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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) (1 Viewer)

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Title: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Tagline: At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Thriller

Director: Nicholas Meyer

Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Ricardo Montalban, Kirstie Alley, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Walter Koenig, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Paul Winfield, Judson Scott, Ike Eisenmann, John Vargas, John Winston, Paul Kent

Release: 1982-06-04

Runtime: 113

Plot: It is the 23rd century. The Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise is on routine training maneuvers and Admiral James T. Kirk seems resigned to the fact that this inspection may well be the last space mission of his career. But Khan is back. Aided by his exiled band of genetic supermen, Khan - brilliant renegade of 20th century Earth - has raided Space Station Regula One, stolen a top secret device called Project Genesis, wrested control of another Federation Starship and sets out in pursuit of the Enterprise, determined to let nothing stand in the way of his mission: kill Admiral Kirk... even if it means universal Armageddon.

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Can you believe that it's been 25 years since Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan was released, June 4th, 1982?

There's been discussion on the Trek sites, since there's a lot of Trek fans here, there might be interest to discuss it.

Some comment that it's considered the best of the TOS films. It did start the even verses odd film theory. It is regarded as the one that saved the Franchise and started the ball rolling for all sequels and spin off shows. Nicholas Meyer and Harve Bennett is credited for this and rightfully deserves a lot of credit.

It is a total contrast to Star Trek The Motion Picture. While that was a cerebral film and lacked some of the better human touches of the series with a very 2001 feel, Star Trek 2 took the crew on with gusto and was a very human centric film. The needs of the many theme follows onto other Trek productions.

Meyer takes Trek to the militaristic side while Roddenberry's original vision of Trek was not militaristic at all, being the humanist he was. So he had some reservations for Trek 2. Meyer saw Star Trek as Horatio Hornblower in space, which is essentially what Roddenberry created. They just differ in how they treated the details. For me aesthetically, I don’t like some of the choices Meyer made for Trek 2. He wanted more blinky lights and added rental computer panels that looked so cheap. Star Trek The Motion Picture was totally new and all specially created for the film.

The use of Khan was a nice nod to the series and the action was what a lot of fans wanted to see. Though I think it’s been too oft imitated now. This is a fear for the new film that JJ Abrams is now developing, but that's for the other thread to ponder.

After 25 years, I still like the film a lot, but I watch it only on occasion, as the power of the ending will be diminished from too often viewings. But I think Star Trek The Motion Picture, especially the Directors Cut has proven to be an equally classic film, but for totally different reasons. This was a very pleasant film for me that one summer of 1982. I have a fond memory of it.

Tim Glover

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Not a huge Trek fan but I do love Khan & The Voyage Home. Major contrasting styles that both work. Khan is better overall. III is 3rd but the rest of the bunch really didn't work for me. :)
 

PeterTHX

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I think Nemesis failed because the so-called fans made up their minds not to see it before it came out. I don't think it was that bad. My GF at the time said it was her favorite (!), she preferred the films for the characters...and ended up really liking Insurrection for that reason (we watched II, III, IV, VII, VIII, IX together on DVD, Nemesis theatrically). Sure there are plenty of problems with Nemesis but I'm a Star Trek V: The Final Frontier survivor. THAT was the Worst. TREK film. Ever.
 

RickER

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Remind me again, was it KAAAAAAAHHHHHHHNNNNN, or is it KHHAAAAANNNNNN...i cant ever remember! :)
 

Jason Roer

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Can't wait for the eventual (and I do mean eventual...............) release of Star Trek 1-4 on HD-DVD. Did I mention - eventual?

Cheers,

Jason
 

Lou Sytsma

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Director's cut of the TMP is my number 1. Then its a toss up between 2 & 6, with 4, 3, and 5 following. Even the abysmal 5 has some character moments I enjoy - especially the McCoy flashback with his father.
 

Steve Christou

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No no it's Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannn! At the back of the throat. :)




I remember looking forward to seeing "Star Trek II The Vengeance of Khan" before the title was changed to Wrath of Khan thanks to um "Revenge of the Jedi", and than that title was changed too. :crazy:
 

Aaron Reynolds

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Two things I wanted to say:

1) it WAS a cheap B-movie, made by the television department! It actually looks really good for what it was.

2) I agree, it didn't need saving: while The Motion Picture was not a great film (and I don't know how much the new cut repairs it, though I agree that it's better -- and the film is full of good ideas), it made a pile of money. The Motion Picture saved the franchise by being a hit.
 

nolesrule

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Actually, to show my young age, I wasn't even 6 when II came out, so the real question is how I ended up seeing TWOK in the theater. I think it was part of an after school program or summer day care program, but I distinctly remember seeing it in a theater.

I know I caught III on TV, but it wasn't until IV came out on video that I rented all 4 films and watched them back to back to back to back on my birthday when I was 11 or 12. That was the first time I saw TMP.
 

Sam Favate

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I think Khan was the best of the bunch too, although I think TMP was the purest Trek and closest to Roddenberry's vision.

One thing I found annoying: When each Rick Berman-produced movie came out, Berman would also say it was the best since Wrath of Khan, and each time, he'd say the villian was the best since Khan.

I also agree that the movie deserves credit for the great photography.
 

mattCR

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For hate sake, I spit at thee..

Great moments in this film. This is the Trek film that all others, including the new one, wish they were. We watched this tonight in our house at my son's insistence. I hadn't watched it in a while, probably 2 years.

What I really enjoy is that the entire mid-section builds great tension over a battle of crews, as both ships are destroyed and they work frantically to become the first to just become operable.

Yes, it's not super action oriented, but it has such an air of plausibility, so much more then wild space battles, that the tension is thick. In a large cast, even minor characters get some great moments.

This is real action/suspense. Tons of films are just "action" and wall to wall action which kind of leaves out the suspense part of guessing what happens next - because the audience isn't given enough time to ponder what could happen yet.

And, it looks great in bluray.
htf_images_smilies_smile.gif
 

Lou Sytsma

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TWOK looks and sounds awesome on BluRay. Montalban was so badass.

I can see how some consider The Empire Strikes Back the TWOK of Star Wars movies. ;)

Meyer`s belief that Montalban would have made a stellar King Lear is most insightful.
 

Tyler Gagnon

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I'm surprised noone mentioned the fact that.....Kirk had a son! Was that made up for the movie, Or was it ever said he had one at anytime before that?
 

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