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Khan is better than ever with added and revised scenes

Star Trek 2 has always been one of my favorites of the Trek movies. I was immediately enticed to buy the Director's Edition DVD. Hearing about and seeing what went on behind the scenes of a movie I grew up loving is awesome. The interviews were interesting, and the documentaries showed how this movie brought life back into the franchise and changed things forever.

There are a few new scenes in the movie, which only someone who's seen in a billion times can pick out, but add to the movie I think. We get to see Scotty's emotional reaction to the death of his nephew, and more of Kirk talking with Carol Marcus. Just a few more seconds of footage here and there I felt made the characters more human and getting to know them better makes the whole movie more real.

This is definately worth buying, and I can't wait until Undiscovered Country and the Next Generation movies come out, because I know I'll either be back on Amazon or at my local Best Buy the moment I can order them.

any blue blooded vulcan would agree!

this is the best movie i have ever seen. Admerial Kirk was brillian in fighting the evil Bork leader Khan. Khan was the original Bork seed in the series, and he returns with a vengence. "It is very cold in space..." is a line I use all the time. Spock's Blue Vulcan Blood flows bravely through this film, sadly his last in the series, I've heard. "Bones" McHoy was fun to watch too. A classic sci-fi movie and it makes me want to see the rest of the films someday too.

Now I've officially seen Khaaannnn!!!

I'm foremost a Star Wars fan, with the Star Trek universe being very foreign to me. But this movie (along with Search for Spock and Voyage Home, which form the trilogy) came highly recommended by a friend, so I gave them a spin. Plus its absolutely essential for any movie buff to see Shatner's now-legendary scream of "Khaaannnn!!!"

I liked this one. Not being a Trek fan a few small details were lost on me, but overall the movie does well referencing the episode on which it was based without being slaved to it. The Genesis Project creates a lot of moral and ethical questions with its science, exactly the type of sci-fi that Trek is best known for. Good special effects, and good acting - it's telling that the conflict between Kirk and Khan feels real despite the fact they never meet in person. "Khaaannnn!!!" drew me in. The touching finale sold me. Good stuff.

Solid dvd, with lots of good information. Some of the bonus features come off a little dry, as they're nothing but "talking head" interviews for the most part. But again, they show you just how much more of the Trek universe was apparantly established with this film.

So I wouldn't count myself as a Trek fan yet, but Khan definitely made me excited to check out more Trek adventures. And that works for me.

The Best Trek....

To this day, this is still the Best Trek movie. Great script, good update of the characters from the original series and them having to deal with there aging selves. Also Great Sci Fi not to mention two new characters of Savik and David. I only wish they had done more with them in subsequent films. too bad they cant get Nickolas Meyer back to do a Next Generation film.We need another one of these.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is fondly regarded as being the closest in spirit to the 1966-69 TV series that spawned it.

Though Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1980) was considered an expensive disappointment, the movie's sequel, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn gave the franchise the credibility it needed to achieve more widespread recognition and longevity. Director Nicholas Meyer gives the film a light, literate tone similar to his work 1979's time-travel fantasy Time After Time; it's arguably the most enjoyable Star Trek film. Updating an episode from the original series, screenwriter Jack B. Sowards borrows scenarios from King Lear and Moby Dick, achieving an admirable blend of pathos, humor and action. Leonard Nimoy initially didn't want to reprise his role as Spock, and agreed to take part in Khan under the condition that his character would die at the end of the film. Of course, Spock and Nimoy returned for the next sequel.

This DVD release is missing footages!

1. This print really requires a good digital video and audio cleanup.
2. This release has bits of dialog missing which even the television release had for example:

- McCoy asks his "Vulcan friend" in whose hands would the Genisis device would be the "right hands"?
-During an inspection of the ship, Scotty's nephew says that Kirk would be blind as a bat, if he can't see that the ship is in top condition.
- Scotty thanks Doctor McCoy for his efforts to save his nephew...

