5 Pros
5. Cumberbatch Is Well-Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch has proved his acting chops in a number of films including the recent cold war thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but he has garnered celebrity and a following with his revolutionary take on a modern day Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock. It comes as no surprise that his casting in Star Trek Into Darkness is inspired. The deep-voiced actor easily dominates nearly every scene he appears in, and Cumberbatch has the presence here of a rising star. His performance is at times cold and chilling; as a genetically engineered superhuman Cumberbatch plays cunning and calculating like its second nature. Other actors could have played the part, but Cumberbatch adds several layers to his portrayal of Khan which prompt audiences at times to wonder if Khan is actually a sympathetic character this time around. The ambiguity of his villainy is a nice touch, and it works for the film.