First of all, I truly dislike time travel stories. Ok, with that said...I don't think the timeline that Spock is from is obliterated. He still has those memories and stuff that has happened after the stuff happening in Abrahms trek(call it AT). Those memories of future events that has not happened in AT are still present in Spock's minds. So either that timeline still exists but is separate from this one or he has memories of future events that are future events in AT. I don't think it's the latter one because of the brief cameo and the dialogue exchanged made it seem like he has memories of the other timeline. So that timeline still exists but just is a separate timeline. Also, they need to stop with the brief cameos, trying to superficially fanservice here and there and seeking validation somehow but including those cameos.
Ok, lemme just tear it up for a second. Transwarp means that they could warp a bomb anywhere they want, a missile anywhere they want. Khan could have leveled the entire building considering his expertise from the 'ring' bomb he made earlier. He could have easily just fired a bomb into that building instead of the lengthy firefight that went on. Could have just gone on a cruise and dropped a car size 'ring' bomb into the ocean next to it, would have sufficed.
Volcanos are not that active, all those fireworks and stuff but I'm guessing it was more for theatrics, and cataclysmic planet-wide extinction level volcanoes are usually not cinder cone type volcanoes but ones more like in that SGA episode. The volcanic activity is a result of internal pressure buildup and magma flow, essentially a pent up pressure ready to burst. Cooling it in one location wouldn't relieve the pressure at all, it'd just cause the pressure to build up even more and vent out in a more catastrophic way elsewhere. Unless that device is able to relieve the pressure pent up somehow but seemed more like a cooling thing instead.
They were able to maneuver a shuttle somehow without the indigenous population noticing and transport Spock and like people have said, they could have just transported the device. But again, I'll just chalk it up to theatrics and some plot point they were developing between Kirk and Spock, they obviously could have written it better.
Their speed capabilities means their computers are able to map out things. So that whole maneuvering through the debris between the two ships should have just been a trivial matter for them with their computing ability and mapping capacity. Hell, they could have just sent a missile with automatic guidance or something even. But then again, Scotty and that chick were still there. So brownie moral points for them. I never understood the whole genetically superiority results in megalomaniac and evil mastermind tendencies, usually. Would have preferred the brief humanizing they did when Khan explained his motivations and why he did what he did.
All the alien races are bipedal, only difference are skin pigmentation and light superficial touches here and there.
Ok, with all that said, I still liked the movie somewhat. Mind you, it's not great sci-fi as there really haven't been much great sci-fi these days, but it was still kinda entertaining, mindless but entertaining. Cumberbatch played a good villain and was pretty menacing. Even though they went with the post 9/11-type storyline, it was still pretty decent. The ship jumping into warp and the airlock suits torpedo scenes were pretty damn cool. There were a few nods here and there if some people caught em. I think they somewhat captured the chemistry that the original three had, but definitely not all the way of course, just a smidgeon here and there. The humour bits were kinda funny. Honestly I think they made a 'play it safe' kinda movie and didn't wanna venture out and make something new. And honestly, I can't blame em for playing it safe cause let's face it, Trek fans are probably the worst with their overcritical nature. And compared to most of the other Trek movies, this was pretty decent even though they ripped off the Wrath of Khan movie but modernized, was still a decent movie experience and a better one than iron man 3.
They seemed to hint towards a Klignon war. Maybe they might not play it safe next movie if they make one and venture out onto something of their own and making it more sci-fi rather than sci-fi fantasy, but I doubt it, seemed to go more for 'human' stories and have to appeal to the 'add'/video game crowd. And also, can't really complain about the science-y aspects cause the older series had pretty bad science too, you can't really deny that. But I would not mind a sci-fi movie at all of course. I just don't expect much these days though, not these days anyways. Also, is that albino that was on the bridge the same guy from Banshee?
Overall, to me, it was somewhat mindless but entertaining enough in 3d with little bits of fanservice here and there; Cumberbatch was pretty good as a villain.
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