3 Reasons Why "Into Darkness" is the Best Star Trek Movie

First, some context: I am a middle-aged, lifelong Trekker. In 1970 I had a model Enterprise hanging from my bedroom ceiling. I have watched every iteration and variation of Star Trek since the get-go. I am not some kid who thinks life began in 2005.

And I absolutely loved Into Darkness.

Here is why:

Benedict Cumberbatch

One of the reasons people took Star Wars seriously from the start was the caliber of actors involved. Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, James Earl Jones...these were highly respected thespians who gave the movie credibility. You had to figure if these guys saw something in the script, there had to be some gravitas to the story.

By way of contrast, what did the Star Trek movies have?

Um...uh...the original casts? (Tom Hardy doesn't count because he was still a kid.) I love Ricardo Montalban, but he isn't exactly Marlon Brando.

But featuring one of the greatest actors of our generation gives Into Darkness a classic vibe. Years from now his scenes will be viewed as legendary and reflect very well on the series. Same thing with Michael Fassbender as Magneto.

Spock and Uhura in Star Trek Into Darkness

Spock In Love

One of my favorite episodes from the original series was "This Side of Paradise", which featured, among other things, Spock revealing and displaying his love for Leila. It really showed the constant struggle the Vulcan goes through to tamp down emotions that are always just below the surface.

But some fans (see: codgers) are screaming, "Spock and Uhura can't be in love!!!"

To me this makes no sense. Sarek, Spock's father, married a human woman. And he is 100% Vulcan. Why in the world would it be hard to believe that a half-Vulcan would give in to his emotions?

I think it's great and the relationship adds entire levels of complexity and twists to the story that benefit all concerned.

Star Trek Into Darkness Chris Pine Karl Urban

Action

Up until the J.J. Abrams movies, the Star Trek films had a fatal flaw: they were boring.

And I reiterate...I am a massive Trekker. Of the TV shows. The movies - not so much.

Star Trek as a TV series has always been very cerebral. And that works in the framework of a TV show. For 22 episodes a year, stories can be slowly developed and allowed to mature organically.

But a 2-hour movie? Forget it. Viewers need to be drawn in and stimulated early on to be come emotionally invested into the story. Into Darkness performed this task to perfection.