Star Trek II : La Colère de Khan

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.

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.

This sequel to the Star Trek TV series and first Star Trek movies is the ultimate film for any Scifi fan and a rivetting drama for movie fans in general. More action packed and interesting than the original Star Trek movie, it brings the TV show cast onto the big screen by meeting a villain from the TV show (Khan), obsessively portrayed by Ricardo Montalban. Equally obsessive is William Shatner in his finest role playing Admiral Kirk, an ageing man reluctant to return to command of the USS Enterprise, but a man who finds his first, best destiny is at the helm of his ship. The battle scenes are the most engaging of any movie, and the action only lets up long enough for the audience to catch their breath and to advance the storyline. Witty characters, clever plot devices and ingenious writing and, by late 1990s standards, subdued use of special effects make this movie meet and often exceed the quality of the original show. Even 16 years later, the movie's technoligy does not seem "dated" because of the subdued use of Computer "tricks"! And NO cast of characters(sorry "Next Generation" fans!) ever had the chemistry or style the original Star trek cast after 16 years together, a comaraderie showcased in this movie. I saw this movie while I was in High School during the movie's original run and it gets better every single time I see it! The best!!

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a classic action film. It has heroic characters, a nasty villain and a sweeping adventure that is both engaging and entertaining. This is top-notch filmmaking, which just happens to be told via Gene Roddenberry's sci-fi world of Star Trek.

Acting: Shatner and the Enterprise crew are all in top form. It just so happens that this is the best material they have ever been given to perform and they execute it with class and style (a quality later incarnations of Star Trek lack). Also, Ricardo Montablan is the ultimate Star Trek villain as Khan Noonian Singh.

The special FX are also well-done. In this age of CGI it is refreshing to see the ingenuity and creativity of old-style model effects being used so effectively. And just to make this statement even more clear: ST II has THE BEST space battle sequences in film history. That's right, the best. It's not about the scope of a battle that makes it fun to watch, it's all about the pacing! This film exhibits the best cat and mouse battle in my mind and its well worth your time.

Go see this movie.

"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."