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Here's a look at the best blockbuster so far this summer.

Star Trek Into Darkness
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Simon Pegg, and Karl Urban
Synopsis: “Star Trek” fans are passionate about the world created by Gene Roddenberry. While the cast and crew of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” may have provided the best series, there’s only one film that stands out as the best in the history of the franchise — “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” That film included some of the most resonant and emotionally powerful of the 11 films that have been made. It also featured the most memorable bad guy, Richardo Montalban as Khan. When J.J. Abrams was tapped to reboot the “Star Trek” franchise, beginning with his film in 2009, some wondered how it would work. But the rebooted “Star Trek” was a perfect blend of an homage to fans and the world that had come before while opening the door to a new set of adventures. With the follow up, “Into Darkness,” Abrams hopes to cement that reputation while revisiting hallowed ground to all “Trek” fans. Abrams is an incredible talent behind the camera, particularly in the world of science fiction. His early work — as a writer for the film “Regarding Henry” and the creator of the teen drama “Felicity” — may not have suggested as much, but he’s certainly proven it the past few years. On both the big and small screen, Abrams’ projects have dominated science fiction circles. And soon he’ll transition from the “Star Trek” franchise, which he’s masterfully helped reboot, to a reboot of the “Star Wars” franchise.  In interviews promoting the film, Abrams said this latest “Star Trek” was a movie for film fans and that you didn’t need to be familiar with the “Star Trek” universe to appreciate it. While that might be partially true, this is also a film with huge references and callbacks to the original films, particularly the revered “Wrath of Khan.” The film is full of winking nods to classic “Star Trek” lines, characters and motifs. But much like his first turn at “Star Trek,” Abrams adds his own spin and reboot to the narrative. The plot points might be familiar to fans of the world, but the characters in those plot points won’t be.  Writers Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof do a beautiful job of putting the script together. The film is a beautiful blend of moments and stories for long time fans, while at the same time keeping the theme of the reboot alive for a whole new generation of fans unfamiliar with the “Star Trek” universe. Once again the cast melds together beautifully. Saldana, Cho and Pegg do great work in supporting roles as key members of the Enterprise crew. And Cumberbatch is an inspired choice in the villain role, creating one of the more memorable performances in the “Star Trek” cannon.  But really, “Star Trek” always comes down to Kirk and Spock, their relationship and how they play off one another. Quinto and Pine are great in the lead roles, bringing familiar aspects of the characters to life while adding their own spin. A couple of their sequences form the emotional heart of the film and help to make it dynamic.  While some might quibble over the plot and some of the ways the writers tried to make it a complex and dynamic puzzle, this is a film that works as a summer blockbuster, a continuation of Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot and as a tribute to what came before it. It’s an enjoyable ride full of clever lines, clever sequences and interesting twists on a familiar story.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, May 24 — "Fast & Furious 6," "The Hangover, Part III," "Epic"
Friday, May 31 — "Now You See Me," "After Earth"