Star Trek Into Darkness
Dr. Hugo Higa
Opthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon
What is your official title/occupation? I’m a dual-trained ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, providing complete eye and vision care, as well as cosmetic surgery procedures.
Where and with whom did you see the movie? I saw the movie with my wife Rose Marie Vergara and son Everett Higa.
Overall, what did you think? I felt that the movie was visually enjoyable throughout. But as an avid Star Trek fan, I had certain expectations of how the characters would interact and solve the inevitable crises presented to them. It seemed as though the short scenes featuring human interaction were sandwiched between the longer action sequences. While I thought these scenes were spectacular, I felt they were put there to “wow” the audience. The original Star Trek stories centered on the characters (primarily Kirk, Spock and McCoy) and the plot – not just blowing things apart, smashing buildings and beating up each other.
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes? I liked the scene where a spaceship was hurtling and spinning upside down. People were flying around. It kind of reminded me of The Poseidon Adventure.
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film? ★★ 1/2
What did you think of the cinematography? J.J. Abrams is known for his spectacular action movies, and this didn’t disappoint.
Was the message/theme clear? I think there were several messages. One was that friendship and doing the right thing may mean you need to break the rules sometimes. But I also found myself feeling sympathetic toward the villain, too, at times.
Did it remind you of any other work in film? Pretty much most good versus evil movies.
Who would you recommend this movie to? Teenagers and young adults who didn’t grow up following the original Star Trek series and are looking for a movie full of action and special effects. But I guess all Trekkies will want to see it, too.
Did any of the actors stand out? Benedict Cumberbatch played a really good villain – you felt badly for him, but you wanted him to pay for what he did, too. Simon Pegg as Scotty added some great laughs.
Did you identify with any of the characters? I’ve always liked the ideals and Starfleet mission Captain Pike stood for, especially given his portrayal in the original series.
Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film? (It was) loud and action-packed. It did tend to drown out the actors at certain parts of the film.
Would you buy this movie when it comes out on DVD? I will. I’m also interested in seeing it in 3-D.
What’s your favorite movie snack? I always like popcorn with furikake, but I tend to eat too much during action films!
On a different note, what’s new with you? I have been involved in a number of projects. I have been expanding my cosmetic surgery practice and have recently added liposuction and fat grafting to the practice. In addition, I have begun performing lower face-lifting in combination with eyelid surgery. The optometry group of Lau, Wong and Oroku also has just joined my practice and is providing eye exams at the Pan Am office Monday through Saturday. My optical shop is expanding at both the Pan Am and Pali Momi office building locations. We offer the latest in eyeglass frames and lens choices. I am opening a surgical center this summer at Hale Pawa’a (corner of Keeaumoku and Beretania). My cataract surgeries and cosmetic procedures will be performed at this new location.
