I didn't really get this one. Maybe I'm jaded.
I never felt tense or wondered what would happen. I mean, for God's sake, they introduce the bad guy with ominous music, before we even know who he is. And then old Spock pops in. "Oh hey guys, this guy's bad news. But you'll be able to defeat him, no worries." I mean, I know they're going to win, but I like to at least pretend I don't know.
Cumberbatch was the most likable cast member, even while doing terrible things. At least he had a purpose, and got shit done.
Kirk just becomes less and less likable. This guy's a captain? He makes dumb decisions, and then is rewarded for it. The illogical leap he makes, from "An archive? That must mean he's going to attack us here!" So he gets to show off, and he gets his ship back, and the cost of someone else's life. His "self-sacrifice" felt so cheap. K-19 did the reactor thing already, in a much more heart wrenching way. Kicking some sort of space reactor to fix it? I laughed a little at his death scene. That was some serious narn.
These characters don't feel like real characters. It sort of felt like cosplayers acting out a fan episode, with a multi-million dollar effects budget.
The ship crashing into San Francisco felt - cheap. It wasn't as impactful as it should have been.
I will admit, killing the sound effects when they blow from the ship did take my breath away. But the rest of that segment ran too long to be tense.
Maybe I'm just immune to J.J. Abrams after watching Lost.
The only point the lens flare bothered me was during the talking scenes. Why can't I see their face?
The music was really nice, I hummed it for the rest of the evening. And the gun sounds. Just the right amount of pew pew, didn't feel like weak sci-fi lasers you usually get.
