How dark is Star Trek Into Darkness?

MANILA, Philippines - Star Trek Into Darkness, sequel to 2009’s Star Trek, is now showing in theaters. Will it live up to four years of pre-release hype? Are the crazy rumors about the film’s main villain true? Is it actually dark?

Here are portions of the interview of Mike Ryan Sr., Huffington Post entertainment writer, trying to answer questions that one could possibly have about Star Trek Into Darkness. (Warning: Some references are made to plot points that could be considered a spoiler, considering how secretive the plot of the movie has been.)

Is Star Trek Into Darkness as dark as its title teases?

“Not really. It’s basically at the same level (or non-level) of darkness as 2009’s Star Trek.”

Are the rumors about a villain in Star Trek Into Darkness true?

“The rumors are true. There is a villain in Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Are the rumors true that the villain in Star Trek Into Darkness is a villain we’ve seen in another Star Trek movie?

“I mean, look, that rumor has been floating out there for a while. And if you use your Google machine, you’d be able to find out the answer to that pretty quickly at this point. All that I’ll say is this: Do you think the villain in a summer blockbuster with a reported budget near $200M is a British guy named John Harrison, a.k.a. the Most Boring Name In The World?”

For the rest of this piece, will you refer to the villain as Most Boring Name In The World?

“Yes.”

Does Star Trek Into Darkness begin just like the preview that ran before The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?

“Strangely, no. The two scenes that you saw in that 10-minute preview are now flipped. The film starts with Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (Karl Urban) running for their lives from the natives of an unidentified world, while Spock (Zachary Quinto) attempts to extinguish a volcano before it erupts. After that, we are introduced to a mysterious man named John Harrison, Most Boring Name In The World (Benedict Cumberbatch) who offers his help to a family with a dying daughter.”

Is the crew of the Enterprise on its five-year mission that we see in the original series?

“No, but Kirk certainly wants to be a part of that five-year mission. His aspirations, though, are put into jeopardy after what happens in the opening scene on that unidentified world.”

Does Kirk break any rules on that planet?

“Kirk broke a lot of rules. Then, he lies about it. Spock, on the other hand, chooses to tell the truth, which results in Kirk being demoted. Before you ask, Kirk’s demotion doesn’t last long — he’s the captain of the Enterprise again soon enough — but this does create some interesting friction between Kirk and Spock about the nature of friendship.”

Does Kirk’s reinstatement as Captain have anything to do with Most Boring Name In The World?

“A lot. Admiral Marcus (Peter Weller) puts Kirk in charge of finding Most Boring Name In The World, who is accused of two terrorist attacks against Starfleet.”

Marcus? Any relation to Carol Marcus?

“Admiral Marcus is the father of Carol Marcus who is on the Enterprise when Kirk and crew depart to find Most Boring Name In The World.”

Where is Most Boring Name In The World hiding?

“Qo’noS, which presents some problems.”

Because that’s where the Qo’noSians live?

“It’s where the Klingons live. At this early stage in Star Trek history, Klingons and The Federation are not on good terms. Going to Qo’noS in an effort to find Most Boring Name In The World could start a war.”

Are you giving too much of the plot of Star Trek Into Darkness away?

“Everything I’ve referenced happens in the first third of the movie.”

How fast does the plot of this movie travel?

“Around warp seven, I’d say.”

Did you like Star Trek Into Darkness more than Star Trek?

“Yes. But only because of what I personally like about Star Trek as a franchise.”

Tribbles?

“Though there is a Tribble in Star Trek Into Darkness, no. What I love about Star Trek actually kind of mirrors what I love about Star Wars: The relationship between the three main characters.”

So Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Leia Organa appear in Star Trek Into Darkness?

“Sadly, I’ll have to wait two more years to find out what J.J. Abrams decides to do with those three. In this case, however, it’s the relationship between Kirk, Spock and McCoy.”

What’s the worst thing about Star Trek Into Darkness?

“The Most Boring Name In The World’s plan seems, let’s say, unnecessarily complicated.”

How does Star Trek Into Darkness compare to, say, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

“Here’s the thing: It really is impossible and unfair to compare these two movies (even if there are similar tropes throughout the two and it feels like Into Darkness does welcome the comparison).