Film Review: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

"This is the final cruise of the Starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun, and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man... where no one has gone before." - William Shatner

After 25 years of success, the Star Trek franchise released its sixth feature film, once again uniting the original cast of the series with director Nicholas Meyer.  This is the final film with the original Enterprise crew, and it remains one of the best.

The film literally starts off with a bang; the explosion of Praxis is still one of the most awe-inspiring special effects I have seen, showcasing a pair of giant subspace shockwaves ripping across space.  The film immediately delves into moody, dramatic political tension, before the shockingly violent events that hurl the Enterprise crew into a frantic struggle to rescue their own members and discover the truth.  It all culminates to a thrilling climax.  A few bits of quirky humor, and an endearing farewell, round off what must be the darkest and most intense Trek movie of the lot.

The story for this is an interesting one:  it mirrors the Cold War in many ways, but also incorporates Shakespearean lines (as seen in the film's title) to dig up strong themes of the future.  Fear and uncertainty of the future drive the villains through the treachery, which contrasts heavily with the Enterprise crew's valor, and ultimately drives an excellent mystery-ridden plot.  Characters remain endearing and well-rounded in this film, and the events they go through are harrowing enough to make you care for them.

This film features quality photography and editing.  Acting and writing are strong; even at their age, the original Star Trek cast members' performances still hold up, while Christopher Plummer plays the most deliciously fun and distinctive villain since The Wrath of Khan.  This production has good-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects.  Music is extremely moody and intense, with a few upbeat parts, and I love it that way.

A few cuts of this film exist now.  The original theatrical cut is respectable as it is, but I've always been fond of the various home video cuts, which extend a number of scenes and bring more insight on the particulars of the story's conspiracy.

The Undiscovered Country has always been a favorite of mine for its intensity and impressive action, but it's also full of heart and intelligence.  Recommended!

4.5/5 (Entertainment:  Very Good | Story:  Very Good | Film:  Very Good)

This film is on my Top 100 Favorite Films list at #66.