There must be a Union Jack stowed somewhere aboard the Starship Enterprise: The British influence on "Star Trek Into Darkness" is pretty thick. There is of course hot new man about town Benedict Cumberbatch (or "Batchi-san" to his Japanese fans) as genetically engineered evildoer John Harrison. Simon Pegg is back as chief engineer Scotty, stealing some crucial scenes right from under the noses of heroes Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto). And bringing the count of female speaking parts to a whopping two is newcomer Carol, based on the character of the same name in 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" but reimagined as an expert in advanced weaponry, played by British actress Alice Eve.
Though her screen time is shorter than that of her compatriots, Carol makes her mark in more ways than one, creating a Twitter uproar when, in one brief scene, she sheds her Star Fleet uniform and stands proud in electric-blue lingerie.
Fans and critics were incensed upon the film's release in the U.S., labeling the scene as misogynist and gratuitous. Co-writer Damon Lindelof tweeted his apologies, followed by director J.J. Abrams releasing an unused scene of a topless Cumberbatch in the shower in the name of gender equality.
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