STAR TREK : THE WRATH OF KHAN

US, 1982, 116 minutes, Colour.
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ricardo Montalban, De Forest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter
Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Kirstie Alley, Paul Winfield, Bibi Besch.
Directed by Nicholas Meyer.

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is the second film in the series of Star Trek features focusing on the initial crew of the Enterprise, led by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. The first film was Star Trek: The Motion Picture directed by Robert Wise in 1979.

This film has all the regulars on board including Kirstie Alley as a lieutenant. However, the strong focus is on the villain, Khan, played by Ricardo Montalban.

The film was directed by Nicholas Meyer, novelist and screenwriter, especially of The Seven Percent Solution, his fictitious story about Sherlock Holmes and his addiction. He directed the time-travelling, Time After Time, where Jack the Ripper escapes in H.G. Wells’ time machine into the 20th century. He also directed the sixth in the Star Trek series.

The Star Trek franchise went on to several successive series, also filmed.

1. The popularity of the television series over so many years? Its becoming a cult - why? Interest in space, the future? The mission of the Enterprise? The characters and their interaction? Humans and Vulcans? The meaning of the future and space exploration?

2. The popularity of space films in the late '70s-early '80s? Space wars and adventures? The overtones of fable and myth? The parallels with the myths of the past? Myths for the present? Blend of realism and symbolism? An interpretation of the present? Inspiration?

3. The background of technology, space craft, galactic war? Scientific advance - and the Genesis Project and man creating a world? man's control over the universe? Machines, power. speed? Technological background for perennial human interactions? Contribution of Panavision. colour photography, special effects? Musical themes and score? The focus on human beings and the groupings for the tableau of human beings - action for adventure, stills and tableau for the human story?

4. The trek in space and the human quest? Audiences identifying with this?

5. The ordinary basic plot yet treated with grandeur? The training of cadets, peace in the galaxies for a hundred years, the Genesis Project and hope. Khan and the themes of revenge and war? Heroism and self-sacrifice? Achievement?

6. The background of evil and hatred, hellish hatred and madness? Torture -the galactic earwigs and the torture of the brain? Khan as the epitome of evil? The contrast with Kirk as hero, ageing, restless, his ability to command and win? Spock and his Vulcan background of clear thinking, logic, intuitions? Doctor Marcus and her creativity? Her son and his relationship with Kirk - from hatred to acceptance and love? The background of war. death, rules and ingenuity? The final comments about the star trek?

7. The background of the 23rd. century: peace, Genesis. man's control, creation of beauty, self-sacrifice?

8. Audience familiarity with the personalities of the crew: Kirk and his being Admiral. retirement, command. ingenuity, friendship with Spock, saving Dr. Marcus and the group, the confrontation with Khan? Spock and his intelligence, trainees. impassioned logic. intuitions, gift of The Tale of Two Cities, his final self-sacrifice? Doc. Scotty? The emphasis on having a woman as captain of the ship - her ability., the tests, her femininity, her being like Spock? The various personnel, the cadets? The variety of types and their interaction? American types? Crises and the handling of crises?

9. The build-up to the conflict between Kirk and Khan? Winning and manoeuvres? Spock and his giving his life - and the echoes of A Tale of Two Cities and Sidney Carton?

10. Men and women in the future on star treks? Rules and going by the book? Changing the rules for success?

11. The sub-plot of Genesis - Dr. Marcus and her hostility. David? The capture? The rescue? Khan imprisoning them in the dead planet?

12. The torture of the commanders by Khan? The negro officer killing himself before killing Kirk?

13. Training, the opening training sequence and its seeming real? The use of strategies?

14. The blend of reality and unreality for enjoyable space sagas?