Review of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) by Harrison M — 12 May 2013

Although The Motion Picture was a financial success, it was considered a creative disappointment. Casual moviegoers believed it to be boring, and even plenty of the fans were dissatisfied with it. It was in need of fresh juice. The Wrath of Khan fulfills those elements needed to revive Star Trek. There is more action, adventure and suspense, and better pacing.

We are first introduced to some new characters in which James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are training to see if they would be able to handle being a Starfleet officer. During his birthday party, Kirk is told by McCoy (DeForest Kelley) that he should find a new command and not spend the rest of his life working in an office.

Meanwhile, the USS Reliant is on a mission to search for a planet to test a project that can create habitable worlds but that can is also capable of destroying planets. Commander Pavel Chekhov (Walter Koenig) and Captain Clark Terrell (Paul Winfield) check things out, but are captured by Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). After being exiled by Kirk for many years and the effect it had on his life, he has become consumed with rage and seeks revenge against Kirk. He takes control of the two and goes out to take fiery vengeance on Kirk and his crew.

Khan is not a new character to Star Trek. He was first introduced in the episode "Space Seed." In that episode, he was a prince out of his time who sought to start a war against the Klingons. Here, his mind has been twisted to the point of where all he can think about is Kirk and the damage he had done to him.

Doing away with all the 2001: A Space Odyssey stuff, Wrath of Khan felt more like a Star Trek movie. There is more action in the movie and the stakes are higher. The action scenes are splendidly done and the visuals, while not quite as impressive as those in The Motion Picture due to their smaller scale, are also good. There is also a very dramatic moment near the end that is one of the most heart-breaking moments in sci-fi films.

The characters are more like what they were when on TV. Shatner is at his most heroic while also showing human vulnerability. Leonard Nimoy gives his best performance as Spock and gives an especially excellent performance in the film's final moments. DeForest Kelley is fun to watch as McCoy. There are three new characters. Saavik, played by Kristie Alley, makes a good protégé for Spock. Bibi Besch and Merritt Butrick are in the movie as Kirk's lover and son.

But the one who truly steals the show in this movie is Ricardo Montalban's performance as Khan. While he may not look like a maniac with his relatively calm mannerisms, he presents a great threat. The character acts like that of a truly twisted leader of a cult who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Khan is without a doubt the best villain to grace a Star Trek film.

The Wrath of Khan is everything that a Star Trek movie should be. It has the action, the music composed excellently by James Horner, a great ending, and adventurous pacing. It is something that both the fans and casual movie lovers would like. While plenty of the other Star Trek manifestations are good, they just can't match up to The Wrath of Khan.