dragon@uw-june (Brian Matthews) (06/07/84)
Well, I saw Start Trek III, The Search for Spock tonight at an invitational showing put on by a local radio station. My overall impression is - GREAT. It is a "different" Star Trek in many ways, and I feel it will be the kind of film that lots of people love and lots of people hate. The main plot is the search, and the various aliens and such that get involved are secondary, but necessary. There isn't an overabundance of special effects, but what is done blends in and seems to belong. It is much more dramatic than either of the two previous films, but there is a sufficient amount of humor blended in so the film isn't depressing and sad the whole way. There is quite a nice, happy ending, but nothing like the silly ending of RotJ. All in all a nice film, and a bit different from the previous 2 films and the series, but the difference is to the films advantage. I'd say definitely see it, but go without a lot of preconceptions about what the film should be like. WARNING: The discussion that follows contains some material that gives away parts of the film, so if you want to see it first, don't read this. Remember, I warned you. First, its interesting how much of the discussion that's been on the net is wrong, or at least not very close. The clips and little hints that have been dropped by the studio have been pulled way out of context, so a lot of stuff infered from them is wrong. Perhaps the best example is seeing the Enterprise with half of the primary hull blown off. Well, it is, but its only because thats in the middle of the whole thing going up. No jettisoning of the hull. This brings up a question though, in the series didn't the self destruct simply let the field holding the matter and antimatter apart collapse? That's definitely not what happened here. One thing someone suggested is correct though, Spock saying "Remember" to McCoy in the engine room is pretty important, and its brought out pretty early. I also have a question about the Klingons. They now have a cloaking device, but I though only the Romulans had them. Also, when the Klingon ship first appears, I thought someone said something about a "Bird of Prey" although I may have been wrong. It's something to watch for. Christopher Loyd (sp?) of Taxi fame plays the Klingon commander Kruge, and is excellent in the role. Watch for him telling the gunner to aim for the engines, both the first time, and then again. Another question I have is about the Klingons language. It seems they flip between Klingonaase and English pretty freely. I understand their speaking English to Federation Personnel, but they seem to speak it among themselves on the bridge of the Klingon ship, but then once in a while they say something in Klingonaase (with appropriate subtitles). It would have been nicer if they always spoke their native language unless they had to talk to Federation folk. Oh well. Another thing to watch for is right before the Enterprise is done in. The Klingons are going to board the ship, but of course Kirk has a plan. I thought I knew what he was going to do, and it would have been great, but they didn't do it. See what you think they'll do. All in all, a great movie, and I could say lots more, but I don't want to spoil the whole thing (and it's getting late), so let's hear some other comments. Brian Matthews ...uw-june!dragon