Now we're talking, the film that many consider the true start to the 'Star Trek' film franchise you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who's a fan of the franchise or even science fiction films who has a dislike for 'Wrath of Khan' and there's a good reason for that: It's a great film that holds up after almost 40 years since its release.
The story continues where a previous episode of the show left off, with Khan being left on a planet with his followers, hoping to bring peace between him and the Enterprise crew however as with most movie scenarios, this doesn't turn out quite like either party wanted. The planet Khan and his family was left on turned into a desolate wasteland and many died, including Khan's wife leaving him bitter and hungry for revenge. He plans to do this by stealing the GENESIS device, which is designed to bring life back to a dead planet. Khan however wishes to use it to turn living planets into dead ones, however along the way his hatred for Kirk continues to unravel his sanity and blind him to the dangers around him ('Moby Dick' is a good book to think of with this story).
The film took many risks and many twists and turns through its two hour run time, something the original film severely lacked. We get to see deeper development of the beloved crew, with Kirk fearing his own aging, and an end scene with Spock that still gets me to this day. The film also brings some humor into the script with the dialogue between Kirk and Dr. McCoy always putting a smile on my face. We also get a new character, a Vulcan played by Kirsty Allie of 'CHEERS' fame and while she comes off as a little annoying in this film, her character is ultimately important down the line, so I say she gets a pass.
Ricardo Montalban is excellent as Khan as he plays him almost like a Shakespeare character. He's over the top, but for that character it works to its advantage. He is also one of the most complex villains in cinema history let alone 'Star Trek'. He feels hatred for Captain Kirk due to the passing of his wife, the feeling that he was betrayed and tricked by being placed on the planet, and even sadness. He's not just a bad guy who does bad things just because he feels like it, he's a genuine person and you get that his motives are genuine as well. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is also top notch and his compositions would forever cement him into the 'Star Trek' franchise. When I think of some of the greatest themes from these films, I think of him they are brilliant.
'The Wrath of Khan' is one of the greatest science fiction films of all time and by far the best 'Star Trek' film. It just gets everything right, from the characters to the story to the visuals and even the music. I always love watching this movie. It never gets old for me and I highly recommend it on Blu-Ray if possible. That version comes with a director's cut which while not necessary is still a good watch with some extra goodies added into the film itself. Go check it out.
A+
I LOVEEED ITTTT!!!
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