Star Trek Into Darkness IMAX Preview

Those of you who ventured out to watch The Hobbit in IMAX cinemas over Christmas may have been treated to a very impressive preview of JJ Abrams follow-up to 2009′s success story Star Trek; Star Trek Into the Darkness, which is due for release in May this year. For those who didn’t get the chance to see it, here are Tom’s thoughts on what looks set to be a huge summer blockbuster.

The reception to JJ Abram’s Star Trek reboot was phenomenal when you consider the overwhelming pressure he faced in meeting the expectations of trekkie obsessives whilst still making sure his film appealed to younger audiences who were new to the franchise. The stigma that used to be attached to openly admitting you are a fan of Star Trek has been somewhat diminished and there is now a whole new fan base eager to see where this next installment will take us. Whilst Star Trek did not piqué my interest as much as other film fans I can certainly appreciate why it made such a huge impact on audiences and, if the preview for its sequel is anything to go by, Into the Darkness looks to have upped the ante without alienating the core group of fans.

The scene is set as Noel Clarke hurrys through a hospital with his wife, desperate for news about his daughter’s progress. A face to face meeting with the film’s mysterious villain played by Benedict Cumberbatch reveals little of the plot but hints at the sinister undertones surrounding the work taking place at this facility.We are then transported to an exotic world where the crew of the USS enterprise face a hostile indigenous tribe, dangerous creatures and a volatile volcano, all in the space of  9 action-packed minutes

I was perched on the edge of my seat throughout the preview as the pace of the action was frenetic and furious, whilst remaining easy to follow, and the IMAX screen demonstrated the breathtaking camera work and impeccable set design which was an incredible feast for the eyes. The interior shots of said volcano and the intense chase sequence across the planet showcased the 3-D which fitted perfectly with the action and added to the epic feel of Abram’s creations without being overbearing.

I was amazed at how captivating and emotionally draining a 9 minute sequence could be, the first sequence of a film hasn’t left me so distraught since I saw Pixar’s Up, and although short on-screen time, all of the actors have saddled right back into their roles with ease. I was left in stunned silence when the preview ended, and part of me was disappointed that we were about to head into a fantasy world based on swords and sorcery after I had just witnessed such a mind-blowing view of the future.

If the rest of Star Trek Into The Darkness can live up to its stunning opening scenes then I have no doubt that this will be up there with the best of the Summer blockbusters, and when it hits cinemas on the 17th May I will definitely be one of the first in line to see it.