Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) User Reviews

An Excellent Swan Song for the Original Series

[Wuchakk · 8/10 · 7 January 2012]

THE STORY: Peace negotiations between the Federation and Klingon Empire are interrupted by the assassination of a Klingon high official; Captain Kirk is blamed and thus he & McCoy get sentenced to an alien mining penal colony.

Like many of the original TV episodes which incorporated the important issues of the day into a futuristic space story, "Star Trek VI" (1991) is a morality play about the wall coming down in outer space, with the Klingons standing in for the Soviets. Nice moral about how radical change can be really scary -- there are some who are able to embrace it and others who have serious difficulty with it. In this case there are adverse reactions on both sides by those who believe they have too much invested in the present state of hostility.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch out for the ravishing Kim Cattrall playing Vulcan Lieutenant Valeris. She adequately proves that sex appeal is not necessarily about nudity and flirtation, as Valeris is fully clothed and maintains a demeanor of sophistication the entire film. The formal dinner with the Klingons is also a highlight; it's reminiscent of Khan's powerful dinner scene from "Space Seed." When the dinner party ends and the Klingons beam away, each Enterprise crewmember shares a fitting exclamation of relief, including Scotty's "Thank God!" and McCoy's "I'm going to go find a pot of BLACK coffee." After everyone says their piece Spock merely looks around and characteristically raises an eyebrow. Kirk meanwhile returns to his cabin to "sleep it off" and voices his final log entry for the day: "Note to Galley: Romulan ale no longer to be served at diplomatic functions" (lol).

BEST HISTORICAL QUOTE: As General Chang prosecutes Kirk at the trial he screams out "DON'T WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION -- ANSWER ME NOW!!" The writers ingeniously slipped this famous line in; it's a quote from U.N. Representative Adlai Stevenson during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 wherein he drilled Soviet Ambassador Zorin.

BEST HOMAGE: It was twelve years before that Shatner uttered his ridiculously criticized "Oh my God" line in "The Motion Picture." Well, guess how he reacts when he meets an intimidating 7-foot pig-skinned alien in the mines? You guessed it.

I could go on with the highlights; this is just a taste of the many great scenes/bits.

FINAL ANALYSIS: This is the last film in which the entire original cast appear together, and it's a more-than-solid outing verging on greatness; a good chronicling of the events leading up to the Klingon-Federation alliance portrayed in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Although the film lacks the profundities of "The Motion Picture," "The Final Frontier" and "Generations," it's a more than satisfying romp -- very involving and fun, highlighted by a nice whodunit scenario. What more could a Trek fan ask for? Needless to say, a fine way to end The Original Series.

CRY HAVOK AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR!!

All the World's a Stage...

[Xstal · 8/10 · 2 March 2022]

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.

They've got themselves into a pickle, a metaphorical hammer and sickle, Klingon labour camp, shackled and clamped, sentenced by a biased judicial.

Sabre rattling Klingon renegades attempt to destabilise the peace after a devastating moon fall.

Thrilling installment in which Enterprise crew takes on a dark conspiracy against Federation

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 26 February 2012]

This entertaining outing deals with an accident on the Klingon moon that turns their planet inhabitable , it forces the Klingon Empire into a truce with the Federation . Reluctant Kirk (William Shatner) , despite his mistrust of the Klingons after they killed his son in Genesis, is assigned to escort a Klingon cruiser carrying the Klingon Chancellor to Earth for the meeting point . Enterprise crew is missioned to negotiate a peace treaty with Klingon leader (David Warner) but are double-crossed by renegade cohorts . During the journey to the ship , the Klingon cruiser is torpedoed , and Kirk and McCoy fall prey a trap , being taken prisoners after the Chancellor is killed by two Starfleet crewmen assassins . Spock immediately begins an investigation, while Kirk and McCoy( DeForest Kelley) are judged and sentenced to life on Rura Penthe - a far deep-frozen asteroid , there they meet a weird transformer being (Iman). Meanwhile, Spock has discovered that a Klingon Bird of Prey - one that can fire when cloaked , and under the command of Klingon General Chang (Christopher Plummer) - is the aircraft responsible for firing on the Chancellor, and the two killers came from the Enterprise . The crews of the Enterprise and the Excelsior piloted by Sulu (George Takei) must stop a plot to prevent a peace treaty between the Klingon Empire and the Federation . Meanwhile , Spock (Leonard Nimoy, also executive producer), Scotty (James Doohan), Uhura (Michelle Nichols) , Chekov (Walter Koenig) attempt to free Kirk and McCoy ; they also discover a conspiracy.

This epic story is concentrated on characters as well as thrill-packed action and special effects although there're numerous of that too . The movie has tension, brief touches of humor , emotion, suspense and sensational spacial scenarios like is customary development of the franchise . Spectacular, exciting , fast-paced , thrilling this is the description of this new outing of Star Trek , film that re-innovates the saga through a perfect pulse narrative that does not give a second of rest to the spectator who is trapped for two hours approx. in a genuine visual spectacle . Idealism ,humor , humanity , several agreeable characters and trademark effects abound and will please the enthusiasts such as the neophyte .

