Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

Director:

Nicholas Meyer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (television series Star Trek)
Harve Bennett (story) ...

Release Date:

4 June 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Admiral Kirk's midlife crisis is interrupted by the return of an old enemy looking for revenge and a potentially destructive device.

Plot Keywords:

Admiral | Space | Captain | Space Station | Cadet Training

Awards:

2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

William Shatner	...	Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Captain Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	Dr. McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scotty
Walter Koenig	...	Mr. Chekov
George Takei	...	Mr. Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Cmdr. Uhura
Bibi Besch	...	Dr. Carol Marcus
Merritt Butrick	...	Dr. David Marcus
Jeff McBride	...	Khan's Crewman
Paul Winfield	...	Capt. Clark Terrell
Kirstie Alley	...	Lt. Saavik
Ricardo Montalban	...	Khan
Ike Eisenmann	...	Midshipman Peter Preston
John Vargas	...	Jedda

Also Known As:

Star Trek II: The Undiscovered Country (USA) (working title)
Star Trek II: The Vengeance of Khan (USA) (working title)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (new title)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The Director's Edition (USA) (director's cut)

MPAA:

Rated PG for violence and language.

Runtime:

113 min | USA:116 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Italy:T | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG | Canada:G (Régie du Cinéma Québec) | UK:15 (video rating) (1987) (cut) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Norway:12 (1983) | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (DVD rating) (2002) (uncut) | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | UK:PG (video re-rating) (1989) (uncut) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12 (special edition DVD)

Filming Locations:

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Star Trek "technobabble" seen on walls throughout the Regula space station includes: Geoplastics, Gravitronics, Thermowave Multiplexer, JBK Sensors Synthostasis, Thermonics, Wave Matrix ETM Storage, and Bellus.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chekov and Terrell explore Ceti Alpha V, earphones can clearly be seen through the visors of their spacesuit helmets. When they enter the shelter they discovered and take off their helmets, the earphones are gone.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Saavik: Captain's log: Stardate 8130.3. Starship Enterprise on training mission to Gamma Hydra, section 14, coordinates 22-87-4. Approaching Neutral Zone; all systems normal and functioning.
Sulu: Leaving section 14 for section 15.
Saavik: Standby. Project parabolic course to avoid entering Neutral Zone.
Sulu: Aye, captain.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: If You're So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead? (#2.7)" (2007)

Plenty to enjoy here

I'm not a Star Trek fan. I have watched the show a few times, and I don't dislike it; but it's not the sort of thing that I would find myself watching week after week. Basically what I'm saying is: I'm not a Trekkie. I did, however, find lots to enjoy about this movie. The plot revolves around Captain Kirk, who has now been promoted to Admiral Kirk and is going through a mid-life crisis. However, his crisis couldn't have come at a worse time; as it has come on the eve of the testing for a new creation, known as 'Genesis', and not only that but a man named Khan has just been found on a planet that Kirk exiled him on, and he doesn't just want to give Kirk a friendly hug.

The acting in the film isn't great, actually, it's about the standard that you would expect from a TV show (which is no coincidence, I'm sure). I'm not sure if all the cast of the shows is present, because I didn't watch it often, but most of the main ones seem to be here; Spock, Kirk, Scottie, Sulu etc. Also joining them is Kirstie Alley, in the role of a young Vulcan commander and Ricardo Montalban who camps it up and dons a silly costume for the title role of Kirk's opposite number; Khan. His performance was the standout of the film for me; he's deliciously over the top, but despite that he comes across as believable as his mannerisms fit the character profile that he is portraying. Unfortunately, non of the show's best known baddies, the Klingons make an appearance. In fact, aside from the Vulcans, there are no aliens in the movie.

One thing that surprised me about the film is the meatiness of the characters. As it's a film of a TV show, I wasn't expecting any development or for the characters to step out of their character arks, but they are surprisingly well done. Some characters also go through a change during the movie (some more than others), which is nice to see. The pace is also a good thing about the movie, as it doesn't let up and manages to stay interesting all the way through. One thing that worried me before watching the movie is that I would get bored as I don't know the show, but that didn't become a problem at any point.

I am proof that you don't have to be a Trekkie to enjoy this movie. There's more than enough for the casual movie fan to enjoy about it, it's an entertaining romp and overall I give this Star Trek film a 'G' for 'good' rating.