Rating of
3.5/4
The Wrath of a Good Movie
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/01/08
"Admiral James T. Kirk" (William Shatner) and the senior staff from the crew he once commanded are now training the next generation of "Starfleet" officers on his former command, the "USS Enterprise," when they are activated for duty to investigate the mysterious loss of communications of "Regula One," a space laboratory that is working on the secret project codenamed "Genesis."
On their way to the labortory, they run into the "USS Reliant," which contacts the "Enterprise". However, instead of "Captain Clark Terrell" (Paul Winfield), they are contacted by "Khan Noonien Singh" (Ricardo Montalban, reprising his role from an episode of "Star Trek), who, along with his geneticly-engineered crew from the 1990's spaceship, the "SS Botany Bay", hijacked the starship. The "Enterprise" crew learn that "Khan" wants two things -- the "Genesis Device" and to kill "Kirk," whom he blames for the death of his wife.
This has to be the best of the "Trek" feature films. It has very few problems with it.
First of all, the story is well done. It has adventure, and is well written. There are a few points in the original that didn't make it to the scrren that explains a few things in the movie, but they are minor and not really needed.
The cast is amazing, and possibly gives their best performances since moving to the silver screen. Montalban, who never appears on the same set with other main actors in the movie, is fantastic as one of his most famous television characters who built a passion for vengeance since he first crossed paths with "Kirk" and his crew.
Another good performance is by Kirstie Alley, in her acting debut. Any actor who can perform without showing emotion has to be good, however she did show slight emotional outbursts in some scenes, as did fellow "Vulcan" actor Leonard Nimoy. Their emotional outburst were warranted in those particular scenes though.
One problem script is the character development of "Dr. Carol and Dr. David Marcus" (Bibi Beesch and Merritt Butrick). Another development problem is the relationship between "Kirk" and "Dr. Carol Marcus", you learn they had a prior relationship, but the relationship isn't expanded upon in the movie.
The special effects are as good as other "Trek" movies, and hold up well after all these years. There is one special effect that didn't hold up well, and it is pretty obvious that the actor involved in the FX is in front of a blue screen. The special effects that work best are the space scenes, and are spectacular.
If you are looking for a good science-fiction movie, then rent this movie.
