Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • May 29, 2013 Latest ‘Star Trek’ film delivers plenty of action by Dennis Seuling No one can accuse director J.J. Abrams of starting things off slowly in “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” the latest episode in the saga of the starship Enterprise and its crew. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) violates Starfleet’s strict rule not to interfere with alien civilizations as he and Spock (Zachary Quinto) flee from painted primitive beings through the planet’s red-vined vegetation. With Spock in peril, Kirk disregards all protocols and is eventually called onto the carpet for it and stripped of his command. This all happens in the movie’s first 15 minutes. An attack on Starfleet headquarters by disgruntled colleague John Harrison (Benedict Cumerbatch) results in an order from Starfleet Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) to seek out and destroy Harrison at all costs. It is always a challenge with these “Star Trek” pictures to provide the core fans with a story that embraces the history and mythos of the series, yet stands on its own for those who just want to see a good picture. Abrams, who directed the first re-booted “Star Trek” in 2009 and will oversee “Star Wars: Episode VII” for 2015 release, tells a story that will please both camps. Franchise films sometimes include endless background information that confuses rather than enlight- Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) and James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) join forces against a new threat to the Federation in ‘Star Trek: Into Darkness.’ ens the viewer. “Star Trek: Into Darkness” never does this, moving briskly along without the encumbrance of unneeded exposition. The script is clear, lean, and witty -- a winning cinematic trifecta. What stands out in this film is the embrace of the various crew members’ flaws, idiosyncrasies, and egos. On the TV series, there was time to explore individual crew members and even devote entire episodes to one or another of them. It is tougher in a feature film with its limited time, yet Abrams manages some fine moments with Scotty (Simon Pegg), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Bones (Karl Urba), and Sulu (John Cho). The odd relationship between Kirk and Spock is also explored in depth as Kirk is frustrated with Spock’s inability to feel emotion and express thanks. Kirk cannot fathom Spock’s rigidity and feels there is always a wall preventing true friendship between them. Their interaction is reminiscent of a kid trying to talk with an annoying know-it-all in junior high school. Spock is both the film’s straight man and laugh getter with his dead-serious delivery, neutral expression, and robot-like logic. Quinto still manages to make him both real and sympathetic, never resorting to camp or self parody. Action films are as good as their villains and Cumberbatch is excellent as Harrison, a guy who is more than he might initially appear. The movie includes a scene in which Harrison and Kirk must outthink each other in a life-threatening moment. These scenes were a frequent ingredient of the TV series, and illustrated that Kirk is not only able to handle himself physically, but also has a definite head for command. Special effects are first-rate, as can be expected in a major feature film of the 21st century. Shooting in 3D, Abrams harks back to those gimmicky ‘50s 3D flicks where anything and everything had to be propelled toward the audience to make them duck. Apart from a couple of scenes in which the Enterprise shifts gears into warp speed, the 3D does not enhance the already solid script and seems superfluous. Rated PG-13, “Star Trek: Into Darkness” attempts to capture the idealistic concept of creator Gene Roddenberry and succeeds, for the most part, though the crew of the Enterprise does depart from the mission long enough to engage in elaborately staged fights. For an intended summer blockbuster, the movie delivers plenty of action, sharp dialogue, and a mix of both familiar and new characters.