The top-notch acting convinces with the usual deliciously flamboyant interpretations from Shatner , Nimoy , Koenig , Takei , Nichols and especially Christopher Plummer in a super-villain role , while other secondary players as Kim Cattrall, Mark Lenard , Brock Peters, John Schuck , Micheal Dorn , Kurtwood Smith also make a nice work . The stirring final amazing the spectator , in which the thrilling 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 . Fans of the series may find much to love , and others will be pleased . Exceptional soundtrack by Cliff Eidelman , he composes an impressive musical accompaniment to the film . Furthermore , a colorful and evocative cinematography by Hiro Narita . The motion picture is stunningly directed by Nicolas Meyer (Star Trek II : Wrath of Khan , Time after the time , The deceivers , The day after) who also concocted the story . Suitable for family viewing , it's an enjoyable adventure which young and old men will enjoy . Fans of the series will find this entry very amusing and fun . It is entertaining to watch and Trekkies are sure to love it , resulting to be one of the best and last installments with the original characters .

A fitting end for the crew of the NCC-1701-A.

[colonel_green · 9/10 · 14 September 2004]

The journey that began on the small screen in 1967 comes to its end on the big screen in 1991, after three TV seasons, six films, and the creation of a cultural phenomenon unrivaled in the history of television. The crew of the original series had met with mixed results on the big screen, producing the excellent The Wrath of Khan, but also the inexcusably bad The Final Frontier; the other four ranged from passable to good. After the financial failure of Star Trek V, Paramount brought back Star Trek II director Nicholas Meyer, and commissioned from him the final voyage of the original cast. As Star Trek so often does, the events depicted mirror the glasnost of the late 1980s, as the collapse of the Soviet Union eased global tensions and heralded the beginning of a new era. In the Trek universe, the possibility of rapproachment between the Federation and the Klingon Empire raises the hackles of hardliners on both sides, and Kirk and co. must prevent the weak peace from being destroyed. The original cast is in fine form, all of them giving their all to make the (potentially) final appearances of their characters memorable. Despite William Shatner's reputation as a ham actor, he delivers a great performance here; his final log entry is one of Trek's finest moments. As the villain of the piece, we get General Chang (Christopher Plummer), a Klingon out to insure "no peace in our time". Plummer is superb, chewing scenery and spewing Shakespeare with a wonderfully loathsome presence. I would rank Chang below Khan and the Borg Queen, but far above all the other Trek villains. There are some tacky anachronisms typical of Meyer's style, and the usual amount of discontinuities and canon issues; but that's inevitable, and I can accept it if it leads to a good story. Trek VI is a good story. 9/10.

Not exactly Shakespeare but still top quality

[David_Frames · 7/10 · 21 June 2005]

The final Trek for the original crew of the Enterprise restores the talent behind the camera including Star Trek II's Nicholas Meyer as director and thus intelligence and high production values are back on screen after the stagnant Star Trek V. The Undiscovered Country is a generous cut of the franchise's sweet meat though it doesn't hold the same place in my affections as Trek's II, III and IV. The story is the series at it's best - a deft allegory of the fall of Soviet Communism with the old cast having to question their old assumptions about those 'Klingon bastards' who are now suing for peace with their Federation foes. The ensuing political double crosses, assassinations and space battles are far meatier and more interesting than anything in the previous film and this is all counterbalanced by something approaching poignancy given that the movie represents a final fling for our quasi-geriatric heroes. The direction and visual effects are top notch with Meyer getting the best out of the classic cast including a surprisingly descent turn from Shatner who rediscovers a bit of the old magic as a Kirk trying to reconcile his hatred of the enemy and his personal resentment against the practicalities of the peace initiative. Its really his movie, though Spock and McCoy have some good moments and Christopher Plummer's General Chang provides prime cut villainy with just a glint in his eye (literally just the one eye) and a stroke of his Klingon moustache. His propensity to quote Shakespeare is a bit of a hoary old cliché for your would-be enemy but it works nicely as a hallmark of a man who has invested in the culture of his adversaries in an attempt to best them intellectually. As a military man with an less than honourable agenda he's a far more convincing villain than any megalomaniac hell bent on world domination, partially because writers Meyer, Nimoy and Flinn understand that the real world grounding of the story invests it with a edge and a credibility that might otherwise be wanting. There are a few false notes - The Enterprise rescue of Kirk and McCoy has always felt a bit too clean and easy for my liking and the purple Klingon blood is just inaccurate for continuity purposes but I'll put my hands up to pedantry on that one. The major faux pas though is the final 'sign off' from the crew in which their signatures are 'written' across the screen. Its not the idea that's wrong its the fact we're looking at the actor's signatures and not those of the characters. It feels like a bit of mis-step because it betrays a misunderstanding of the fact that it's the characters that made the series fly not an interest in William Shatner, Deforrest Kelly and so on. From the moment I first saw it it never felt right to me but still, there you go. Gene Rodenberry just got to see this before he died and a good job too because I think he'd have been satisfied that his original crew had gone out on a something of a high note. He'd also never see the 4 movies that followed with the Next Generation cast and for that alone he may have got out at just the right time.

