Star Trek II - Der Zorn des Khan

I've always held a special place in my heart and mind for this second installment in the "Star Trek" movie series. Mostly, because this is a movie that appeals to both places.

Not only is this movie loaded with the original characters from the series, it also touches on such subjects as revenge, family, duty, age and, of course, sacrifice. That was the best thing about the series - that it touched on topics that were (pardon the expression) universal, no matter the species.

Everyone is uniformly fine right down the line, especially Montalban's Khan (returned from the "Space Seed" episode of the original series); all hatred, vengeance and single-minded of desire to see his enemy laid out before him. Namely, Kirk.

Alley is rather fetching as Saavik and it's a shame she wasn't carried over to the next film. I can't help but, seeing her on TV anymore, to expect her to raise an eyebrow in contemplation. Buttrick makes a complex character out of David, the son Kirk never knew he had. Hurt feelings and resentment meld somewhat explosively with a new-found father/son relationship.

And what can one say about Spock, Bones, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and Scotty? They are characters all of us grew up with and, pivotal to the plot at hand or not, it's always good to see them.

For anyone who hasn't seen the movie, I won't discuss it in great detail. The story is simple enough (scientists find way to rejuvenate life on dead planets; Khan finds escape from prison planet, vows revenge on Kirk), but there is one plot point that will, if you are unfamiliar with it, blow you away. Suffice it to say, never has friendship been elocuted so well in this or any movie before or since.

Ten stars and a special Kobuyashi Maru simulation for "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan". Watch it: it'll make you feel young again.

Well, the best of the Star Trek films. True, a lot of people have recently declared Star Trek Frist Contact the best. There are others who love whales and political correctness declare Star Trek The Voyage Home the best of the Trek films. Out of all the Star Trek films; only two deal with the human element of Star Trek as well as the original TV series did and that's Star Trek 2 and 3. This is the one Star Trek film that I would recommend to people who don't like or watch Star Trek. It's probably one of the best Science Fiction movies of all time.

People will complain that it's too violent and dark. But that's a part of life. Anytime you deal with the darkest human emotions of hate and revenge; you will have starships being fired at and people dying. To say that in the future humans will be 100% peaceful is silly and naive. Themes of life and death are explored very well in this movie without getting preachy about it. Shatner and Nimoy are allowed to expand their characters and bring more life to them. Shatner turns in his best Trek performance since "The City on the Edge of Forever".

The special effects are good, but don't overshadow the story like they did in the first movie. Instead they service the story, as special effects should. The score is great; probably the best of all the Star Trek movies. The uniforms have been toned down and no longer look like pajama's from the first movie. I suppose if you really want to sum up this movie, it should be that this movie brings out the best from the TOS and makes a wonderful movie experience. Also it shows the potential that is in Star Trek that none of the other movies have been able to reach.

I'm not a Star Trek fan. I have watched the show a few times, and I don't dislike it; but it's not the sort of thing that I would find myself watching week after week. Basically what I'm saying is: I'm not a Trekkie. I did, however, find lots to enjoy about this movie. The plot revolves around Captain Kirk, who has now been promoted to Admiral Kirk and is going through a mid-life crisis. However, his crisis couldn't have come at a worse time; as it has come on the eve of the testing for a new creation, known as 'Genesis', and not only that but a man named Khan has just been found on a planet that Kirk exiled him on, and he doesn't just want to give Kirk a friendly hug.

The acting in the film isn't great, actually, it's about the standard that you would expect from a TV show (which is no coincidence, I'm sure). I'm not sure if all the cast of the shows is present, because I didn't watch it often, but most of the main ones seem to be here; Spock, Kirk, Scottie, Sulu etc. Also joining them is Kirstie Alley, in the role of a young Vulcan commander and Ricardo Montalban who camps it up and dons a silly costume for the title role of Kirk's opposite number; Khan. His performance was the standout of the film for me; he's deliciously over the top, but despite that he comes across as believable as his mannerisms fit the character profile that he is portraying. Unfortunately, non of the show's best known baddies, the Klingons make an appearance. In fact, aside from the Vulcans, there are no aliens in the movie.

One thing that surprised me about the film is the meatiness of the characters. As it's a film of a TV show, I wasn't expecting any development or for the characters to step out of their character arks, but they are surprisingly well done. Some characters also go through a change during the movie (some more than others), which is nice to see. The pace is also a good thing about the movie, as it doesn't let up and manages to stay interesting all the way through. One thing that worried me before watching the movie is that I would get bored as I don't know the show, but that didn't become a problem at any point.

