Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) may continue their surprise relationship in Star Trek Into Darkness, but the real romance, or rather bromance, is between the green-blooded, pointy-eared half-Vulcan and Captain James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine).
Their double act is the nucleus of the family which forms the command crew of the starship Enterprise, on her long-awaited follow-up adventure after Abrams' reboot of the flagging franchise went supernova in 2009.
With a nod and a wink to the start of Raiders of the Lost Ark, we're thrown into the crew's death-defying attempt to stop a volcano from wiping out a primitive alien race, resolved with a tremendous payoff which also divides the reckless captain and his logical first officer.
Kirk wages a personal vendetta against Harrison and the Enterprise pursues him into a war zone. The terrorist is much more dangerous than anyone could imagine and sacrifices must be made to defeat him.
Star Trek, 50 years young in 2016, in all its incarnations was a progressive liberal and allegorical morality play which explored the human condition with wit, adventure and characters to care about.
Concerns this essence would be lost were allayed as the chemistry between the new heroes shines like Abrams' trademark lens flare.
Humour hits the right notes and Kirk, at Spock's urging, takes the moral high ground with Harrison, when Abrams gives him every reason not to.
Abrams and his writers and producers again successfully walked the tightrope between satisfying lofty fan expectations with left-field twists while creating a universal thrill ride for the majority who don't know phasers from photon torpedoes. Prepare to be transported.
Star Trek Into Darkness (M)
Starring: Chris Pine (People Like Us), Zachary Quinto (Margin Call), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock).
Director: J. J. Abrams (Super 8).
Screening: Reading Cinemas Queenstown
