Film Review: "Star Trek Into Darkness" (2013).

"You think you world is safe? It is an illusion. A comforting lie told to protect you. Enjoy these final moments of peace. For I have returned to have my vengeance. So, shall we begin?" This is what is going down in Star Trek Into Darkness. This science fiction action film directed by J. J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof, based on the series of the same name created by Gene Roddenberry. It is the twelfth Star Trek film and serves as the sequel to 2009's Star Trek. When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror, from within their own organization, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

In June 2008, it was reported that Paramount Pictures was interested in signing the main producers of the 2009 Star Trek film for a sequel. Screenwriters Kurtzman and Orci began writing the script in June 2009. By 2010, a release date of June 29, 2012, was set, with Damon Lindelof announcing he had begun working on the script with Kurtzman and Orci. Pre-production was set for a January 2011 start. Abrams, Kurtzman, and Orci stated that selecting a villain was hard. In January 2011, Abrams reported that he had not decided whether or not he was directing the sequel, citing that he had still not seen a script. In February, Orci posted on his Twitter that he (and Lindelof and Kurtzman) aimed to deliver the script in March 2011. By April, Orci revealed at WonderCon that the film's first draft of the script had been completed. Abrams reported to MTV that once he finished work on his film Super 8 (2011), he would be turning his full attention to the Trek sequel. Though a script was completed, uncertainty regarding the extent of Abrams' involvement led to the film being pushed back six months from its June 2012 release date. In September, Abrams officially signed on to direct the film, with the cast from the previous film reprising their respective roles. The film was given a revised release date and pushed to a 2013 slot. Originally actor Benicio del Toro had reportedly been sought for the role of the villain. He later bowed out. Actress Alice Eve has signed on for a role and so has Peter Weller. In January 2012, it was reported by Variety that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast in the role of the villain in the film.

Chris Pine reprises his role as Captain James T. Kirk, with Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Leonard Nimoy, Anton Yelchin, and Bruce Greenwood reprising their roles from the previous film. Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller, and Alice Eve round out the film's principal cast. Pine gave an emotional performance as Captain James T. Kirk. Quinto gave another brilliantly portrayed and intelligent performance as Commander Spock. Cumberbatch gave the film's strongest performance as John Harrison.

Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than its predecessor, Star Trek Into Darkness defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels. Despite flaws and plot holes in the story, the film is a great technological achievement in the Star Trek franchise.

Simon says Star Trek Into Darkness receives: