went rather quickly and entertained throughout.
What did you think of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS?