One of the best in the series!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 7 October 2002]

In the theatre years ago when I saw this film I thought gosh this is really different for a Star Trek film. It had so much suspense and conspiracy, and so much mystery that this was one of the best films in the collection. The acting is great, the action and the effect are superb, and the music is very good! I recommend this to all Star Trek and sci-fi film fans!

True to the milieu, but ...

[chrissch · 6/10 · 22 April 2001]

Star Trek VI is as faithful to the world of the original Star Trek as anything done since then. And its visual effects are good. For that, I rated it a 6.

But the story is recycled and stale. Federation vs. Klingons vs. Romulans... you only get so many possible combinations before you *have* to recycle. And the two-dimensional characters that played so well in the late 60s -- Kirk's swagger and defiance of regulations, McCoy's crusty wisecracking past the graveyard, Sulu's cheerful and unquestioning loyalty, and the Klingons' I-double-dare-you truculence -- don't play in a world that's learned that characters have three dimensions. Only Spock ("Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the ending") and one of the Klingons ("Kirk ... don't let it end like this") seem to have evolved at all.

In its original incarnation, Star Trek's drama fit the times. It was the Cold War era, and American culture -- especially its political culture -- saw good and evil as white and black. In that context, Star Trek not only fit, it was progressive. And Star Trek VI is a great chapter in that world which, for many, lives on. But the real world has evolved while the future world of Kirk and the crew has stayed, paradoxically, in the past. To a world that's learned to see shades of gray, and even pieces of the rainbow, Star Trek VI is just a comic book brought to life.

Classic Space Opera

[itamarscomix · 9/10 · 24 May 2005]

The final Star Trek film to feature the original cast is an enormous improvement after the awful fifth film, and might just be the best in the series. Much of it is probably thanks to the return of director Nicholas Meyer, who is responsible also for the classic Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (while film III through V were directed by cast members). Meyer's very professional directing shows in every scene on ST-VI, and the old cast - William Shatner (Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelly (McCoy), James Doohan (Scotty) and the rest - give here what is without doubt their finest performance. Mind - Shatner and Nimoy are by now 60 years old, while Kelly and Doohan are well into their 70s. But there isn't a trace of the pathetic silliness that characterized the fifth movie; Meyer knows what to do with these aging actors that wouldn't make them look like idiots. What we see in Star Trek VI is a much more mature approach, and the crew members have to face, more than an outside enemy, their own aging, and their fear of change. That fear is a key element here, and it's an issue that is well handled and is always relevant.

While the old cast members are doing splendidly here, the movie introduces some fantastic new characters. First and foremost, the experienced Shakespearean actor Christopher Plummer makes a fascinating villain in the conservative and suspicious Klingon General Chang, endlessly throwing out Shakespeare quotes on every turn. ('You haven't truly enjoyed Shakespeare until you've read it in the original Klingon') Also, Kim Cattrall, who achieved much success lately in the acclaimed 'Sex And The City'), plays the Vulcan Lt. Valeris and gives a great performance. Finally, David Warner gives a brief but memorable performance as the visionary Chancellor Gorkon. The real stars here, though, are Shatner and Kelly, whose attempt to save the Chancellor's life, as well as their trial for assassination before a Klingon court (CAMEO: Michael Dorn, who plays Worf in the Next Generation, plays Kirk and McCoy's attorney here - Colonel Worf. An ancestor, probably) make for some of the best scenes ever seen on Star Trek. The directing and camera work are splendid, and the script has just the right amount of self humor, which was dreadfully lacking from the fifth movie (e.g.: Spock: 'If I were human I believe my response would be "go to hell." ...If I were human.' All in all, a remarkable sign off for the original crew of the Enterprise and one of the best sci-fi movies of all time.

Cold War In Space

[zkonedog · 6/10 · 12 March 2017]

Up to this point in the Star Trek movie series, each film harkened back to a specific aspect of the Star Trek: Original Series television show. "Wrath of Khan" was an action/adventure story, "Search For Spock" pulled at the heartstrings, "Voyage Home" was a comedic romp, and "Final Frontier" was a philosophical endeavor (albeit a failure). In "The Undiscovered Country", however, the Star Trek writers/producers focused on an area that had also been a solid part of the original TV series: politics.

Without delving too deeply into plot details, this film uses the Federation/Klingon relationship to almost exactly parallel the U.S/U.S.S.R relationship. This symbiosis is successful in two ways: First, the similarities are not cheesy (like in Rocky IV, which went way over the top in depicting the U.S./Russia relationship). Second, the reason that the similarities do not stray into silliness is the acting of William Shatner as Captain Kirk. Throughout the earlier movies, Kirk's relationship with the Klingons went from mistrust to out and out hatred, as they were involved in the death of his son. Thus, in this film Kirk must also comes to terms with his prejudice, or risk being labelled a "dinosaur" and considered past his prime.

If you were disenfranchised by the sub-par Star Trek V, this movie represents a step forward again. It dwells too much on already-covered themes to truly be great but it is watchable and enjoyable.