"I Can See Why This Film Is A Classic"

"Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan" explores the demension of these characters and takes the "Star Trek" saga to a different level. What happened to the "Star Trek" saga, well Nicholas Meyer directed only a few of the "Star Trek" films, and maybe thats why some of these film are horrible. I hate "Star Trek" now, they replaced Admiral James t. Kirk(yes I said his full name) with Patrick Stewart, who plays a different captain, what were these guy's thinking(I think it maybe Patrick Stewart, I haven't kept up). "The Wrath Of Khan" quotes the most famous line of them all,"Revenge is a dish best served cold." I love that line, it should be in the hall of fame of famous lines, like that line in "Titanic" "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD."

THE PLOT

It is the 23rd century. The Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise is on a routine training and Admiral James Kirk(William Shatner) seems resigned to the fact that this may well be his last mission of his career. But Khan is back.

This is a very good film, but it doesn't even compare to "The Search for Spock", that is my favorite "Star Trek" film.

My favourite of all the Star Trek films

Back where it belongs with this film, it has the right mix of science, character and action. I love the plot of the film and really enjoyed any scenes where it showed the cat and mouse game Kirk (William Shatner) and Khan (Ricardo Montalban) were playing with one another. It was really good to see the Khan's character reintroduced, as in the series, he was marooned on a planet and in the film, we get to see what life was like for him and his family and why he is out for revenge against Kirk.I like the dark and light elements to the story. I enjoy Spock's character in this as it is good that the audience get to see a new dimension to Spock's character, he is less stern and even cracks a joke. There is a really moving scene at the end of the movie when Spock is dying and says to Kirk that he will always be his friend. It is a real emotional scene that has me in tears every time I watch it. It is also good that it can switch between the light and dark shades of the story effortlessly and the special effects are amazing to watch.

Much better than the first Star Trek movie

This sequel at least had some action to it. The special effects are
impressive and Ricardo Montablan is a superb villain.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Synopsis

For most fans, including myself, this is the favorite Star Trek movie. The Wrath of Kahn is much superior to the previous film. The actors ages are acknowledged and William Shatner gives a good performance. The film starts with a young officer commanding the Enterprise to rescue a ship on the Klingon side of the neutral zone, which is not to be crossed. The Enterprise is defeated by the Klingons, then we learn it is a simulated exercise. The young officer is Lt. Saavik (Kirsty Alley), a Vulcan. Admiral Kirk (Shatner) is the only person to win this no-win scenario. The Enterprise launches as a training cruise for new officers, with Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in command. The starship Reliant is searching for suitable lifeless planet for the Genesis Project, a device that creates life from lifelessness. They find a planet with only small life signs. Captain Terrell (Paul Wingfield) and Commander Chekov (Walter Koenig) beam down to search. They find the remnants of Kahn and his people, stranded there 15 years before (Star Trek episode: Space Seed). Kahn inserts mind altering creatures in them and takes over their ship. Kahn wants revenge because his wife (who joined him in the episode) died on the planet. When he learns of Genesis he goes to Regula Station to get it. The lead scientist, Carroll Marcus and her son with Kirk, David send a message to Kirk wanting answers about Reliant coming to get Genesis. Because of this and an unclear signal, Admiral Kirk takes command and The Enterprise goes to investigate. They find Reliant there, not responding to signals. The Enterprise is fired upon in crucial points on the ship. Kirk raises shields and returns fire too late, Kahn has the upper hand. Kahn wants Genesis and Kirk. Kirk pretends to retrieve all the Genesis files, while actually looking up command codes for Reliant. Kirk's puts down Reliant's shields and does heavy damage. Both Ships retreat to different sides of Regula. Kirk and a team go to Regula Station. Kahn has killed the stations crew and Genesis is gone. The team finds Capt. Terrell and Chekov, who tell what Kahn did and where that the crew of Reliant were left on Ceti Alpha. They find the transporters used and beam to the same place the others had gone. They find Dr. Marcus, her son and Genesis. Once they locate Genesis, Terrell and Chekov give Kahn the location, the device is then beamed out. The creature removes its self from Chekov and Terrell kills himself. The team returns to Enterprise and Kahn continues to attack Enterprise, thinking she is in worse shape than she is. The Enterprise defeats the ship, but Kahn uses Genesis. The Enterprise is damaged to the point that it can't escape the blast. Spock, with his superior Vulcan physiology, withstands radiation to repair the warp core. The Enterprise escapes but Spock dies, which if you didn't before, the sequels tell you anyway. Genesis is a success and the Enterprise mourns its loses.

