Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael E

  
  Considering I'm not the biggest Star Trek fan (I've never even seen more than 4 episodes of next generation, and 1 episode of the original series.) Not that I don't dislike the franchise, in fact I love most of the films, and I love the 2009 film, I had high hopes for… More
  Considering I'm not the biggest Star Trek fan (I've never even seen more than 4 episodes of next generation, and 1 episode of the original series.) Not that I don't dislike the franchise, in fact I love most of the films, and I love the 2009 film, I had high hopes for this film. The things I like about the Star Trek films is that it isn't required to see the series to get what's going on. It helps, but I think its great when they make so many films based off of a series and not requiring you to see the series. That being said, lets talk about the new film. Each of the actors reprise their roles from the past film, Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Karl Urban as Bones, and so on, and each one of them are just as faithful to the original series, while adding new things to these characters as they were in the 2009 film. Both Kirk and Spock get further development in this film from the last film and it definitely shows. Pine is just as cocky as Kirk but is trying to learn to take responsibility for his actions due to him messing up at the beginning of the film, and Quinto as Spock is struggling with showing more compassion in situations and they both do fantastic, especially near the end of the film. Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban, and Simon Pegg are just as funny and entertaining as Chekov, Bones, and Scotty as they were in the first film. But the two people that are the biggest highlights about the film, that being Benedict Cumberbatch as John Harrison, and Peter Weller as Admiral Marcus, and both of these guys are just amazing. Benedict Cumberbatch of Sherlock fame is cold and calculating as Harrison and has a fantastic voice to boot for the character which makes him just sound all the more threatening, and there is a very good twist halfway through the film on who Harrison really is but I can't spoil it without ruining the rest of the film. Peter Weller from Robocop was an inclusion that I was very interested in because Weller is a very good actor IMO and seeing him listed in the upcoming cast got me very interested because, except for being in The Dark Knight Returns as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Weller hasn't acted all that much in the last 15 years, so I didn't really know what to expect from Weller, but thankfully he did a fantastic job. Weller plays Admiral Marcus who is out to get Harrison for a certain reason, and trying to start a war with the Klinghons and he is just absolutely hatable and horrible in this film, and you will really want the worse just to happen to this character, and Weller pulls it off so good at making him utterly despicable. The effects as with the last Star Trek film look just fantastic, but this film has much more space related scenes and scenes on the enterprise than in the last film, and it seems cool to have this setting for once having the movie focus on two enterprises mainly. The movie also has several aliens that it focuses on for a few scenes in the Enterprise, and they look and sound fantastic, plus we finally get to see the Klingons in the film and they look fantastic (plus a Tribble which made me laugh). Also the film has much more emphasis on space battle and hand to hand fights than the last film really did and each one is extremely well done in either building suspense or just looking flat out awesome. The sets all are big and look very cool and the designs of the newer ships and backgrounds look just amazing especially in 3D. Star Trek Into Darkness not only triumphs in being a fantastic installment in the Star Trek film Franchise, but a fantastic Sci-Fi film in general. The Acting is improved from the last film, the plottwists thrown throughout the film are very clever and some even being hard to expect, the action is just fantastic, the film builds fantastic amounts suspense, and the film throws in a lot of references to the original series and to the original series and 2nd and 3rd Star Trek film which are welcome and very clever. Overall J.J. Abrams has outdone himself again with the Star Trek franchise and not only improved on the last film, but shows that he is worthy of holding onto this franchise and able to pay tribute to the original series, but create something new and original. Let's hope he can do the same with Star Wars.

• Eric A

  
  Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!!! Where do I begin? Maybe by saying that J.J. Abrams is an absolute genius that not only knows how to make a great film, but how to successfully follow up a masterpiece (Star Trek 2009) as well. His plots that involve twists and turns that keep you… More
  Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!!! Where do I begin? Maybe by saying that J.J. Abrams is an absolute genius that not only knows how to make a great film, but how to successfully follow up a masterpiece (Star Trek 2009) as well. His plots that involve twists and turns that keep you constantly guessing are worth every dollar you will pay for a ticket....it is no wonder Disney brought him on board to direct the upcoming Star Wars films. Even with the known fact that the first Star Trek was extremely good and cannot be touched, this sequel comes very close. He definitely delivered! I could go on and on about what I liked about this film and how we are seeing the development of one of the greatest franchises ever, but I would be here for hours and hours. 5 stars!

