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Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)

Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country (Special Edition)

List Price: $19.99
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The final journey of the original crew shines the brightest
Review: This is the last time the original crew comes together in its entirety (though Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov return in the extremely mediocre Star Trek Generations) and is the best movie of the original 6 (it also beats all the TNG movies as well). The plot is interesting and the more than a decade old special effects still look great. This movie starts the friendship between the klingons and the federation that was carried on in Star trek the Next Generation. The acting is exelent and the Enterprise riding off into the sunset at the end is priceless. This is a must see for the trekkie and non-trekkie alike

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Space Opera
Review: The final Star Trek film to feature the original cast is an enormous improvement after the awful fifth film, and might just be the best in the series. Much of it is probably thanks to the return of director Nicholas Meyer, who is responsible also for the classic Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (while film III through V were directed by cast members). Meyer's very professional directing shows in every scene on ST-VI, and the old cast - William Shatner (Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelly (McCoy), James Doohan (Scotty) and the rest - give here what is without doubt their finest performance. Mind - Shatner and Nimoy are by now 60 years old, while Kelly and Doohan are well into their 70s. But there isn't a trace of the pathetic silliness that characterized the fifth movie; Meyer knows what to do with these aging actors that wouldn't make them look like idiots. What we see in Star Trek VI is a much more mature approach, and the crew members have to face, more than an outside enemy, their own aging, and their fear of change. That fear is a key element here, and it's an issue that is well handled and is always relevant.

While the old cast members are doing splendidly here, the movie introduces some fantastic new characters. First and foremost, the experienced Shakespearean actor Christopher Plummer makes a fascinating villain in the conservative and suspicious Klingon General Chang, endlessly throwing out Shakespeare quotes on every turn. ('You haven't truly enjoyed Shakespeare until you've read it in the original Klingon') Also, Kim Cattrall, who achieved much success lately in the acclaimed 'Sex And The City'), plays the Vulcan Lt. Valeris and gives a great performance. Finally, David Warner gives a brief but memorable performance as the visionary Chancellor Gorkon. The real stars here, though, are Shatner and Kelly, whose attempt to save the Chancellor's life, as well as their trial for assassination before a Klingon court (CAMEO: Michael Dorn, who plays Worf in the Next Generation, plays Kirk and McCoy's attorney here - Colonel Worf. An ancestor, probably) make for some of the best scenes ever seen on Star Trek. The directing and camera work are splendid, and the script has just the right amount of self humor, which was dreadfully lacking from the fifth movie (e.g.: Spock: 'If I were human I believe my response would be "go to hell." ...If I were human.' All in all, a remarkable sign off for the original crew of the Enterprise and one of the best sci-fi movies of all time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Among The Best "Star Trek" Films With A Political Twist
Review: When "Star Trek" aired in the 1960's, it was seen as a science fiction examination of American society and culture. The good guys (The United States of America or, rather, the United Federation of Planets) were engaged in a constant political and military struggle with the "Evil Empire" (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or the Klingon Empire). When "Star Trek" is seen from this context, it is only fitting that the final film featuring the entire original series cast is a science fiction allegory of detente, Glasnost and the subsequent embrace of the "Evil Empire" as a potential ally. Gorbachev - oops, I mean Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner) - initiates detente with the United Federation of Planets, using as his intermediary Starfleet Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy).

Nicholas Meyer's final "Star Trek" directorial and literary effort, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", remains the most cerebral installment of the "Star Trek" film franchise. Here he offers a splendid mix of Shakespearian tragedy and Hornbloweresque nautical adventure. Splendid performances abound from the likes of Christopher Plummer as the scene-stealing Klingon military warrior Chang to Kim Cattrall's discrete (But is she really?) Vulcan lieutenant and, of course, some of the best acting seen from William Shatner (portraying a Captain Kirk reluctant to make peace with his mortal enemies, the Klingons), Leonard Nimoy and George Takei (portraying at last, Captain Hikaru Sulu of the Federation starship Excelsior). Notable cameo roles include those of Kirkwood Smith as the Federation President, John Schuck as the Klingon ambassador to the Federation, Brock Peters as Starfleet Admiral Cartwright, Christian Slater and Tim Russ as two of Excelsior's bridge officers, and last, but not least - with a passing nod to "Star Trek: The Next Generation" - Michael Dorn as the Klingon attorney Colonel Worf.

Although this film lacks the special effects of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" or the excitement and drama of "Star Trek II; The Wrath of Khan" or "Star Trek: First Contact", it is still well worth seeing for the reasons I cited above. It's a pity that few installments in the "Star Trek" film franchise since this one have come close to it with regards to acting and writing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Interesting change.
Review: This film was different from the usual Star Treks, mainly due to a plot shift away from the usual action to a more sophisticated, mental plot. That is not to say that 'Undiscovered Country' had any less action, but the focus of the movie was more on accepting differences, "burying the hatchet", so to speak. This manifests itself in several subplots, including the murder of Klingon officials. I'm not quite sure if I prefer this mental plot to a more concrete one, such as 'Voyage Home', but I do know that Star Trek has always been on the cutting edge of creativity and special effects, and this movie is no exception. 'Undiscovered Country' is definitely worth the money.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Ok, but not great
Review: I looked forward to this film before it came out in theatres since Star Trek V was so horrible, alas this effort is only so-so. The character interactions were good, I liked that part. What I didn't like was the silly whodunnit storyline that was too predictable anyway. It had so many holes. For instance on the prison planet, why not just shoot Spock and McCoy right away? Why set up this elaborate scheme with Iman's character and then surround them? I mean, what if they managed to escape? Which they did by the way.

