Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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entertainment 'Star Trek:" Second'Star Trek By Sally McGill "Star Trek: The Wrath.of Khan" has everything an audience could want from "Star Trek" ? and more. "Star Trek" has a well-rounded mixture of humor, drama and adventure. Most of the humor comes from the characterizations, as when Spock says he "exaggerated" rather than "lied." The drama comes from Kirk's confrontations with his illegitimate son and death, both for the first time. The ever-present adventure arises from Khan's attempt to kill Kirk, who always tries to stay a step ahead of Khan. "Star Trek" brilliantly interweaves universal and personal crises. The movie captivates using the intricacies of both. WILLIAM SHATNEIl as James Kirk, now an admiral, of course makes a dramatic entrance. Although most admirals g do not command starships, Kirk still yearns to do that. Other * than being older, he has changed little. Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, has received a j promotion to captain, and commands the Enterprise on a training mission. Spock's major change came in "Star Trek f I" when he learned to deal with his human half. In "Star Trek II" he is more relaxed and able to establish a teacher-student relationship with one of his trainpes, Lt. Saavik, played by Kirstie Alley. Alley plays a half-Vulcan, half-Romulan Starfleet cadet. DeForest Kelley does well as Dr. McCoy, who has changed little in the past 15 years. He is still emphatically concerned with humanity and is still opposed to Spock's logic. PDPIII ? 1 1 I i r~v 1 E v, iii^?? iiiL.iiTiijrjUo ov:uLty, piayeu uy Ucimes L/uuilctll; OU1U, George Takei; Chekov, Walter Koenig; and Uhura, Nichelle Nichols, have received little expansion in their parts, but do well with what they're given. There are many familiar details in the movie: the use of phasers, the bickering between McCoy and Spock and the fast warp speed of starships. Some details only a "trekkie" can understand, but most of them anyone can enjoy. The plot is complete and precise. Most of the special effects work effectively: the colored streaks of warp speed, the red circles of torpedoes and the r SHHHHHKm * ft f W|SS' Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) deals with new dilemmas in "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan." rhe Wrath i imii jjiuves sdusiymy u S/Linn'n iaiwn4>l? miaii d vviaui Ricardo Montalban stars as Khan, the 20th-century renegade out to destroy Kirk. The 'Star Trek' Appeal After three years as a different characters every prime time series, can- week, Hark said. "The ceilation, and 13 years of audience can relate to syndication, "?tar ireK continuous cnaracters. still lives. Why does "Star " 'Star Trek II' did what Trek" have such appeal? 'Star Trek I' should have Ina Hark, an associate done," Hark said. "It professor in the English brought back the characters department, published a and showed how they've paper called 4 4 4Star Trek' in changed. The first movie Television's Moral could have been about Universe" explaining "Star anybody." Trek'"s appeal. The more relaxed Spock is 44 'Star Trek'was different fatherly in his teacher-pupil from other TV shows of the relationshiD with Saavik 60s/' Hark said. "It dealt Hark said. "Kirk is no longer with questions without easy the playboy of the western answers. The originality of world." the context made it sue- " Star Trek II' is made for cessful." people who know the series, Science fiction has broad but the plot is clear and appeal, and with continuous exciting for those who characters, "Star Trek" had don't." It is watched for the more appeal than science ideas and characters, Hark fiction shows like "The said. "It's a two-hour Twilight Zone," which had episode done well." ji micm n universal, human levels streaking-star images of being "beamed" somewhere, in particular. AN EXCEPTION to this is the artificial world made inside a lifeless planet by Project Genesis. It looks phony The streams and plant life do not display the beauty the scene tried to convey. "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" is not a sequel to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." It is a sequel to "Star Trek" The Series. Khan, played by Ricardo Montalban, is a character created on a series episode titled "Space Seed." Khan and his followers were genetically improved "superhumans," stronger ana smarter man average humans, in 19%, they were sent into space in suspended animation. The Enterprise discovered their ship and revived them. Khan tried to take over the Enterprise, but Kirk exiled Khar and his followers on the uninhabited planet of Ceti Alpha V to fend for themselves. CONTINUING FROM the television episode, "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" reveals that Ceti Alpha V was made unlivable by a natural disaster, killing most of Khan > followers. Khan is angry with Kirk for not checking on the exiles' progress. He takes over a Starfleet starship and seb sxa 4> 1~: 1 1 UUl IU IVlll IX.1I K. Montalban is dynamic in his portrayal of Khan. Khan is a macho egotist who thinks he is superior to ordinary humans and Vulcans. His thinking is, however, two-dimensional. Khan is completely diverse from Montalban's television character, Mr. Roarke of "Fantasy Island." Montalban handles the transition well. SPOCK DOES DIE. It is, of course, a gallant death in the line of duty. Spock could not die any other way. Yes, he did die. His funeral was a burial in space, his casket shot torpedo-style from the Enterprise. If he was not dead before, Spock would have died from the funeral. The question is whether he will be resurrected. Resurrection is possible, after all, in the 23rd century; Spock himself said, 1 There are always possibilities." ii i * H|: '----i-f -jr.". - - --' -T7~~ 7---: ---:.-7-: *- - 7 Spock (Leonard Nimoy) prepares Starfleet cadets for the wrath of Khan.