Star Trek - The Motion Picture
1980; 143 min.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley , James Doohan , George Takai, Majel Barret, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols
Academy-Award nominated movie that resurrected the 1966-69 TV series and spawned a successful big screen series that so far comprises nine titles.
Captain James T. Kirk returns to the helm of the newly transformed Enterprise, joined by his old shipmates. The mission: Stop a mysterious alien invader from reaching Earth, as it seemingly destroys everything it comes in contact with. On closer investigation, the entity, "V'ger," proves to be a machine of ancient Earth origins that wants to return home and free the planet of those pesky carbonated pests (us) to find its machine brethren. After it takes possession of one of the crew members, communication is possible, but will the crew find a way to make V'ger change its mission?
Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan
1982; 114 min.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley , James Doohan , George Takai, Majel Barret, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols
Generated from the original TV episode, "Space Seed," we meet again with Kirk's nemesis, Khan.
Previously (about 20 some years ago) banished by Kirk to a remote and hostile (!) planet, Khan and his followers manage to escape. Harboring, quite understandably, a grudge against the Enterprise crew, Khan proves to be a formidable opponent. However, since more sequels are waiting, our heroes will have to be victorious. Nevertheless, Spock bites the (space) dust in an emotional and action-packed showdown. But do not worry, we haven't seen the last of the long-eared Vulcan yet.
Star Trek III - The Search for Spock
1984; 105 min.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley , James Doohan , George Takai, Majel Barret, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols
Why are we searching? Well, seems as luck would have it, the Genesis project, developed by scientists including Kirk's son, just accelerated the planet's development that became Spock's grave site in part II. As a side effect, Spock's body also re-develops. However, there is a catch: Spock's mind is in Bones' head, who is none to happy about it, and needs to be reunited with its container. Against Starfleets' orders, the crew "kidnaps" the Enterprise to make things right. Unfortunately, the Klingons also have arrived on the Genesis planet, believing that Genesis is a powerful weapon they should possess.In the end, Spock will get to Vulcan to be reunited in an elaborate (are there any other kind?) Vulcan ceremony, but at a steep price: the Enterprise is blown into tiny little bits and Kirk's son finds death at the hand of the Klingons and perishes along with the planet he brought to life.
Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home
1986; 119 min.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley , James Doohan , George Takai, Majel Barret, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols
My personal favorite! Our renegade crew boards their new (?) Klingon cruiser, lovingly christened as "Bounty," to return home and stand trial for their actions. Unfortunately, yet another (sounds familiar, doesn't it?) mysterious entity has made its way to Earth first and is in the process of making it a blue planet only. Luckily, Uhura can figure out that the probe wants to make contact with humpbackwhales, a species that is extinct since the 20th century. Alas, off into the past to save the whales (and humankind) - did I mention, this movie was backed by Greenpeace?
Anyhow, as you can imagine, Vulcans and semi-Stone Age (our time) earthlings do not get along well, and Chekhov's Russian accent does not help either when asking for directions to "the nearest nuclear vessel."
All in all though, despite some minor and major mishaps, the crew manages to bring George and Gracie, a young humpbackwhale couple, along with a biologist to their time, where the whales send signals that appease the probe for now.
Of course, they've earned themselves a pardon after all that and a new Enterprise waits in space dock to take them where no man has gone before.
