Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), directed by Nicholas Meyer.
Hysterically happy opening night audience. This was more like it! Better uniforms, great villain, tie-in to the original series, and even some humor.
This begins a three-film story arc. I forget what happens after that. Something about diplomats and God.
The Enterprise is exceptionally military in this one. There is some precedent, but I think it is too much.
Ricardo Montalban just lives the role. Probably the most experienced actor and the one who would actually take direction, dialing it back to make a better, more sinister performance. Shatner on the other hand: you just had to wear him down until he was too tired to over-act.
Notes:
Introducing Kirstie Alley. I remember some back story that Saavik was supposed to be part Romulan.
Khan's crew look ridiculous, like they wandered in from the beach.
The space battles are a worthy example of just how much damage such things would do...
... but Scotty's emotion over the death of a trainee is out of place. Deleted scenes had the kid as his nephew or something.
A young woman of my acquaintance complained about Carol Marcus's comment on the edenic Genesis results: "Can I cook, or can't I?" She said: "That's sexist". I explained the advanced film concept of "humor" to her.
What was that deadly plasma-fountain thing Spock stuck his face in when rescuing the ship? One of the worst features of Star Trek is the constant invention of Engineering Dept infrastructure.
James Horner score, building on previous themes. Meyer told him: "Don't try to compete with Jerry Goldsmith".
"Amazing Grace" isn't right for Spock's funeral. I'm not sure what I would use.
A Tale of Two Cities is a small book. Maybe that was the large print, illustrated edition.
Notice Khan had two copies of Paradise Lost on his shelf? That's right...
Available on Blu-ray with two commentaries by the director.
His comments are a bit disconcerting. I'm sure he knows his craft, although he hasn't done that many films and this was only his second. He wasn't a science fiction guy and thought this would be best done as a submarine movie in space.
He had never seen any Star Trek and was astonished to find the entire studio crew weeping at Spock's death scene.
He apologizes for the Genesis planet matte paintings and for the decor in Spock's quarters.