10 Most Ridiculously Unearned Movie Twists Of All Time
9. Khan! - Star Trek Into Darkness
Time hasn’t been kind to this sequel, with the film’s darker tones criticised as being a bit stark when compared with the jovial, in it together feel of its franchise-starting predecessor. It was just all a bit gloomy. With all that negativity jettisoned following this year’s Beyond, it’s still worth giving Into Darkness a shoeing for presenting one of the most cack-handed character treatments in recent memory.
While this is no slight on Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance, blame is pointed at how J.J. Abrams and writers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof felt the need to turn a character that, up until the film’s pivotal moment, was an ass-kicking baddie, into something BIG.
Yes, he’s Khan, that seminal Trek villain, dark soul of classic movie, The Wrath Of Khan and all round sci-fi icon. It’s hard where to start with how bad this twist is – whitewashing claims from numerous sides, his grand unveiling presented in a whiny rant – but after all is unveiled, the film loses what momentum it had and the CG heavy punch up at the end feels like a legacy is being pummeled into the ground. The mystery surrounding this villain was intriguing enough without putting a label on him.
What also remains is a plot turn that sent a tonne of Trekkies foaming at the mouths. Whatever next? Jason Statham stepping into William Riker’s lycra?