Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Reviews

Having been one of the shows that was part of my childhood and growing up, the original 'Star Trek' still holds up as great and ground-breaking, even if not perfect.

The last of the six 'Star Trek' films based off the original series, 'The Undiscovered Country' is also one of the best of the six. Along with 'The Wrath of Khan' (the best) and 'The Voyage Home'. It is also a huge improvement over 'The Final Frontier', which wasn't that awful to me but by far the most problematic of the six (more so than 'The Motion Picture') and deserves its reputation as the worst 'Star Trek' film based off the original series, whether it is the worst overall counting the 'Next Generation' films is debatable.

Not a perfect film by all means. It is a little too talky in places with parts needing a little more clarity, while the ending felt rushed and overblown even if visually epic and exciting as well.

However, 'The Undiscovered Country' is one of the best-looking 'Star Trek' films, with a noticeably grander budget than the previous film, the sets are elaborate, the whole film is beautifully shot and the special effects are some of the most epic and most audacious of all six films put together. The film is beautifully, hauntingly and rousingly scored, a clever score with a wide range of emotions.

Returning a more than welcome return, Nicholas Meyer delivers what is by far the best-directed 'Star Trek' film since 'The Wrath of Khan', there is a sense of loyalty to the original series while bringing his own style without being too ambitious.

Aside from having moments of being too talky and not quite as clear as it could have been, the script is a perfect balance of provoking thought, genuinely funny and beautifully timed humour, humanistic messaging and affectionate lampooning. The story has a dark political tone, while also a heart-warming affectionate air and great entertainment value. Clever Shakespearean touches too.

The character development, interaction and conflicts were always where 'Star Trek' particularly excelled. All the main characters are interesting and more complex than usual, even Kirk, while the supporting cast are in character and much better used.

Leonard Nimoy demonstrates perfectly why Spock is one of 'Star Trek's' most interesting and iconic characters, while William Shatner wisely reigns in more than usual and gives easily his best performance of the six films and actually much better than the original series as well. DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are also spot on, Kim Catrall is not bad at all and Christopher Plummer is a superb villain (both menacing and fun, ties with Khan as my favourite cinematic 'Star Trek' villain).

In summary, outstanding, the original 'Star Trek' couldn't have had a better send off. 9/10 Bethany Cox

*spoliers*

"I won't be held responsible for the outbreak of full-scale war while we're on the threshold of universal peace."

Trek movies have a certain tendency towards self-glorification, but this one is a little different. Here, Kirk and the rest of the heros of the Original Series are finding themselves staring into the abyss, in a way--not only of the end of their careers, and the end of the world (and the wars) they knew, but even of the end of their glory, and even of their good name, as Kirk finds he must not only free himself from a Klingon prison, but also find a way to escape from villification, and the burden of responsiblity of the death of an innocent man, a Klingon peace-maker, whose assassination he must prove himself innocent of.

"Captain, don't let it end this way." Were his last words.

And it is clear that the world is changing, as old antagonisms become obsolete, new alliances struggle to be born, and conspiracies are hatched by those who cannot let go of the past. The wars between empires might be over (for now), but now looms the battle against the enemy within...and the question of how to treat yesterday's foe.

And how to adapt...how to adapt? Has the older generation outlived its usefulness? It is, at least, at a disadvantage, as their experience begins to become a liability rather than an asset. "If there is to be a brave new world, our generation will have the hardest time living in it."

Sometimes Star Trek can be a little campy, with the endless pedantic Shakespeare-worship, but it does have its advantages. "The Undiscovered Country" deals with, you know, The Changing of the Guard, and all that, without the sort of endless academic philosophical revenge vs. forgiveness blah-blah you'd get in some non-fiction book, or even the gritty realism of a more down-to-earth End of the Cold War flick, like, "Lord of War". Star Trek might be less dramatically unique than that, and sometimes a bit less real too, and all that, but it's also easier to watch. Because you can take the themes, and all that, or you can leave them. If you just watch it for the search for the assassin--"What *are* we looking for?" "Two pairs of gravity boots"--or if all you remember is the Siberian vibe of the Klingon prison planet--"Work well, and you will be treated well. Work badly, and you will die"--well, you'll still have fun, and maybe you'll even have a little fun learning something, even if you won't necessarily be a Lord of Nonfiction Blah-Blah. But who'd really want that anyway....

And it is comforting that in the end, despite all the peril and wrenching changes, we end up with something recognizable at the end.

"Some people think the future means the end of history. Well, we haven't run out of history quite yet."

(9/10)

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country - The End of History

We have the Vulcans (the West) and the Klingons (the East) trying to make peace as War (Communism) is obsolete. Obviously nothing runs smoothly and here we have some dissidents making trouble. I liked Christopher Plummer's tache, reminiscent of a Genghis Khan like warrior quoting the Bard, while David Warner plays a Gorbachev like leader realising the end of their ways is near and the need to join the rest of the world is imperative.

Overall I feel the film is somewhat lacking, the meeting between Trekkie and the casual filmgoer is always tough. The jokes are tired and laboured although they hit the spot often enough. One the better Trek films in the ongoing saga.

For someone of my age, the undiscovered country will remain the best Star Trek Movie, as its tackles the changes that were occurring around us at that time - namely the end of the cold war. The title is a bit off, the undiscovered country normally means death, but in this movie it is meant to represent the future. The story is good, action and pace nicely timed, there is also the usual bit of humour, I love the Kirk Vs Kirk scene (he always wanted to kiss himself really). There are also stars a plenty and a few nice spaceship battles.

However this will always be a Trek movie, so it isn't everyone's cup of tea!