Customer Reviews
Splendid underrated sequel! 
2008-02-01
After the death of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and his corpse is sent to Genesis where his coffin is to remain. Kirk (William Shatner) feels depressed about the lost of his best friend and the crew has repaired the enterprise after the battle with Khan. McCoy (DeForrest Kelly) has been acting strange lately as he channels both Spock's behavior and voice. Spock's father Sarek (Mark Lenard) pays a visit as he knows that McCoy has Spock's soul and learns that Spock is alive on planet Genesis as they must go on that planet to find him. Kirk with his crew (James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols) and his son Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) and Lt. Saavik (Robin Curtis) hop aboard the enterprise so they can find Spock on Genesis, but the Klingons with a leader named Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) have learned the secrets of Genesis as they want to steal it.
Energetic and smart third installment of the popular cinematic Sci-fi franchise delivers some goods. Leonard Nimoy himself directed this motion picture as this is part a loose three part trilogy that started with part 2 and ended with part 4, sure it doesn't have the awe or greatness of "Wraith of Khan" but this is still an enjoyable and entertaining installment with good special effects and good acting. The storyline itself is complicated but good, this movie does have the rebirth of Spock after his demise in "Wraith of Khan" and it's still worth watching for fans.
This 2-Disc DVD set contains excellent picture and sound with great extras like an audio commentary from Leonard Nimoy, Harve Bennett, Charles Correll and Robin Curtis. A tex commentary by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda co-authors of The Star Trek Enchylopedia, trailer, a teaser to "Nemesis", Storyboards, photo gallery, Interviews and featurettes epsecially on how to speak Klingon.
Good movie 2007-12-29
I like this slightly less than Khan, but not to say I dislike the movie. Wrath of Khan in my opinion is the best Trek movie; this is just a continuation of Khan. It does have the semi-dubious distinction of being the only Trek movie to have me laughing out loud. Yes, the characters and storyline are very believable, but how can you not laugh at some of the lines coming out of McCoy's mouth. The behind the scenes footage is awesome as well. I've always been a Trekkie, but I am just now starting my movie collection. Thinking I'm gonna stop after the first 6 though. I've seen the others, but they aren't as "Star Trek" as these. Maybe it's because I'm not as big a fan of Next Generation. And I think to an extent the powers that be got a little greedy. They figured trekkies would flock to anything saying Star Trek. I just don't think the later movies are as well written as the earlier ones. But that is just my humble opinion. I know I should be sticking to the movie at hand, but you can't help but bring in the others when discussing Star Trek.
So, awesome movie, but slightly less awesome than Wrath of Khan. A good movie worthy of the name "Star Trek".
A very good Trek movie 
2007-12-21
This is a very good movie and a little on the light hearted side which is ok, the story is very good and it was a very good way to bring Spock back. My only complaint about this movie are that Kirsty Alley was replaced by Robin Curtis. They should have paid Kirsty Alley the money she wanted because Robin Curtis was not very good at all. I'm sorry she was very bad and it is painful to look at her act when she is on the screen. Now on the other hand Christoper Lloyd is the best Klingon I have ever seen and plays the role very very well. This film is in no way near the best of the Star Trek films but it is a decent one and worth watching and having in your collection. There are some very memorible moments in this film like Uhura dealing with the young ensign in the transporter room, and Kirk's fight with the Klingon. Add this one to your collection it is enjoyable to watch from time to time.
Strong continuation that adds refreshment 2007-12-15
The third Star Trek film basically continues where the second left off. Spock is dead. The Genesis planet is already under study by Kirk's son David and Lt. Saavik, who are studying from the science vessel USS Grissom. The Enterprise, is an empty house. The children (young cadets) are all gone, and the absence of Spock left an open wound. The events from the Wrath of Khan continue in this film, yet there is enough newness brought into the mix as well. Overall, this Star Trek film is easily overlooked, but is one of the finer installments of the franchise.
The story is about finding Spock, which is no easy task. As a Vulcan, we learn that his katra (his very soul) has been exchanged into Dr. McCoy's, and remains alive in him. Spock's body has been found on the Genesis planet, in the form of a kid. Apparently, the Genesis effects gave Spock's dead body a new life, yet aging quickly with the planet around him. The goal, is for Kirk and crew to recover Spock and bring him to Vulcan, where he can finally regain the life he once had. To do so, is the real excitement of the film. The Enterprise is being decomissioned in spacedock. Kirk's only means of getting to Genesis is stealing the ship, with the help McCoy, Scotty, Sulu and Chekov. They break almost every law in the book to do so. And to make matters worse, they are confronted by Klingons who want the Genesis secrets for themselves.
