Star Trek Into Darkness
Director: J.J. Abrams
Writer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana
Plot: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.
Rate It: (0 – 3 Guys)
Adam:
Scotty:
Griff:
So what did you think?
Adam – Lots of action and kick ass visuals coupled with a likable cast and a few nice performances help this film rise slightly above it’s lackluster retread of a script.
Scotty - I am no Trekie, I want to point that out first. I imagine some Trekies will be upset with this film more so than I because I thought it was entertaining in that summer blockbuster kind of way. The story is a bit far-fetched and it steals a little too much from another classic Star Trek film but the actors were good, the CGI was great, the sets and scenery were well done and overall it was semi-entertaining.
Griff – Well a couple of weeks ago I said that if you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it, you will enjoy Iron Man 3. Frankly, I am getting a little tired of defending tripe with this excuse. You would need to sit in the corner with a dunce cap on for a least an hour to not find this movie ridiculous. For example (spoiler ahead I guess), there is a character that is unfrozen after 300 years to help make advanced weapons. Just to put this in perspective…300 years ago we hadn’t even signed the Declaration of Independence. If we brought someone back today, the only thing he could help us with is growing maize and firing muskets. How could a person from 300 years in the past have more knowledge about how to make advanced weapons?
Any thoughts before you saw the movie?
Adam – I thought the last Abrams Star Trek film did a decent job rebooting the series. Similarly, the assembled crew was a good mix and the franchise seemed to be heading in the right direction. I was ready to check out the crew of the enterprise embarking on some new adventures.
Scotty – I liked the first installment of this new Star Trek series so I was excited about the next chapter, I did have some hesitation with Abrams after he totally messed up the Lost TV Series years ago, yeah, I still hold a grudge.
Griff – I warned everyone about the Lindelof months ago. Nobody does stupid like Lindelof does stupid.
Did you think this movie was fresh and/or innovative?
Adam – No and here is where things start going horribly wrong. Once again Damon Lindelof comes in and demonstrates why he is one of the worst writers in Hollywood. Rather than taking the series in a new direction he decides to recycle a large section of the plot from 1982’s far superior The Wrath of Kahn. Let’s see we have a starship capable of warp speed and a whole universe to explore. The best course of action would be to re-imagine a previous film and toss in some homage scenes for fans of the television show.
Scotty - This is where the film tanked in my opinion and I will not spoil it for you but you will know when it happens. This film does cover some current political issues much like Iron Man 3, terrorism, genocide, ect…
Griff – The beginning of the movie seemed like a scene taken straight from Raiders of the Lost Ark and it didn’t get any more fresh or original from there.
Did you think the script was well written?
Adam – Lindelof Sucks, I must assume that he has photos of J.J. Abrams in a compromising position with a Klingon prostitute. What else could possibly explain his ability to constantly get work with his well established history terrible results?
Scotty – Another weakness here, I felt like the first part of the movie was well written and then they just got to, I don’t know, the script seemed dumbed down for us non-trekies. They are trying to main stream a series that relies on its’ following and on its’ inside jokes and lore.
Griff - Lindelof – ‘nuff said.
Was there a performance you really liked or really hated?
Adam – Part of me wants to take this opportunity to sing the praises of Alice Eve and her fine performance in this film. “I said turn around” Honestly, I thought that Zachary Quinto did an excellent job. In general the cast works well together, the interactions between them was actually the best part of the film.
Scotty – I thought this was the strength of this film, all the actors were great and I feel like Chris Pine is coming into his own Kirk and Quinto is growing into his ears. I thought Cumberbatch was a great villain and these actors really held a pretty lame script up and without them it would have been bad.
Griff - Chris Pine, and Zachary Quinto were both ok. Cumberbatch is a funny name. Why was Alice Eve in this movie other than to prove to us that she has been working out?
Do you remember a song from the film?
Adam – The Star Trek Theme song.
Scotty - I thought the score was strong besides the fact that you knew what was coming from the music, another way to treat its’ audience like idiots.
Griff - have to go with the Star Trek theme song I guess.
What was your favorite line?
Adam – “The Enemy of my enemy is my friend” -Kirk
“An Arabic proverb attributed to a prince who was betrayed and decapitated by his own subjects” -Spock
“Well its still a hell of a quote” -Kirk
Scotty – McCoy- “Are you feeling homicidal, power-mad, or despotic?
Kirk- “No more than usual.”
Griff – “Darkness is coming!” (and his name is Lindelof!)
What would have made this a better movie?
Adam - Chugging a jug of Romulan ale. Here is my plot for the next film, three separate forty five minute adventures of the starship enterprise, with zero references to any past films or shows. J.J. I await your call and no I will not work with Lindelof.
Scotty – Write a better script and do not think your audience has no ability to understand or think for themselves. The rehash of a classic is always a bad idea in my opinion, be original in your borrowing.
Griff - You can’t hide a shitty script behind smoke and mirrors. All 3D effects and flashy CGI in the world is still just putting lipstick on a pig.
Is it worth seeing in the theater? Or could you have waited for the DVD/Stream?
Adam - I liked it better than Oblivion an Iron Man 3 so if you feel the need to go to the movies why not? How is that for an endorsement? They are sure to put that as a blurb on the Blu-ray.
Scotty – The CGI is good and well worth a trip to the theater but do not go in expecting a great follow up, it is not that. This is a summer blockbuster and those are always best seen in the theater.
Griff – Truthfully, I think I would wait for the Blu-Ray.
What other movies would you recommend if someone enjoyed this film?
Adam – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
Scotty – If you have not seen the Star Trek (2009) the first in this series reboot, that was a much better film in my opinion.
Griff - You should sit down on some fine corinthian leather and enjoy Ricardo Montalban as Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.
Any final thoughts on this movie?
Adam – This series needs to boldly go where no Star Trek series has gone before. Enough with the flying around on impulse power lets punch that warp drive and explore some strange new worlds, meet some new life forms, and see some more gratuitous shots of Alice Eve in her stinkies. I know it seems like I hated this film but I did not. This is a half way decent watch with some scenes that made me smile but in the end it is wasted opportunity to really advance the series. Make it So.
Scotty – Not perfect, not great but Star Trek Into Darkness is entertaining in that Iif you are seeking an escape from reality, it does that. Sadly it was a little weak in story and originality and it is not a great follow up to Star Trek (2009), which in my opinion had us all excited for the reboot. Pine, Quinto, and Cumberbatch were great in their roles and the failure falls on the writers and director of this film, they had the whole galaxy as a canvas and they chose to reprint a classic and they think that we are too stupid to notice, wake up boys, Star Trek films are religious to some and I am afraid they may find this film blasphemes.
Griff - Was I the only one disturbed by the fact that potentially thousands of people lost their lives in San Francisco during the finale of this film and they just glazed over it like it was no big deal? I know it’s just a movie and all but seriously?
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