Star Trek V - The Final Frontier

Rating:
Summary: Good Compared to Some, Bad Compared to Star Trek
Review: There are so many bad movies out there, it's difficult to get too upset about Star Trek V. In fact, compared to the sludge that Hollywood mostly produces, this is an above average film. The plot while a bit silly, is moderately coherent. It does attempt to engage the viewer intellectually, albeit in a clumsy manner. In some ways, therefore, it's exceptional.

The only problem is that it isn't exceptional compared to other Star Trek films; it is definitely the worst of the lot. Some things, such as Sybok allowing his emotions to govern him, are unforgiveable; the Vulcans learned emotional control in order to prevent violence from breaking out amongst them. Sybok's emotionality seems to suggest the Vulcans controlled their emotions to prevent hammy acting. Which is reasonable, but less compelling than the original explanation.

Overall, this is a "Rainy Saturday Afternoon With Nothing Better to Do" kind of film, a bridge between IV and VI that only occasionally seems worth watching. If you have a completion fetish or just want to ensure you don't miss ANY good Star Trek moments (and there are a few in this film), get it. If not, skip it.

Rating:
Summary: About as inconsistant as America's foreign policy
Review: I have Star Trek V: The Final Frontier on video and though it's definitely one of the worst of the Star Trek movies I actually enjoyed it for the most part and I enjoyed some of the humor even if it was a little corny and cheesy but unfortunatly some scenes in the movie were absolutely dreadful and stupid so I have mixed feelings about this movie, I liked some parts of the movie while I absolutely hated other parts but I definitely don't think this is the worst movie I have ever watched and I rate Star Trek V: The Final Frontier a 3 just for the scenes I kind of enjoyed, like the campfire scene, the scenes with Scotty etc but I definitely would not rate it higher then a 3.

Rating:
Summary: Not The Best, Not The Worst!
Review:
By now it's well known to all but the most sheltered fans that "The Final Frontier" is not the high point of the Star Trek universe. It was justifiably panned when it was first released, and continues to be panned by many fans of Trek. You can attribute it to William Shatner's inept directing or to budget cuts on the part of the studio, but Star Trek V remains the weakest of the original Trek movies, although to be fair, the first one is a close second.

So what's wrong with this movie? Well, as other reviewers have commented, it has the feel of an episode from the original television series. This is not a necessarily a good thing, since what works on the more intimate small screen doesn't work on the big screen. As in most of the ST movies, there's a lot of emphasis on the characters and their relationships to each other. Sometimes this works, but sometimes it doesn't. The movie opens with the Big Three on a camping trip in Yosemite. They act like an old married couple (ok, an old married menage a trois) and go on about why they spend so much time together. Later, we're introduced to The Laughing Vulcan, aka Spock's half-brother Sybok, who hijacks the Enterprise and takes it on an unlikely quest to meet God, or a creature who claims to be him. Other highlights of the film include Uhura doing a song and fan dance to trick the enemy and later, after she's been Syboked, coming on to Scotty. During all this, Spock remains his usual stoic self, although at times he appears more grumpy than logical. The major problem, at least in this reviewer's mind is that the plot functions more as an excuse for the characters to interact than as a story that's interesting in itself.

To be fair, there are some good moments in "The Final Frontier." Some of the comedic interactions between the characters are worth watching. Consider the movie a reunion of old friends. From this perspective, it's probably not as bad as many people say. If you don't expect too much from it, you won't be disappointed. And be thankful that Star Trek VI was better.


Rating:
Summary: Finest of the "Trek" Films
Review: I must admit, I'm a bit dismayed by all the terrible reviews of this film. It especially angers me when I hear film critics refer to this film as "reviled by Trek fans and others alike." I have been, and continue to be, a Star Trek fan, and I consider ST 5 by far the best of the Star Trek films (including the Next Generation films). The commonly beloved ST films, including ST 2 and the inane ST 4, suffered from cheekiness. For some, that's alright, because all Star Trek ever was to them was an assortment of jokes and action scenes in space. Star Trek V managed to elevate above space shootouts and wisecracks (although it had those too), and deliver a thought-provoking and satisfying philosophical journey. Star Trek, at its best, dealt with difficult questions, with speculations about humankind, the future, and our place in the universe. At it's worst, it resorted to jokes and immediate dangers, with plots that can be summed up with "oh no, how do we save ourselves and the world from getting destroyed!" or cheap laughs (Trouble with Tribbles, ST IV). Star Trek V, although not a perfect film, gave us lasting questions--what is the nature of the divine, and how far will humans go to discover it? Are we deceived by the very thought that there is such a thing?
The characters are at their boldest and most exciting in ST V, with Kirk delivering classic performances, such as his insistance that he needs his pain, for it makes him what he is. Before ST V, I didn't really even like Captain Kirk, but I after it, he became one of my favorites (almost as great as Jean-Luc Picard). I suppose I'll never understand the shunning of this film by ST fans, who gobbled up some of the more nonsensical Trek projects.
But, lest it go completely battered and bruised, let me defend once more this spectacular film.
Please, film writers, don't claim that ST V is universally hated. This is coming from a hardcore Trek fan: at least one of us thinks that ST V is the greatest of the Trek films. I'm not embarrassed to admit it.

