Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Directed by Nicholas Meyer

Film Review

In view of the generally poor critical reaction to the first Star Trek feature film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), it is surprising that Paramount persevered and went on to make a second, although on this occasion lessons were learned and the follow-up proved to be a phenomenal success.   Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan reconnects with the original series in the way that first film spectacularly didn't.  Not only does it resurrect an old villain - Khan, last seen in the first season episode Space Seed - it also recreates the balance of action scenes and character interaction that was so successful in the television series.  Fans were as delighted to see Ricardo Montalban reprise his role as the merciless Khan as they were to see the crew of the Enterprise sparring off one another as they did in the old days.  They were however less pleased with the film's most notorious element: the death of Mr Spock.

Long before the film was released, news of Spock's death was leaked to the press and led to an immediate fan backlash, resulting in substantial last minute changes to the script and an assurance that Spock would return in a subsequent film.  The publicity that this furore generated was no doubt a contributing factor in the film's success.  Although it cost only eleven million dollars to make (one third of the budget of the first film). The Wrath of Khan took almost 100 million dollars at the box office, ensuring the franchise's long-term viability.  Critical reaction was generally far more favourable this time round, understandably so.  The film was far better paced, had a far more exciting plot, more interesting characters and a much more satisfying resolution.  The film's ending is arguably the most poignant of the entire series, all the more potent for being underplayed, despite the ponderous literary allusions.  William Shatner turns in his best performance as an older, wiser Kirk, far from the cardboard action hero he is often characterised as.

The only area where the film is perhaps less than perfect is its special effects.  To save time and money, the decision was made by the production team to make extensive use of computer generation effects, reducing the need for costlier model shots.  In the early 1980s, computer effects were still in their infancy and the results appear primitive compared with what can be achieved today, with a fraction of the effort.  Whilst some of the effects are still quite impressive, others are barely more convincing than low-grade animation, and this weakens the film's integrity in a few crucial sequences.  Fortunately, a compelling, original storyline and pacy direction make up for this.  Overall, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is about as good a Star Trek film as we could hope for at this time, a benchmark against which all the later  films would be compared by fans and critics alike.

Film Synopsis

In the 23rd century, Ceti Alpha VI is selected by the Federation as a planet suitable for testing the Genesis Device, a scientific marvel that can restructure matter so as to transform a lifeless space rock into a new world teeming with life.   Landing on the planet's surface to check for possible life signs, two Starfleet officers, Commander Chekov and Captain Terrell, find it is inhabited by Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered psychopath, and his band of warriors.  Chekov recognises Khan as the villain who was left stranded on the planet Ceti Alpha V by Kirk after a previous encounter.  Being exiled to a dead world for fifteen years has made Khan hungry for revenge.  Having taken control of Chekov's space vessel, the USS Reliant, Khan intends to lure the Starship Enterprise into a trap.  His plans include not only the destruction of Kirk, but also the acquisition of the Genesis Device, which will prove a formidable weapon...