Star Trek III The Search for Spock BluRay Edition / Rated PG for Sci Fi violence and scary bugs and fire and death and mysterious ceremonies.
STIIITSFS was really the middle film in what turned out to be a trilogy. Since Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan was a big hit, they decided to write their way out of the hole they left themselves in when they killed Spock at the conclusion of that film.
As you recall they brought back Ricardo Montalban to recreate the role of Khan he had originated in the original TV series run. Same part played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the new version Star Trek Into Darkness. At the end of II, Khan dies but manages one last act of violence in which he sets off a big explosive device. A really big one. Even bigger than the one that blew up the Death Star in Star Wars I or IV depending on how you count them.
In III it appears that the big blow-up has stirred a bunch of bad Klingons led by the evil Christopher Lloyd to get their hands on this weapon known to them as “The Genesis Torpedo”. Since the explosion actually created a new planet out of a big rock, all kinds of complications occur. Big complications.
This sets off a few of the Enterprise crew on a mission to find Spock who was last seen in a coffin that ended up on the Genesis planet. Special things are going on there. Really special.
Written with a lot of inspiration, humor and action, this film is a fitting middle film to find the lost and presumed dead Vulcan, Spock. Since Leonard Nimoy had to keep his appearance in the film secret, watch the main title. After William Shatner’s name appears and at the point where Leonard Nimoy’s name would appear there is a blank pause before appearance of number three DeForest Kelley’s credit.
Kirstie Alley, who in 1984 weighed 10 times less than she does today, played an important part in the Khan film. She was reputedly paid only $15,000 and wanted more to be in the sequel. It goes without saying, she didn’t warrant more, so the producers replaced her with Robin Curtis who went on to do little else except a small part in Star Trek IV and Star Trek conventions. She does have quite a few small TV series credits but, this film was the highlight of her career. Young actor, Merritt Butrick got the key role of the soon to be dead David, son of Captain Kirk. He went on to a promising career until his death at 29 in 1989 from Aids.
The film in BluRay looks terrific. This is the theatrical look as I recall seeing the movie at its initial run. Also on hand are some terrific extras including a 25 minute documentary on the films production filled with great info and hilarious comments by William Shatner on Nimoy as a director and how he, Shatner, personally saved Paramount Studios from burning to the ground during filming. There is also a neat retrospective on the young actors who played Spock on screen. The actor playing 17 year old Spock, Stephen Manley has interesting comments on his history in the film.
As a middle film in the trilogy this is another 80’s film not to be missed but be sure to watch The Wrath of Khan 1st.
Info on the third film Star Trek IV The Voyage Home BluRay coming soon to this very spot. Until then Live Long and BluRay.
Rated 3.80 out of 4.0 reasons to be assured. They find him.