Ever since Star Trek was broadcast on television back in the 60s, I have been a fan of the original program throughout its original run, the reruns, and the full-length motion pictures. So, naturally as these motion pictures appeared on video cassette, I had to obtain them for my home library.

Three of the six Star Trek motion pictures were created as a trilogy of sorts with stories that followed the same basic theme structure. These pictures were titled, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and the film I will be writing about today – Star Trek: The Voyage Home.

What Is Star Trek?

Okay, for most of us that is an absolutely stupid question because Star Trek has become an American and even worldly icon. But for those who do not know what I am talking about I’ll explain.

Star Trek – the original series, was a futuristic space travel program that was produced by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. In this series, the crew of the USS Enterprise would travel throughout the galaxy looking for new life forms, and basically search the unknowns of space reporting their findings to the Federation, which was a grouping of planets with a common cause of peace. Throughout the series, Kirk and his crew encountered many aliens – both good and bad, and essentially the program was one of giving an intelligent interpretation of the future through the eyes of Gene Roddenberry.

What Happened In The Wrath of Khan That Sets Up – The Voyage Home?

In the Wrath of Khan (http://www.epinions.com/content_45015993988), Admiral Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew find themselves at war with Khan, a product of late twentieth century genetic engineering, who is a master criminal. The Enterprise abandoned him and his loyalists on a planet fifteen years ago and Khan swore revenge. After the USS Reliant stumbles upon the community, Khan and his crew commandeer the vessel intent on acquiring the Genesis project, a science tool that can recreate planets, in order to seize ultimate power and destroy Admiral Kirk.

However, at the last minute of an intense battle, Khan is defeated but at the loss of one of the main characters of the Star Trek series, Captain Spock, a Vulcan, who was well loved by many loyal Star Trek fans.

What Happened In The Search for Spock That Sets Up – The Voyage Home?

In the Search for Spock (http://www.epinions.com/mvie_mu-1019863) , Admiral Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew return home after the intense battle with Khan. A science expedition has stayed at the site of the new Genesis planet, and has discovered Spock’s grave on the planet. As Kirk and the rest of the staff realize that the Enterprise is going to be decommissioned, something strange is happening to Dr. McCoy who was the Enterprise physician. Apparently before Spock’s death, Spock has placed his living spirit within McCoy and now both of them are in agony unless both Spock’s body and McCoy are brought to Vulcan.

Spock, however, has regenerated on the Genesis planet. As Kirk and his crew rush to the planet to retrieve his body they discover this fact, which leads them into a battle of wits with the Klingons and an escape of them all in the Klingon ship. Spock is rejoined with his spirit, and even though he is not himself, he is alive to return to other adventures.

Now, The Voyage Home!

In The Voyage Home, the Enterprise crew begins their adventure on the planet, Vulcan, where they have been in exile for several months. However, realizing that they can not stay there forever, the all take a vote to go back to Earth to face the consequences of the charges against them for stealing the now destroyed, USS Enterprise, and other violations. Spock has been retrained in the Vulcan method,but because his Human half has not been exposed to emotions he is not still fully himself. However, he decides to return to Earth with his shipmates in order to offer testimony for their defense.

However, what the crew of the Enterprise does not realize is that a probe of extreme intensity and unknown origin has entered the solar system. It is neutralizing all ships in its path and rendering them helpless. As the probe enters Earth’s orbit, it sends signals toward the oceans apparently looking for whatever is supposed to reply, but since nothing answers, the planet is being destroyed by this action.

While in route to Earth, the Enterprise staff on the Klingon ship, Bounty, has received a distress call from the planet. After listening to the probe signal they ascertain that it is from the extinct species of humpback whale. Knowing they can not answer the probe with simulated language, they make a decision to return to Earth in order to bring two humpback whales into their time to answer the probe.

Thus starts a journey back into the latter part of the 20th century where Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew have to encounter people from essentially our own time period in order to find a way to rescue Earth of the future.

The entire journey of the crew takes them into very hysterical scenarios not only with the interaction of the whales, but with their interaction between the crew and the citizens of San Francisco. If I go into detail here with the humor of the movie, it will spoil the effect. Suffice to say, that the movie is very funny indeed because it takes elements of our own culture and pokes fun.

However, the question remains – Will the crew of the Enterprise succeed in their attempts to bring humpback whales to the answer the probe? Well, you’ll have to watch the movie to see that as well!

Things That I Liked About Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Humor

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home makes me think of the old Star Trek Episode, The Trouble With Tribbles. In that episode a merchant sells these little inoffensive creatures that look like puff balls that purr to members of the crew of the Enterprise and the space station. They eat and become prolific, eventually becoming a nuisance. Several of the scenes within this episode point humor at the background of many of the characters including Engineer Scott with his Scottish Heritage, and Chekov with his Russian background.

The Voyage Home does the same thing. Especially in the case of Chekov, the fact that he is Russian in the late twentieth century in America trying to find out information about American military installations is funny in itself, but when you see this on film, you can’t help but laugh.

In addition to that, there’s other funny scenes at the Cetacean Institute where Spock has an encounter with the whales. Also there is a scenario where there is a great “chase” between the crew members and the police leading up their escape (via 23rd century style) that is made more exciting and humorous by the excellent background music.

Spock’s Literacy

Another thing that I like about Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is the fact that Spock is so literate in everything that he says. That in itself is absolutely hysterical and adds to the humor element. Spock’s lack of understanding about colloquial slang in the English language leads him to make some rather bizarre replies when encountering humans of the times. My youngest son, who has autism, enjoys this play on words between Spock and others and that adds to a fuller enjoyment of the film.

The Whales

One of the things that I found really enjoyable about Star Trek IV was the fact that it addresses the extinction of animals and the consequences. Whales are hunted as illustrated within the film for reasons that are irrelevant in today’s world and the destruction of these and other living things really is a crying shame and an embarrassment to our country. While it is true that in the 20th century we don’t know what will happen in the future, we should have enough honor and respect for our planet to try to save as much as we can for our children and grandchildren. That point really hits home with me when I watch this film.

Things I Did Not Like About Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Well, that’s a good question. The truth is that I enjoy watching this film quite often because of its humor.

However, there are some things that just do not make sense to me when you watch the film. First is the fact that it appears that the crewmembers do not really sleep. It seems to me that they are forever awake or doing something throughout most of the film. One of the things that I liked in a later movie, the Undiscovered Country, was the fact that a crew member had to wake Captain Sulu from sleep to inform him of a Star Fleet message. Natural activities of the crew members are really missing within the film and makes them appear unbelievable.

Another thing that I don’t like about the story is that there is no continuation of the beginning buds of attraction between Dr. Gillian Taylor and Admiral James Kirk. While Kirk was notorious for womanizing literally everyone, Gillian is more of his equal in many ways and I believe that developing a relationship between the two would be very touching and definitely filled with humor and equality. Gillian with her feisty personality and Kirk would make a great couple and I really miss that part of the story itself. We’re left hanging in their relationship at the end of the film not knowing if they ever meet again.

Recommendation

Naturally as you can tell, I enjoy Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. To me it is the most ideal resolution of this trilogy, very believable, enjoyable, and will continue to entertain you for many years to come. This definitely is a movie that I intend to eventually own on DVD and keep as a permanent part of my home movie library.

Main Cast of Star Trek: The Voyage Home
James T. Kirk: William Shatner
Spock: Leonard Nimoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy: Deforest Kelley
Chekov: Walter Koenig
Sulu: George Takei
Uhura: Nichelle Nichols
Dr. Gillian Taylor: Catherine Hicks


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12