Decidedly disposable, but resistance is futile

A breathless Indiana Jones-style prologue fires up JJ Abrams’ Star Trek sequel with a gesture of self sacrifice from Spock (Quinto). Finding himself trapped in a volcano, we learn that ‘the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few’ is to be this instalment’s major theme. Antithetically, it is the devastating loss of many lives in 23rd-century London that then sends the Enterprise to the Klingon home world to deal with the one-man terrorist cell responsible: John Harrison (Cumberbatch).

On the whole, Abrams delivers an enjoyable, witty little space romp. He returns with his signature lens flares and proceeds to bestow the film with big-budget bells and whistles and all the emotional clout that could possibly be packed into two hours of mainstream summer cinema. Normally I’d be the first to commend the efforts of a filmmaker to squeeze some humanity into populist entertainment, but here the relentless emoting becomes an overbearing assault on the senses – all the more offensive in 3D. A sobbing Spock, no matter how well justified, is likely to offend Trekkers everywhere. Even the villain has a quick snivel. As such, everything feels calculated – the mechanics of our manipulation all too visible. Whenever there is a rare, merciful interlude, the purpose of the lull is revealed to be little more than a set-up for the inevitable crash-bang-wallop that always interrupts it.

The fact that none of this is enough to fully derail the experience is due largely to the carefully-selected cast that Abrams assembled the first time out. Pine and Quinto excel as Kirk and Spock, managing to give surprisingly nuanced performances, while the writers deserve credit for successfully mining the dynamics of this iconic relationship for all the pathos and comedy that it’s worth. Peter Weller (RoboCop, Naked Lunch) is also of notable mention as Admiral Marcus – only Cumberbatch’s floppy-haired villain occasionally overcooks things. Star Trek Into Darkness is bigger and bolder than most of Star Trek’s recent cinematic outings, but despite (or perhaps because of) cranking everything up to eleven, it feels less substantial and distinctly more disposable than its comparatively modest televisual origins.

Star Trek Into Darkness (11)
Dir: JJ Abrams; US sci-fi, 2013, 132 mins; Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, 
Premiered June 6
Playing nationwide

 

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs