Film Review: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (2013)

Director: J.J. Abrams
Writers: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof (written by), Gene Roddenberry (television series “Star Trek”)
Running time: 132 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 12A

Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
UK Release date: 9^th May 2013

Watched at the Cinema Saturday 11^th May 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I remember seeing the original Start Trek TV shows back in the 1970’s (we got them later here in the UK). I really loved them and have watched every spin-off TV show and film since. Now, I have to say here that I’m not a purist and I really enjoyed the first movie Star Trek (2009) which starts off this iteration of the franchise. But I digress; you’re wanting to hear about the all new shiny film. I have to say I went into this one without reading any reviews or reading too much of the press about it and so I’ll try to keep things as spoiler-free as possible. Here’s a very brief (spoiler-free) summary before I give you my thoughts.

When a Star Fleet archive is blown up in London, one John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) claims responsibility. The Star Fleet captains and their First Officers are assembled by Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) but Harrison attacks this meeting, killing one of James T. Kirk’s (Chris Pine) mentors. He pleads with Marcus to be allowed to follow Harrison to Kronos, the Klingon home world, where he has been tracked. He is given his chance and the crew of the Enterprise set off in hot pursuit. They manage to capture Harrison, but he is so much more than he seems…

There is a welcome return for all of the favourites from the first film; Spok (Zachary Quinto), Bones (Karl Urban), who I think is brilliant in this part by the way, Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Sulu (John Cho). Plus we have the addition of Admiral Marcus’s daughter, Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve), who manages to bluff her way onto the ship. Everyone did a great job, although I wasn’t too sure about Scotty’s accent, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Peter Weller taking top honours (for me anyway).

Beautifully shot with much of the trademark lens flaring that is becoming synonymous with the films of J.J. Abrams. It really doesn’t bother me as much as it seems to others. I’m really glad I saw it on the big screen (in 2D by the way) because it’s one of those that definitely benefits from it. I can’t imagine it having anything like the impact on a small screen. It’s an epic plot that draws on elements from earlier iterations of these characters but totally turned on its head. I enjoyed it a very much and I’m already looking forward to the next one!

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.6/10.

IMDb Score: 8.4/10 (based on 8,766 votes when this review was written).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408101/

MetaScore: 74/100: (Based on 8 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 90/100 (based on 60 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 89/100 (based on 78,686 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_trek_into_darkness/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
John Harrison: You think you world is safe? It is an illusion. A comforting lie told to protect you. Enjoy these final moments of peace. For I have returned to have my vengeance. So, shall we begin?

[to Kirk]
Christopher Pike: Do you know what a pain you are? You think the rules don't apply to you. There's greatness in you, but there's not an ounce of humility. You think that you can't make mistakes, but there's going to come a moment when you realize you're wrong about that, and you're going to get yourself and everyone under your command killed.

John Harrison: Your commanders have committed a crime I cannot forgive. None of you are safe. Have I got your attention now?

[the Enterprise crew steer a ship towards a closing portal]
Spock: Captain, this ship will not fit.
James T. Kirk: IT WILL FIT, WILL FIT, WILL FIT!
[the ship scrapes through]
James T. Kirk: See, I told you it would fit!
Spock: I am not sure that qualifies.

Nyota Uhura: We're outnumbered, outgunned...
James T. Kirk: So we come out shooting!

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Site: http://www.startrekmovie.com/
Trailer:

Film Review: MARGIN CALL (2011)

Writer/Director: J.C. Chandor
Running time: 103 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 15

Genre: Drama/Thriller
UK Release date: 13^th January 2012

Watched on Sky+ Sunday 3^rd March 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film I have wanted to see for some time now. Critically acclaimed on release, I decided early on it had to go on ‘The List’. It finally aired on TV this week and so ‘The List’ became one shorter (although there are still plenty on there). For a film that is very plot driven I found the performances really stood out, which, I guess, is testament to the acting talent on view. Here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Set around the time of the 2008 financial crash, this film documents the goings on in one investment bank in New York. When the head of risk management, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), is made redundant, he passes what he has been working on to his colleague, Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto). Dale looks worried as he hands it over and warns Sullivan to be careful. Sullivan looks at the information and fills in the gaps. What he finds will change the financial market forever. He call in his boss, Will Emerson (Paul Bettany), who is out drinking with another colleague, Seth Bergman (Penn Badgley) at the time. Emerson takes one look and calls in his boss, Sam Rogers (Kevin Spacey), and so it goes on… Rogers boss Jared Cohen (Simon Baker), Sarah Robertson (Demi Moore) and Ramesh Shah (Aasif Mandvi) are all called in and it’s decided they have to call in the head of the company, John Tuld (Jeremy Irons) and the executive board to make a decision. They even bring a reluctant Eric Dale back in to prevent him telling anyone about what he’s discovered. All this occurs in one night and what happens the following day sows the seeds of the financial crash.

On the face of it, this film does not appear to be the kind of thing to inspire an audience. I’m here to tell you that is far from the truth; I found it very compelling and a great eye-opener to the mechanics of the financial crash. Great performances all round with top honours going to Jeremy Irons and Kevin Spacey; both really excelled in this one. I think it’s a film I’d like to see again because the details of the reasons behind it all are quite complex and I’d like to get a better handle on that. It does lose a little momentum in the final quarter but it’s certainly worth investing the time to watch.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.1/10.

IMDb Score: 7.1/10 (based on 46,919 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1615147/

MetaScore: 76/100: (Based on 38 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 88/100 (based on 150 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 74/100 (based on 14,990 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/margin_call/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
John Tuld: There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat.

Eric Dale: I run risk management... it just doesn't seem like a natural place to start cutting.

Will Emerson: Jesus, Seth. Listen, if you really wanna do this with your life you have to believe you're necessary and you are. People wanna live like this in their cars and big fuckin' houses they can't even pay for, then you're necessary. The only reason that they all get to continue living like kings is cause we got our fingers on the scales in their favour. I take my hand off and then the whole world gets really fuckin' fair really fuckin' quickly and nobody actually wants that. They say they do but they don't. They want what we have to give them but they also wanna, you know, play innocent and pretend they have no idea where it came from. Well, that’s more hypocrisy than I'm willing to swallow, so fuck em. Fuck normal people. You know, the funny thing is, tomorrow if all of this goes tits up they're gonna crucify us for being too reckless but if we're wrong, and everything gets back on track? Well then, the same people are gonna laugh till they piss their pants cause we're gonna all look like the biggest pussies God ever let through the door.

Sam Rogers: You are panicking.
John Tuld: If you're first out the door, that's not called panicking.

John Tuld: Maybe you could tell me what is going on. And please, speak as you might to a young child. Or a golden retriever. It wasn't brains that brought me here; I assure you that.

Sarah Robertson: We were wrong.
Jared Cohen: You mean *you* were wrong.
Sam Rogers: I'm heading for the conference room.
Jared Cohen: I want you to hear this.
Sam Rogers: I don't want to hear this. How do you think I've stuck around this place so long?

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margincallmovie
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/margincallmovie
Official Site: http://www.margincallmovie.com/
Trailer: