Share VABANDIT's profile
VABANDIT
VABANDIT's stats
- Review count5
- Helpfulness votes0
- First reviewMay 8, 2009
- Last reviewMay 19, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
VABANDIT's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
Not Your Father's Star Trek
PostedMay 19, 2013
Dialogue
5
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
So let’s be clear from the start, Star Trek into Darkness is not your father’s Star Trek! J. J. Abrams proves once again he can, and should, be trusted with America’s cultural icons. This Star Trek is a frenetically paced action thriller that will keep you glued to your seat and enthralled for more than two hours.
Abrams picks up smartly from where his original Star Trek left off. All of the original cast and crew are back, including fan faves Chris Pine as Captain Kirk, Zach Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Lt. Uhura, xx as Dr. “Bones” McCoy, Simon Pegg as Chief Engineer Scotty, xx as Lt. Sulu, and xx as Pilot Antov Checkov. More about each later, but its important to note that note only does this film help flesh out each character and their backstory, but Abrams has done a masterful job at setting up future films in the franchise, and important roles for each member of the crew.
Where Star Trek into Darkness exceeds the first movie, however, is the storyline. Gone is the convoluted space / time travel that bogged the first movie down so that Leonard Nimoy could be included in the original Abrams’ reboot. Instead, Abrams does what he does best—present non-stop action that literally hurtles the story’s characters, and by extension the viewing audience, from one breathless adventure to the next. The movie opens with the Enterprise monitoring a primitive culture on Niburu, and despite longstanding Starfleet orders not to interfere or interact with native cultures, the crew elects to stop an exploding volcano that would eliminate the Niburu race. When the mission imperils the life of a key crew member, however, Captain Kirk elects to violate Starfleet protocols to save the at-risk crew member and the result is a primitive culture is exposed to a higher culture with both hilarious results and an explanation for why the Mayans and the Egyptians perhaps made the paintings they did so many years ago.
Back on earth, however, Kirk presents an “abbreviated” report of the incident, one that might have escaped further scrutiny except Spock filed a report with a truthful account of the incident. As a result, Kirk is sent back to the Academy, while Spock and other crew members are assigned to different ships. Kirk’s demotion is short-lived, however, when a deranged terrorist attacks Starfleet headquarters, and Kirk is again given command to track down the fugitive from justice, who has chosen to hide out on planet Coronos, which is in the Klingon Empire.
All of this occurs in the first 40 minutes of the movie, leaving plenty of time to introduce new characters and set up the premise for what should be several more films in the franchise.
Back on earth, however, Kirk presents an “abbreviated” report of the incident, one that might have escaped further scrutiny except Spock filed a report with a truthful account of the incident. As a result, Kirk is sent back to the Academy, while Spock and other crew members are assigned to different ships. Kirk’s demotion is short-lived, however, when a deranged terrorist attacks Starfleet headquarters, and Kirk is again given command to track down the fugitive from justice, who has chosen to hide out on planet Coronos, which is in the Klingon Empire.
All of this occurs in the first 40 minutes of the movie, leaving plenty of time to introduce new characters and set up the premise for what should be several more films in the franchise.
More importantly, J.J. Abrams knows that there are three keys to a successful Star Trek movie:
1. Center the action around Kirk facing moral dilemnas that require him to make choices with costs;
2. Have a villain with depth of character and a back story to rival that of Kirk; and
3. Always allow the protagonist to think outside of the box in order to defeat evil.
Here, he succeeds magnificently. Benedict Cumberbatch plays John Harrison, a disgraced Star Fleet officer now hell bent on destroying the very institution he once belonged to. The battle of wits between Harrison and Kirk recall the finest moments of Kirk’s battles against Mudd and other galactic giants with whom he tangled. But few individuals in the Star Trek universe come close to the vile and contemptible evil radiating from Harrison. Cumberbatch, who most will remember from his roles in Warhorse and in The Hobbit, relishes the ability to personify evil. His Harrison is at times a brilliant strategist, a ruthless and cunning adversary, and a complete brute capable of crushing the skull of an individual who no longer deems useful. The result is that Harrison venom and hatred, and proves throughout the movie that he is always one step ahead of the Enterprise crew.