• Nick D

  
  WOW, what a spectacular movie. I myself have never been a fan of Star Trek, but J. J. Abrams has made me a fan of his movies. the first one was good and this one just builds on to it. Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine are at their best, showing a friendship as realistic as real, and a… More
  WOW, what a spectacular movie. I myself have never been a fan of Star Trek, but J. J. Abrams has made me a fan of his movies. the first one was good and this one just builds on to it. Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine are at their best, showing a friendship as realistic as real, and a story with an extremely formidable villain. My only quarrel with this film is for me it felt like it ended a little too early, I thought there'd be more. but alas, the movie was spectacular even so!

• Aaron N

  
  Christopher Pike: Do you know what a pain you are? You think the rules don't apply to you. There's greatness in you, but there's not an ounce of humility. You think that you can't make mistakes, but there's going to come a moment when you realize… More
  Christopher Pike: Do you know what a pain you are? You think the rules don't apply to you. There's greatness in you, but there's not an ounce of humility. You think that you can't make mistakes, but there's going to come a moment when you realize you're wrong about that, and you're going to get yourself and everyone under your command killed. I have honestly not tried to make a big deal out of this more publicly, but my interest in Star Trek as a franchise is almost non-existent. Do I respect what it has brought to the world? Sure. Do I enjoy the work of many involved in the making of this newest entry? Of course. Do I begrudge anyone for liking this series? Of course not. My relationship to Star Trek is similar to food I don't like, because of the taste. It may not be bad for me and others may enjoy it, but it just isn't my thing. Do I need to be as clichéd as possible to state that I'm a Star Wars guy? I would not think so, but it is true, and even my father informed me that ever since I was very young that was the case, after I rejected a Starship Enterprise toy, because it wasn't something Star Wars. So with this ridiculous disclaimer out of the way, my assessment of Star Trek Into Darkness is pretty simple - it's fine. If you like what J.J. Abrams did with the 2009 reboot, than I would say that 'Into Darkness' offers a lot more of the same, except bigger. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Sam B

  
  I found the second J.J. Abrams' Star Trek to be far superior to the first, since it cares less about pleasing fans and more about pleasing everyone. Its an air-tight film with quick pacing, eye-popping special effects, and expectedly great direction. Its smart, witty, and… More
  I found the second J.J. Abrams' Star Trek to be far superior to the first, since it cares less about pleasing fans and more about pleasing everyone. Its an air-tight film with quick pacing, eye-popping special effects, and expectedly great direction. Its smart, witty, and contains reliable performances. Really, the biggest problem is that its hard to find an original idea in any part of the film - besides looking better than most sci-fi movies, its noticeably packed with cliches.

• Flutie A

  
  This summer is off to a phenomenal start! 2 words. Benedict Cumberbatch. 2 more words. Zachary Quinto. Incredible.

• KJ P

  
  The follow up to J.J. Abrams' 2009 version of "Star Trek" definitely embraces it's title: "Star Trek Into Darkness," promising more action and a much more complex story. This time, the crew is out on a limb without help, to stop a merciless killer (John… More
  The follow up to J.J. Abrams' 2009 version of "Star Trek" definitely embraces it's title: "Star Trek Into Darkness," promising more action and a much more complex story. This time, the crew is out on a limb without help, to stop a merciless killer (John Harrison) whom has certain abilities that the U.S.S Enterprise crew soon realize they are in need of to stop a greater threat. This film has more layers than it's predecessor, which makes it better in many ways, but also less original in more ways than one, due to the fact that it relies much more on fan service rather than creating new dialogue and villains. I absolutely loved everything about this sequel, with a few minor spoilery complaints aside. The direction is great as always, most of the cast bring their A-Game and the visuals delivers once again. This is not just a fun blockbuster, but a stamp of approval to continue this new-tech version of "Star Trek." I'm on board until the end! And one last note: Benedict Cumberbatch kills it as the villain!

