Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 30 Years Old Today

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. release of the best of all the films in the Star Trek franchise; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

It’s such a superior film to it’s predecessor that a direct comparison isn’t really possible. It really relaunched the Trek franchise, and its echoes still reverberated through the other movies and television series. Everything from the plot– direct, but with enough twists to make it unpredictable– to the acting– Ricardo Montalbán’s over-the-top performance was only matched by Shatner’s– to the music– the score really put James Horner on the map– to the costumes — you still see the “monster maroons” showing up in flashbacks in the TV series as late as Voyager– just everything is perfect.

This was one of the highlights of 1982, when I was an impressionable 16 year old, my life stuffed full with Trek, and gaming, and science fiction in general. It was a great watershed, and a film I will still watch whenever it comes on.


Written by 

Wargamer and RPG'er since the 1970's, author of Adventures Dark and Deep, Castle of the Mad Archmage, and other things, and proprietor of the Greyhawk Grognard blog.

5 thoughts on “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 30 Years Old Today

  1. Yes, technically, Wrath of Khan was the best of the movies. It was truly excellent.

    However, a truly special place in my heart belongs to ST VI: Undiscovered Country. William Shatner vs. Christopher Plummer. It just doesn't get any better.

  2. Romney?

    It shows COURAGE to endorse republican candidates in the blog o sphere . . .

    expect name calling to ensue

    imho

    Wrath of Khan
    was the best Star Trek movie

  3. What a great flick, man! It's one of those few Trek offerings that even non-Trek fans can get into. The interplay between Kirk and Khan is pure awesome. And when Spock stands up in that chamber at the end and straightens his tunic before turning around…speaks volumes about the character!

  4. I once read that McCoy's retort to Spock, when they're about to beam down to investigate Regula I, was ad-libbed.

    Spock (to Kirk): "Jim, be careful."
    McCoy: "WE will."
    Spock raises eyebrow

    Priceless.

  5. Not once did William Shatner and Ricardo Montalban see each other while filming. They both acted to a blue screen.

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