Rating:
Summary: A Trek movie for people who've actually seen Star Trek
Review: Ignore the one star reviews, because obviously those people have never watched a single Star Trek (1966-1969) episode in their lives. Let's not confuse the lame technobabble of "Next Generation" with the humor, adventure, and flying jump kicks of Star Trek.

Oh and, in case you weren't aware, the Enterprise went outside the galaxy all the time during Star Trek (1966-69). And surprise, the rocks were fake! Big deal.

So, to all you people giving this movie a 1 star rating, I bet $5 dollars you've never watched "Star Trek" (1966-1969) in your entire life... the Enterprise can't reach the barrier at the center of the galaxy, says who?


Rating:
Summary: Possesses a Wealth of Great Scenes! (4.5 Stars).
Review: This is an earnest and noble effort by William Shatner (who directed and plotted the film) to tackle a subject that only he and Star Trek would dare attempt. Unfortunately it's become law in Trekkerdom to pick apart this film as a turkey of astronomical proportions; Consequently a sort of bandwagon phenomenon has developed amongst the cookie-cutter fundamentalist Trekkers who have somehow failed to evolve to the level of independent thought. (They're no doubt still mad at Shatner for telling them to "get a life"). In fact, it's become such a cliche to hate Star Trek V that it has become the "Spock's Brain" of the feature films (but worse).

I must adamantly disagree. The Final Frontier certainly has its share of flaws -- the story goes over the edge into the realm of goofy camp at times and the special effects are merely passable in some areas, possibly the least of the feature films, but Star Trek was never about great special effects (disregarding The Motion Picture). Star Trek is about people, their joy of living and their grand spirit of exploration in space; this is what The Final Frontier is all about and it scores high marks in all these areas.

NO OTHER Trek film showcases the character interplay of the Kirk/Spock/McCoy troika to the level of intimacy shown in this film, and only The Voyage Home compares to (and arguably exceeds) the joyful energy of the characters displayed here. As far as the spirit of exploration goes, Star Trek V surpasses all other Trek adventures; after all, no exploration is greater than the quest for ultimate reality and the Supreme Creator. In fact, this picture powerfully touches on many important themes: personal pain, healing, faith, family, love, fanaticism/terrorism, the desire to know ultimate reality (absolute truth), God, false beliefs, loyalty, repentance and forgiveness; name another film in the series that successfully addresses so many weighty topics and yet remains entertaining. I guess most people would rather not think about such profound matters.

The film was actually doomed with critics and Trekker fundamentalists the moment it was disclosed that Shatner would direct it; the knives hit the sharpening stones well before it was ever released and once the buzz got out that it was a bad film a feeding frenzy ensued. It would have been much better received if Shatner had directed the film anonymously and if it were released after Star Trek III; as it was, it came out on the heels of Star Trek IV, the hands-down pinnacle of the feature films. If The Wrath of Khan had come out after The Voyage Home it would have been deemed a quite mediocre affair.

The bottom line is that Star Trek V is a more-than-great Trek outing; it possesses a wealth of great scenes. In fact, I love this film! It would have been even greater if the studio didn't repeatedly cut the budget the closer the film came to completion, thus robbing Shatner (and us) of his original vision. For those who don't share my enthusiasm, you AT LEAST have to admit that it's a good romp ("B" level or 3/5 stars). Personally, I'd pop in The Final Frontier any day before I'd watch The Wrath of Khan (sssnnnoooorrrre). By all means, watch it again for the first time.

Rating:
Summary: Star Trek V, should be rediscovered after all these years
Review: Sure the special effects are lacking, but this movie has heart,something lacking in the Next Generation movies and new Star Trek series. After 15 years this movie should be rediscovered and put with pride in any Trekker or Non-Trekker's collection.