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

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Directed by Nicholas Meyer.

Kirk: I suppose you're about to remind me that logic alone dictates your actions?
Spock: I would not remind you of that which you know so well.
 
When Gene Roddenberry sat down to write the second movie, he took a lesson from the first; do not recreate something you have already done in the series.  That was the problem with Star Trek the Motion Picture; it was just a bigger budget of "The Changeling."   Instead, while drawing on "Space Seed" he decided to do a sequel, and see what was the fruit of Kirk's mercy.

Mr. Chekov (Walter Koenig) is assigned to the Reliant; he and Captain Terrell (Paul Winfeild) are on an away mission to Ceti Alpha VI; their mission, to boldly go into a hostile environment, and find no life forms.  But there are a few anomalous readings, and do to the nature of their mission, they have to check it out.

They find signs of life; cargo containers, converted into shelters.  And Chekov thinks he recognizes them.  He knows how much trouble they are in.  And he is right.  For this is actually Ceti Alpha V where Captain Kirk marooned 72 members of the Eugenics War from Earth's ancient history, found floating in suspended animation aboard the USS Botany Bay.  And the leader of that rebellion, Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) is there, and ready for revenge.

The Reliant makes the perfect escape vehicle.  Their mission, find a lifeless world to use the Genesis Device on, give Khan a perfect tool for his revenge; something Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) cannot overlook.

It is worse than Khan knows, because the lead of the Genesis project is Dr. Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch).  She and Kirk share a history; and a son, Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick).  He does not know who his father is.

When Kirk comes in response to Carol's question as to why he is taking Genesis, he is walking into a trap.  What follows is a tale of revenge not seen since Moby Dick.

This movie is one of the Best of the Star Trek Franchise, and one of the greats of Science Fiction.  It really hit it off with the fans, and created quite a few new ones.  It has all the old magic of the show, with the irascible Spock/McCoy feud, and all the old faces, Sulu, Uhura, and Scotty. (Leonard Nimoy, DeForrest Kelly, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan).  And it introduced a new face, Lt. Saavik, (Kirste Alley) Spock protégé.

But all this is back drop to the central themes of the movie; they are, "Revenge is a dish best served cold", "Growing Old is not for sissies." And "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."  It makes for a strong narrative, lots of action, plot twists, subtext, and minor story threads that make this a totally gripping movie.  It moves you on many levels; not only is there a threat to all life in the universe, a mad man trying to kill the captain, and one of the favorite villains from the old series, there are the sub plots of the trials and tribulations of growing older, of fathers and sons, the difficulties of duty, and the bonds of friendship.

This movie is unique, in many ways.  Rarely does a "series" movie kill a major character.  This one was bold, and gave us one of the most memorable death scenes ever.  And for two years, the fans hotly debated what exactly that death implied.  The Wrath of Khan; a classic that will stand for many years to come.

This is entered in elvisdo's Canadian Write Off: William Shatner is from Quebec, and James Doohan from British Columbia


Boldly Go Where No One Had Gone Before!


Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek: The Search for Spock
Star Trek: The Voyage Home 
Star Trek: The Final Frontier
Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country  
Star Trek: Generations
Star Trek: First Contact
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek

Star Trek Books

Rogue: Section 31 Star Trek The Next Generation

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older