Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Star Trek Into Darkness'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘Let me explain what's happening here. You are a criminal! I watched you murder innocent men and women. I was authorized to END you! And the only reason why you are still alive is because I am allowing it.’
- Captain James T. Kirk

At what point in our lives did all the heroes disappear? Let's be honest, it is a legitimate question we have all asked ourselves in recent years and with good reason. It has been a dark time for all of us. Recession, war and terrorist attacks. Our faith in the establishment has been rattled as we now question the integrity of our leaders and their ability to prop us up when we need it most. 

The greater question is, where do we go from here? We know quite well that the world is a dangerous place but the events we have all had to endure have changed us. At times our culture has been one grounded in vengeance over the acts that have wronged us. It is a slippery slope to walk, but with the odds seemingly mounting against us at times there seems to be no other way to react. This is the aftermath of years of hardship in our culture and the dangers of how far it can be taken are explored in Star Trek Into Darkness.  

Captain James T. Kirk stands disgraced. An act to save his first officer has violated the Prime Directive and leaves Kirk demoted. But an attack on London by a Starfleet agent returns Kirk to the captain's chair to bring this criminal to justice. The capture of the culprit however, one John Harrison, proves to be more complicated than the crew of the Enterprise ever expected, for Harrison carries with him a secret about Starfleet, one that may cost the crew of the Enterprise their lives.  

---

So, this is without a doubt, one of the finest Star Trek films to ever grace the screen. But before we get into the plot without giving too much away, we need to talk about Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison. The man is brilliant and he completely commands the screen every waking moment he is on it. I was completely blown away with what he brought to the role, and the range he gives us is breathtaking. One moment Benedict is bone chillingly evil, the next you pity him. It is a stroke of genius in casting this man.  

But how he fits into the plot is equally as critical, because this is a film that is true to the fundamentals of Star Trek. But as you watch this movie, at first it doesn't seem like classic Trek. Simply because this is a Federation that is still shaking in its boots from the events of the last film. Let's not forget, Vulcan is gone, Earth was attacked and there are those in Starfleet who now believe that the universe is full of threats and nothing more and the mission of exploration should wait to instead bolster Earth's defenses. It's a surprising turn for this franchise, but a welcome one, because that is where Kirk and his crew come into play. They are the necessary moral center in this film and their actions reflect the finer parts of the Federation and keep the hope alive.  

Either way, this is a fantastic sequel that you need to go out and enjoy as soon as possible. You will laugh, you will cry and you will hold your breath with some of the incredible visuals that play out before you because Star Trek Into Darkness is an awesome ride. But despite treading in deep and dark water it should be noted that Kirk and company inspire in this film because they answer the question as to where all the heroes have gone. The fact of the matter is they never left. They are still out there fighting the good fight and keeping all of us safe. That's where Star Trek Into Darkness stays true to the franchise's vision, because when fear blinds us we often forget that the best people of our world are working hard out there to make it a better place.  

---