I was a huge fan of Abram's first STAR TREK and had high hopes for INTO DARKNESS. Unfortunately, my expectations weren't quite met. Maybe they were just set too high. It was visually spectacular and well acted, but the story was just too derivative. I don't understand the need to remake the original series with a new vision. The first film felt like it was trying to do something new with the franchise and this one feels like it is trying to pay homage to STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KHAN while doing a disservice to itself in the process. Worth a viewing indeed, but don't let the hype get you or you may be a bit disappointed. I was.