Bravo, Cumberbatch. Bravo.
Spoiler Alert
The role of Khan will not come to define the acting Benedict Cumberbatch (his role as Sherlock just might though), but what a solid performance. The rage, the paranoia, the megalomania, the elegance of his evil was well played.
Two scenes encapsulate his turn as Kahn for me. One, his duel with Kirk while trapped in the brig. Scene the second, the vulnerability he displayed as he became more obsessed with saving his crew (his only weakness, besides the Vulcan Death grip, that became his undoing). Bravo Mr. Cumberbatch. Now, explain how you cheated death to defeat Moriarti.
The story that developed in Star Trek was unexpected. I can understand why hardcore Trekkers might be perturbed with J.J. Abrams choice of direction--twisting the storyline of what many feel is the best of the original Star Trek films. For my part, I was decidedly unperturbed (after all, my formative years followed the timeline of the release of the Star Wars prequels--nothing is sacred in fanboy fiction anymore). Though the tale was not one that would ever match Cumberbatch's Shakesperian delivery, I appreciated the tribute to the past. Admittedly, I did not see the final resolution (and perhaps the largest deviation from the original storyline) until the tribble twitched in the sickbay.
KAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNNNNN!
It is dream of mine to one day have a reason to deliver that preceding line. I do not know if that day will ever come, but I will use Zachary Quinto's pronouncement as an inspiration.
Chris Pine may never be able to play any other role effectively but Captain James T. Kirk. I also doubt that his career will follow the long, winding path of he who preceded him in playing the role.
All signs point to a 3rd installment of this current crop of Star Trek films. The brief but impactful appearance by the Klingons during Into Darkness should provide enough of a launching board for a future plot.
