EDIT: The Spoiler-free review is now updated with our impressions of the IMAX 3D and standard 2D presentations of the film, ahead of the US opening of the film.
Star Trek Into Darkness begins rolling out in cinemas worldwide from today.
The film features Benedict Cumberbatch as the mysterious villain John Harrison, in a complex and multi layered performance. Sherlockology has just published two detailed reviews of the film - one completely plot spoiler free, the other going into a far greater analysis of Benedict’s performance and the part his character plays in the thematic weight of the story.
From our spoiler free review:
Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance completely dominates the film. Bringing both predatory intellectualism and imposing physicality, he effectively steals every scene he features in and forces the other members of the cast he interacts with to raise their game in kind. It sounds churlish to point this out of course as this is a distinct character, but at times the edge of his Sherlock Holmes shines through in some relentless explanatory dialogue - but then he surprises you by exploding into ferociously violent action of the kind we have never seen him play before. Cumberbatch gives us a far superior villain than Eric Bana’s Nero in the previous film, one that is manipulative and dangerous, and certainly not above attempting to engender our sympathy to his cause - Harrison has without doubt been wronged by those he seeks revenge against, but despite the presence of a single, long tear when his motivation is revealed, the thought of siding with an avowed terrorist remains an uneasy concept. But of course, Star Trek is all about uneasy concepts, and the holding of a mirror to our preconceptions is its greatest strength.
You can read the full review on our website. The spoiler free review contains the link to the spoiler review at the conclusion, giving you the choice of reading on if you so wish!