• Kyle F

  
  This 'Trek' isn't short on fun, thrills, wit, or solid performances, and every moment is entertaining, but the overall product is somewhat less than satisfying. Despite hamming it up a bit more than in the last outing, the actors are still in fine form. Chris Pine is… More
  This 'Trek' isn't short on fun, thrills, wit, or solid performances, and every moment is entertaining, but the overall product is somewhat less than satisfying. Despite hamming it up a bit more than in the last outing, the actors are still in fine form. Chris Pine is reliably charismatic as Kirk, Zachary Quinto is oddly believable as Spock, and Benedict Cumberbatch is chilling as the Enterprise's latest adversary. Popcorn movie no-brainers are blended with genuinely surprising twists, and it's all presented with the same filmmaking expertise as the 2009 'Trek.' Kudos to J.J. Abrams, his editors, the cinematographer, the art directors, the effects team, and everyone who had a hand in bringing the polished, slick, and flawless final cut the the screen. Flawless is a good word to describe 'Into Darkness,' but that doesn't mean there couldn't have been a better movie to flaw; a lightning fast pace, despite inducing thrills, ultimately makes an over two hour film feel, well, too short. Almost as if the whole movie were one extended action sequence. The climax feels like a half way mark. The film might have even been more satisfying with a cliffhanger ending, the battle not yet won, rather than the abrupt, seemingly pasted on conclusion. And I honestly expected a broader scope with larger implications. As much as movies are shunned for this, this one could actually have afforded to be bigger, and it could have also felt like a bigger deal. John Harrison, despite being a truly entertaining villain, isn't quite the crafty, manipulative terrorist he's painted to be in the trailers. Instead of an impenetrable, intricate plot of vicious design, he leads more of a one-man rampage that even seems week and low-stakes compared to the threat of the Romulan mining crew in the previous film.All this aside, 'Into Darkness' is a very well done, entertaining film that deserves to be seen, even twice, at the theatres. It may fall short as the second chapter in an epic reboot, but suffices as a continuation of the new sort of legacy that started in 2009. The gang's all here, one big, energized, intergalactic family, and they're ready for more.

• Mark H

  
  Star Trek Into Darkness is a model of how to create excitement. Abrams has wisely fashioned this adventure in the grand tradition of Hollywood blockbusters of yesteryear. That means it's more concerned with classic narrative elements and character development than it is with lots… More
  Star Trek Into Darkness is a model of how to create excitement. Abrams has wisely fashioned this adventure in the grand tradition of Hollywood blockbusters of yesteryear. That means it's more concerned with classic narrative elements and character development than it is with lots of noisy action set pieces. Although there are some satisfying ones that take place in London and San Francisco. The chronicle is gripping. I was never bored, always captivated by what would happen next. There's plenty of action, but it's never at the expense of a coherent account that you generally care about. The script is quick and witty with a clear eye toward creating dramatic tension with pauses for the audience to catch their breath and delight in the repartee between these people. Scotty (Simon Pegg) and Bones (Karl Urban) have the funniest temperaments. It's also a very pretty movie. It's got plenty of attention grabbing cinematography with affected lighting techniques. Lens flares abound! Yes there are some admittedly cheesy (and familiar) story ideas: someone unexpectedly cries, people tenderly touch hands on either side of a glass wall and automatic seat belts looks like black square-shaped bugs crawling over the actors. But more often than not, the emotional connections to these well known personalities push this actioner into the realm of a drama that is extremely engaging. At one point, Spock selflessly commands the crew to teleport out of the ship to safety. When Sulu responds "With all due respect Sir, we're not going anywhere!" I think I kind of shed a tear. fastfilmreviews.wordpress.com

