Mirror, Mirror, The Doomsday Machine or Metamorphosis. I like Metamorphosis because it’s very reminiscent of first season episodes that taught our characters something. One of my favorites. There’s so many Season Two episodes to chose from!
(Buster Brown on Chekov in Star Trek 3 especially)
I wanted to follow up my post from yesterday about my feeling of reticence on revisiting the TOS Star Trek films after Star Trek The Motion Picture. It was not meant to be negative or give off a vibe that I did not like them. Back in the day, as I posted above, I loved them and eagerly awaited for news of a new movie and anticipating the premieres! I’ve seen them countless times!
In thinking about it, it does seem like Star Trek 2.0 and maybe that’s part of it. It’s not the same, it’s not the original series. But given that 10 years had passed from 1969 to 1979, the characters had to be shown in a different place in their lives and the first movie did that very well. The second film picks up at some point that’s not defined and the rest of the series carry’s on in that time line.
The recent posts with all the love for Star Trek 3 and its fortieth anniversary has had me reconsidering its time to finally re-visit the TOS films. I expect to recieve the Steelbook 4K blu ray of Star Trek 3 this coming week. But before I see that, I need to see Star Trek 2: The Roth of Khan. Sorry, since Shatner semi-jokingly called it that way from his Canadian roots on the Merv Griffin show in 1982, it’s stuck with me.
Also as I’ve been on a journey to re-visit Star Trek TNG episodes that I rarely watch, this made sense! So last night, I finally watched Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan on the 4K blu ray and for the first time, on a large OLED display I upgraded to a few years ago. So it was a great way to re-visit the film for the first time in 4K.
I’ve seen this film so many times, I have a lot of the dialogue still memorized. But some dialogue wasn’t as readily on my tongue. I did enjoy my viewing a lot. I knew what was coming, so the ending doesn’t hurt as much as it used to. And I think over time, I didn’t like that these major characters had to make these sacrifices. But it was part of the theme of the film, so it had resonance. The score was great, though I missed Goldsmith. But I did remember when I first saw the movie in the theater, I was happy to hear the Alexander Courage theme. The score can soar and raise the emotions and then scare and make you sad. It is a great Star Trek film.
I also experienced nostalgia and reminisced what I thought and felt when I saw the film the very first time. I did not like the change in the fonts used in the titles and credits. Why not use the font from the first film? I thought the new naval themed uniforms that Meyer wanted were cool back then, but over time, I’ve been less favorable of them. They are stylized. Amd in that sense, very much in line with TOS. But incongruous for a film that followed The Motion Picture. I never like Fletcher’s designs for the civilian clothing in any of the TOS films. Not in 1982 or today.
The lower budget of this film often shows and I noticed it right away in 1982. Some examples are the corridors outside of the Simulator Room. As Kirk and Spock walk out in the corridor and discuss the best of times, that set, while a good looking set, looks incomplete. The view out the windows looks like a blue painted wall and as Kirk and Spock stop near the doorway, there is a forced perspective miniature placed in front of them to create the illusion of depth and a larger set. It mostly works and I didn’t even know it was a miniature until later years. IIRC, this was the case, but correct me if I’m wrong.
Also on Regula One, there is the use of obviously rental props that looks like computer banks with flashing lights. Though the central part of the set with the arch is a nice piece. But that monitor is a CRT with a box built around it looks like just that. The genesis cave and associated Genesis device was all great.
On the upside, the effects by ILM are great. Though they take on the “ILM” look as opposed to the more in-camera look of Star Trek The Motion Picture. The USS Reliant is a classic design and makes good use of the design aesthetic of the Motion Picture refit Enterprise design.
But all these things that I saw back in 1982 and still see today are all window dressing of course. What makes this film work are the characters and the story. The story was well developed. Though too bad Madelyn Rhue was not in the film, at least in a flash back of their first days on Ceti Alpha. The only thing that still bothers me in the back of my mind is why Khan is so mad at Kirk. The idea was Khan was happy that Kirk would let Khan and his people go on Ceti Alpha where he could build a new life and tame a world. I don’t think Kirk was expected to check up on them. But maybe there was a plan in place that was agreed on off screen. So I can let that one go.
As I said, the characters are all working and the actors do very well. The fan reviews in 1982 praised William Shatner, he really delivers a great performance as Kirk. Perhaps partly from Meyer beating him down. Though I’m not sure, Shatner was pretty good in The Motion Picture. It was great to see the cast shine in this movie! Looking back, they look young! But back then they looked older because at that time, all we had was TOS. No bloody TNG, DS9, VOY or ENT. It was truely the only Star Trek so we young fans were eating it up and loving it!
I am now ready and enthusiastic to see Star Trek 3 next weekend.
Well, The Doomsday Machine is my all time favorite Star Trek story. Literally, franchise wide. So I will always suggest that.
Agreed I’m slowly working on season 2 with my sons. I think Patterns of force is our next one so it jumped out in my mind.
I love "The Search for Spock"
Honestly, I haven't watched this one since I bought the DVD set so many years ago. Nice choice.
I love "Metamorphosis". One of my favorites. This was the last classic Trek episode I watched not too long ago. But 'Mirror, Mirror" and 'The Doomsday Machine' are on the list for tonight or tomorrow.
Absolutely! Another I haven't watched in quite some time.
That’s very cool. I never collected those programs and I don’t recall them being available at the theaters I went to. I might have to search for them.That STAR TREK III theater program that was distributed at the premiere is apparently pretty common on eBay. Here's just one example (not mine).
Vintage 1984 Star Trek III The Search For Spock Movie Promo Program VGC | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 1984 Star Trek III The Search For Spock Movie Promo Program VGC at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!www.ebay.com
I was going to scan mine, but these eBay sellers already did it.
But they did do a very nice job with the observation lounge when the wrecked Enterprise pulls into Space Dock. Star Trek TNG made good use of that footage.. But I remember him for his role on The Bob Newhart Show as a high profile psychologist that Bob knows.
Scott, yes, I did some searching and the programs are very reasonably priced!
I had forgotten about the test screenings story.
Finished my mini Trek marathon with 'Bread and Circuses'. I liked it much better than my previous viewing years ago. Thanks.
In the last month I'm very much picking out episodes I haven't seen in years (due to time constraints and recent purchases, right now I'm only watching one TOS episode every week or so). From the second season I've watched "Catspaw", "I, Mudd" and "A Piece of the Action". All somewhat whimsical episodes but I enjoyed each one for what it was, and I'm glad I revisited each one. As Josh said, it's been so long that they all had a bit of "new" to me feel.
