Spock: They like you very much, but they are not the hell "your" whales. Dr. Gillian Taylor: I suppose they told you that. Spock: The hell they did.
The final installment in the unintentional ‘Spock trilogy’ is the franchises most unlikely adventure. The highest grossing film starring the original cast, must have left its creators a little queasy with trepidation as they put the final touches on the story and sent it out for the fans to consume considering the films inherent absurdity and slight change of pace and most definitely had the recipe for disaster. That’s the charm, as the film doesn’t have a contrived villain or a wedged in antagonist out to control the galaxy. Doing what Trek does best; tell our story of today from a future perspective with the correct and deserved doses of philosophizing, moralizing and green peace activism. After the dour events from the previous two films, it was time for the crew to try something different. Director Leonard Nimoy along with co-screenwriter Nicholas Meyer, adopted the mantra of no bad guys, no phasers, no torpedoes and no dying. Trek has always had its moments of humor, Nimoy exploits that by coaxing fine comedic performances from his cast mates, (including himself as Spock who has hard time trying to master 20th century swears) who all pull together making a fine ensemble and a genial adventure that gives each character a moment to shine. The film has a strange connection to Eddie Murphy, a huge super star at the time, who was also a self-proclaimed Trekkie, who would have been the crew’s 20th century connection. Murphy would have played a college professor, obsessed with UFO’s, spots the Klingon ship as it de-cloaks at a super bowl game, he becomes certain it is the real thing, instead of just a half-time special effect. Wiser heads prevailed as the offer was never officially made to Murphy, as Paramount studios felt it unwise to mingle their two biggest franchises at the time and Murphy’s presence would reek of stunt casting of the worst kind and “Star Trek” was never about gimmicks. The best of all the Trek films in simple human terms, the movie begins right where Part III left off, with Kirk taking the heat from the political fallout from his stealing the Enterprise, destroying it and the Klingon crew. Still on the planet Vulcan with the Klingon starship they commandeered in part III." They vote to return home aboard the alien vessel (Dr. McCoy giving it the name, HMS Bounty) but on the way they encounter a strange deep-space probe. It is sending out signals in an unknown language which, when deciphered, turns out to be similar to the song of the humpback whale. Of course Spock figures out the only way to communicate with said probe, which is causing all kinds of destruction on Earth, is journey back through time to the 20th century since whales all but extinct in the 23rd century, obtain some humpback whales, and return with them to the future - thus saving Earth. Trek has always had fun with the time travel as a McGuffin. During the original series, “City of the Edge of Forever” and “All Our Yesterdays” , “Tomorrow is Yesterday,“ were some of the best episodes of the series giving the viewer just enough of creditability to believe it. That’s what Director Nimoy does here, he creates just enough of what it takes to accept this, we forget common sense and limits have no place here. Time travel for these kids is a cake walk. The cast is as good as ever each one gets a moment to shine, especially James Doohan as Scotty and Nimoy’s Spock, slightly off-kilter from his resurrection and his inability to use 20th century swearing to its proper effect, “double-dumb ass on you!” Catherine Hicks as Dr. Jillian Taylor does her best, but doesn't really make an impression. The humor is played up, but it’s never taken to the extreme, we never laugh at the material, but with it. The humor is reined in and the drama works in equal measures. Some fine character moments for all, the most important point is underscored with the crew and their loyalty to their friend James Kirk. A good sequel that takes the franchise to unexpected places, after twenty plus years, the film holds up just fine, except for that terrible score.
The final installment in the unintentional ‘Spock trilogy’ is the franchises most unlikely adventure. The highest grossing film starring the original cast, must have left its creators a little queasy with trepidation as they put the final touches on the story and sent it out for the fans to consume considering the films inherent absurdity and slight change of pace and most definitely had the recipe for disaster.
That’s the charm, as the film doesn’t have a contrived villain or a wedged in antagonist out to control the galaxy. Doing what Trek does best; tell our story of today from a future perspective with the correct and deserved doses of philosophizing, moralizing and green peace activism.
After the dour events from the previous two films, it was time for the crew to try something different. Director Leonard Nimoy along with co-screenwriter Nicholas Meyer, adopted the mantra of no bad guys, no phasers, no torpedoes and no dying. Trek has always had its moments of humor, Nimoy exploits that by coaxing fine comedic performances from his cast mates, (including himself as Spock who has hard time trying to master 20th century swears) who all pull together making a fine ensemble and a genial adventure that gives each character a moment to shine.
The film has a strange connection to Eddie Murphy, a huge super star at the time, who was also a self-proclaimed Trekkie, who would have been the crew’s 20th century connection. Murphy would have played a college professor, obsessed with UFO’s, spots the Klingon ship as it de-cloaks at a super bowl game, he becomes certain it is the real thing, instead of just a half-time special effect.
Wiser heads prevailed as the offer was never officially made to Murphy, as Paramount studios felt it unwise to mingle their two biggest franchises at the time and Murphy’s presence would reek of stunt casting of the worst kind and “Star Trek” was never about gimmicks.
The best of all the Trek films in simple human terms, the movie begins right where Part III left off, with Kirk taking the heat from the political fallout from his stealing the Enterprise, destroying it and the Klingon crew.
Still on the planet Vulcan with the Klingon starship they commandeered in part III." They vote to return home aboard the alien vessel (Dr. McCoy giving it the name, HMS Bounty) but on the way they encounter a strange deep-space probe. It is sending out signals in an unknown language which, when deciphered, turns out to be similar to the song of the humpback whale. Of course Spock figures out the only way to communicate with said probe, which is causing all kinds of destruction on Earth, is journey back through time to the 20th century since whales all but extinct in the 23rd century, obtain some humpback whales, and return with them to the future - thus saving Earth.
Trek has always had fun with the time travel as a McGuffin. During the original series, “City of the Edge of Forever” and “All Our Yesterdays” , “Tomorrow is Yesterday,“ were some of the best episodes of the series giving the viewer just enough of creditability to believe it. That’s what Director Nimoy does here, he creates just enough of what it takes to accept this, we forget common sense and limits have no place here. Time travel for these kids is a cake walk.
The cast is as good as ever each one gets a moment to shine, especially James Doohan as Scotty and Nimoy’s Spock, slightly off-kilter from his resurrection and his inability to use 20th century swearing to its proper effect, “double-dumb ass on you!” Catherine Hicks as Dr. Jillian Taylor does her best, but doesn't really make an impression.
The humor is played up, but it’s never taken to the extreme, we never laugh at the material, but with it. The humor is reined in and the drama works in equal measures. Some fine character moments for all, the most important point is underscored with the crew and their loyalty to their friend James Kirk.
A good sequel that takes the franchise to unexpected places, after twenty plus years, the film holds up just fine, except for that terrible score.