| For my money, the very best of all the Star Trek films was Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. The first one was way too long-winded, while the series fully and completely sold out by the fourth film (that plot involving the whales was completely idiotic). Khan seemed the closest the movies ever came to truly reflecting the spirit of the original series. There were some great action sequences, good bitchy banter between McCoy and Spock, a former love for Kirk to cruise, a decent sci-fi concept (the Genesis Project) and even some highfalutin literary allusions (to Melville’s Moby Dick). As well, the idea of resurrecting a nasty villain from the original series (Ricardo Montalban) was laudable. Spock’s death scene, too, was actually handled very adeptly and remains quite poignant. It’s also rather bizarre to see Kirstie Alley playing a young vulcan heroine who was clearly meant to supply some new Trek blood for future outings. (Fearing getting pegged as a Vulcan, Alley refused to return for any further sequels.) I don’t know that we needed five additional hours
of Trek-related interviews and footage about this film (which is included
on the new two-disc DVD), but fans will have their appetites sated and,
as the series goes, this one is a standout. : |