Also, why didn't the bioscanner on the transporter pick up the klingon blood that the two shooters had on their boots when they reenergized? How did they manage to beam out without the bridge knowing about it? These were some of the little things to be sure, but they really add up in this movie.

A very disappointing movie. I guess Star Trek I & IV will be the only installments with the original crew that I enjoyed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perhaps, "Trek's" most political story line
Review: Gene Roddenberry never shied away from commenting on the political and human condition of our little planet. He deftly combined the elements of science fiction with covert and overt statements about the world situation. "The Undiscovered Country" is a fine exercise in storytelling, acting, directing, scoring, and technical expertise.

Shatner and company go out in a blaze of glory and do themselves proudly. Although, it's not as thrilling as "The Wrath of Khan", this film stands at the top of the list of the ten films in the series.

Oh, an earlier reviewer praised the actor playing the "Federation President". Well, the actor in question is none other than Kirkwood Smith, the father on "That 70's Show".

The man can ACT!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Star Trek 6
Review: Nicholas Meyer returns to the director's chair after the disaster of Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier and delivers adventure, action, an intelligent plot and great performances all around. For a while this was my favorite Trek movie before I checked out Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. Released in 1991, marking the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the original Star Trek series, Star Trek VI was a great and explosive ending for the original cast. Passing on the torch to the Next Generation, Kirk and crew end their journeys on a positive and perfect note. Don't miss this.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My Favorite Movie of all time
Review: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is my favorite of all the Trek movies. It has dark villainy (General Chang), cliffhanging drama (how will Captain Kirk get out of this one?), conspiracy, excellent detective work, politics, a tense courtroom scene, literacy (frequent references to Shakespeare and others), and a really good space duel (triad?) to wrap things up. A must for anyone who likes the original series and especially the Klingons. Also this movie connects with the Next Generation while still remaining in the TOS timeline. I can't wait for the director's cut DVD so I can see what we missed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT sign-off for the original cast
Review: "Star Trek V" was a disaster for the fans. Originally, this film was to be a Starfleet Academy film dating back to Kirk and Spock in the academy days. Paramount, however, wanted a conventional film to be made in time for Star Trek's 25th anniversary. Harve Bennett originally planned on participating, but declined later due to this change (and also because of his drinking problems, he later said). In that event, Nimoy was selected as executive producer and was allowed to write and/or direct. Obviously, he didn't want to direct, but he wrote out a story alongside screenwriters Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal. His next choice could not have been better: Nicholas Meyer, who would direct and co-write alongside novelist Denny Martin Flinn.

The film is very dark in comparison to the previous features and even Kirk and Spock have a strained relationship due to the coming peace conference and the renegade vulcan played by Kim Cattrall. The film flows well and the story is very Shakespearian (General Chang, played by Christopher Plummer, often quotes Shakespeare and other famous words).

While Nemesis failed to be a great final film for the TNG cast (although it may or may not be), this film took the original cast out in style. A humanly enthralling tale with betrayal and suspense (and Sulu FINALLY becoming a captain!), this should please all Trek fans.

Cliff Eidelman produced the score here and I believe it to be quite good. Many fans were put off by this because it doesn't have a dominant theme (although it HAS a theme); it's mostly a dark, operatic score with overtures ranging throughout. I personally enjoyed it. It ranks up there with most of the other scores.

And finally, William Shatner actually acts well here. The ending is so well done (no spoilers), too. The visual effects are very impressive. Overall, a grand adventure in the best Trek tradition. It's a shame Roddenberry hated it at the preview and then died three days later. This is definitely one of the Trekkiest and is, sad to say, the last of the great Treks. Only "First Contact" comes close to surpassing any of the original Trek films (except TMP and V, of course, which are terrible), which is a shame.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: All Good Things. . . Come to an End
Review: There is something remarkably special about Star Trek. Its popularity has spanned decades, and it has encompassed the earth. This is the last feature film with the whole original crew of the Enterprise from the original series. They defiantly went out with a bang!

This movie pits Kirk and crew against a Shakespeare quoting pirate of a Klingon, hell bent on stopping the peace process between the United Federation of Planets and the now crippled, Klingon Empire. The movie has some pretty intense action, and the space battles are pretty good. There is a Klingon Bird of Prey that can, believe it or not, fire when cloaked. This causes some pretty bad problems for the valiant crew of the Enterprise.

The character interaction is key in the progression of this film. You can feel that this is the last time all of these characters will be together, and in that, you know this is something very profound. This film marks the end of an era, and a new generation of heroes has to take the helm of the Enterprise.

epc


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