Ok, now this is what I am talking about. While this is clearly a movie it functions enough like a really good episode of TOS to really feel like Star Trek. I have read that Roddenberry had much less of a role in TWOK than in TMP, and apparently that is a good thing. Yes, it is more violent, but the Federation is only shown in the best light. There is great interplay between all the main cast in addition to the showdown between Kirk and Khan. Having just watched TMP last night it was pretty obvious that some of the effects shots were picked directly from it, but they were the length they should have been in TMP and didn't drag down the action. Also the damage effects on the Enterprise are probably the best in all of Trek.
We begin with the fake out opening meant to deal with rumors that Spock would die. But by doing so and introducing the idea of the Kobayashi Maru it tells us a lot about both Starfleet and Kirk himself. After that we go to Kirk and McCoy sharing a drink and talking about growing old. McCoy tells Kirk to do everything he can to keep his command and Kirk doesn't exactly argue. Cut to the Reliant checking out what it believes to be Ceti Alpha VI. They are looking for a planet totally devoid of lifeforms to test the Genesis device on. They detect what may or may not be life and after checking in with the scientists on project Genesis captain Terrell and Chekov beam down to check things out. They discover what looks to be abandoned cargo containers what were clearly lived in at some point. Suddenly they are captured by Khan and his people. After being left on Ceti Alpha V the next planet exploded wiping out almost all life and moving the planets around. This part and the next are the only parts they don't make sense. Khan recognizes Chekov despite him not being on the Enterprise during Space Seed. Khan puts mind control bugs into their heads and heads to the Genesis station to take it calling ahead saying Kirk authorized it.
Kirk and the Enterprise are on a test cruise when the distress call comes out from the Genesis station. They are of course the only ship in the quadrant so despite having a training crew Kirk assumes command and rushes in. On they way they encounter the Reliant and despite not having radio contact and Saavik pointing out they should raise their shields Enterprise walks into Khan's trap. Reliant fires and badly damages Enterprise. They keep shooting only stopping just before destroying her. Khan then calls Kirk and demands he surrender and send all information about Genesis over. Kirk stalls for time and manages to shut down Reliants shields and badly damage her. Khan and Reliant flee leaving the Enterprise with the Genesis station.
Kirk beams down with McCoy and Saavik and discover Genesis gone and the computers wiped. Chekov and Terrell aren't dead though and explain that Khan failed to control them. Spock calls to tell them that the ship will take 2 hours to get working but since he knows Khan is likely listening he makes it sound like it will take 2 days. Kirk figures out that his some and ex are missing and that the transporters are still on. They all beam down and discover the Genesis device in a cave. Kirk's son attacks them but his mom calls him off. Suddenly Chekov and Terrell pull their weapons. Khan was listening in and controlling them the whole time. Khan steals Genesis and orders them to kill Kirk. Terrell kills himself and Chekov somehow gets the bug thing out of his brain. Khan leaves them trapped.
In the Genesis cave Kirk explains to Saavik that he cheated the Kobayashi Maru test. Then the Enterprise calls and beams them back. The ship is working again and they flee into a nebula. Khan's crew doesn't want to do it but Khan leads them in after the Enterprise. There is much maneuvering during which Khan manages to fail to understand space isn't a flat plane. Kirk manages to badly damage Reliant, but Khan activates Genesis. The Enterprise is doomed unless someone goes into the badly irradiated engine room and restores main power. Spock dumps his memories into McCoy before going in and saving the day. He has an emotional farewell with Kirk before dying and having his body shot out a torpedo tube onto the newly cooling Genesis planet. Kirk gives a moving eulogy and we are treated to Leonard Nemoy reading the normal opening to the show.
Review: I don't think it is going to get any better than this in the next almost two years of watching Star Trek. This movie has great action, good character moments and a classic story of revenge. It has also already been retold twice in other Star Trek movies alone (Nemesis and Into Darkness). Neither had a villain half as chilling and determined as Khan in this film. The cold, calculating Khan of Space Seed has been replaced by a seething madman bent on revenge.
10 out of 10
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