- What makes Khan such a great villain? Is it his history with the crew of the Enterprise? His genetically engineered megalomania? His affinity for Herman Melville? His memorable portrayal by Ricardo Montalban? Regardless, he is easily the best Star Trek villain since...ummm...that guy in the lizard suit. Okay, maybe not. In fact, Khan's the best there ever was, and the movie surrounding him is easily the best of the Star Trek films.
- At the film's start, the Enterprise and its crew are reunited as part of a training exercise designed to introduce fledgling Lt. Saavik (Kirstie Alley) to the possibility of a no-win situation. Fortunately, the trainee subplot mostly stays out of the way after providing an excuse to collect the Galaxy's bravest pentagenarians all in one place. Speaking of, Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) seems particularly conscious of his age after getting eyeglasses for his birthday, and we get the feeling that he misses his old job. So when the Enterprise receives a distress call from a research station headed by the lovely Dr. Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch), Kirk eagerly rushes to her rescue. Of course, the audience knows that Dr. Marcus' station has been targeted by the sinister Khan, who has applied some disgusting mind-control grubworms to Commander Chekhov (Walter Koenig) and Captain Terrell (Paul Winfield). Khan's partially interested in (stealing) the work Dr. Marcus and her son David (Merritt Butrick) have done on the Genesis Project, but his real priority is obviously James T. Kirk. Why? Channeling Ahab, Khan explains: "He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him!"
- The rest of the film is a thoroughly engaging contest of wills, ships, and strategy between two of the strongest personalities in the Universe. Khan leads with an ambush, and Kirk counters with a clever act of subterfuge. Khan sets a trap, but Kirk is spared. Khan strands Kirk, but he escapes. Their real-life chess match eventually leads them to the lightning-studded "Mutara Nebula," where the Enterprise delivers a crippling blow to Khan's ship. Appropriately, Khan quotes Ahab once again: "To the last, I will grapple with thee. From Hell's heart, I stab at thee! For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee!" Although Khan's vitriol is probably sufficient to destroy a starship, it's his detonation of the Genesis device that poses the real threat. Fortunately, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is there to save the day, although his solution to this particular no-win situation comes at a great price.
- I think The Wrath of Khan works primarily for two reasons. First, it recognizes that the most compelling part of Star Trek was always its cast of characters. Sure, the old TV series introduced the occasional interesting science fiction concept, but weren't most of the best episodes about people, both hero and villain alike? But Wrath of Khan also succeeds because it is willing to admit that these iconic characters can change. Now, instead of just "galloping around the cosmos," Kirk must acknowledge his illegitimate son. Instead of besting Khan with a jump-kick, the aging admiral must outthink his rival. Finally and most dramatically, Kirk must, along with legions of Star Trek fans, endure the death of a good friend. It's certainly a route that Star Trek hadn't boldly gone to before.
- I neglected to name most of the returning cast, but nearly all of them were there.
- Khan first appeared in an episode of the original series called "Space Seed", and we gather that his now-deceased wife may have been the woman who worshiped him in that episode.
