The 2009 movie "Star Trek" was a great and successful one, that breathed new life into the franchise, by getting J.J. Abrams involved and make a fresh start with the series. Now that the 'freshness' of it is gone, does this movie still impress as a a science-fiction movie and sequel? Sure it does!

In my opinion, the Star Trek movies never really have been very spectacular ones to watch and they often picked a somewhat philosophical approach to things and rather than resolving things by action, they preferred talking and negotiating with their adversaries, who at times weren't even visible villains for the movie. Nothing wrong with that but in most cases it also resulted in some very dry and ultimately also lackluster, boring movies. That's all something you just can't say about the new generation of Star Trek movies. They are fast going ones, with plenty of action and even space battles, while at the same time still managing to give you an engaging story, with three dimensional characters and some real emotions to it.

Not that the story ever gets too complex though. As a matter of fact, this movie features a pretty straightforward story in it, without all that many side-plots or other distractions. It makes the movie perfectly understandable to follow for its mainstream audience, while giving the more hardened science-fiction lovers and Star Trek fans in particular still plenty to digest (especially when you are familiar with "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" of course) and feel impressed with, story-wise. There are still plenty of things going on beneath the surface of the movie but it never gets in the way of its main story, or causes the movie to slow down. It even has some unexpected twists and turns to it, without going overboard with it.

Thing that the story also does particularly well is to give the movie a sort of adventurous vibe to it. Afer all, space travels are one big adventure, in which people head into the unknown, facing difficulties and unexpected things they never imagined to come across. This movie perfectly captures that feeling and besides also does a great job building up toward some great moments. The action and tension makes you want to hold your breath at times, even though you of course also know that everything is eventually going to end up alright. After all, this is of course still a prequel to the very first Star Trek movie and TV-series, so you just know that nothing serious could ever happen to Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty, Uhura, or any of the other main Enterprise crew members. But the fact that the movie still manages to make you feel nervous and insecure about any of their faiths should tell you something about the effective way it's buildup and handles all of its action and drama.


Still the main thing that this movie has going for it is its action. It's literally action packed, with not just space battles or lasers but also explosions and some good old fashioned fistfights, that always has been a big part of the Star Trek franchise. It all makes this a perfectly entertaining science-fiction action adventure.

It's of course also a great movie to look at, with its wonderful special effects and just overall visual style. I love the new style and atmosphere of these new Star Trek movies. The sets, costumes, it all looks great and truly manages to create a world and universe of its own, that you believe in and want to be a part of.

I'm still also impressed with Chris Pine's performance of Captain Kirk. Not just necessarily because of his acting abilities but the way he perfectly, yet subtitle, mimics William Shatner's earlier performance of the same character. I also feel that all of the other Enterprise crew members finally get to do some more and show what they are capable of. This always has been a big complaint of mine about most of the Star Trek movies. I feel that this movie has some pretty evenly divided screen time and isn't just all about Kirk and/or Spock. Benedict Cumberbatch is also a great addition to the cast and a wonderful 'villain' for this movie!

it is what it is though; some specular and perfectly entertaining science-fiction, action and adventure. It does all the things that it needs to do and it does it well but that is no reason to overpraise this movie as well. It's one that is going to keep the series thankfully going and probably for a very long time as well but not one that is going to make any lists of best- or most innovative genre movies of all time.

8/10

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It's definitely clear by now that "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" was nothing but a warm-up and appetizer for this second part. It's definitely the movie in which the story works better and has more enjoyable moments, characters and action in it.

Was "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1" even necessary as a movie? Well, not really in my opinion. I mean, they so easily could had turned it into one movie, or simply skipped over most that happened in the first movie, since it really isn't all that relevant for this sequel. Lots of the characters that show up in this movie weren't even in the first one to begin with and vice versa as well. I even dare to say that it totally isn't necessary for you to watch part 1, before you go and watch this movie.

It's not like I'm a big Batman buff or fan-boy and I also really don't keep up with the Batman universe. It therefore also was surprising to see how some familiar Batman characters showed up in this and how much they had changed. After all, this movie is featuring an older Batman/Bruce Wayne, so also all of the other characters have aged and progressed as well of course. Well, expect for some...

