Perhaps the biggest blockbuster this summer, "Star Trek Into Darkness" nonetheless throws more than a few curve balls: It is pensive, frosty and often curt, and comes elegantly and aptly dressed in several shades of black. Though there are many moments of humor and thrilling adventure, the story seems enshrouded in a dark cloud of sadness.
After a lighthearted opening set piece (recalling something from "Pirates of the Caribbean"), the first act is mired in death: A terrorist attack in London leads to a blood-soaked assault on Star Fleet headquarters just as the commanding officers are holding an emergency meeting. Kirk (Chris Pine) loses his mentor and admiral (Bruce Greenwood) in the carnage and is subsequently sent on a politically sensitive manhunt mission.
You don't have to be a Trekkie to derive satisfaction from this "Star Trek," though director J.J. Abrams stuffs the entire package with geek-pampering details, enough to fuel hundreds of hours of heated online discussions. (Apparently the Trekkie convention held in Las Vegas in early August saw more than a few Enterprise devotees in spasms of sheer delight.) Ultimately, "Into Darkness" is prophetic and profound, vying for a place in the sci-fi Hall of Fame that houses "Blade Runner" and, well, the original "Star Trek."