Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986)

Widely considered the best movie in the "classic Trek" series of feature films, Star Trek IV returns to one of the favorite themes of the original TV series--time travel--to bring Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, and Chekov from the 23rd century to present-day San Francisco. In their own time, the Starfleet heroes encounter an alien probe emitting a mysterious message--a message delivered in the song of the now-extinct Earth species of humpback whales. Failure to respond to the probe will result in Earth's destruction, so Kirk and company time-travel to 20th-century Earth--in their captured Klingon starship--to transport a humpback whale to the future in an effort to peacefully communicate with the alien probe. The plot sounds somewhat absurd in description, but as executed by returning director Leonard Nimoy, this turned out to be a crowd-pleasing adventure, filled with humor and lively interaction among the favorite Star Trek characters. Catherine Hicks (from TV's 7th Heaven) plays the 20th-century whale expert who is finally convinced of Kirk's and Spock's benevolent intentions. With ample comedy taken from the clash of future heroes with 20th-century urban realities, Star Trek IV was a box-office smash, satisfying mainstream audiences and hardcore Trek fans alike. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

True Irony: The Most Popular Star Trek Movie, Based Upon Time Travel, Was Roddenberry's Idea That Led Paramount To Replace Him

Gene Roddenberry's original concept for the second Star Trek movie was time travel. Paramount wanted nothing to do with the idea and successfully "replaced" Roddenberry with Harve Bennett, and, thereby, "stealing" Star Trek from it's creator. Yet, in a truly ironical twist, Paramount reversed itself when Bennett approached them with Leonard Nimoy's ideas for time travel. Again, Roddenberry had "no" say in this movie--nor does it use any of Roddenberry's original ideas that I am aware of--and the story is written by Bennett and Nimoy, while the script was written primarily by Bennett and his buddy, Nicholas Meyer. Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes are also credited with "writing" the script--although it well known that what Harve Bennett wanted, that was what was in the script.

When "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" came out in theaters, I refused to go to see it; even after the high praise for the film. I recently purchased it, however, as I am trying hard to accept Harve Bennett's and Nicolas Meyer's "new" version of Star Trek. Having watched it twice now, I can honestly say that from my perspective the only thing the film has going for it, is it's (then/now) timely environmental theme of saving the whales. Moreover, I can emphatically state that the only reason I rate this a three star movie is because the bonus features and commentaries on "Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (Two-Disc Special Collector's Edition)" provide the "rest of the story." Without the insight from these features as to what the movie was attempting to do, this movie is nothing more than bad science fiction and weak slapstick comedy.

Leonard Nimoy's directing skills could not help the script; and I sense that if the movie had not been so successful at the box office, Nimoy would have come clean. That is, I cannot accept that Leonard Nimoy really believes that the final product is what he wanted; and the fact that this isn't a director's cut suggests to me that Nimoy wanted to leave well enough alone. As for the "cast," I feel like they are more than missing--quite literally for the non-core actors--since the Star Ship Enterprise (blown up in the previous movie) is not even present. Moreover, because most of the movie actually takes place "outside" of the Star Trek environment, the movie frequently dose not even "feel" right. As a result, I think, the actors just walk through their performances, with the "characters" seldom doing their usual roles.

I suspect it is the fact that the movie really is NOT a Star Trek movie at all that made it so appealing to a much wider audience. Too bad the "fools" at Paramount did not listen to Gene Roddenberry; maybe this, the "most favorite" of the "Star Trek" movies would have been even a five star movie if the creator of this "universe" had written and controlled the show.

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. June 26, 2008

Wathching Them Shoot from My High School Classroom

And that is the truth. They shot scenes from this fine film in my high school's backyard (The Former Alameda Naval-Air Base). And that was years and years before I ever met the likes of Blane, my production manager at the trophy shop, who laughs at me whenever I talk Trek with some of my customers. Heck Blane, I know you own this title on DVD AND VHS! Just like me. Why don't you just admit it already. It won't make you any less annoying to let the world see the fact that you are a nerd, like us (I mean you ex-wife and me). Maybe one day, when you're really drunk on too much Bud, you'll throw your ball at the bowling alley, miss every single pin, and remark, "Beam me up, Scotty." June 14, 2008

A Comedic Genius

Though Star Trek: The Original Series is probably best known for its diverse cast of characters and mind-bending storylines, many fans of the show consider the comedic-style episodes of the show to be paramount to all others, as they allow the main characters to emote in non-formulaic fashions (remember Sulu brandishing a rapier, Spock hanging from a tree, or the Easter bunny in "Shore Leave"?).

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a throwback to that style of episode. The film is bookended by moments of seriousness (which keep the film from falling too far outside the Star Trek cannon), but the meat of the story is hilarity all around!

