Plot Details: This opinion reveals everything about the movie's plot.

This was the first of the Star Trek movies that was completely developed for the big screen featuring the original cast - and in better uniforms!

Kirk is now an Admiral. Training young recruits is not exciting, but he appears to be resigned to it in the beginning of the picture as they go through the motions of the Kobayashi Maru test - what would you do in a no-win situation? This provides one of the themes that runs through the rest of the movie.

See, long ago (during the run of the original series) Kirk & Co. found a genetically engineered super criminal from the early 21st century floating around in space. Sounds totally preposterous, doesn't it? Well Star Trek made that storyline work and told it in an hour.

But the story didn't end there. Khan (the criminal) kept his burning hatred for Kirk alive all these years and stoked the fire while marooned on a planet. Kirk and the Federation forgot about him, but he didn't forget about them. He seizes an opportunity to escape his exile and exact his revenge.

Kirk doesn't believe in a no-win situation, and the psychological battles between Kirk and Khan truly keep you in suspense. Throw in a few surprises in the cast (Kirk's son is Johnny Slash? Kirstie Alley in her first acting role?) and this movie is one of the crown jewels in the Star Trek franchise.

William Shatner truly shines as Kirk this time around; he doesn't come off as a campy, over-acting cartoon character. Ricardo Montalban is fantastic as Khan. Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley are excellent as Spock and McCoy. James Doohan gets one of the most touching moments in the film when his wet-behind-the-ears nephew is killed during one of Khan's attacks.

The special effects are great, especially as we see the evolution of a new planet. The makeup as we see people severely injured and killed is done well too. I just still can't figure out how Kirk has more hair now than he did in the original series ;-)

And then there is the ending...

If there had never been another Star Trek movie, then the ending would've been awesome. But, as someone once told me, In science-fiction and soap operas you're never really dead. I can remember first seeing this way back when that no one could believe they would really kill off Spock. The rumors were around, but seeing it for real on the big screen made me leave the theater with my jaw hanging open. Once the next movie came out, rewatching it leaves you feeling cheated at the end.

If you aren't a Star Trek fan and want to watch just one movie, I would suggest this one. Even if you haven't seen the original series episode Space Seed, you can easily follow the story. It is a fantastic story about getting older and the friends we have in life, as well as being full of action and adventure.


To see where this movie ranks in my assessment of the Star Trek films, go to: Star Trek's Top 10

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12