MOVIE: STAR TREK: Into Darkness Will Make You Feel Sympathy for The Devil

The good thing about action movies these days is they become more thought-provoking and smartly-written rather then simply feeding the viewers with an entertaining eye candy.  Long-awaited premiere of J.J.Abram's Star Trek: Into Darkness has proven to be both action-packed sci-fi movie, but not just thoughtless action, kept me on the edge of my seat, and morally complex drama at the same time. 

I've never been a Trekkie so it's difficult to judge whether the new series of the franchise are relevant to those from 60s or not but they have their own flare, that's I can promise.

What brought me to the movies at the first place? Of course, it's dazzling Benedict Cumberbatch who stands out among all the cliché Hollywood boys and girls. “He fuses Byronic charisma with an impatient, imperious intelligence that seems to raise the ambient I.Q. whenever he’s on screen," says A.O. Scott in his Star Trek: Into Darkness review. 

How did it come an actor with clearly intelligent approach to choosing roles ended up in so-called summer blockbuster? The very same question coming from a Russian movie critic I was asking myself. Well, it's time to clarify few things, carefully avoiding spoilers, folks.

This time the Enterprise crew goes after a dangerous fugitive recently having killed Star Fleet headquarters. John Harrison is the guy's name.  While we are excited to reunite with our good old friends the story gets more and more twisted with every second.  Utterly violent and unbelievably strong,  he's also capable of some other talents.

According to Mr.Cumberbatch “He has extraordinary physical powers, but also mental powers. He can sow an idea, which is as powerful as gunshots or close-hand combat, which he’s masterful in. He tears into the fabric of both the world and the Enterprise family, and he leaves behind him a trail of devastation. It’s quite exciting to watch."The question remains will Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) succeed considering his reckless actions as part of his own lifestyle. As for Spock (Zachary Quinto), emotionally detached Vulcan will have to decide whether he does or doesn't want his heart to rule his head. 

But how is this plot different from any action movie with a bit mindless and naive but courage hero ready to save us all (protagonist) from a  monstrous murderer (antagonist)?  In good books and scripts as well, no character is ever simple and his actions obvious and understandable. Mostly, because nothing in this life is.  No one can be an absolute evil or absolute good. Besides, there's always a contradiction, clash of interests and beliefs and from every participant's point of view he/she is the one who has the right opinion.  For me, one of the best way to check the literary value of the script is to try and feel the sympathy for the devil and J.J.Abrams movie gave me that.

" He’s somebody who, at some point in the film, you should feel a certain amount of empathy towards his cause, if not his means. … There’s no two-dimensional obstacle he presents purely and simply by the fact that he’s opposing our hero." Benedict Cumberbatch

Aside from all that, Star Trek: Into Darkness is a well-balanced adventure with an explosive ending which I may watch few more times.