Preview 3: Star Trek Into Darkness

Preview 3: Star Trek Into Darkness

With as many as fourteen comic book films due out this year I’ve decided to do a series of previews. Each one of these previews will be entirely devoted to one of these releases. With each article I hope to convey what I think could be the gasp-inducing highs as well as the cringe-inducing lows of each film. In the third instalment in a series of previews for upcoming comic book movies, I’ll be looking at Star Trek Into Darkness which is due out this May.

The release of Star Trek in 2009 was a welcome treat for fans of the series, with a new all-action approach to the reboot, fans got an exciting, fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat ride that delivered in every sense. It was the first time Star Trek could legitimately be described this way. Some of its scenes were jaw-droppingly adventurous and intensely thrilling and with potentially whole new lives to be led by the crew of the star ship Enterprise (due to the ingenious way a new timeline was created) there are no limits for J.J. Abrams and company. While in previous incarnations of Star Trek the action has been, at points, impressive for its time, the current ability of directors and special effects experts to transform the minor sets of old into entire all-encompassing worlds has created an industry were film-makers are only limited by the restrictions of their own imaginations. The Star Trek of 2009 could have stood proudly alongside both a Tom Cruise led Mission Impossible action film and a Ridley Scott helmed Science Fiction epic. This alone is a reason for trekkies to look to the future with a bright, wide grin on their faces.

With the release of the trailer, the movie-going public in general have every right to be optimistic too, the action has carried on from the first outing and the characters are being pushed to their limits by a mysterious new foe. At no point during the teaser do you feel like you are simply watching a group of actors go through the motions and take the pay cheque at the expense of the project. From reading interviews with the re-assembled cast they appear to be comfortable within this universe, without ever taking it for granted. Chris Pine has delighted in bringing a re-energised swagger and strut to Captain James T. Kirk while Zachary Quinto was exactly what every fan wanted to see in a young Spock; calm, collected, steady, logical but with a hint of uncontrollable anger swaying beneath the surface. Also the rest of the cast feel more utilised in Abrams version of Star Trek and their characters come across as more purposeful.

In Star Trek Into Darkness the tension seems to have been amped up once more as the still-fresh cast face up to a new threat in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch has made an impressive name for himself in the superb Sherlock television series on BBC. He has also given excellent turns in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Warhorse. In Star Trek Into Darkness though, he may well give his most stand-out performance to date. If the trailer is anything to go by then Cumberbatch may have proved that he would have been just as skilled playing James Moriarty as he is Sherlock Holmes. The devious, malevolent and very-dangerous nature of his character, John Harrison (rumoured to be Khan) is at the forefront of the hype and expectation surrounding the highly-anticipated new film. Like most sequels Star Trek Into Darkness runs the risk of jading the audience with a repeat of the first film as opposed to offering something new and unique but with the early promise of Cumberbatch's performance the newest outing could elevate itself to a higher level, a level that Star Trek fans have only dreamed of.

Abrams has obviously set a new standard for Star Trek films but with the sequel it’s very possible he could out-do himself again. The huge risk with sequels is the possibility of complacency creeping in to the creative process, but the people behind the scenes seem to have gone out of their way to make sure this was never an issue. Abrams, as a trekkie himself, comes across as genuinely excited about pushing the boundaries of this universe and creating a new legacy for these characters that can live on long after he has moved on to other projects. Star Trek Into Darkness is one of the few films this year that I would have no worries about. In fact I can already see the soaring reviews.

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Preview 4: Man of Steel