I am proof that you don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy this movie. There's more than enough for the casual movie fan to enjoy about it, it's an entertaining romp and overall I give this Star Trek film a 'G' for 'good' rating.

"Kirk, my old friend!" With these words 62 year old Ricardo Montalban, as Kahn Noonien Singh, makes his presence known to the 51 year old James Tiberius Kirk, now an Admiral, in a dramatic performance all will remember for years to come.

This is probably the best of the Star Trek movies because it follows most closely the original concept of the television series. No fancy or tricky themes like saving whales or resurrecting Spock (If Spock can be resurrected then why does any Vulcan ever die?) Simply, just like Star Wars is in reality a "Western" story set in space, so is Star Trek. A bad guy wants to kill a good guy for money, greed, power, fame, or revenge. The good guy is always moral like Marshall Dillon and saves the day.

But, William Shatner needs an emotional counterpart as his adversary. Klingons are too shallow to meet this requirement. They only want to kill and capture. But the veteran actor Mr. Montalban is a favorite and well known to all from his Planet of the Apes and Fantasy Island performances. He is the most intense and challenging opponent for the always emotional James T. Kirk.

For Kahn, "revenge is a dish best served up cold!" Even when the end is obvious, you come away remembering Kahn's final lines as the Genesis Wave builds up for total destruction of the Star Ship Reliant, "No Kirk, the game's not over. To the last I will grapple with thee. No, no...you can not get away. From Hell's heart I stab at thee. For hate's sake, I spat my last breath at thee." Outstanding Mr. Montalban, outstanding acting and dying!

If the 51 year old Leonard Nimoy can be remembered in this film for one word, it would be "Remember" when he implanted his mantra into the brain of Doctor Leonard McCoy (the 71 year old doctor of the USS Enterprise). Jackson DeForest Kelley died in 1999 at the age of 79 years. As Dr. "Bones," DeForest Kelley plays the alter ego of James Kirk and advises him as his friend and physician to stop growing old and try to revert from being an Admiral back to a star ship Captain, Kirk's best destiny.

Both born in 1931, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are soul-brothers given that the Star Trek television series and movies cannot take place without them both. They story concept equally requires both these actors because it is through their collective stories that Star Trek takes place.

Upon dying, we remember Spock's last words, "Ship? Out of danger? Don't grieve, Admiral. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or, the one! I have been and always shall be -- your friend! Live long and prosper!"

James Montgomery Doohan was a 62 year old Montomery "Scottie" Scott. Nichelle Nichols was a 49 year old Cmdr. Nyota Uhura. Walter Koenig was a 46 year old Cmdr. Pavel Andreievich Chekov. George Takei was a 41 year old Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu. They all play their familiar roles. Paul Winfield was a 41 year old Capt. Terrell. Bibi Besch (Carol Marcus) and Capt. Kirk's old flame and mother is his son was 40 years old. Ms. Besch died in 1996. The young (23 year old) Merritt Butrick played Kirk's son, David Marcus. Mr. Butrick died in 1989. As the Vulcan, Lt. Saavik, Kirstie Alley was one of the youngest major stars at 31 years old. Her long hair was most becoming!

So, if you are a trekkie (and many secretly are) then you will watch this film time and time again as it keeps getting aired on cable TV.

Star Trek bridges the qualities of all living beings in the universe regardless of their race, gender, religion, national origin. This is an integrated show and serves as a role model for decent living with all life forms.

We would all do well to remember the eulogy for Spock given by James T. Kirk -- "Of my friend, I can only say that of all the life forms I have encountered in this universe, his was the most -- human!"

"Space, the final frontier."

Wrath of Khan owes a certain debt of thanks to Clark Gable's wartime thriller. Although it's easy to criticize, WOK is full of suspense and tension. The design of the costumes and sets is excellent, except for the cream and brown combinations. But what the hey, it was made during the heady days of the early 1980s. It is certainly more accessible to a mainstream audience than the first film was...but I liked that one too anyway.

I'm no trekkie...I'm not obsessed by the tech specs of warp drive, and transporters or beams and such...I just like Sci-Fi movies that are well done and entertaining. This is not the best movie ever made as another poster stated...but it is exciting and engrossing.

Buy the DVD.