• Everett J

  
  First and foremost, this review will have some spoilers. If you haven't seen this yet, then don't read anymore, just know that I liked it, but had a few hangups. Here the crew of the Enterprise is after a terrorist named John Harrison who assaulted Star Fleet headquarters.… More
  First and foremost, this review will have some spoilers. If you haven't seen this yet, then don't read anymore, just know that I liked it, but had a few hangups. Here the crew of the Enterprise is after a terrorist named John Harrison who assaulted Star Fleet headquarters. The cast is all back, and they are all fantastic. Scotty(Simon Pegg) and Bones(Karl Urban) were both may favorites here, and provided quite a few laughs. Kirk(Chris Pine) and Spock(Zachary Quinto) are both great also, and their friendship is the center of the story. This is really the beginning of how they would grow to become best friends. The effects are fantastic, and Benedict Cumberbatch is awesome as the villain. The way he delivers his lines are just so damn good. Now, my hangups, and I have 2. First, I saw this in 3D and the 3D added zero to the movie. Most of it was flat and had no depth whatsoever, so it was a complete waste to me. The other issue was, I watched "Wrath of Khan" for the first time the other day. I thought it was fine, and this is pretty much a redo of that movie. With a few of the moments the exact same, only Spock and Kirk switch places. It worked for the movie, but I had me rolling my eyes and thinking they just weren't being original. Having said that, I still really enjoyed this. This is a great Summer movie if you like action and adventure. I didn't think this was better than the first one by Abrams, but I thought it was a fine sequel. Most sequels take steps backwards, and this sets things up very nice for future movies. Definitely worth checking out, just skip the 3D and enjoy the ride.

• Josh L

  
  Highly entertaining, although it goes through the same motions as the reboot for the most part and therefore does not feel as fresh & inventive. The actors as just as good here as they were in the first, continuing to bring Trek to a new era with gusto and the newcomers do a good… More
  Highly entertaining, although it goes through the same motions as the reboot for the most part and therefore does not feel as fresh & inventive. The actors as just as good here as they were in the first, continuing to bring Trek to a new era with gusto and the newcomers do a good job as well. Benedict Cumberbatch isn't going to be getting any Oscar nominations like Heath Ledger for The Joker, but he's solid. The special effects continue to be first rate. There are plenty of homages to the original series that hardcore fans will love (although a couple might be controversial). The movie is very funny, engaging, with enough twists to keep you guessing, but it didn't have the same impact to me as the first. It's perfectly acceptable popcorn entertainment and highly polished, but it doesn't reinvent the wheel. It's just a good 2 hours of space opera fun. I absolutely loved the first and walked out of the theater with glee about how well done it was. I didn't leave this one with that feeling. The future of Star Trek still looks very bright. Hopefully Abrams working on the next Star Wars doesn't mean we'll have to wait 4+ years for another installment again. It was far too long!

• Jeff "

  
  Star Trek: Into the Darkness along with Iron Man 3 starts off the summer blockbuster season with a bang. This is a great follow-up to J.J Abrams action packed reboot of Star Trek, which was one of the finest Sci Fi films in recent memory. This is one of those rare films that are… More
  Star Trek: Into the Darkness along with Iron Man 3 starts off the summer blockbuster season with a bang. This is a great follow-up to J.J Abrams action packed reboot of Star Trek, which was one of the finest Sci Fi films in recent memory. This is one of those rare films that are better than the original. This is a step above Abram's original. I really enjoyed this film, and with this film in mind, we are finally getting the great films that are well acted and entertaining from start to fi9nish. Every cast member brings something to the screen. The film is a must see for fans of Star Trek new and old and it has something for everyone to enjoy. Into the Darkness is a much better take on the first Abrams film, and it expands and improves on where it was a bit lacking. What makes this such an exciting film going experience is the varied cast of actors, most notably Peter Weller, who I find to be a great actor, but one who is underrated. Fans of the remake will certainly enjoy this sequel, and for me anyways, this is easily as impressive as when The Dark Knight was released and out did Batman Begins. Abrams successfully captivates you with great direction and amazing storytelling, and Into the Darkness in many ways is a much more ambitious picture than Star Trek because now, Abrams feels more confident with the material, and he proved himself with his first Trek film. This film will appeal to common filmgoers as much as fans of the series because it is simply put an action packed ride that is highly entertaining and exciting from the first frame onwards. Although the year got off to a sketchy start with plenty of duds, now we get to see awesome and worthwhile movies that are thrilling and mind blowing. Love the series or hate it, if you want to be entertained, definitely give this follow-up a shot. This is an action film with flair and a great story to boot.

