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patentdragonI will update this with a "screen-shot" at some point soon, but I'm too pooped to do it just now. Seriously. Updated with appropriate image(s)!
Anyway, back to the action: we may just have our Movie Of The Year...
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is that trickiest of things - the sequel to a hugely successful movie. It might not help that this one took FOUR years to reach the screen, so is this one worth the wait?
HELL YES.
The minute the Enterprise rises from the ocean of a doomed planet, you know you're in for something special. Things could have taken a turn down a route to navel-gazing as Kirk faces the consequences of his actions, but his hardships are only temporary as a new threat strikes so very close to "home", and a tale of revenge begins to unfold. Don't, however, think you've heard it all before, and switch off, 'cause you will miss so much that echoes, but never quite follows a rather familiar, and very popular movie...
When you learn the truth about villian John Harrison, played splendidly by British TV hero-of-the-hour Benedict Cumberbatch, you're reminded that this ISN'T the Star Trek you know and love - this is the Star Trek J J Abrams and his team have MADE you love, and you came back for more. Now, your loyalty is rewarded, and all that speculation boils down to one fact; you may have seen this revelation coming, but you will still be amazed. I dare you, Dear Reader, not to be...
...and we're barely at half way.
Somehow, this movie packs in the action, and the stunning visuals, and STILL finds time to let the characters breathe, and grow. Each of the stars gets their time to shine as their respective characters - Chris Pine becomes a more convincing Kirk, Zachary Quinto is again fantastic as Spock (and probably gets the line of the movie), Karl Urban nails the part of Bones, Zoe (soon to be Gamora) Saldana has a moment of glory on the (yup) Klingon homeworld, But I feel it's Simon Pegg who's given the most opportunity to flesh out his take on Scotty, now that he has the whole movie to interact with the cast, and not the last couple of acts. He's even pivotal to thwarting the real bad guy, played strongly by Peter "Robocop" Weller.
Now, the big question: is there anything wrong with this movie? The answer is yes, there is a distinct feeling that the get-out for the big emotional climax is "telegraphed" to some extent, when the properties of Harrison's blood are explored, but even that doesn't hurt the movie all that much. You'll probably be so totally sucked into it all, you'll barely realise its significance until the tribble revives - and I assure you that will make all the sense in the world when it comes round.
The ideal way to see this is 3D IMAX. This was my first experience of this particular flavour of the format, and the 3D elements work a whole lot better than on a standard screen. If you haven't tried IMAX at all, this might be the time to do it. It's worth the extra, friend.
So there we have it. barely two weeks into Blockbuster Season, and it may just be all wrapped up already. If you only see one movie on the big screen this year, very seriously consider this to be that movie. Star Trek continues to live on!
Now, how the hell do you top this...?
The Final Verdict... J J Abrams hits it out of the park. Again. Every major character has more to do, AND the visuals are just as stunning as before. A solution to a key event IS somewhat telegraphed, but that's a small flaw in an otherwise awesome package. 9/10
Oh, and PACIFIC RIM is going to be mind-blowing on the extra-big screen. It's going to need to be, now that it has SERIOUS competition...
Anyway, back to the action: we may just have our Movie Of The Year...
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is that trickiest of things - the sequel to a hugely successful movie. It might not help that this one took FOUR years to reach the screen, so is this one worth the wait?
HELL YES.
The minute the Enterprise rises from the ocean of a doomed planet, you know you're in for something special. Things could have taken a turn down a route to navel-gazing as Kirk faces the consequences of his actions, but his hardships are only temporary as a new threat strikes so very close to "home", and a tale of revenge begins to unfold. Don't, however, think you've heard it all before, and switch off, 'cause you will miss so much that echoes, but never quite follows a rather familiar, and very popular movie...
When you learn the truth about villian John Harrison, played splendidly by British TV hero-of-the-hour Benedict Cumberbatch, you're reminded that this ISN'T the Star Trek you know and love - this is the Star Trek J J Abrams and his team have MADE you love, and you came back for more. Now, your loyalty is rewarded, and all that speculation boils down to one fact; you may have seen this revelation coming, but you will still be amazed. I dare you, Dear Reader, not to be...
...and we're barely at half way.
Somehow, this movie packs in the action, and the stunning visuals, and STILL finds time to let the characters breathe, and grow. Each of the stars gets their time to shine as their respective characters - Chris Pine becomes a more convincing Kirk, Zachary Quinto is again fantastic as Spock (and probably gets the line of the movie), Karl Urban nails the part of Bones, Zoe (soon to be Gamora) Saldana has a moment of glory on the (yup) Klingon homeworld, But I feel it's Simon Pegg who's given the most opportunity to flesh out his take on Scotty, now that he has the whole movie to interact with the cast, and not the last couple of acts. He's even pivotal to thwarting the real bad guy, played strongly by Peter "Robocop" Weller.
Now, the big question: is there anything wrong with this movie? The answer is yes, there is a distinct feeling that the get-out for the big emotional climax is "telegraphed" to some extent, when the properties of Harrison's blood are explored, but even that doesn't hurt the movie all that much. You'll probably be so totally sucked into it all, you'll barely realise its significance until the tribble revives - and I assure you that will make all the sense in the world when it comes round.
The ideal way to see this is 3D IMAX. This was my first experience of this particular flavour of the format, and the 3D elements work a whole lot better than on a standard screen. If you haven't tried IMAX at all, this might be the time to do it. It's worth the extra, friend.
So there we have it. barely two weeks into Blockbuster Season, and it may just be all wrapped up already. If you only see one movie on the big screen this year, very seriously consider this to be that movie. Star Trek continues to live on!
Now, how the hell do you top this...?
The Final Verdict... J J Abrams hits it out of the park. Again. Every major character has more to do, AND the visuals are just as stunning as before. A solution to a key event IS somewhat telegraphed, but that's a small flaw in an otherwise awesome package. 9/10
Oh, and PACIFIC RIM is going to be mind-blowing on the extra-big screen. It's going to need to be, now that it has SERIOUS competition...
