4. Cumberbatch Is No Montalban
When Abrams jump-started the foundering Star Trek franchise in 2009, he pursued a similar but alternate timeline, which was smart on his part. It gave him freedom to explore new facets of the Star Trek universe while at the same time made room for familiar characters and plot elements to emerge. Khan has remained a favorite Trek villain since Ricardo Montalbans operatic performance in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The simmering hatred and desire for revenge beneath the surface propelled the story, gave it power. There is none of that in Star Trek Into Darkness. The characterization by Montalban was so successful that does anyone remember that Kirk and Khan never actually played a scene together in that film? Khan of Star Trek II was bent on revenge, fueled by hatred. From hells heart I stab at thee, Khan hisses. His hatred and thirst for revenge is so total that the character is elevated to operatic or Shakespearian levels. Khan 2.0 is just as cunning, just as strong and just as intelligent as Khan Prime, but this Khans motivation isnt nearly as clear. Indeed, the real bad guy in Into Darkness is a rogue Starfleet admiral bent on starting a war with the Klingons. And new Khan can hardly match the much talked about physique of Montalban. Yes, that was Montalban's actual chest in Star Trek II, and not a prosthetic.