Because it is the simplest of the
Star Trek theatrical films, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan is fondly regarded as being the closest in spirit to the 1966-69 TV series that spawned it.
William Shatner plays Admiral Kirk (remember his promotion?) who escapes the tedium of a desk job to join Mr. Spock (
Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (
DeForest Kelley) on a space mission. While boldly going where no man etc. etc., Kirk crosses the path of his old enemy Khan (
Ricardo Montalban), who as any diehard Trekker can tell you was the chief antagonist in the 1966
Trek TV episode "Space Seed." Leading a crew of near-savage space prisoners, Khan insinuates himself into the Genesis Project, which is designed to introduce living organisms on long-dead planets. Intending to harness this program for his own despotic purposes, Khan engages in battle with the
Enterprise crew. Only through the self-sacrifice of Mr. Spock is Khan disposed of. The shock of Spock's death is softened by the hindsight realization that he will be reborn in the subsequent Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock. Originally released at 113 minutes, this was expanded somewhat for network TV showings. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide