269. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan; movie review

 

STAR TREK II - THE WRATH OF KHAN

Cert 12A

116 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate horror, injury details

If Star Trek The Motion Picture brought Kirk and co. back into our consciences, The Wrath Of Khan was the springboard for the franchise as we know it today.

This was a much more exciting movie brimming with action and life-or-death dilemmas.

Ok, the acting is a bit stiff and the special effects are a tad clumsy but there is genuine drama.

However, it does waste time - repeating almost identical scenes from the first film when Kirk (William Shatner) makes an emotional return to the USS Enterprise.

Anyway, after the tears have been shed, it transpires that one of his old adversaries is on the warpath, itching for revenge against him and desirous of getting his hands on a ground-breaking project which can create or destroy entire planets.

Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) entraps Chekov (Walter Koenig) and the captain of another starship (Paul Winfield) and stuffs mind-bending maggots in their ears.

Thus, Kirk, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and a new Vulcan lieutenant, played by Kirstie Alley have to outsmart and outgun his threat to the universe.

It's edge-of-seat Star Trek stuff and Scottie (James Doohan) is constantly battling against the odds to save the Enterprise and simultaneously render her capable of obliterating a stronger opponent.

Even after all these years we were willing on our heroes to defeat the dastardly villain.

And, while Shatner and co. were always a little stilted, there are also moments of thought-provoking pathos.

Maybe the viewer needs to be of a certain age but we enjoyed Nicholas Meyer's film and it was rather lovely to see the little man in space waving off the Enterprise again (see it and you will understand).

Reasons to watch: Nostalgia

Reasons to avoid: Clunky special effects

Laughs: One

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8.5/10

Did you know? Sex And The City star Kim Cattrall was originally considered for the part of Lt. Saavik in the Wrath Of Khan, but sadly had to pull out due to other commitments.

The final word (spoiler). Nicholas Meyer: "f there’s a regret I have – which I didn’t have for the first 20 years and then somebody pointed it out to me, and I thought, “There’s an interesting missed moment” – it’s that Khan never sees Kirk get away. He goes to his death believing that he succeeded. I wonder, if I’d thought of it, would I have?" Star Trek

 

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