Star Trek: Into Morality and Ethical Dilemma

Four years after breathing new life into the Star Trek franchise, J.J. Abrams and his partners return with the continuing adventures of the USS Enterprise. How do they do?

And yeah, I know I’m a bit late in seeing the movie. But I got to it and so I’m sharing my opinion on the movie.

Boldly going where no SPOILERS have gone before.


I am not entirely sure how much time has passed since the end of the last Star Trek movie and this one, so if anyone would like to fill me in I’d appreciate it. Not that it matters, nothing is really contradicted in this movie. It’s just curiosity.

The movie starts with Kirk (Chris Pine) running from aliens. He meets up with Bones (Karl Urban) and the two retreat to the Enterprise. This is all a ruse to allow Spock (Zachary Quinto) time to jump into an active volcano in order to prevent it from erupting and destroying the planet. Things go wrong and Sulu (John Cho) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) have to return without him. But Kirk decides to save him, even if it means defying Starfleet regulations and reveal the advanced technology of the Enterprise to the primitive inhabitants of the planet.

So Pike (Bruce Greenwood) has to call Kirk home for chastisement. Especially as Spock wrote everything in his report while Kirk left a few things out. While Pike chews the two out and takes the Enterprise away from Kirk, we visit London. Mickey Smith Another Starfleet Officer (Noel Clarke) makes a deal with a hooded figure to save his dying daughter’s life. In return, he blows up a Starfleet facility. Oh, Mickey! What would the Doctor say?

Kirk decides to drown his sorrows and Pike goes to fetch him. Pike wants him to be First Officer while Spock has been transferred to another ship. They gather with other Star Fleet brass to discuss the attack. As they do so, Kirk realizes that they are a second target moments before the room explodes. During the fight, Kirk gets a good look at the culprit—John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch)—while Pike is injured. He dies in Spock’s arms, propelling Kirk to offer to track down Harrison for revenge. Admiral Marcus grants and gives him new weapons to do so.

So the Enterprise goes off to chase John Harrison, with a new crew member on board—Carol Wallace (Alive Eve), a science officer. Though it is sans an original crew member as Scotty (Simon Pegg) resigns in protest over the new weapons. Kirk promotes Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and tells him to don a red shirt. A look comes to Chekov’s eyes that is no doubt supposed to reflect the young man’s anxiety at taking on such an important role. But it also looks like Chekov knows the survival rate of those wearing that particular color shirt. Kirk informs his crew of their mission, amending it from the original “kill John Harrison” to “capture John Harrison so he can stand trial.” He changes his mind after a little talk with Spock.

The hunt brings them into Klingon territory and we get our first glimpse of the infamous race in the alternate universe. (Michael Dorn was scheduled to make an appearance but the creators then thought it would be too confusing). Kirk, Spock and Uhura engage the Klingons while Sulu has control of the ship. A fight breaks out and John Harrison comes to their rescue. He surrenders to Kirk and is brought aboard the Enterprise.

There, it is revealed that John Harrison is not who he said he was. So for those of you on the internet who guessed he was really infamous Star Trek villain Khan—guess what? You win! Cumberbatch is playing Khan and he is different from Ricardo Montalban. Which makes sense given the alternative universe the last movie created. But he is still ruthless yet brilliant. And the crew must decide whether they can trust him or not. Especially as he reveals Starfleet’s darker side. And it doesn’t include cookies.

Once again, the cast is amazing. Especially Pine and Quinto. They certainly are capable of carrying the movie. So is Saldana as Uhura. And the rest of the cast does well. My main quibble about the cast is that I wanted more Karl Urban but then again, I’m a fangirl. I am also a bit upset they killed Greenwood. Even Harry Potter got to keep a father figure. But nope, no father figure for Jim Kirk. And Cumberbatch as Khan! He is brilliant, so reserved yet with so much power behind every move.

The relationships are further developed between Kirk and Spock, Spock and Uhura, and Kirk and Uhura. There are also a few moments between Kirk and Sulu as well as Kirk and Scotty. Once again, I wished for a few more moments between Kirk and Bones, but they were there. Too bad Chekov was confined to the engine rooms, but even his brief encounters were good.

For those expecting a mindless blockbuster, you will be surprised. The movie does raise a few questions, particular moral ones. Who is the bigger evil: Khan or Admiral Marcus? What will we do to protect those we love? Where is our moral horizon and what will push us past it?

If you missed it, I suggest you check it out as soon as it’s available on blu-ray/DVD.