Talk about setting your weapon to "stun." J.J. Abrams' brings the fun, flair and fanboy-friendly geekiness to Star Trek: Into Darkness, his grander and more ambitious sequel to the 2009 reboot. Though the general "break protocol/try avoid war with Klingons" storyline may not exactly boldly go where no Trek adventure has gone before, the richly drawn characters and constantly engaging action make it one hell of a ride...

Into Darkness starts as it means to continue: with a daredevil chase, great character interactions, all executed with breathless abandon. In a thrilling opening set piece, Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (the sly, loose-limbed Karl Urban) are on the run from a tribe of very angry natives on the planet Nibiru, which is covered in a crimson forest. Returning DP Dan Mindel's cinematography is stunning, evoking the infra war photography of Richard Mosse. Meanwhile, Spock (Zachary Quinto) O'S attempting to quell the rumblings of a nearby volcano. Inevitably, his mission goes awry, and a classic stand-off takes place between Kirk's emotional rebellious streak and impenetrable Vulcan logic.
It’s a brilliant opening, as it not only foreshadows the personality clashes to come, but gives Trek newcomers a perfect introduction to all the major players & their relationships: rogue leader Kirk and his father figure Rear Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood); rule-book loving Spock and his quietly passionate girlfriend Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and the cheesy one-liner-loving Bones.
When the crew are sent to Kling-on controlled space to capture an enigmatic terrorist, personal relationships and political ideals are tested when Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) gives the Enterprise an oddly undemocratic objective of Kill on Sight.
Predictably, Benedict Cumberbatch is irresistibly, icily brilliant as the Hannibal lector-style evil genius, whose motivations are never clear. The film also builds particularly well on the burgeoning Kirk-Spock friendship, with Pine showing reserves of vulnerability and doubt beneath his cocksure exterior, while Quinto adds gravitas to Spock’s eternal inner conflict - and his deepening romance with Lt. Uhura (Zoe Saldana).
The personal themes elevate the suspense of the superbly executed action. From the grand battles between giant vessels to traditional scraps, it's consistently exciting an hugely fun. There’s also a commitment to consistently funny dialogue which ensures a constant sense of fun – though thanks to the character development, Abrams more than earns some tears or two along the way.
The now-infamous lens flare of the 2009 version has been slightly toned down, and despite one absurd scene which sees new team addition Dr Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) stripping down to her underwear for no discernible reason, Abrams’ clinical precision ensures that there’s never a sense of gratuitousness to the action or character development.
While Trekkies who have been waiting for years for this sequel, there may be a sense of slight disappointment at the slight sense of deja-vu to proceedings, but Abrams has succeeded in making a niche, geeky franchise unabashedly cool and fun for a wide audience.

Out in cinemas now.