STAR TREK
II: THE WRATH OF KHAN
 
STARRING:
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, James Doohan,
Ricardo Montalban, Walter Koenig
1982, 113 Minutes, Directed by: Nicholas Meyer
 Description:
Inspired by the "Space Seed" episode of the original TV series, the
film reunites newly promoted Admiral Kirk with his nemesis from the earlier
episode--the genetically superior Khan (Ricardo Montalban)--who is now seeking
revenge upon Kirk for having been imprisoned on a desolated planet. Their battle
ensues over control of the Genesis device, a top-secret Starfleet project
enabling entire planets to be transformed into life-supporting worlds, pioneered
by the mother (Bibi Besch) of Kirk's estranged and now-adult son. While Mr.
Spock mentors the young Vulcan Lt. Saavik (then-newcomer Kirstie Alley), Kirk
must battle Khan to the bitter end, through a climactic starship chase and an
unexpected crisis that will cost the life of Kirk's closest friend.
—
Amazon.com
Trekkies like this one more
than Star Trek
- The Motion Picture
film in the series. While the plot is a tad stronger and
the characters not overshadowed by spectacular special effects like in the
first film, the film however suffers from rather flat designs and camera work (almost
like television.)
Only die-hard trekkies
though
will remember the bad guy Khan from countless re-runs of the original
1960s on late night television.
However, not even Spock's
much-hyped death at the end could prevent the franchise from flourishing.
Thus the commercial and
critical success of this movie ensured the franchise's longevity - several
TV shows and big screen sequels followed. The latter are:
Star Trek III - The Search
for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV - The Voyage
Home (1986), Star Trek V: The Final
Frontier (1989), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered
Country (1991), all of which featured the old crew of Kirk, Spock, et al.
The baton was passed to the Next Generation crew in Star Trek - Generations
(1994), Star Trek - First Contact (1996), Star Trek - Insurrection (1998) and
Star Trek -
Nemesis (2002).
Voted
# 30
of the
Top 100 Sci-Fi
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