No. 17 - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance) for sci-fi battles and violence

Director: Nicholas Meyer; Screenplay: Harve Bennett, Jack B. Sowards; based on the TV series Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry

Starring: William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Alley

Movie Introduction: As Admiral James T. Kirk (Shatner) and Captain Spock (Nimoy) embark on a simple training mission for Starfleet Academy, another vessel, Reliant, from the United Federation of Planets, is scouting possible worlds ideal for the new planet-creating "Genesis Device". The Reliant's officers are captured by Khan (Montalban), a criminal Kirk helped imprison, and frankly hoped to never encounter again. Once more, Kirk takes command of the Enterprise, and battles Khan in a showdown with dire consequences. 

Defining Moment: "Khan!"

Kirk and his crew have been ambushed by one of the Federation's own vessels. Their shields and systems are almost completely destroyed. The attacking ship is swinging back around to deliver the final death blow. Suddenly on the monitor the commander of the vessel appears. It is Khan, an old enemy Kirk exiled years ago. He is a humanoid of incredible intellect and physical strength. (see the clip on YouTube) 

Something subtle you might have missed:  "...these are just pets, of course..."

In 1972, I watched an episode of NBC's horror anthology series Night Gallery entitled "The Caterpiller". In the episode, an earwig is placed near a man's ear and crawls into this head, causing eventual madness. It was terrifying! As I watched Khan's introduction scene in this film, I could not help but remember that damned earwig... 

Memorable Quotes:

"I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her: marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet, buried alive..." – Khan

"As you are so fond of observing, Doctor, I am not human." – Spock

"I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and -- patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing . . ." - Kirk

Dad's Review:

This second entry in the Star Trek film franchise is by far the best, although Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home, gives it some competition. It has everything a semi-sci-fi nerd will love: witty banter between the lead characters, tense action, thrilling twists, a wonderfully vengeful villain and a heartfelt ending. You don't even have to be a "trekkie" to follow along.     

In the fall of 1966, Star Trek first aired on NBC. The low ratings resulted in a run of only three seasons. I discovered Star Trek in reruns, usually after 10 pm at night on cable TV. At first glance, I was like, "What the heck..." The rocks were fake, the special effects were laughable, one guy always had his shirt off, and another guy had pointy ears.

Somehow, I made it through the entire episode. Then I braved another.

It was the show's intelligent writing that grabbed and kept me. Every episode posed a new question to ponder. It was smart science fiction and certainly ahead of its time. I learned to overlook the hokey sets and garage effects. At it's core was the yin-yang relationship between Spock and Kirk. One is cold, brutal logic and high intelligence. The other reads people, goes with his gut, embraces his emotions, can is often unpredictable. Together, they form the perfect leadership team.

Then in 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture hit the big screen - ten years after the last season on TV. This first film had moments, but was way too drawn out and, sorry to say, boring.

Three years later, Wrath of Khan was released. Wow, I mean, wow!

After the first film's poor performance, producers ousted series creator Gene Roddenberry. They then brought in director Nicholas Meyer to finish the script and get the film back to the swashbuckling atmosphere of the original series. This film is considered the first in a mini-trilogy including, Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search of Spock (1984), and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986).

Evidently the first film helped the actors "get the rust off" because all give stellar performances.

The central story focuses on an unexpected encounter with an old nemesis, Khan, from the TV series. We learn that Khan is very eager to extract revenge on Kirk, blaming him for the death of his wife. Start to finish is a series of battles with Khan and Kirk's ability save this ship and crew.

A wonderful sidebar is Kirk himself. He is now an Admiral, and feeling his age. He talks about being "used up" and old, especially on his birthday. Bones gets him some reading glasses, which only drives home the point further. Bones recommends that Kirk to get a new command, and not grow old behind a desk.

The USS Enterprise, captained by Spock, is on a training mission full of new recruits, Kirk being along only for the ride. When they are forced to respond to a distress call, Kirk assumes command. Thus begins a harrowing game of cat and mouse between Kirk and Khan. In the middle is a new planet-generating device called Genesis. If launched into a lifeless moon, its matrix will form new life.  However, if launched at a planet with existing life, all that life will be destroyed in favor of the new matrix. Khan intends to use it as a weapon of power.

This was the film we were waiting for. It restored our faith. It saved the franchise. I features the best in our beloved characters. We finally went, where no one had gone before - A successful Star Trek film!

Onto No. 18... When Mister Houdini Encountered Miss Fields