Simply the Best

I'm a trekkie from way back. My favorite episode was the one with Khan - so it might not be any surprise that ST2-Khan is my favorite of the ST movies. The thing is though - even so - it still is the best movie. It's simple, it's got action, it's got camp, seriousness, excitement and yes, things get blown up!

Lots of great characters. I happen to like Judson Scott (was in the TV Series, The Phoenix). He's not even named in the credits - but he's Khan's right-hand man who gets killed - this movie's famous "no name character who always seems to get killed") I'd have bought this movie just for him! But no need - I loved this movie right from the start before I knew he was in it!

A young Kirstie Alley is here as well.

Even if you aren't a Trek fan - you could love this movie!

KHAN!!!

I haven't viewed many a "classic" Star Trek movie (read: this is the first one I've ever seen), but I loved this movie. It was cheesy, it had overacting, it was great. Genesis Project-what's that?

With the death of Spock, Star Trek reaches its apex

"The Wrath of Khan" remains the best of the Star Trek movies. Yes, "The Voyage Home" was more fun, but the franchise is never going to be able to top the emotional impact of Spock's death. "The Wrath of Khan" is what we would have called a first-rate "B" movie in the old days. This is William Shatner's finest performance, helped by the fact that there is a telling subplot about Kirk worrying that he is growing old. Consequently, the character is given some significant depth whether he is dealing with having to put his spectacles on in front of the bridge crew or trying to come to terms with suddenly confronting a son who wants nothing to do with him. I also think Shatner's performance is helped by the fact that Kirk has to solve problems by thinking rather than by slugging anyone. In fact, Shatner won the Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA for his performance (director Nicholas Meyer won as well).

The emotional impact of the death of Spock is something that was set up from early on in the Star Trek television series where it became clear that despite their vast differences the Captain and his First Officer had become friends. This is a theme that has been touched upon by various television episodes as well as in some of the better Star Trek novels that have dealt with the formation of that friendship. The symbolism of the plastic shielding that separates them at the end, a physical manifestation of the psychological barriers required by the Vulcan part of Spock, is certainly not lost on us. With all the "Buddy" movies Hollywood has produced, I cannot think of a more emotional declaration that "I have been and always shall be your friend." Yes, it was something that was so well understood that it never needed to be said, but it was still worth hearing.

Both the direction and the score are first rate and I am especially fond of the sequences where the bridge crew is waiting helplessly for Genesis to detonate. The camera moves in on each character as they discuss their impending deaths and the music matches the pace only to turn ominously when the scene cuts back to the dying Khan. However, I must note that director Nicholas Meyer used the same series of jump cuts to pull away from the Reliant before Genesis detonates that he did with Kansas City when the nuclear missiles hit in "The Day After." I also think composer James Horner deserves credit for setting the tone with the marvelous opening fanfare and heroic theme. Even before we get to the Kobayashi Maru sequence, you know this is going to be a good flick.

The only thing that really bugs me about this movie is that Khan keeps quoting Ahab. Obviously his obsession is reminiscent of "Moby Dick," but if you were a super genius would you really want to have Ahab as your role model? I understand how the allusion fits from the perspective of the director/writer/audience, but not from the perspective of Khan's character. Then again, besides "Moby Dick" one of the other books that Khan had on Ceti Alpha VI was "King Lear," which also features a main character with mental problems. Remember, this is a guy who quoted Milton at the end of "Space Seed," so I do not think he should suddenly be going off the deep end with his literary references. Ricardo Montalban's flamboyant performance as Khan not only works as he chews up the scenery with such delight, but because I think it is another significant reason that Shatner toned down his performance, thereby creating a nice contrast between the two characters.

