After a huge amount of anticipation, "Star Trek Into Darkness" bursts onto the screen like the Enterprise racing across the stars in Warp Drive.
So what do our plucky crew of NCC-1701 have to contend with this time round?
A Star Fleet building in London lies in ruin after a seemingly unprovoked attack. The Fleet reconvene at their Head-Quarters, only discovering too late that the actual target was that very meeting. The initial attack was just to get the main players of Star Fleet all together.
Picking up the pieces and going through the evidence, they now know their attacker, one John Harrison, and Kirk and Crew are keen to undertake a mission of revenge, despite protestations from his commanding Officer Admiral Marcus.
So with this second "Star Trek" film, what else do we encounter?
Well, we have a beautiful blond haired Scientist called Doctor Carol Wallace, but what is her connection with Admiral Marcus? A villain who has superior intelligence and strength, and is keen on genetics. There are scenes of two Starships facing off against one another, there are photon torpedoes that look suspiciously familiar, the Enterprise is in mortal danger having lost power and someone has to deal with the ravages of radiation to save the ship.......hang on. Wait a god damn minute. We have been here before. That's right, if any of the above does sound familiar, then that is because it does. It is a virtual copy of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".
Now, I know I should be objective, but when you love "Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan" as much as I do, then you would understand how angry I was sat watching this new film.
I was sat questioning some of the issues on timelines especially as Kirk and the Villain are meant not to have met before their meeting in "Space Seed". Though even before that I found it difficult to get into the characters, their was a lack of engagement, which was probably not helped by the fact that a lot of the action was shot far to close up. If a Studio knows it is going to screen a film on the IMAX, then this should be catered for. There was no problem when viewing both "Skyfall" and "The Dark Knight Rises", and both of them were viewed three rows from the front. And with sequences like the attacks both in London and on Star Fleet, this can only hinder the spectacle of them, and thus ones enjoyment.
The greatness of the original film was that it stood on its own two feet, it introduced these well loved and well known characters, but from a new and fresh perspective, and despite being weary as to how successful it would be, it was pleasing to see they pulled it off so beautifully. This time round has been the complete opposite. Instead of carrying on with fresh new material, Director J.J. Abrams decides to take the majority of his writing, with a few tweaks here and there, from one of the most beloved "Star Trek" films ever. I would not regard myself as a Trekkie or Trekker but I have a huge amount of love for the first six movies. And seeing some great moments from that second film replicated here did me no favours, and did little for my enjoyment or temper. When I heard the lines "I think you'd better get down here" I was really shaking my head in exasperation.
Even if the action is too close for comfort at times, one cannot fault the visual effects, which are top notch.The rousing score courtesy of Michael Giacchino is worthy of note, and as ever the make-up is of the high standards that one has come to expect.
The regular cast members all reprise their roles wonderfully, though special mention to both Karl Urban as 'Bones McCoy' and Simon Pegg as 'Scotty', who thankfully provide some welcome relief.
Alas someone who does not fair as well is Benedict Cumberbatch. An actor I have enjoyed watching for some time, but here failing to convey any menace, and at times woefully over-acting.
I must confess that I have not seen the first film since the Cinema, and had forgotten the part about being in a parallel universe, and this would have explained a few things, and may have answered my queries over certain time line issues.
But even that being an allowance, this is a major disappointment, I was convinced that this would be at least a two visit film, but it will be the only viewing that my sanity can withstand am afraid.
Someone on Rotten Tomatoes summed it up beautifully..."A bad cover of your favourite song".
This second film has gone where no film should have gone........4 out of 10.
PS - And one of the four points it scores is for an old friend.
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