Star Trek Into Darkness... a CumberConvert's review
Back in Miyazaki, I went and saw the first in the Abrams' Star Trek reboot, and I had a good time. It was like a fun, souped-up fanvid with Simon Pegg and Leonard Nimoy. I didn't download any wallpapers or watch hours of YouTube interviews or anything. I just watched, smiled, and moved on with my life.
Also back in Miyazaki, I watched Sherlock. I thought it was a fine series, and Martin Freeman was adorable. Benedict Cumberbatch was very good in the role and had a voice I'd happy to listen to if he was reading a phone book. Still, I didn't honestly get the fandom's fascination with him. Nice enough guy, but not the type to move me on a fangirl level.
So in sum, Star Trek is fun. Benedict Cumberbatch is lovely.
Somehow, though, putting them together creates a piece of fangirlish squee that I didn't know I had in me.
Let's start at the beginning, though. The story of the film is much more linear and cohesive than the first one. It's predictable, sure, and I wouldn't trust the science any farther than I could throw it, but it was a smooth plotline that no longer had to bother with all the character redefining which was basically the plot of film one. At this point, we've signed up for this alter-crew, and we can get into the new conflict without much trouble.
It's not an original story (well... obviously) but it's well-paced, well-shot, and filled with the banter that made the first film so entertaining. The Star Trek II role reversal at the ending was a nice "I see what you did there" touch.
Speaking of banter, Simon Pegg is the man. I'll get back to that later.
The Kirk/Spock dynamic is still... well, it's a dynamic. It's fun to watch though not a ship I'd be boarding any time soon. Zachary Quinto does a very nice Leonard Nimoy impression that pairs well with the other characters' emotional outbursts. Bones gets some of the best bits in the film too, particularly the last one. Uhura's fun, Chekhov's adorable, and Kirk is suitably ... young Kirkish. "Hi there, Jim Kirk, how ya doin'"
And Sulu. Sulu gets hardly any scenes, but he steals every single one of them. He does Takei-sama proud. Test me, and you will faaaaaaaaaaaail.
But the crewman prize goes to Simon Pegg, and everyone knows it. I'm not even going to call him Scotty. He is just Scottish Simon Pegg. Abrams knew it which is why he bumped Simon's role of quirky, comic relief to comic relief that saves everyone's ass. Again and again and again. Four times by my count. He also has the most moral fiber of anyone on the ship. Did I mention he's Simon Pegg doing an adorable Scottish accent? I'm really glad I saw this on the sneak preview night because that audience knew to cheer every time Simon saved the day. All four of those times.
All of that was great, but none of it's the reason I'm so gung ho about this movie. That reason has a chain gun and a leather coat. That reason took out said weaponry and wasted an entire Klingon squadron (who were bald for reasons I didn't understand. Abrams, next film let's have proper Klingons with warrior manes, please) by himself. That reason eventually revealed the big "twist" (which honestly no one had any idea about... really) by goine, "My name... is KHAN" and the theatre full of sneak preview nerds lost their collective shit with cheering.
Every line, every step, every fight, every eyebrow twitch... sinister perfection. I've never had any sort of issue with Ricardo Montalban's performance (though I have to admit I kept thinking of him as Guiterrez and needed to look up his real last name. Stupid Freakazoid), and Cumberbatch's performance has very few similarities to the original. That said, I would not make him change a single thing.
I don't even have words to express how amazing his performance is. He took a character from a movie beholden to my childhood and he made him better. That has never happened before. I have to see it again just to figure out how he does it. Yeah... that's why I have to see it again.
All the wonderful things about this film, and there's really only one thing that bothers me: What exactly happens with the Super Tribble? They fill the Tribble with super Khan blood and make it all impervious. Does anyone else think this is a bad idea? Did you people watch the show? You don't want to create a race of super-Tribbles, you guys.
So I guess I end this by saying, see this film. Even if you don't like Star Trek. Even if lens flares blind your eyes. Even if you don't know how to pronounce Cumberbatch. See this film. You will not regret it.
Also back in Miyazaki, I watched Sherlock. I thought it was a fine series, and Martin Freeman was adorable. Benedict Cumberbatch was very good in the role and had a voice I'd happy to listen to if he was reading a phone book. Still, I didn't honestly get the fandom's fascination with him. Nice enough guy, but not the type to move me on a fangirl level.
So in sum, Star Trek is fun. Benedict Cumberbatch is lovely.
Somehow, though, putting them together creates a piece of fangirlish squee that I didn't know I had in me.
Let's start at the beginning, though. The story of the film is much more linear and cohesive than the first one. It's predictable, sure, and I wouldn't trust the science any farther than I could throw it, but it was a smooth plotline that no longer had to bother with all the character redefining which was basically the plot of film one. At this point, we've signed up for this alter-crew, and we can get into the new conflict without much trouble.
It's not an original story (well... obviously) but it's well-paced, well-shot, and filled with the banter that made the first film so entertaining. The Star Trek II role reversal at the ending was a nice "I see what you did there" touch.
Speaking of banter, Simon Pegg is the man. I'll get back to that later.
The Kirk/Spock dynamic is still... well, it's a dynamic. It's fun to watch though not a ship I'd be boarding any time soon. Zachary Quinto does a very nice Leonard Nimoy impression that pairs well with the other characters' emotional outbursts. Bones gets some of the best bits in the film too, particularly the last one. Uhura's fun, Chekhov's adorable, and Kirk is suitably ... young Kirkish. "Hi there, Jim Kirk, how ya doin'"
And Sulu. Sulu gets hardly any scenes, but he steals every single one of them. He does Takei-sama proud. Test me, and you will faaaaaaaaaaaail.
But the crewman prize goes to Simon Pegg, and everyone knows it. I'm not even going to call him Scotty. He is just Scottish Simon Pegg. Abrams knew it which is why he bumped Simon's role of quirky, comic relief to comic relief that saves everyone's ass. Again and again and again. Four times by my count. He also has the most moral fiber of anyone on the ship. Did I mention he's Simon Pegg doing an adorable Scottish accent? I'm really glad I saw this on the sneak preview night because that audience knew to cheer every time Simon saved the day. All four of those times.
All of that was great, but none of it's the reason I'm so gung ho about this movie. That reason has a chain gun and a leather coat. That reason took out said weaponry and wasted an entire Klingon squadron (who were bald for reasons I didn't understand. Abrams, next film let's have proper Klingons with warrior manes, please) by himself. That reason eventually revealed the big "twist" (which honestly no one had any idea about... really) by goine, "My name... is KHAN" and the theatre full of sneak preview nerds lost their collective shit with cheering.
Every line, every step, every fight, every eyebrow twitch... sinister perfection. I've never had any sort of issue with Ricardo Montalban's performance (though I have to admit I kept thinking of him as Guiterrez and needed to look up his real last name. Stupid Freakazoid), and Cumberbatch's performance has very few similarities to the original. That said, I would not make him change a single thing.
I don't even have words to express how amazing his performance is. He took a character from a movie beholden to my childhood and he made him better. That has never happened before. I have to see it again just to figure out how he does it. Yeah... that's why I have to see it again.
All the wonderful things about this film, and there's really only one thing that bothers me: What exactly happens with the Super Tribble? They fill the Tribble with super Khan blood and make it all impervious. Does anyone else think this is a bad idea? Did you people watch the show? You don't want to create a race of super-Tribbles, you guys.
So I guess I end this by saying, see this film. Even if you don't like Star Trek. Even if lens flares blind your eyes. Even if you don't know how to pronounce Cumberbatch. See this film. You will not regret it.