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reality and the politics with the end of the Cold War. It is due to the script that the more sombre approach is taken and the music for the film is far heavier than what we heard before. It is less dramatic in tone and is a far more heavier piece that plays over the credits and is heard throughout the film, the practice of continually referring the Star Trek theme at various times has been totally eliminated. It is also the inclusion of lines from Shakespeare that is also one of the many themes in the film and to hear the word "To be or not to be..." in Klingon is something that is a complete left field inclusion in the story.

It's easily noticeable that the set designers have gone for a similar approach last seen in the earlier films, thankfully far less colourful and bright than that of the previous film and is far darker in the colours of the tones that are used with a number of shots showing how tight the space actually is on the ship itself. We also get to see other areas of the ship such as the Galley and crew quarters as well which interestingly is a mix of both sexes rather than all male and female quarters. For me personally this is takes away a little of the sci-fi aspect and makes the whole set up a lot more believable in nature to watch.

I should also mention that the opening scene of the Klingon moon exploding is a treat to watch with the TV on maximum as this is the first Star Trek film to totally embrace the use of computer effects and which when used properly allows us to be introduced to a shape shifter in greater details using the morphing method. The shape shifter in the story, called Marta, is played by David Bowie's wife Iman. In fact I think its safe to say that one of the final shots of the Enterprise -A will be a mouth watering treat as the ship is shown in some granular detail and really does show off the effort and thought that Industrial Light and Magic have done with the special effects.

Overall this is definitely the best way in which the original crew departs the franchise as they are leaving on a high. The pressure they apply to the roles is somewhat of an acting tour de force in the nature of the Trek films. The story as a whole is epiphytical in nature; it is two races that don't really understand each other at all and are forced together in a scenario no-one thought about. Kirk having good reason to question everything as it was a renegade Klingon that killed his son, David Marcus, back in Star Trek III. Throughout the film the character is stand offish to the Klingons who are in a difficult position themselves. Shatner is obviously the leading man of the story with a lot of issues on his shoulders to deal with, but it is what is on his head that the eye is always focussing upon. The black hair has and has been replaced with a salt and pepper colour style, the style being slightly reminiscence of the earlier films and TV series of how Kirk had his hair styled. It is good to see that the remainder of the crew have had all their parts balanced out and are not ejected to just filling a space at the back of the screen. The sixth film is easily the better examples of this happening as well.

As with all my Trek DVD's, the version I have does not have any extras at all. But other releases since from Paramount have gone to town with Commentaries and Deleted Scenes. Meyer has since re-cut the film to flesh out some of the unanswered questions towards the end of the film as well as showing what the proposed opening sequence of pulling the characters out of retirement for the mission could have been. However in my mind the film is just right as it is and the quality of the film itself is something that the Next Generation crew has never really surpassed.

Learn more about this author, Tim Webb.
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