If there are any downsides to the movie, it is that Abrams and his writing crew over-rely on the tried and true catch phrases to personify the characters. Dr. McCoy doesn’t need to say “Dammit, Jim, I’m a doctor not a nuclear physicist” in every movie. The audience knows and loves “Bones” and it’s time to up his banter. Likewise, the denounment for Into Darkness leaves the viewer slightly dissatisfied with the blanket copy of a climatic scene from another Star Trek film. Yet Trekkers, do not despair because Abrams provides yet another plot device that not only allows viewers to leave the movie satisfied, but helps answers future questions about how Kirk can withstand a physical beating time and time again. To reveal more would be to spoil the fun for those who haven’t seen Into Darkness, but regardless of whether you are a lifelong Star Trek fan or new to the genre, this film will not disappoint. Stylish and driven, it doesn’t afford you the opportunity to reflect too very long before another action sequence catapults a pivotal character into danger.
Finally, a word about which Star Trek into Darkness to see. The movie was filmed in IMAX, and if there was ever a movie to see in IMAX, this is it. The void of space never seemed so large, and the ability to showcase the size of the ships versus the size of earthly objects is truly overwhelming. The IMAX presentation captures this size differential better than your average print and truly proves worth the extra price of a ticket. The 3D adaptation came afterward, and although it doesn’t detract from the film, it doesn’t add much either. In fact, I found the only part of the movie in 3D that I enjoyed were the post-film credits, which were superimposed over a stunning 3D paintings of the universe. My vote is to save your money and skip a 3D version for an IMAX version—you may never go back to a traditional theater again!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors
Cons copies older films too much
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
A Worthy Conclusion
PostedJuly 22, 2012
VABANDIT
from Herndon, VA
Dialogue
4
/
5
Special Effects
5
/
5
Art Direction
5
/
5
Acting
5
/
5
Story
4
/
5
Camerawork
5
/
5
Chris Nolan has crafted a fitting conclusion to his Dark Knight trilogy. The movie is action packed with a solid story line and outstanding performances turned in across the cast. Indeed, I went in to the show with serious doubts about Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, but she was terrific! It is a shame that they could not do the same for Tom Hardy's portrayal of Bane. Hardy's performance is fine, but about 50% of his dialogue is rendered nearly unintelligible due to his mask. The result: Despite terrific acting the performance falls short of Heath Ledger's terrifying Joker in The Dark Knight. But all in all, this is a great summer movie that everyone--Batman aficionados or not--will enjoy!
Pros well paced, great story, great actors, terrific action scense
Cons unintelligible dialogue
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
4
/
5
Great...But Some WIll Be Unhappy
PostedJanuary 28, 2012
VABANDIT
from Herndon, VA
If we can count on something in this crazy world, it is a good Liam Neeson action adventure movie in the dead of winter. This is probably his best overall performance, bringing a tough edged, introverted, lonely man to life. The cinematography is outstanding, and as the movie progresses the viewer feels the survivors' sense of desolation and isolation. For those who like a "pat" ending, this movie will leave them unsatisfied. For those who stay through the credits for the "secret scene," it won't help ease that feeling much. But for those moviegoers who appreciate any open ending that will keep you talking about the movie for days to come, you won't be disappointed!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
MI: Ghost Protocol
PostedDecember 17, 2011
VABANDIT
from Herndon, VA
Loved it! Best of the Mission Impossible movies yet. True to the spirit of the series, but amped up spectacularly! Opens like a James Bond movie, with a newly revised version of the theme song, but then slides smoothly into MI format. And quit all the complaining on Simon Pegg, he was perfect for the role, the story, and the movie!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
5
/
5
Star Trek
PostedMay 8, 2009
VABANDIT
from Herndon, VA
This is JJ Abrams at his best!!! He has done not only the franchise proud, but boldly opens the story and characters to an entire new generation. You don't need to be a Trekkie to love this movie, just a fan of good old fashioned story telling with well developed characters and enough big time movie effects to make any summer blockbuster proud. This will be the movie all others are measured against this summer! See it tonight!
Yes, I recommend this movie.
Share:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.