The movie begins with the U.S.S. Enterprise crew heading back home (in a Romulan warship) to face the criminal charges stemming from Captain Kirk's decision to destroy the Enterprise. On the way back to Starfleet, however, the crew finds that the world is in great peril and set off back in time (to twentieth-century San Francisco) to make things right.

While in Frisco, the chaos (and hilarity!) begins. Whether it is Kirk and Spock trying to fit in among the locals, Scotty deciphering old computer technology, or Chekhov trying to find his "nuclear wessels", non-stop laughs abound.

When the Enterprise crew finally does return to Starfleet, the scene that follows is one of the most uplifting moments in the entire Star Trek cannon, effectively ending the Star Trek II-IV movie "trilogy" and giving the show new life in the future.

To conclude, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a rousing film filled with non-stop laughs. Though not as serious as all the other "Original Series" films, this movie has been embraced more than any other for its ability to lampoon both present and future cultures alike. If you just finished watching Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and are not in the mood for any more gut-wrenching scenes, this is the breathe of fresh air you need! June 9, 2008

Not Even Close to as Good as I Remembered

I've been re-watching the classic Star Trek trilogy that includes The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, and The Voyage Home. This period was, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the Star Trek franchise and of the three I probably had the fondest memories of The Voyage Home argued by many fans to be the best of all the films. Well, after seeing it again I have confess that it has not aged well. Not at all.

To start with the plot is absurd and I have to give major credit to Leonard Nimoy for turning the script into even a half way decent movie. On the other hand Nimoy is the likely culprit for the painfully saccharine sweet feel of the movie. The Voyage Home is without a doubt the most in your face preachy movie in the series. In some ways it reminds me of the tragic Superman IV where Christopher Reeves blackmailed the producers into allowing him to make a message movie. It seems as if actors as directors sometimes forget that the primary reason for movies is entertainment. In the end it's the ham-handedness of the delivery that spoils the message. After The Voyage Home Nimoy went on to direct the mega-hit Three Men and a Baby and then his directorial career just seemed to fizzle out. It's hard to imagine how the director of the biggest grossing movie of 1987 could fall so quickly but maybe there's a limit to just how much heartwarming an audience can take before it turns into heartburn.

The biggest strength of the film is also its biggest weakness. Moving the crew of the Enterprise to the 1980's gave the film tremendous opportunities for humor and The Voyage Home is undoubtedly the funniest of the Star Trek films. On the other hand the film is extremely dated and suffers mightily because of it. After the humorousness of seeing the Enterprise crew wander 1986 San Francisco in full Starfleet uniform wears off it feels a tad goofy.

The last issue that really hurt the film for me is the glaring plot holes. Having the Klingon vessel be capable of time travel at will seems like something that would throw off the entire dynamics of the series. Yes, I realize that the Star Trek crew has traveled back in time in the television series but in movies I think you need to be a bit more diligent. They made mention of trying to avoid influencing the future but proceeded to do things that would undoubtedly have profound effects. At one point Scotty gives away the formula for "transparent aluminum" prompting McCoy to point out that they are probably altering the future. Scotty quips, "How do we know he [the man he gave the formula to] wasn't the inventor" It's a funny line but absurd and hurts the film. In another scene Spock shows concern that Kirk is pawning the glasses McCoy gave him for his birthday. Kirk implies that somehow since they are in the past he will get the glasses as a birthday gift again. It doesn't make any sense. These kinds of things have the feel of lazy scripting used to set up jokes.

Perhaps the most obvious example of how overly cutesy the movie is is the song that plays out the final scene. It sounds like something from a Christmas movie not a Star Trek movie. The films running time is less than two hours but man did it feel longer. It was most disappointing that something I loved from my youth turned out to be not nearly as good as I remembered. What keeps the film decent is the wonderful interactions of the main characters but for me it wasn't nearly enough to offset the films defects. June 9, 2008

Admiral There Be Whales Here!!!!

Star Trek IV picks up where Star Trek III left off. The crew of the Enterprise(which was intentionally self destructed to trick the Klingons in Trek III)return (in one of the greatest if not the greatest Trek films ever created)to face the crimes for which they were accused of in Trek III. On their way to Earth to face the charges they are sent a message from Starfleet Command warning them to stay away because the transmissions from a probe are destroying the earth. When Kirk and crew learn about this and discover the transmissions themselves Spock picks up on the idea that the transmissions may be meant for a lifeform other than humans. Turns out hes right. The sounds from the probe are the songs of humpback whales. Only one problem: The last of the humpback whales existed back in the late 1980s. So Kirk and crew travel back in time in their beat up Klingon vessel to 1986 San Fransisco where they try to integrate themselves into their society and pick up two humpback whales named George and Gracie and return them to future earth hoping they can talk to this probe and send it on its way. So if youre a Trek fan this one is highly recommended by me but you dont have to be a Trek fan to enjoy this movie!!

May 13, 2008

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