Like the result of the J.J. Abrams directed Star Trek reboot, Star Trek into Darkness is shaping up to be a fairly divisive, if financially successful, entry into the overall sci-fi franchise. In spite of underperforming the 2009 films opening weekend in the US, STID is raking in the big bucks in overseas markets. With an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (10% below Star Trek (2009), STID doesnt seem to have the same kind of resonance with audiences or critics (in the US, at least). Is it a case of overinflated expectations being let down? Possibly we did have to wait four years for this movie after all. But are there are real reasons for diehard Trekkies and the new generation of fans created by ST09 feeling let down? WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. DO NOT READ THIS UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE SEEN THE FILM.
7. Its Revenge Again
Lets face it people like things that are familiar, but not too familiar. And unfortunately for Star Trek into Darkness, its basic premise is the latter instead of the former. John Harrison (who Ill get to later) is the latest Trek villain seeking to get revenge against someone for something done to him in the past. Even worse, hes the third villain in a row with revenge on the mind in Nemesis, Shinzon sought revenge against Picard for inadvertently causing his creation and having a life that didnt involve being a slave in a mine full of aliens, while Nero in ST09 decided to avenge himself on Spock and the Federation for failing to save Romulus. And like the others, Harrisons revenge motivator (his family) is glossed over we never see him interacting with the people hes fighting for, nor are they characters we actually come to care for. Even with Benedict Cumberbatchs solid performance, there arent enough differences in the ideas and execution to overcome the viewers déjà vu. So what could the movie have been about? An impending war with the Klingons, Prime Directive issues, Section 31, or a plain and simple adventure the Enterprise crew stumbles upon while in space. Any of these wouldve made the film seem fresher than it actually was and let us see how different this new Trek universe was.