J.J. Abrams has graced the Star Trek franchise with another winning film. One that I think is better than the original and was adequately balanced for the need of keeping audiences interested while paying homage to Star Trek's past. In the 2009 installment, the ability of choice is a continuous theme. Again and again, the movie's characters were faced with choices they make that affect not only the course of their own lives, but also those around them in order to make the point that people ultimately control their destiny. Into Darkness highlights the power of intelligence along with the value of friendship while elements of previous movies and shows are used for the film's plot. I do wish Abrams did not wait four years to make this sequel and think there was an opportunity missed by using elements of the past for this movie's plot. Hopefully, the next film slated for 2016 to be released in time for Star Trek's fiftieth anniversary will have a more original storyline. Despite the multiple familiar elements in the film, the makers did a good job of integrating elements of past Star Trek films and television shows while making the movie enjoyable for average moviegoers.

Into Darkness begins on the lush planet of Nibiru where the crew of the Enterprise have decided to save the planet's species from certain extinction. They are then sent on a mission to a barren province of the Klingon home world Kronos originally to assassinate a terrorist named John Harrison (aka Khan) who has taken refuge there. Instead of being executed, Harrison is taken prisoner which sets off a series of events that enables Captain Kirk to reveal a conspiracy geared to plunge the Federation into a galactic war. Central to the story is not only the Enterprise but Earth civilization itself as evidenced by the sophisticated cities of San Francisco and London. Into Darkness does a very good job of being escapist by presenting excellent action, acting, and special effects. Like it's predecessor, the movie remains larger than life with the Enterprise crew showing how fantastic they are, using their intelligence, taking risks while achieving great things along the way. Khan is the Enterprise crew's arch nemesis as symbolized not only by his brilliance but also Khan's cunning ruthlessness and manipulations. The indication that Khan is the bad guy is symbolic not only with his chosen home on the Klingon homeworld of Kronos but also the darkness of the ship he commandeers.

The new crew behind the franchise have shown they can pack quite a punch while paying their respects to what got them there. In J.J. Abrams' version Gene Roddenberry's optimistic, pro-technology future is still intact. So far and best of all, the liberal political causes shown in previous Star Trek television shows and films (like the Save the Whales message from Star Trek IV) seem to have been eviscerated. Star Trek is not only a science fiction tale and culture, but also an exploration as to what it means to be an individual. Star Trek is a positive vision of the future that tells stories of heroic individuals confidently solving problems successfully and what mankind overall can achieve.