One of the best 'Star Trek' Films

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 17 March 2019]

After an ecological disaster the future of the Klingons is in doubt; there only chance of survival is forging a peace with the Federation. A reluctant Captain Kirk is ordered to take the Enterprise to a rendezvous point and escort the Klingon chancellor to the peace conference. They meet and have a dinner together then, shortly after the Klingons return to their ship, it appears as though the Enterprise is firing on them even though nobody on the bridge is giving any such orders. In the immediate aftermath two men in Star Fleet uniforms beam aboard the Klingon vessel and shoot many people including the Chancellor before leaving again. Wishing to prove their innocence Kirk and Dr McCoy beam over to help but are arrested and ultimately jailed on a frozen penal colony. If they are to survive they must escape from their prison and their colleagues aboard the enterprise must find out who is the true villain behind the attempted sabotage of the peace conference.

Too my mind this is one of the best 'Star Trek' films. The story is top notch; providing good reasons for the events we see. This leads to plenty of action scenes; a sense of peril, especially for Kirk and McCoy; and, something we don't usually get in 'Star Trek' films... a mystery. This mystery means that much of the fil can be looked on as a sci-fi police procedural/spy thriller as the crew sift the evidence, hunt down clues and close in on the real culprits. While the identity of the most important of these culprits wasn't too surprising their motivation wasn't quite as villainous as one might expect. As well as action and mystery there were moments of humour; notably a Klingon warrior who constantly quotes 'the Klingon playwright' Shakespeare! The cast does a fine job; as one would expect all the regulars impress in their established roles; also notable are Kim Cattrall, as Lt. Valeris; David Warner, as Chancellor Gorkon; Christopher Plummer as Chang and Iman as the shapeshifting prisoner Martia. While only in a small part it was fun seeing Michael Dorn, who will later play Worf, as the Klingon lawyer representing Kirk and McCoy at their trial. Overall I'd say this is a must see for all Star Trek fans.

Forced Cold War analogy doesn't quite work.

[jckruize · 6/10 · 18 August 2003]

This 6th installment in the franchise (the last with the full original TV cast) risks harming co-writer/director Nicholas Meyer's reputation as auteur of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN. His script for this one, written with partner Denny Martin Flinn and based on an idea by Leonard Nimoy, is more than a little obvious and simplistic. In a way it seems almost a throwback to the original, relatively unsophisticated TV series; all the more surprising in contrast to the literacy and mature sensibilities of KHAN's scenario, originally written by Jack B. Sowards and supposedly vastly polished and improved by Meyer's doctoring.

What worked especially well in KHAN -- the larger than life villainy of Ricardo Montalban's title character, eloquently expressed in quotations from Melville, among others -- is here rather hammily echoed by Christopher Plummer as the Klingon General Chang. Unfortunately, his character's ferocity seems designed simply to fulfill the story's requirement of a baddie who can engage in a 'duel of wits' with Kirk, as in STII. But there's no backstory and no dramatic connection between the two warriors, and to be honest, Plummer's overwrought Shakespearean readings become old pretty fast.

The parallel between the collapse of the Soviet Union in our time, and that of the Klingon Empire in the 23rd century, could have been quite effective if dramatized with more subtlety and believability. But again and again the proceedings here are undermined by obviousness and by-the-numbers plotting. We get Kirk as an unrepentant Klingon-hater who must eventually see the error of his ways. We get the insufferably smug Enterprise officers (?) showing disgust at their Klingon guests' table manners. We get a clichéd prison camp of horrors. And we get the unintentional comedy of actors who memorize their script and never listen to their fellow actors, or the director, to come to a consensus on how to pronounce "Gorkon."

There are a few fine scenes, particularly a harrowing demonstration of the power of the Vulcan mindmeld as performed by Nimoy and Kim Cattrall, and a funny exchange between DeForest Kelley and Shatner which alludes to Kirk's conspicuous womanizing. But there are also some of the dumbest things you'll ever see in a Star Trek story. How about a starship crewman who doesn't wear shoes? Why? Because he has big clawed feet and can't find a single cobbler in the entire galaxy who can make a pair of boots for him! How about a shapeshifting creature who can not only transform her/its body into an exact replica of another person's, but manages to perfectly duplicate the clothes as well?! How about the spectacle of the Enterprise officers, having foiled an assassination attempt in the nick of time, being treated to a round of applause by a bunch of Federation diplomats? Yep, these are all just as stupid as they sound.

So which is it? Is Meyer a wizard or a hack? And is it "Gork'n" or "Gor-khan"?

A Fine End, Though By Far Not My Favorite

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 27 April 2006]

Let's get this out of the way: having Klingons bleed purple blood that looks like melted crayons is a really silly idea. Having the blood float in space is really cool and one of the best effects of the film, but purple? This takes away from the seriousness of the situation and I don't know who okayed such a stupid thing. But I digress...

We see the Original Cast on their last voyage, where they try to secure a peace treaty between the Klingons and Federation. Unfortunately, someone assassinates the Klingon Chancellor and Kirk/Bones are framed.

The film is great for a closing to the series, but also as a launching pad for the Next Generation universe. We see Worf's grandfather, and we see the Klingons moving into their TNG phase. We see Kirk and Bones working together to fight the wrongs assigned to them. We see Spock take full command of the Enterprise (something he was meant to do). Oh, and best of all, we see Christian Slater.

I already complained about the blood. And that's really the only thing I didn't like. I can complain they put David Warner (the Lexus guy) in this film as a Klingon after he appeared in part 5 as a human, but you probably didn't even notice until I pointed it out, did you? So yeah, it's fine. If you watched the other five, you are pretty much obligated to complete your run.

