Harve Bennett (1930–2015)

Two people sharing one brain need to recover a lost body... in Space!

It's close to being a good movie. The script is quite nice, regardless of my pet peeve with the The Third Act Of All Films, Regardless Of Genre, Must Be An Action Sequence formula. If only that action sequence had been any good. Why are Klingons even in this movie? Because if you didn't have battles and fisticuffs, it would be too damn science fictiony, I guess. Okay, blowing up the Enterprise is pretty cool - but is it show more worth turning what could have been a unique psychological drama into a mediocre action vehicle?

Concept: B
Story: C
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: C
Cinematography: D
Special effects/design: D
Acting: B
Music: D

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.1/4

(Dec. 2011) show less

There's an adage among Star Trek fans that the good films are the ones with even numbers (at least not counting reboot) and many fans dismiss The Search for Spock as a mere reset film--resurrect Spock since Nimoy decided he didn't want to be rid of the character after all. I think that's unfair to this film which was very enjoyable and had no moments that made me want to slide down in my seat and hide my eyes. In fact this had more than one moving, memorable moment--even if the film isn't show more anywhere near as powerful as Wrath of Khan. And I have to admit--Kirstie Alley will forever be my Saavik--not Robin Curtis. show less

A lot of Star Trek fans would name this as their favorite Trek film--or at least top three. I wouldn't go that far. But then don't mind me, "Save the Whales" messages make me grind my teeth. But it was nice after the first three films to see a more light-hearted, comedic take, and it was rather fun to see a rather loopy Spock and a Kirk who for once was a fish out of water.

Kirk & friends time travel to the 1980s.

Nine times out of ten, when humor and the original Star Trek cast mix, the result is a disaster. But in this case, it's brilliant. It's not quite as good a movie as Wrath of Khan, but it's close.

Concept: D
Story: C
Characters: B
Dialog: A
Pacing: B
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: C

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 2.7/4

(Dec. 2011)