by Ryan Burton

Created on: August 20, 2008

Growing up, I had developed a great affection towards "Star Trek". I have watched virtually all the television shows, and seen all ten films (with more coming along the way). As any fan or non-fan of the show would tell you, the greatist entry is, no doubt, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Seeing as how that film has withstood the test of time in more than twenty-five years, I could not agree more.

To some who may have heard about this film, but have never seen it, it is really easy to sum it up.

The first thing to know is that it's a sequel to an original "Star Trek" series episode from 1967 called "Space Seed". In that episode, we meet a character named Khan Noonien Singh (played brilliantly by Ricardo Montoban). We learn that Khan is a genetically-engineered superman who tried to take over the world in a ghastly conflict called the Eugenics Wars. A civil war that broke out during the 1990's (which thankfully did not happen in real life). However, Khan was overthrown, and mananged to escape with 72 other engineered supermen aboard a "sleeper-ship" (suspended-animation) called the S.S. Botany Bay. Three centuries later, the ship is discovered by Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner), and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise (a Federation-Starship). Before they discover who Khan is, he commanders the ship (with the help of a fellow crew member named Marla McGivers), and nearly kills Kirk. Eventually, Kirk defeats Khan, and decides to exhile him (and McGivers) to a barren planet called Ceti Alpha V.

From there, the movie sets itself up 15 years after the events of that episode. We find Kirk now an Admiral of Starfleet, and Mr. Spock (played forever gracefully by Leonard Nimoy) now as the Captain of the Enterprise (which is now a training ship for new crewmembers). The movie does center mostly on Kirk's issues with aging, and how he wishes to get back his own command. This is shown more with Kirk mentoring a younger officer named Saavik (played by Kristie Alley in the role that first gained her public attention) with a test program for crew members called the Kobayashi Maru. It is designated as a "no-win" situation for crewmembers, and Kirk is the only one who ever beat it by reprogramming it. Basically, he changed the rules.

As we return to Ceti Alpha V, we find Khan still alive after he is discovered by another Federation ship, but has lost the love of his life (Marla McGivers) to the planet's "indiginous lifeforms". As a result, he blames Kirk for her death,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>