Hurdling Toward Hell At Warp Speed, Is 'Star Trek Into Darkness'

”STAR Trek Into Darkness” goes where no other “Star Trek” film has gone before – into 3D, IMAX and action overload.

All were wholly unnecessary and bear no resemblance to a “Star Trek” film, except maybe its predecessor, 2009’s presumptuously titled “Star Trek,” the 11th entry in the classic film franchise. The result is a hackneyed science fiction B film made with as much of the state-of-the-mart technology that could be squeezed into its 2¼ hours. (WARNING: Once you put on those IMAX glasses, you are committed. Take them off and things become blurry; see video above).

What director J.J. Abrams and writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof seem to have forgotten is that “Star Trek” is much less about gimmicks and gizmos than it is about clever interaction among the various characters. Of course, gadgetry has its place, but not all over the place

An aside: For a film with three writers, "Star Trek Into Darkness" is very light on engaging dialogue. “You’ve been played”? Seriously? Is this the way a Starfleet admiral speaks in the 23rd or any century? The film has been dumbed down in too many ways to count. It has a coarseness to it that is decidedly not Trekian. Surely, Gene Roddenberry is rolling his eyes in his grave.

A meeting of the minds before the madness at Starfleet Command in "Star Trek Into Darkness." Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

“Star Trek Into Darkness,” which makes its U.S. debut today, has more in common with a “Fast & Furious” than the latest entry in the Star Trek movie franchise. On one hand, it is not so surprising.

JJA – a renaissance man of sorts who dabbles in TV and film as a director, writer and producer – directed “Mission Impossible III.” Ditto for the TV series “Alias” and “Lost” on which he wore several others hats, too. He also has an interest in the TV series “Person of Interest.” On the otherhand, the TV projects didn’t/don’t skimp on intelligence.

Alas, most of the intelligence has been suctioned out of “Star Trek Into Darkness.” How unfortunate, because there are many opportunities for it to flourish in this second installment in the trilogy that JJA&Co. have planned. Take the romance between Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Spock, played to perfection by Zachary Quinto. Yes, Spock and Uhura, not Uhura and Kirk (Chris Pine).

There is too little of this interplay, and much of what there is of it casts Uhura in the mold of a shrew. This is as much out of character as is Uhura and Spock as a couple. At least, though, the latter scenario is interesting. Exploring this relationship in any real depth or cleverness would also be veering toward the quadrant of chick flickdom. Make not mistake. “Star Trek Into Darkness” is meant to appeal to males between 12 and 50.

Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban, right) takes the measure of the man called John Harrison” (Benedict Cumberbath) in "Star Trek Into Darkness."

Indeed, a treasure trove of thoughtful dialogue could have been excavated from the basic plot and subplot of rogue agent “John Harrison” (Benedict Cumberbath) attacking Starfleet headquarters, then fleeing to the Klingon homeworld of Kronos where newly reinstated Captain Kirk is permitted to lead an away team to pursue and destroy him.

Any “Star Trek" film featuring Klingons has instant swagger. They are the coolest bad boys and bad girls in the known universe, and they are dressed to kill! Here, they get about two minutes of screen time before they are vanquished, mostly by John – “Khan?!” – yet another plot twist that gets insufficient exploration in the name of action. What a waste!

Unlikely lovers in "Star Trek Into Darkness": Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana).

Incidentally, one place that "Star Trek Into Darkness" does not spin out of control is in the casting. The actors playing the primary characters, from Captain Kirk to Mr. Chekov (Anton Yelchin), strongly suggest their predecessors in their physical characteristics. However, Kirk is a touch too brash and bull-headed, whereas Mr. Chekov is uncharacteristically a harried, almost feckless sort.

But here’s the deal. Anybody who wants to see a sci-fiesque film with little talk, even less plot development and near wall-to-wall shootouts, firefights and fisticuffs brought to you with just about all the technology the market offers, purchase a ticket to “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Otherwise, this is not your film, especially if you are a Trekkie. Consider yourself forewarned, Trekkies.

“Star Trek: Into Darkness” is PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Visit http://www.startrekmovie.com/ to learn more about the film. Rx

Hidden Family Secrets Are Revealed in ‘People Like Us’

FAMILY secrets. We all have them. And so often they come falling out of the booth in the back in the corner in the dark when we least expect them.

Such is the case for Sam (Chris Pine) in the film, "People Like Us," which opens today.

Sam discovers that his father has an “outside child” – Sam’s sister – after the death of the latter. It seems that the old man may have had a crisis of conscious at some point because he leaves the daughter he never publicly acknowledged a pile of cash. It is the responsibility of cash-strapped Sam to ensure that Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) gets it and presumably learns that the father who abandoned her really did love her. It's just that he had made the difficult choice to remain with family No. 1, including his wife, Lillian (Michelle Pfeiffer in a solid supporting role).

Sam’s errand drives the drama in “People Like Us,” a truly touching film. He does not initially tell Frankie that they are siblings. It’s understandable. These are not easy things to say, especially when one is dealing with the shock of it all. And when money is involved and one needs said money. (See trailer above).

Sam (Chris Pine) and Frankie (Elizabeth Banks) have strong ties in "People Like Us."

Sam is immediately drawn to his sister; he sees their father in her. The two begin spending time together, and Sam learns that he is an uncle to Frankie’s adorable, precocious and rambunctious son, Josh (Michael Hall D'Addario).

The suspense in “People Like Us” continues to build, though, as Sam eventually has to break some big news to Frankie. It has tearjerker potential.

“People Like Us” is rated PG-13 (for language, some drug use and brief sexuality).


Latest Franchise Rollout Is 'The Amazing Spider-Man'


IT’S summertime and the blockbusters are comin’.

The first out of the gate is the latest iteration of Marvel’s the Spider-Man saga, “The Amazing Spider-Man.” It opens on 3 July. No doubt, it will make a gazillion dollars at the box office as the batman saga, “The Dark Knight Rises,” is expected to do in its first weekend later in the month (20 July).

In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Andrew Garfield replaces Tobey Maguire in the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. In the new film, Peter is portrayed as a brilliant, awkward Queens high school student who lives with his aunt and uncle (Sally Field and Martin Sheen). Despite his guardians' dissuasion, Peter sets out to uncover clues about the disappearance of his parents, particularly his scientist father. That quest leads him to the scientific lab, Oscorp, where his classmate/crush Gwen (Emma Stone) is an intern. It is also at Oscorp where Peter meets his father’s former research partner, Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans). At Oscorp, too, a clandestine search lands Peter in a lab where he has accidental contact with a genetically altered spider, imparting to him the power that transform him into Spider-Man. (See trailer above).

In the end, Peter must save humankind from Dr. Connors. The scientist truly becomes mad after, under pressure from an investor, he injects himself with a serum that transforms him into the Lizard, complete with the regenerative powers that Dr. Connors craves. Increasingly delusional because of high doses of the serum, Dr. Connors decides to unleash it on the whole of New York City and the world. It is left to Spider-Man to stop him, though the superhero's efforts are complicated by NYPD police captain George Lacy (Denis Leary). Capt. Lacy is also Gwen’s father.

Of course, it is all cartoonish, and "The Amazing Spider-Man" is more than two hours long. What saves and makes the film, though, are the special effects, action sequences and fight sequences. All are SPECTACULAR. The IMAX 3D enhances the film immensely. Much of the action looks as if it is unfolding a hair’s breath away. In one scene the definition is so great that the antenna spire atop a building (is that the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building?) appears to be heading straight for the heart. Duck!

“The Amazing Spider-Man” is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.