Star Trek: Into Darkness review

Ah yes, Star Trek. This was my first Trek, so how does it hold up?

Well, it holds up very well. This film does a very good job of introducing me to Star Trek. Perhaps I don't feel immersed in the whole Trek world, but I'm certainly hooked.

Star Trek: Into Darkness' first success is its action. This film is a spectacular watch in its action scenes, which are brilliantly filmed and completely enthralling. However, that's just one element of its excellence. The film also succeeds on the level of the characters, which are interesting, likable, and all used well. The movie doesn't squander its cast, with every character introduced seeming important to the story, although this trend decreases as the climax draws near. The writing is incredibly good as well, which is the work of J.J. Abrams, who previously wrote the most acclaimed of the "Mission: Impossible" films and is currently on board for "Star Wars: Episode VII".

On a technical level, this movie is also a glowing success. While there is the occasional moment where the camera moves too quickly, the filming is generally brilliant, with some very attractive shots. The score is awe inspiring, although that is to be expected, as it is a Star Trek film. I could not tell which effects were practical and which were digital, as both categories of special effects were excellent. Finally, the art design is aesthetically pleasing, making for a very beautiful film.

However, I did have issues with it. While the dialogue was usually great, there was occasionally a shoehorned in line from the Original Series. The initial scene seemed to exist solely to get a major character killed, although this death does serve as a motivation for the characters. The climax was a tad underwhelming, though it wasn't by any means terrible-just a bit too small.

With all that said, this is definitely a very good movie, and a must-watch when there are so few stand-out blockbusters around. Hopefully the summer will continue on the track of this and "Iron Man 3" with "Man of Steel".