Chernobyl and Perestroika, but no Berlin Wall?

[The_Other_Snowman · 6/10 · 19 August 2010]

This is the second Trek movie by Nicholas Meyer, fan-favorite writer and director of "The Wrath of Khan". It has the same strengths: a plot based firmly in pulp history, some good action scenes, and a fairly serious tone. It also shares the same weaknesses: dull direction and photography, rampant militarism, and clichéd dialogue.

Kudos to the writers and producers and whoever for adding the political allegory. The Klingon Empire is collapsing due to a disaster of some sort, and it presents the Federation with a perfect opportunity, either to finally defeat their old enemies, or to turn over a new leaf and make friends. If you've seen The Next Generation, you'll know the outcome.

The problem is that this is all rather tawdry. It turns out that the 23rd century is a lot like the present day, with politicians and military types and conferences everywhere you look. Remember the days when the Enterprise explored space and encountered exciting new alien life forms? None of that here. This is a much more old-fashioned adventure, with Kirk and Bones framed for assassinating the Klingon leader and shipped off to a prison planet while Spock and the gang try to solve the mystery of exactly what the heck happened.

The middle third of the film moves slowly. The prison is full of aliens but otherwise a bit drab. The villain is not revealed as such until late, and doesn't get developed at all. The mystery is never as convincing as it should be because it always seems like Spock already has all the answers -- a technique Nicholas Meyer learned from old Sherlock Holmes films, though not from the genuine Holmes stories. Those stories are quoted along with an awful lot of Shakespeare; the Klingon in charge of the prison lifts his intro speech direct from "Bridge on the River Kwai". The climax is pretty sharp, with a decent space battle. (Actually, the battle consists almost entirely of the Enterprise getting repeatedly shot at by a Klingon ship while Christopher Plummer spits out random Shakespearean one-liners; it's a wonder the scene works at all).

So it's not a bad film, it just feels a little small. Galactic politics don't carry enough weight to make a really good movie, and there's not enough fun or adventure in the rest of the story. As usual, the unwieldy plot tends to crowd the characters out of the film, even though this, the last movie with the original crew, is where we really want to see each of our heroes get a good send-off.

Outstanding send-off

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 20 July 2017]

Having been one of the shows that was part of my childhood and growing up, the original 'Star Trek' still holds up as great and ground-breaking, even if not perfect.

The last of the six 'Star Trek' films based off the original series, 'The Undiscovered Country' is also one of the best of the six. Along with 'The Wrath of Khan' (the best) and 'The Voyage Home'. It is also a huge improvement over 'The Final Frontier', which wasn't that awful to me but by far the most problematic of the six (more so than 'The Motion Picture') and deserves its reputation as the worst 'Star Trek' film based off the original series, whether it is the worst overall counting the 'Next Generation' films is debatable.

Not a perfect film by all means. It is a little too talky in places with parts needing a little more clarity, while the ending felt rushed and overblown even if visually epic and exciting as well.

However, 'The Undiscovered Country' is one of the best-looking 'Star Trek' films, with a noticeably grander budget than the previous film, the sets are elaborate, the whole film is beautifully shot and the special effects are some of the most epic and most audacious of all six films put together. The film is beautifully, hauntingly and rousingly scored, a clever score with a wide range of emotions.

Returning a more than welcome return, Nicholas Meyer delivers what is by far the best-directed 'Star Trek' film since 'The Wrath of Khan', there is a sense of loyalty to the original series while bringing his own style without being too ambitious.

Aside from having moments of being too talky and not quite as clear as it could have been, the script is a perfect balance of provoking thought, genuinely funny and beautifully timed humour, humanistic messaging and affectionate lampooning. The story has a dark political tone, while also a heart-warming affectionate air and great entertainment value. Clever Shakespearean touches too.

The character development, interaction and conflicts were always where 'Star Trek' particularly excelled. All the main characters are interesting and more complex than usual, even Kirk, while the supporting cast are in character and much better used.

Leonard Nimoy demonstrates perfectly why Spock is one of 'Star Trek's' most interesting and iconic characters, while William Shatner wisely reigns in more than usual and gives easily his best performance of the six films and actually much better than the original series as well. DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are also spot on, Kim Catrall is not bad at all and Christopher Plummer is a superb villain (both menacing and fun, ties with Khan as my favourite cinematic 'Star Trek' villain).

In summary, outstanding, the original 'Star Trek' couldn't have had a better send off. 9/10 Bethany Cox

The best of the bunch with the original cast. A great send-off!

[elgatony · 10/10 · 4 May 2004]

You don't have to be Einstein to figure out the Klingon Empire represented the Soviet Union in the original series and films so it's fitting Kirk's old foes should re-appear and give the crew it's final adventure at a time when similar questions raised in the film faced the old Soviet Empire.

This is the best of the film series for several reasons. The timeliness of the film's release with real-world events. (Funny how Col. West had a contingency plan for terrorism along the Federation's border. Made me wish we had one prior to 9-11) The issue of how people can be frightened of drastic change (what a very Clinton-esque message) mirroring Kirk and crew's emotional baggage helps propel the plot forward and makes it believable.

