Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

*** (out of 4)

After the events in the previous film, Kirk (William Shatner) risks his career by stealing the Enterprise to go to a restricted planet in hopes of finding Spock's body who they feel might be alive. Along the way they run into a Klingon leader (Christopher Lloyd) who wants to kill them all. STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH OF SPOCK probably shouldn't have worked since if you've seen the second film then you know what happens to Spock. In order for this "trick" to work the producers and writers really needed to come up with something good and thankfully they did that. I won't ruin what this trick is in "the search for Spock" but I thought it was a rather smart move and it helped make the film a lot more believable. Leonard Nimoy steps into the director's chair here and it's obvious he's very comfortable there as he delivers a good looking film with a good pace and of course the main people back in action. Once again we've got Shatner turning in a good performance as Spock and there's no question that he helps keep the film moving. I don't care what you want to say about the guy but there's no question that he owned this role and could play it in his sleep. Regulars like DeForrest Kelley, James Doohan and George Takei are also good in their roles. It seems a lot of people are split on Lloyd but I thought he was pretty good here. I liked seeing him under all the make-up and thought he did a good job even if the role itself wasn't the greatest. The special effects here are certainly a step up from the previous movie and I'd also say that battle sequences are much better directed. Overall this film doesn't quite reach the levels as the second but it's certainly a worthy sequel.

The film talks the veteran crew of the Enterprise NC1701 piloted by James T.Kirk (Wililam Shatner) arrives in spacial station for repairing their starship but they quickly must set out to search Spock (Leonard Nimoy) who's found on planet Genesis . They'll face off nefarious enemies and battle the Klingon (commanded by Christopher Lloyd) . This Star Trek is principally the follow-up to ¨Wrath of Khan¨ that finished with death of Khan (Ricardo Montalban) and Spock sacrificing his life to save his friends .

The storyline is concentrated on characters as well as thrill-packed action and special effects although there're numerous of that too . The movie has tension , comedy , emotion ,suspense and sensational spacial scenarios as is customary development in the franchise , besides with impressive aircrafts made by means of miniature and non computer generator . Spectacular, exciting , fast-paced , thrilling this is the description of this new outing of Star Trek , film that reinvents various elements , including a perfect pulse narrative that does not give a second of rest to the spectator who is trapped for almost two hours approx. in a genuine visual spectacle . As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew . Usual saga actors making brief appearances as Uhura (Michelle Nichols) , James Doohan (Scotty) , Zulu (George Takei) , Chejov (Walter Koenig) and trademark effects abound in a film that will please the fans and even non enthusiasts will most likely find it agreeable . The villains of the film were originally intended to be Romulans, but upper studio management wanted Klingons to be used since they were better-known enemies. By the time the decision was made, the Romulan ship was already built and they did not want the expense of replacing it. However, since the original Star Trek (1966) series had already established that the Klingons and Romulans had shared technologies and ships in the past (for exactly the same real-world cost-cutting reasons), the idea of Klingons using a Romulan-style vessel was not a problem . The motion picture has a climatic and spectacular ending . Stirring final amazing the spectator , in which the moving and spectacular scenes create a perfect union that terminates with an ending that leaves you stuck in the armchair facing the formidable spectacle as a privileged witness . James Horner musical score (replacing Jerry Goldsmith)is exceptional and atmospheric . Release was well directed by Leonard Nimoy who appears secondary in this film , too . The flick will appeal to long time series buffs such as the neophite .

I believe Star Trek III is an underappreciated film in part because it is not accessible to a general audience. It is a pure science fiction film. In my opinion it is the one odd numbered film in the series that isn't victimized by 'the curse' of uneven numeration. I enjoyed the film because of the exciting action and fight sequences, the nostalgia, and the developed characterization of characters I am already so familiar with. I also found the film to be surprisingly spiritual and revelatory, a rarity for a sequel in a commercial film franchise. Anyone with close friends will be touched by Kirk's loyalty and sacrifice for Spock. Highly recommended, 8/10.

It's really a fantastic Trek movie, a bit lesser mainly because it came in the shadow of Wrath of Khan, a classic of the genre.

It's also far deeper than it appears because while the Klingons are depicted as ruthless, in fact, they are absolutely justified in being terrified at the Genesis Device.

From their point of view, the Federation has developed a weapon of astonishing power that is dressed up as a terraforming device. The evidence they have is a video showing this "terraforming" device as a torpedo, and the first use of this device is the destruction of a nebula. If you were any other power in the galaxy, would you not see this as a Tsar Bomba level demonstration of force?

If North Korea developed a terraforming device that can convert a uninhabited thousand square feet of ocean into a garden, would you not be terrified? It doesn't require any known enemy to be terrifying.

Honestly, for a long time, I wished they hadn't made Kruge so apparently blood thirsty. After time I think it works perfectly. Put the shoes on the other foot and you easily have James Bond or James Kirk himself battling to defeat this weapon.

The movie itself... I think Robin Curtis does a great job but I think her lines made more sense coming out of Kirstie Alley. Curtis plays Saavik like a straight Vulcan and her judgments of David don't really make logical sense. Alley played the half Romulan thing so her emotional judgements made more sense.

Boldly going where no man (or woman) has gone before, climb aboard the Enterprise and let it fly and soar, as old friends gather, reunite, off to battle and to fight, strange new worlds, civilisations to explore.

A child is discovered all alone, a Vulcan without soul, perhaps a clone, while a Doctor rediscovers, an old friend inside another and a starship's final journey helps them home.

Some things are more important than rules and regulations as the captain of the Enterprise takes his pride and joy to recover what was lost and resurrect what was saved.