I don't think it's a big spoiler to most to say that Superman shows up in this as well. This should be reason enough already for lots of people to get interested in this movie. And it doesn't disappoint really. It's not like it's being a team-up or buddy movie though. I mean, this at all times remains a true Batman movie, in style and story and it's all still about its one main character but it still leaves plenty of room for Superman to do his thing and incorporate him into the movie effectively, as well as seamlessly.

The movie features some interesting dynamics and character arcs in it. This is actually what keeps the movie at all times going and interesting to watch, while there also still is plenty of action to enjoy.

It's of course ridicules to think that all animated movies are for kids only. We are now living in a day and age when it has become acceptable for adults to watch cartoons and also have movies out, catered just toward them. Fore this movie really isn't a children's movie neither. There is plenty of violence in it and literally dozens of innocent people get graphically killed, by one of the movie its villains (guess who?).

I like the sort of blocky animation style the movie has and it's obvious some real time and money got put in the production of this. It's not like this movie just looks or feels like an extended, ordinary, animated TV-series episode. It's definitely good to see there are big companies out there who are taking the genre serious and put out animated MOVIES, mostly aimed toward adults.

Can't really say that it's a perfect movie and I liked just about everything about it. Sometimes the movie feels a bit rushed for instance, which especially is the case with its final 5 minutes or so. Also not every voice in this impresses and I must say I'm not really sold yet on Michael Emerson as the new Joker. The dialog and voice acting is a bit too stiff and dry at times, which doesn't only applies to just Michael Emerson.

Other than that, this simply remains some fine quality entertainment, especially of course for those who really are into the Batman character and universe.

8/10

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Chances are that Batman lovers are going to eat this movie up regardless of everything. Personally I definitely had some problems with this animated movie but overall it could still please me for most part.

The thing that makes this movie different from any of other Batman movies, animated or real life, is the fact that this focuses on the old Bruce Wayne/Batman. He's already in retirement but of course he suits up again, once Gotham falls under the control of criminals, once again. So even while this movie features an older Batman, it still all feels very familiar and the movie, in my opinion, didn't ever do quite enough with the concept of having an older Batman in it. Bottom-line basically is that the movie features an original concept but in essence is just like any other Batman outing.

You feel that this is a movie that needed to have some more depth in it, with both its character and story. In that regard this movie definitely has some missed opportunities but perhaps they were just more focused on telling an entertaining story and to let Batman take on some familiar and some new adversaries.

But that brings me to another problem as well; it's have a good main villain in it. Two-Face is in the movie for a short while but he by no means is the main villain of the movie. The main villain is a mutant leader, who looks imposing but simple fact remains that he gets introduced into the movie far too late. We don't see him until the movie is halfway through already, giving him very little time to set himself up as a good character and successful main villain for the movie. Perhaps this is all due to it that this movie is part of a two parter. "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2" gets released next year and basically is going to be nothing more but a continuation of all of the events in this movie.

I kind of liked the animation style though. I don't know why but big square type of things always seems to suit the Batman universe for me. And the animation style of this movie definitely seems to be focused on that as well. It's not necessarily one of those realistic looking animated movies, which to me, often enhances the whole fantasy aspect of the movie and helps to create an universe of its own, with also its own rules.

The animation was especially great during all of its action moments. And luckily this movie indeed has plenty of action in it to enjoy! really, even a 55-year old Batman still has some moves in him and isn't afraid- or backs down for anyone.

One of the things I never can get excited about, in regard to this type of animated movies, is its voice work. These type of movies always make it apparent to me that voice actors just aren't the greatest actors in the world. They often deliver their lines in a hammy way and it never sounds as if the actors truly ever were interacting with each other, which all probably is true as well, since it's fair to assume that each actor recorded their lines individuality and therefore probably never even met any of the other voice actor who were working on the project. And at some times Peter Weller's voice sounded just right for the Bruce Wayne/Batman part, while at others he just fumbled it. I overall still give him the benefit of the doubt just because he is Peter Weller and he is awesome.

A bit too simplistic, since things often simply just happen in the movie and it really could had used dome more depth but the movie at least still manages to entertain and to look well!

7/10

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