A great tense score and tight editing (sorry, no overlong speeches and theorizing) combined with terrific performances from Christopher Plummer and the best yet from the original ensemble kept me glued to my seat the whole time. Additional characters are actually relevant, unlike Saavik, the Marcuses, et al., and although I should have seen it coming I was surprised how far-reaching the conspiracy to kill Gorkon actually was, even including a Vulcan! Fun cameos from Michael Dorn, Christian Slater and Iman lighten the mood. Her presence finally makes McCoy quip to Kirk "What is it with you, anyway?" which is something that should have been said years ago. Must be the girdle. The Klingon attack scene at the end is great unrelenting action and was better than Khan's attack on the Enterprise in Part II (see my comments on that film to get an idea).

"The Undiscovered Country" is essentially a mystery in space with political overtones and it's great fun watching Spock and Valeris unravel the mystery piece by piece. Valeris (Kim Cattrall)is given more to do than Saavik ever was. The only nit-picking comments I have is just why couldn't the assassins just throw the boots out the window? If an explosion in space wasn't monitored until the shockwave hit the Excelsior, how would the Enterprise find the boots? Would the NCC-1701 just shift gears into reverse?

A lot has been made about the clock errors. To me, it's not terribly important since it's just background and your attention should not be there anyway. It was a bad idea to include such a prop though.

The only wasted role belongs to Scotty but he had his moment of greatness in "The Voyage Home" during the transparent aluminum scenes. He also delivers the corniest line of the film during dinner with the Klingons: "Maybe we are looking at something of that future here!" Well, duh!

Everything that made Star Trek great is in this film: action, great one-liners from McCoy and Chekhov, the peace message, the Klingons, Spock's logic skills, literary quotes and celebrity cameos makes "The Undiscovered Country" a worthy send-off to perhaps the most celebrated ensemble cast in entertainment history. Even if you're not a Trek-fan, you would enjoy this picture and is well worth the rental/purchase.

Excellent. Utterly compelling.

[SocialD · 10/10 · 8 December 1998]

This is a taut political thriller that rivals Dune for impact, if not for complexity. The issues explored here are both timely and universal. Somehow, this mixes the Star Trek mythos with commentary on the Cold War, race relations and military down-sizing. It is indescribable how cool this movie is.

It's Dead, Jim!

[gazzo-2 · 7/10 · 23 September 1999]

Well, this Was actually one of the better ones in the run, wasn't it? Right up there with Khan, the one where they save the Whales, and where the Borg get whacked by the Bald Guy....all of'em pretty good, fun to watch, etc.

I think they sent off the old guys in a proper, fitting way, with Bones and the rest kayoing the Klingons. It's too bad such putrid films as the first one(Dull, DUll DULL!!!) and #5(or, Captain Quirk gets to Direct) are still floating round out there to sully a generally good series' luster.

But, looking round and seeing some comments in here about how crappy Star Wars is, missing Trek...guys, get a grip. Star Wars leaves this series in its wake big time, and there ain't any getting round that fact. Even Jar Jar.

The story is engaging with good subtexts, the action is exciting, the performances roundly good and, most importantly, it is fun

[bob the moo · 8 January 2007]

The Klingon empire is on the edge of destruction but not by the sword by but the destruction of a power planet and the pollution of the empire's atmosphere. The Klingons approach the Federation to talk peace and Kirk and the Enterprise are dispatched to rendezvous with their Chancellor to escort him and his entourage to the peace talks. After a night awkwardly "entertaining" the Klingon party, they return to their ship when, out of nowhere, it appears that the Enterprise fire on the Klingon ship before two crew members board to assassinate the Chancellor. However this leaves Kirk and McCoy the prisoners of the Klingons with the Federation unable to reach them for fear of derailing what little is left of the peace process. Meanwhile Spock tries to piece together what happened and rescue his friend.

After the rather flat part V, it was a positive sign to see writer of the superior parts II and IV and director of II returning to the film series. And indeed it proved to be as this was yet again fuel for the myth of the "odd number curse" of the Star Trek films as it turned out to be one of the stronger of the original films. The plot is a great bit of action with its basis in political conspiracy while Spock gets to play Sherlock back on the Enterprise. The parallels with real life peace movements and the difficulties of preparing for peace are interesting but not forced down your throat. Many viewers will get the references to Adlai Stevenson in the Cuba Missile Crisis ("don't wait for the translation"), the use of the famous Nixon proverb and generally the theme of Kirk struggling to come to terms with the idea of peace after so many years of war and loss to the Klingons; however if you don't get them it doesn't matter.

The action works well and is delivery with confidence by Meyer but it also helps that his script does make for a strong story (unlike the fifth film for example). The humour of the film is much better as well as it is an addition and doesn't feel out of place (again, like it did in the fifth film). There are some nice touches in here but my personal favourite is the reference to Shatner's ego in the "I can't believe I kissed you" line (again a welcome awareness within the series after Shatner ran amuck across the fifth film). Shatner is much better here than before. He is reigned in and is still hammy but he has material to work with and he does well. Nimoy has fun with his investigation while Kelley provides the usual stuff in a good way. Support from Doohan, Nichols and others is as good as always. Cattrall is OK while Warner has more to do than in the last film. Dorn makes the link to the next generation of films and, importantly, the film is given a good "baddie" in the shape of Chang. Picking up from Khan, Plummer delivers a deliciously hammy villain, complete with Shakespeare quotes, and provides a great adversary for Shatner's Kirk.

Overall then a fitting sign-off for the original crew and one of the stronger of the original films. The story is engaging with good subtexts, the action is exciting, the performances roundly good and, most importantly, it is fun.

Quite simply one of my favourites...

[MuggySphere · 7/10 · 10 August 2003]

I have all ten Star Trek movies and Star Trek 6 and Insurrection are amongst my favourites of all ten films closely followed by Star Trek First Contact.

This entry didn't feel like an extended TV episode but did in fact feel like a movie. It had a good story, reasonably solid performances by all the leads, and was quite serious with a good balance of humourous moments and serious ones.

I'm quite comfortable to give it a 8/10

Classic!!!

[trek-5 · 10/10 · 2 December 1998]

I think that STVI is the greatest Trek film ever. The reason I think it is better then ST:FC is because First Contact was on such a large scale; save all of humanity from oblivion. Well, that's nice and all, but STVI was a part of Trek history. Peace with the Klingons, who would have guessed it. Peace with the Russians, who would have guessed it. Which brings me to my next point, it parallaled current world situations (which is why I bring up the USSR). It's a brilliant movie that will last the test of time.

Worth putting in the little extra required to keep this from remaining totally Undiscovered, but do not expect it to challenge the better entries in the series.

[johnnyboyz · 6/10 · 1 August 2011]

The fifth sequel to 1979's original Star Trek motion picture is a rather odd, yet oddly compelling all at once, political-come-conspiracy thriller featuring insiders; assassination attempts; betrayals; jailbreaks; peace treaties and a whole bunch of unease born out of an array of superpowers begrudgingly coming together as one, at a designated place, to try and thrash things out – oh, and there's some space travel stuff featuring those whom we all know and love on what appears to be their final voyage. It isn't that the sixth Star Trek film isn't any good, on the contrary; it's moderately involving and makes fairly good use of what its biting off, but there is a clammy sense of emotional disassociation to proceedings; an episodic sense of people going through motions rather than undertaking an adventure and shipping off to exotic, creative, previously unseen locales to do battle with that which lies ahead. The Undiscovered Country is Star Trek by way of Tom Clancy; this is Alistair MacLean does spaceships, and yet in spite of this, it remains a difficult film to truly dislike out of its inherent ability to have us as involved as we are in this procession of injustice and races against time.

The film will open with an instrumental score accompanying the opening titles, beginning somewhat quietly compared to the levels it will reach, before building and building into something rather sinister that appears to 'clash' with that of a more rousing; more triumphant element to the music wedged in there amongst proceedings. They clash for supremacy, and perhaps fittingly, the film will go on to document something rather rousing or triumphant, in the form of a peace process between rival inter-galactic species, that eventually comes under threat from a disturbing element of sabotage by certain other folk. After a huge explosion at an off-radar Klingon locale, which is eventually revealed as their chief energy source for life, the oft overly hostile aforementioned beings are forced into retiring their usual demeanour of aggression so as to forge some kind of bond with the more peaceful; more liberal United Federation of Planets, their long-standing enemy.

Such news eventually reaches that of William Shatner's Starfleet Captain James Kirk; whom, along with most of his crew, are drafted into a top secret meeting prior to which faithful engineer Montgomerie Scott (Doohan) establishes some retirement plans he and the team had in mind. Disaster, in that regard, strikes; Kirk and co. are charged with heading out into space once more to rendez-vous with a chief Kligon ship so as to escort them back to Earth as it's revealed to him they're gunning for peace. Kirk is unamused; I suppose you would be if your mortal enemy for the duration of your career decided to run up the white flag on the eve of your permanent quitting time. Kirk, as it happens, despises the Klingon's and cannot care as to whether their kind is under threat from extinction; the film, we feel, missing a trick in putting Kirk through the wringer he goes through without allowing his opinions to change on such a stance when misestimation turns out to play a key role in the film.

The film has some fun with the Enterprise's coming into contact with the Klingon crew, led by Christopher Plummer's wonderful General Chang: a smirking; snarling villain with war scars all over his body, whom enjoys sizing himself up against Kirk. As warriors of space, he of the physicality of warfare, Kirk's prowess lying with that brilliant mind of his and their primary clashing is good value. The initial alienation between the crews are evident in Uhura's (Nichols) comment of "Guess who's coming to dinner", a line that, with McCoy's (Kelley) take on Klingon's as ".....all look(ing) alike to me" imbues proceedings with a certain sense of racial tension. After that proverbial dinner, an uneasy coming together prior to the trip to the meeting, disaster strikes and the Enterprise appears to fire on the Klingon vessel; causing mass damage and, to rub salt into the wounds, allowing someone to anonymously beam aboard armed to the teeth able to execute each of the Klingon council.Fingers, or whatever it is certain species possess within the Star Trek universe that constitutes towards digits on the ends of hands, are immediately pointed towards both Kirk and McCoy thus allowing for their arrest, trial and consequent imprisonment on a sub-zero penal planet.

