Wow. I just wrote a long review, then accidentally highlighted the whole thing while typing the word "had," and was left with a "d" in the box and nothing else, and I was unable to undo it. Fucking hell.
So here's the short version of my The Search for Spock review:
It sucked. The only purpose of the film is to retcon the changes The Wrath of Khan made (Kirk's son, the Genesis planet/device, Spock's death), the most offensive of which is resurrecting Spock. That action cheapens his sacrifice in WoK immensely - the producers should've had the balls to kill him and keep him dead. It also doesn't work even remotely as a standalone film - it's all about bringing Spock back to life, the only conflict being Christopher freakin' Lloyd's Klingon commander trying to steal the "Genesis secret" (which he apparently thinks can, what, be told to him? How does that work?) ... ugh.
Then there's the out-of-place humor. Tribbles? Again? Really? And they're on a table at a bar with two patrons petting them? Plus McCoy/Spock's conversation with the backwards-talking alien that's even worse than Prequel Yoda, and the Uhura/transporter room ensign scene ("Get in the closet").
One thing I'm surprised wasn't brought up later was the potential for Spock's child - it's pretty clear that Saavik mated with Spock on Genesis to get him through pon farr, and when Spock sees her at the end she gives a very embarrased look. The film was released before TNG, so I'm surprised that Spock's child wasn't a character on that show. Or maybe the producers changed their minds. I dunno. Whatever.
Finally, there isn't one real Star Trek idea in this film. TMP had V'Ger, and a very clear theme of exploration and discovery. WOK had the return of Khan from TOS, and the Genesis device. Voyage Home, if I recall, had its environmental themes and a very Star Trek idea of time travel. TFF had exploration and discovery, as well as a God-like entity. TUC focuses on peace and learning to live together despite differences.
The Search for Spock has none of that. And it suffers for it.
Updated list:
- The Undiscovered Country
- The Wrath of Khan
- The Final Frontier
- The Motion Picture
- The Search for Spock
Now I guess I need to watch The Voyage Home again so my list will be complete.