• Eugene B

  
  A visual treat consisting of spectacular action, drama and peril that's out of this world. J.J. Abrams' second installment of the famed-outer-space-franchise will leave Trekkies and audiences alike in awe. Though the film is minimally hard to catch on, it's still… More
  A visual treat consisting of spectacular action, drama and peril that's out of this world. J.J. Abrams' second installment of the famed-outer-space-franchise will leave Trekkies and audiences alike in awe. Though the film is minimally hard to catch on, it's still nonetheless one of the best if not the best installment of the new franchise and the entire franchise for that matter. Star Trek Into Darkness supplies the visual treats and emotional performances from all of its members in the USS Enterprise. 4.5/5

• E.J. B

  
  Star Trek Into Darkness retains the humour, charm, and eye popping visuals that made its predecessor such a phenomenal work. I was slightly disappointed with a subplot involving a possible war between the Klingons and the Federation that was suddenly dropped halfway through. The film… More
  Star Trek Into Darkness retains the humour, charm, and eye popping visuals that made its predecessor such a phenomenal work. I was slightly disappointed with a subplot involving a possible war between the Klingons and the Federation that was suddenly dropped halfway through. The film is also not quite as dark as the trailer would suggest, relying a lot on humour and a sense of tongue in cheek fun. Aside from that, Benedict Cumberbatch is incredible as the narrative's central villain. You aren't likely to see a creepier villain in a summer movie this year. The friendship between Kirk and Spock is the heart of the film, and director JJ Abrams never loses focus in their developing relationship at every turn. A great sequel for fans of the original, die-hard Trekkies, as well as anyone who enjoys watching blockbusters with intelligence.

• Markus R

  
  While J.J. Abrams' direction is as flashy as expected, his constant need to explore every off-the-wall camera angle possible doesn't really do anything to propel the movie into warp speed (see what I did there?). What does work, is the reprisal of Zachary Quinto's… More
  While J.J. Abrams' direction is as flashy as expected, his constant need to explore every off-the-wall camera angle possible doesn't really do anything to propel the movie into warp speed (see what I did there?). What does work, is the reprisal of Zachary Quinto's magnificently dry depiction of Spock, who, along with a lively supporting cast which includes, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu, Karl Urban as Bones, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Zoe Saldana as Uhura and a surprisingly ultra-comedic script, are the only reasons as to why "Star Trek Into Darkness" is entertaining at all. Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan: I am a huge Cumberbatch fan (just to get that out of the way) but his performance here honestly left me of cold. Let me rephrase that. The way Cumberbatch was utilized within the confines of this storyline was what left me cold. "Star Trek Into Darkness" contains one of the most underutilized villains in any science fiction film to date. During the first half of this movie, Khan is seen and described to be a superhuman-like being, who is touted to be nearly indestructible. But when Cumberbatch finally gets some heavy screen time, all Khan does is spend a few scenes speaking with a stern inflection and then a few more scenes punching people and getting punched, and then it's over. What a letdown. Even though the comedic moments in "Star Trek Into Darkness" move this two hour plus movie forward, sadly this "action film" contains only a few action sequences (and by that, I mean two) which were memorable or made me lean forward in my seat. And therein lies the main issue at hand. I don't want to say that anything visually about this film was poorly constructed, because it wasn't. This is also not a Michael Bay movie which contains an annoying overload of explosions. All of the action sequences here have their respective place. There are even moments (during the last hour) when Abrams creates an atmosphere of suspense, which promises potential, but (even with its highly eventful score) soon recedes into another bland or simply shrug inducing action sequence. I guess what I'm trying to say is, not much in "Star Trek Into Darkness" was all that impressive. And I am including the final battle sequence in that discussion. Final Thought: "Star Trek Into Darkness" is the type of movie which lives and dies on its audience's expectations. While "Into Darkness" is big budget, looks nice and is all and all a fine movie, the fact that it never became as engaging as I (along with a room full of men wearing Spock ears) expected it to be, is a problem. So, even though this is not a sci-fi film which will be scoffed at during upcoming episodes of "The Big Bang Theory", if you aren't a Star Trek fan, "Star Trek Into Darkness" isn't the movie that will convert you. In fact, for you the weighted melodrama within this film, may become far too irritating to stand after a while. And if you are a Trekkie, then chances are you've stopped reading a while back, upon noticing that this wasn't a five star review. In short, if you're a fan of Star Trek, then you're going to see "Star Trek Into Darkness" regardless of what I have to say. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• John H

