Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.

Director:

Nicholas Meyer

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (television series Star Trek), Harve Bennett (story)

Stars:

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

3 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Shatner	...	Kirk
Leonard Nimoy	...	Spock
DeForest Kelley	...	McCoy
James Doohan	...	Scotty
Walter Koenig	...	Chekov
George Takei	...	Sulu
Nichelle Nichols	...	Uhura
Bibi Besch	...	Carol
Merritt Butrick	...	David
Paul Winfield	...	Terrell
Kirstie Alley	...	Saavik
Ricardo Montalban	...	Khan
Ike Eisenmann	...	Preston
John Vargas	...	Jedda
John Winston	...	Kyle

Storyline

It is the 23rd century. Admiral James T. Kirk is an instructor at Starfleet Academy and feeling old; the prospect of attending his ship, the USS Enterprise--now a training ship--on a two-week cadet cruise does not make him feel any younger. But the training cruise becomes a deadly serious mission when his nemesis Khan Noonien Singh--infamous conqueror from late 20th century Earth--appears after years of exile. Khan later revealed that the planet Ceti Alpha VI exploded, and shifted the orbit of the fifth planet as a Mars-like haven. He begins capturing Project Genesis, a top secret device holding the power of creation itself, and schemes the utter destruction of Kirk.

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Plot Keywords:

planet | space station | trap | taunt | jamming communications | 

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Taglines:

Beyond the darkness...beyond the human evolution...is Khan. A genetically superior tyrant. Exiled to a barren planet; banished by a Starship Commander he is destined to destroy. Left for dead, Khan has survived.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Startrek.com

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Star Trek II: The Undiscovered Country

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,347,221, 6 June 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$78,912,963

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$97,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 116 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nicholas Meyer described his vision of the film as "Horatio Hornblower in outer space", including elements of the novel series such as nautical references and a swashbuckling atmosphere. Gene Roddenberry disagreed with the script's naval texture and Khan's Captain Ahab undertones, but was mostly ignored by the creative team.

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Goofs

During many scenes of the Reliant in space, stars are visible through the Reliant's dark warp engines. Most noticeable when the ship flies past the camera after Kirk says "We don't have a few minutes!" This is seen as a goof, but is actually a limitation of the blue screen shots movie makers faced in the seventies and eighties.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Saavik: Captain's log: Stardate 8130.3. Starship Enterprise on training mission to Gamma Hydra, section 14, coordinates 22-87-4. Approaching Neutral Zone; all systems normal and functioning.
Sulu: Leaving section 14 for section 15.
Saavik: Standby. Project parabolic course to avoid entering Neutral Zone.
Sulu: Aye, captain.

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Crazy Credits

After the opening credits: "In the 23rd century..."

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Connections

Referenced in Desperate Measures (1998)

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Soundtracks

Amazing Grace (Scottish Bagpipes)
(uncredited)
Written by John Newton
Composed by James Horner
Conducted by James Horner
[Played during funeral scene]

User Reviews

One of the better "Trek"s....

I've always held a special place in my heart and mind for this second installment in the "Star Trek" movie series. Mostly, because this is a movie that appeals to both places.

Not only is this movie loaded with the original characters from the series, it also touches on such subjects as revenge, family, duty, age and, of course, sacrifice. That was the best thing about the series - that it touched on topics that were (pardon the expression) universal, no matter the species.

Everyone is uniformly fine right down the line, especially Montalban's Khan (returned from the "Space Seed" episode of the original series); all hatred, vengeance and single-minded of desire to see his enemy laid out before him. Namely, Kirk.

Alley is rather fetching as Saavik and it's a shame she wasn't carried over to the next film. I can't help but, seeing her on TV anymore, to expect her to raise an eyebrow in contemplation. Buttrick makes a complex character out of David, the son Kirk never knew he had. Hurt feelings and resentment meld somewhat explosively with a new-found father/son relationship.

And what can one say about Spock, Bones, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and Scotty? They are characters all of us grew up with and, pivotal to the plot at hand or not, it's always good to see them.

For anyone who hasn't seen the movie, I won't discuss it in great detail. The story is simple enough (scientists find way to rejuvenate life on dead planets; Khan finds escape from prison planet, vows revenge on Kirk), but there is one plot point that will, if you are unfamiliar with it, blow you away. Suffice it to say, never has friendship been elocuted so well in this or any movie before or since.

Ten stars and a special Kobuyashi Maru simulation for "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan". Watch it: it'll make you feel young again.