Star Trek III:Unfairly Labeled

To anyone whose familiar with the Star Trek film series there's a belief that if its an odd number film (Part I better known as the Motion Picture, Parts III, V, VII IX) its bad. Whereas if its an even number film (Parts II, IV, VI, VIII) its good. That is until Part X Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) came out. This film was mind numbing terrible. It was insult to both hard core Trek fans as well as the causal ones. It was also lowest grossing film in the series ($43,119,879 million on a budget of $60 million) This film put the film series in moth balls until the release of the eleventh film simply titled Star Trek on May 8, 2009. This film was hit both at the box office (close to $300 million in the US. I will give a final total when it is released on dvd.) As well as the critics. According to Rotten Tomatoes, an on-line film critic database, 95% of critics gave it a favorable review. As of this writing its the highest grossing film in the series. Thanks to these films the belief in the odd films being bad and even films being good was altered. I have always felt that one of the odd numbered film part III:The Search for Spock has been unfairly included in this belief. This film is criticized for what its not. Its not an action packed science fiction yarn with poignant moments and a bad ass villain (Khan Nooninen Singh) like its predecessor The Wrath of Khan. Nor does is it contain great character interaction that is minded for humor with an eco-friendly message like its successor The Voyage Home. Instead it is a well executed film that contains main positive attributes that serves as a bridge to parts II, IV. Among those attributes:beautiful cinematography, great special effects from the best special effects house in the film business-ILM, and of course that striking, stirring score. The last part is courtesy of composer James Horner who got his big break on part II was wisely retained for part III. He would go on to win an Oscar for Titanic. Another important element of this was the hero moments given to the supporting actors. This was no accident. According to Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock as well as the film's director) in his autobiography I Am Spock this was intentional. This is best illustrated in two scenes. The first is when Sulu helps Kirk spring McCoy from prison. Earlier in the scene Sulu says to a guard whose yawning "Keeping you busy?" The guard stands up to show how imposing he is height wise and replies "Don't get smart tiny." As Kirk is escorting McCoy out of the prison after getting him out of his cell Sulu flips the guard over his shoulder. He then pulls out a small laser and destroys the guards' console. Before leaving he retorts "Don't call me tiny." The other is when Uhura is at a beaming station and the young man station with her is complaining that he doesn't see any action there. Just then Kirk, McCoy, and Sulu walk in. Uhura pulls out a phaser and orders the young man into the closet. He does so and she beams her ship mates aboard the Enterprise. The film also introduces another element into the film series that would be fully exploited in the next film-humor. I will give my two favorite examples. McCoy is a prison cell because he tried to charter a flight to a forbidden plant Genesis. Kirk gives him injection so he can be taken to Genesis by Kirk. McCoy ask why and here's what he is told. Kirk "Your suffering from a Vulcan mind-meld , doctor." McCoy "That green blooded son of a bitch! It's his revenge for all the arguments he lost." The other is when Scotty is aboard another ship and trying to get to the Enterprise. The elevator ask for what level and Scotty says transporter. The elevator says thank you and Scotty replies 'Up your shaft.' The film also contains some very poignant moments. The scene when Kirk and Sarek (Spock's father) mind meld then learn who Spock mind melded with before he died. The death of David (Kirk's son) and Kirk's reaction to this news. And of course when Kirk decides to self destruct the Enterprise. This was before The Next Generation made this standard procedure. This generally sad moment is heighten by a scene (which is enhanced by a magnificent special effects shot by ILM) of the Enterprise burning up in the atmosphere of Genesis. Upon see this Kirk says "My God, Bones . . . what have I done?" To which McCoy replies "What you had to do. What you always do:turn death into a fighting chance for life." The film does suffer from one huge problem the villain isn't very good. Despite Christopher Lloyd's considerable skill as an actor being a good villain isn't among them. As I learned in the book Star Trek Movie Memories he wasn't the original choice for the Klingon villain Kruge. Leonard Nimoy reveled in the book he wanted Edward James Olmos (Miami Vice) for the role. He felt that Olmos had the requisite gung-ho intense attitude the part called for. He was overruled by the film's producer Harve Bennett. Bennett was in the power position because he had produced part II which was a hit and had written part III. Believe it or not the producer is the most powerful person on a film set. Because they are in charge of the budget they can fire anyone including the director. Bennett wanted someone who was more physical imposing than William Shatner (Kirk) and Olmos wasn't. When it was reveled that Lloyd was interested in the part he got it. The film got good reviews from the critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes, 76% of critics gave a favorable review. Most importantly at the box office the film grossed 67,458,579 vs Wrath of Khan's gross of 78,633,541. Not bad considering how much higher regard the Wrath of Khan is held in over the Search for Spock. These are the reasons why the Search for Spock doesn't belong in the category of odd numbered Trek films are bad.