Though this film did not receive as strong as an impact as The Wrath of Khan, this is a solid follow-up. The story remains ineresting and complex. The action is a little weaker this time, yet still lots of fun. The Klingons and the Enterprise engage in battle, and Kirk sacrifices the ship in a self-destructed explosion of effects that look great today. The Klingon villain - Kruge - played by Christopher Lloyd is memorable. And the scene where Kirk and crew steal the Enterprise is great suspense.
If you are not a Trek fan yet interested in this film, i suggest you at least watch The Wrath of Khan first. Although it is not necessaryto enjoy this film, it will explain why Spock is dead and how he ended up on the Genesis planet, even though there is a small scene of those events shown at the beginning of this film. This is a great Star Trek film that should not be overlooked.
Acting - 4
Action - 4
Characters - 4
Story - 4
Overall - 4
Great movie and directorial debut for Nimoy 2007-10-30
Contrary to the "odd" opinion of odd numbered ST movies falling short. STIII in my opinion hardly does, in fact it reaches heights not seen in most of the ST movies following. ST1 doesn't do too bad either. The story focuses on Kirk and how he does all to at first search and save some aspect of his friend, Spock. We get to see aspects of Kirk's career, a new starship which may make the Enterprise's family way of life obsolete. We first see the first take of the barbarous facets on the Klignons who continue to bark and growl incessantly through the TNG and the other ST series and movies. STIII really wasn't meant to be the middle part of the trilogy. Younger fans did not live through the times when the movies came out with each movie rumored to be last. This was still when any Star Trek movie coming out was a phenomenon. Only because of Star Wars and Lucas boasting of 9 "episodes" did Paramount had to compete with 20th Fox sequel sci-fi. The scenes are portrayed poetically and while Nimoy was a first time director he was an amateur photographer even before the original series (see autobiography "I am not Spock" circa 1967) and you could tell his visions come through in some breathtaking vistas especially the return to Vulcan. Arriving at spacedock with James Horner's great variation score of ST:II is one the best ST scenes seen in any Star Trek. Spacedock was probably reconfigured from the Mother ship in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" by the special effects company ILM. Great adventure, stunning pathos, even more bittersweet goodbyes are experienced before the ending which does not let down unlike many other sci-fi movies. Even a reference at the very end harkening back to the ending words of ST 1. STIII tooks risks , made changes, and had no reset button which was expected of the tv trailer's words "The LAST voyage of the Starship Enterprise".
Leonard Nimoy, Now At Peace As Mr Spock, Spectacularly Directs Himself Back To Life--But In Bennett's and Meyer's Star Trek 2008-06-25
Given that I was essentially pushed into seeing "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" at the theater when it came out, when my son gave me this DVD set for Christmas in 2003 and we watched it together, I found that time, Leonard Nimoy's directing, Nimoy's commentary, and the extra features provided me with a more receptive frame of reference. More to the point, if I set aside the fact that this is not the Star Trek I love--Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek--and watch the film as a science fiction movie, I am able to "enjoy" the movie more. And it doesn't hurt that Christopher Lloyd plays the (now requisite villain in Harve Bennett's new vision of Star Trek), Klingon Commander Kruge.
Besides "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," I have watched "The Search for Spock" the most times. In the final analysis, I would say it is the best non-Gene Roddenberry Star Trek movie. (Please note that I am well aware of the fact that Paramount has "added" Gene Roddenberry's name to this and other Star Trek movies, but both Roddenberry and Bennett/Paramount openly state that Roddenberry's "involvement" was completely ignored). On the other hand, to the degree that Leonard Nimoy understands the character of Mr Spock as intended by Gene Roddenberry, I would argue that it is Leonard Nimoy's influence as the director--and uncredited writer--that is the force that makes "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" more tolerable and watchable. While I cannot say for sure, I suspect it is also due to Leonard Nimoy's direction and writing that all of the characters have well developed roles, which in turn led them to provide some better than usual performances.
Will I watch "Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)" again? Yes. Is it a great movie? No; but it is better than average.
Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
A must have for any trekie 2008-06-23
This movie is the exeption to the odd nnumber Startrek movie curse. If you see Startrek II The Wrath of Kahn, then you need to see this one to finish the entire storyline.
Search for Spock - he's ba-aack! 
2008-06-20
Average followup to STII:Wrath of Khan. High points: Character development (every key character has something to do in this film), Leonard Nimoy. Low points: Comparatively weak storyline, a weak job by Christopher Lloyd (I guess I am just used to seeing him in the Back to the Future movies). Still worth having in your collection, though, if you like Star Trek.
"Your Name...Is Jim" 2008-06-09
During the three-series run of the Star Trek: The Original Series television show, First Officer Spock became one of the most intriguing characters on television. Despite a bit of initial misinterpretation about his character (some thought he was supposed to represent Satan because of his pointy ears!), viewers began to embrace the Vulcan's logical mind and ability to stay cool under pressure. Spock become the perfect antithesis to the emotionally-charged Captain Kirk.
Of course, after almost two decades of being associated exclusively with the "Spock" character, actor Leonard Nimoy decided he wanted a break from the character to try to avoid being typecast, hence Spock's emotional death scene at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Nimoy's "I Am Not Spock" days ended quite quickly, however, when he realized that either the typecasting had already occurred, or he missed reprising his most famous character.
As a result (and partially because the Star Trek writers had left an opening for Nimoy/Spock to return), the quest to re-integrate Spock into the Star Trek cannon comprises most of Star Trek II: The Search For Spock. Though the entire film is not as scriptually solid as the "Khan" effort (as Kirk's "family feud" with the Klingons is not fully resolved until later in the movie series), it makes up for it with the emotional punch of Spock's journey back to reality. The final scene, revolving around the tense and delicate Vulcan ritual that must be undertaken to revive Spock, will have emotional fans reaching for the tissue box. The final words will have you weeping (whether from joy or sadness I will not disclose).
To conclude, the third installment in the Star Trek movie cannon is an emotional journey that, while perhaps lacking an air-tight script, is still a great movie due to the emotional struggle of favorite character Spock. If you just finished the "Khan" movie, you will receive the emotional "finale" of that storyline in this film. The ending will also leave you wondering how the U.S.S. Enterprise crew will ever be able to "seek out new life and new civilizations".
The Golden Age of Star Trek 2008-05-13
Back in the 80's Star Trek really hit its stride having finally made it to the silver screen. The first film was a dark, dreary disappointment but the producers stuck with it and created a major hit with the second film, The Wrath of Khan. The next two films including the Search for Spock and The Voyage Home basically created a trilogy that in my opinion represents the apex of the entire Star Trek franchise. By adding humor into the mix and focusing on the interaction between the main characters particularly Kirk, Spock and McCoy the producers created a winning combination that will likely never be repeated. This formula worked extremely well peaking with The Voyage Home before collapsing in a smoldering heap with the moronic row row row your boat scene in The Final Frontier.
The Search for Spock is the weakest entry in the trilogy but that doesn't mean it's weak. This was the first of two entries directed by Leonard Nimoy and they turned out to be two of the best of all the Star Trek films. Search for Spock has a more intimate feel to it with most of the action revolving around the conflict between Kirk and the Klingon Kruge. Nimoy's focus on more lighthearted action and the playful interaction of characters makes the film a real joy and contrasts well with the films darker second half.
William Shatner is often mocked for his acting ability and this film really pushes him to the limit, in particular his reaction after the death of his son David. Shatner may be a ham but he's the kind of ham I love and to me he will always be the true Captain of the Enterprise. I also have to give special credit to Christopher Lloyd who was absolutely fantastic as Kruge. One unfortunate change was the replacement of Kirstie Alley with the forgettable Robin Curtis as Lt. Saavik.
This film is clearly created for the fans, as it should be. If you haven't watched the old episodes or The Wrath of Khan you're unlikely to get much out of this film because it's filled with in-jokes and references to the prior film. The special effects are rather dated. In particular the starships have thick black lines around them that spoil the natural effect and the scenes on Genesis scream movies set. It's a movie with fantastic moments including the classic self destruction of the Enterprise and some lengthy stretches of slowness in particular the finale on Vulcan. I have a lot of fond memories of these three films and despite some flaws recommend them all wholeheartedly.