  
  I'm not a Star Trek fan. Just throwing that out there. However, I did enjoy J.J. Abrams' first movie. Maybe not as much as most, but I liked it a fair amount. "Into Darkness" had less of the awe and bewilderment that the first had while giving us a much more… More
  I'm not a Star Trek fan. Just throwing that out there. However, I did enjoy J.J. Abrams' first movie. Maybe not as much as most, but I liked it a fair amount. "Into Darkness" had less of the awe and bewilderment that the first had while giving us a much more dedicated, classic Star Trek feel and better-acted villain. Benedict Cumberbatch was easily the best thing about this movie and without his performance or presence I don't know if there would be as much rewatch value for me. Final verdict: It's decent. I liked it enough to recommend it, but the odds are you've either already seen it or have made plans to see it. And you'll probably like it more than I did.

• Sunny D

  
  'Star Trek Into Darkness' is the perfect summer blockbuster. Abrams version of the story is a fun play on the source material, and the Kirk-Spock relationship gives the film an emotional element most other blockbusters lack. Cumberbatch absolutely knocks the role of Khan… More
  'Star Trek Into Darkness' is the perfect summer blockbuster. Abrams version of the story is a fun play on the source material, and the Kirk-Spock relationship gives the film an emotional element most other blockbusters lack. Cumberbatch absolutely knocks the role of Khan out of the park, and takes the film to another level. Definitely a must see for 2013. Grade: B+

• c0up  

  
  'Star Trek Into Darkness'. Sci-fi on a grand scale that cares about its characters. Great action, humour and visuals. IMAX is well worth it! Benedict Cumberbatch is consistently menacing, looking bad-ass while delivering a monologue as well as kicking butt in that hoodie… More
  'Star Trek Into Darkness'. Sci-fi on a grand scale that cares about its characters. Great action, humour and visuals. IMAX is well worth it! Benedict Cumberbatch is consistently menacing, looking bad-ass while delivering a monologue as well as kicking butt in that hoodie that works surprisingly well as a costume. Chris Pine's versatility is the real surprise, selling the humour and emotion equally well. The Bones metaphors are easily the highlight, laughter-wise! Giacchino's score, as always, delivers.

• Matt G

  
  This was dope.

• Film C

  
  Best Movie I've seen this year! Everything is right about this movie, its action packed from start to finish, funny and fantastically acted and beautifully shot. This movie had me on the edge of my seat throughout the movie and made me get actively involved with sound effects,… More
  Best Movie I've seen this year! Everything is right about this movie, its action packed from start to finish, funny and fantastically acted and beautifully shot. This movie had me on the edge of my seat throughout the movie and made me get actively involved with sound effects, its a phenomenal movie, much better than the first. If you want an arse tensing thrill ride thoughout, then this is the movie to watch!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings