#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Aaron Fitzgerald
“Ah, Kirk. Do you know of the Klingon proverb that says revenge is a dish best served cold? It is very cold in space.”
When Gene Roddenberry created Star Trek neither him nor the networks could imagine how incredibly huge this sci fi concept would become. With four television show spin offs, an endless amount of film sequels and a ton of merchandising Star Trek has reached just about every corner of the Earth. Love it, like it or hate it there is no denying that this franchise could very well be one of the biggest phenomenon’s the world has ever seen. A completely realized universe with its own rules, worlds, aliens and technology, Star Trek, has captured the imaginations of millions of people.
For a lot of people, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”, was a letdown. It was too long, too slow and there wasn’t enough action to keep us interested. In retrospect, looking at it now, I realized that the first film really did stay true to the Star Trek universe, but it lacked the excitement we had come to expect from a sci fi movie. Well, I’m sure Mr. Roddenberry and his team of producers at Paramount knew that they had to make up for the first film by giving us something much more fun and entertaining. In 1982 Gene and his cohorts introduced us to the second Star Trek film, “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, and all was forgiven.
“How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life.” Not just words, James T. Kirk. An admiral in Starfleet, Kirk is facing his age, his yearning to command a starship again and the estranged relationship with his son. Unfortunately, he will have to face more than that when he begins battling his arch enemy, Khan, in a cat and mouse game. James’s good friend, Doctor McCoy, confronts him on his birthday about getting back his command before he turns into one of his antiques, before he really grows old. Sometimes in life the things that bring us a personal satisfaction are the things that we love doing and can have a profound effect on how old we feel. Kirk is a starship captain at heart and that’s where he belongs. As his good friend, Spock, says, “Commanding a starship is your best destiny. Anything else is a waste.”
I think if I were to list my top ten villains in movies Khan would definitely be on that list. He embodies everything great about a sinister antagonist. He has a personal vendetta, he’s intelligent, a natural born leader and he is a cunning foe. The battle between Khan and Kirk isn’t just based on strength. Their conflict is resolved by a game of wits. And Kirk is in for a match. Khan, brilliantly played by Ricardo Montalban, has a more experienced crew, a powerful starship at his disposal and a dangerous weapon, The Genesis Device, which can destroy an entire planet.
This film isn’t just an action fare with spaceships blowing up. It’s much more. The movie explores the relationship between scientists and the military. The scientists, headed by Kirk’s ex-wife, Carol Marcus, have developed a machine that can create life on a lifeless planet. Scientists always attempt to advance their science for the benefit of mankind and the military wants to take their creations and use them as weapons. “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, tackles this moral dilemma subtly without resorting to vaulting up onto a soapbox about it.
Even if sci fi or Star Trek isn’t your thing, you might enjoy this flick. It’s a conflict on a personal level. It’s a story of a man rediscovering his true identity and finding redemption with his family. It’s an action filled fair. The performances are brilliant, yes, even William Shatner is good. “Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan”, is definitely a classic in every respect. There is a character arc. At the end Kirk utters the three words that define who he is as a person. He says, “I feel young.” May we all discover our true calling and fulfill our destinies.
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Friday, August 27, 2010 at 5:40PM