With regards to the disappointing DVD version, which contains nothing extra besides the trailer despite the fact "The Wrath of Khan" aired on ABC with additional footage (e.g., establishing Preston as Scotty's nephew). I believe we are being sandbagged and that once they sell out on this initial run of Star Trek films on DVD we will suddenly get Director's Cuts or Special Editions that will suddenly provide all of the things Paramount should have put on these DVDs in the first place. Caveat Trekker.

Classic Star Trek

This is the movie I've watched the most times in my life. It is the best tribute to the original series althought the first one is a much better movie. We have passed from an extraordinary Star Trek film to a Great Captain Kirk movie. It is great Sci-Fi, wonderful visual effects, superb action scenes, amazing story telling, profound character devellopment and stupendous Star Trek.
To me it is the 3rd best Trek movie of the series.

Classic Movie!

Nick Meyer did a great job at his first directorial debut for the Star Trek franchise. I liked the much more navy~ish feel and the more military style with clear cut ranks and the like. That is one reason I think that has attracted people to this movie. The effects used in the movie were good for the budget and ILM did good for what little money they were given (I think they were were also working on Jedi at the time as well, which has more budget for effects). Definetly get this for your collection.

The best sci-fi movie ever

I've watched this film about 150 times (no lie! -- and I'm only 25!) and I appreciate it more with each viewing. The interaction between the characters is perfect (particularly the scene between Kirk and Spock in Spock's quarters about handing over command). Ricardo Montalban's obsessed Khan is one of the greatest villains to ever come to the screen. The literary references to Moby Dick are blended into the dialogue without being obvious (Khan and Ahab are blood-brothers in their mental state). And Spock's death scene? The most heart-wrenching one I've seen -- after 150 times, I still cry. THAT is emotional acting and writing! I would give this a 20 out of 10 if I could!

Do you sweat the details?

If you do,then get this movie.

The Good:

It adds a lot of little scenes that explain small gaps in the storyline. The digital sound and quality of the DVD are better than the original. I enjoyed the extras with included interviews. This is a very nice 2 DVD set.

The Bad:

I found the original cut to be more fast paced and entertaining than the director's cut. Don't get me wrong, based on my rating it's obvious this is still a good movie, but those scenes were removed for a good reason, they slow the movie down or add unnecessary campiness. One example is during the famous engine room inspection. Kirk refers to a crewman (related to Scottie) as a tiger. Come on...that sounds so out of character. I've enjoyed the television show and movies for years, but calling a cewman a tiger? This is along the same line as the scene where Kirk discloses to Spock how he told David about being his father. Spock's reaction is definitely out of character.

Conclusion:

If you have the original, keep it and this set for the extras.

beats the heck out of the motionless picture

Star trek 1 was slow, didn't go any where, you didn't feel any danger. that movie could of destroyed the star trek francias then and there, but along came THIS! talk about a welcome relief! this was kirk at his best! shatner did quite well in this second instalment. and Lt. saavik was better protrayed in this film than the next two. i hated it when they made her more vulcan.

A Classic made even better!

By far one of the best Star Trek films made, adding all the special features and deleted scenes only added to the greatness of this movie. Even if you have the original edition of the DVD I'd have to say the deleted scenes, commentary and other special features are definetly worth the cost of this Director's Edition!

A true masterpiece of what a Star Trek movie has the potential of achieving.

Wrath of Khan was a movie I saw as a young boy at the age of seven and I was amazed at the beauty of the work. I have a few fond memories of great movies as a kid and this is one of them. I am now twenty-four years of age and the movie still has the same effect. It is a masterpiece that combines talented actors who enjoyed their profession, enjoyable special effects even by todays standards, and beautiful,touching music that allows you to experience the movie on a different level. I highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Star Trek, action, space or to anyone looking for a fun movie to enjoy.