The film sprouts out into varying directions from thereon, that wily stalwart Spock taking control of the ship and instigating a detective strand to try and discover what actually happened as Kirk and McCoy try to escape from a jailed existence, that ought to have been more Hellish than it is and arrives with a certain amount of humour, as the peace process gently looms over everything. Essentially, the film is one of the "one last job" ilk; an often enjoyable framework that here sees Kirk once more brave the hostilities of the known galaxy when he really ought to be somewhere very different with his feet up writing memoirs. One wonders as to where one retires within the domains of the Star Trek universe; some specialist planet close enough to a respective sun keeping it constantly warm, perhaps - populated only by whitewashed villas and large lakes rife with never-ending supplies of Marlins. We enjoy the balance between strands Nicholas Meyer applies to proceedings, the film peppered with bits and pieces here and there that total up a good time. There is the gradual uncovering of the truth surrounding the situation; there is Somali-born model Iman's brief, slinky performance as the inmate whose presence on the prison planet we scoff at before being put in our place as well as the usual space battles and the rooting for the familiar faces to thwart the villains resulting in a differing, although sporadically wholesome, entry.

Underrated Movie, not understood by trekkies and non-trekkies alike

[jeffpc · 10/10 · 9 March 2003]

Star Trek Movies are far more miss than hit, with only 3 excellent, 1 good and the rest rubbish (although NEMESIS may be slightly above rubbish level). Anyway, this movie was meant to contrast 60s style leadership and ethics with those of the 80s. Borrowing from the modern leadership styles and political correctness portrayed in the Next Generation series, "The Undiscovered Country" explores (in typical Hollywood sci-fi fashion) how our present day society has progressed toward multiculturalism. It explores how committed, loyal patriots can be burdened with their old prejudices after the world/universe has changed around them. The personal struggles of Kirk and the Chancellor's daughter, and even the violently opposed logical conclusions of two Vulcans in the same circumstances (but with differing priorities) are all clearly missed by most viewers. Of course, as with James Bond movies, Jim Kirk and his crew must save the day (and also nicely throw in some minor Star Trek future history trivia with the Khitomer massacre etc). An excellent story line, excellent themes, carefully produced and directed, this is a science fiction classic on par with Alien, Blade Runner and, yes, much better than any of the Star Wars movies.

modestly satisfying

[carlsez_1 · 6/10 · 14 February 2009]

All in all, a modestly satisfying movie. But at times ST VI treads very close to the line of mediocrity. The issue is that it tries to do two things at once: be a serious drama while serving as a send-off of the original crew. That doesn't have to be a difficult task and generally it does work, but barely for me.

The problem is that it takes the campy fun too far. Mixed within serious drama it looked too contrived and sometimes only to be cute; the struggling with Klingon translations scene being the most wince-inducing. It goes back to ST IV, an entertaining movie that became a borderline screwball comedy almost because it knew it couldn't avoid self parody. The movies seemed to run out of compelling reasons to exist other than to just bring back the old crew. And that's a pretty flimsy excuse for a series that was so compelling.

But Trek fans would have none of this nay saying. We were going to get ST films even if we could not suspend disbelief that retiree-age star fleet officers could be on the front line battling Klingons.

Best of the original 6

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 31 December 2013]

The Klingon home world Kronos is in trouble after its moon Praxis explodes. It's estimated that Kronos has 50 years of life left. The Klingon Chancellor Gorkon and Ambassador Sarek want a permanent peace. Spock volunteers Kirk and the Enterprise to escort the Chancellor to Earth for peace talks. Kirk is not happy. He hates them for the murder of his son David, and he doesn't trust them. The thing is he's not the only one. A conspiracy is afoot to derail the peace process for good.

This is obviously alluding to the end of the Cold War in our time. The parallels to the old Soviet Union is unmistakable. Christopher Plummer is wonderful strutting around spouting Shakespeare. This is a fitting end to the original 6 and arguably the best of them. The special effects and production value is superior to ST5. And it has seismic implication for the Star Trek universe. It is a great movie with a thrilling political mystery to boot.

Still my favourite Star Trek Film.

[Fred_Mopkopf · 10/10 · 3 August 2018]

I actually think this is the best of the Star Trek movies. Why? At first I couldn't pinpoint it myself, but I found myself re-watching it the most of all the Treks. I may be of a strange type, as I also like TMP a lot, but I finally found out what I like so much about it, and this is nothing new for all the fans of the film: It's a simple whodunnit you can enjoy also if you're not a Trekkie. Even if you don't know the backstories of Kirk & co., you can savour the thriller aspect of it. And on top of that the screenplay is simply a good one. The story moves along and events unfold at the right pace and there is no cringe-worthy dialogue as far as the eye can see. Actually, the opposite is true: I think Spock's line "What we require now is a feat of linguistic legerdemain and a degree of intrepidity before the Captain and Dr. McCoy freeze to death" is SO GREAT that I memorized it and use it on my job in variations when someone is slow. With this movie, Nicholas Meyer has proven (again) that he really knows what he's doing as a writer/director. And on a Star Trek film, this is not - nor has it ever been - a simple feat.