Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Plot

Captain Kirk and his crew must deal with Mr. Spock's half brother who hijacks the Enterprise for an obsessive search for God.

Release Year: 1989

Rating: 5.1/10 (24,642 voted)

Director:
William Shatner

Stars: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley

Storyline
When the newly-christened starship Enterprise's shakedown cruise goes poorly, Captain Kirk and crew put it into Spacedock for repairs. But an urgent mission interrupts their Earth-bound shore leave. A renegade Vulcan named Sybok has taken several ambassadors hostage on the planet Nimbus III, an event which also attracts the attention of a Klingon captain who wants to make a name for himself. Sybok's ragtag army captures the Enterprise and takes it on a journey to the center of the galaxy in search of the Supreme Being.

Writers: Gene Roddenberry, William Shatner

Cast:

William Shatner
–

Kirk

Leonard Nimoy
–

Spock

DeForest Kelley
–

McCoy

James Doohan
–

Scotty

Walter Koenig
–

Chekov

Nichelle Nichols
–

Cmdr. Uhura

George Takei
–

Sulu

David Warner
–

St. John Talbot

Laurence Luckinbill
–

Sybok

Charles Cooper
–

Korrd

Cynthia Gouw
–

Caithlin Dar

Todd Bryant
–

Captain Klaa

Spice Williams-Crosby
–

Vixis

(as Spice Williams)

Rex Holman
–

J'onn

George Murdock
–

God

Taglines:
What does God need with a starship?

Details

Official Website:
Startrek.com |

Release Date: 9 June 1989

Filming Locations: Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $27,800,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $17,300,000
(USA)

Gross: $70,210,000
(Worldwide)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

William Shatner asked Paramount for money to complete the film the way he originally intended, for release on DVD. Paramount refused.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes:
When the spotlight of the shuttlecraft highlights Kirk, Spock and McCoy to pick them up, the circle of light doesn't change its shape despite being on a descending craft, showing it to be an optical effect.

Quotes:

[first lines]

Sybok:
I thought weapons were forbidden on this planet. Besides, I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes.

J'Onn:
It's all I have.

User Review

Poor Story Redeemed by Character Moments

Rating: 5/10


Star Trek V ranks at or near the bottom of the Trek films for most fans
and casual viewers. And upon viewing this on its special edition DVD,
my opinion has not changed. This is a film that tries hard but
ultimately fails due to poor plotting, sub-par special effects and poor
character development. The movie opens with probably the best scene in
the film, where you meet Sybok and learn a little about his quest. The
visuals alone in the opening shots are very impressive. Then, slowly,
scene by scene, the movie falls apart. Yes, there are a few peaks in
there, which I will discuss later, but overall, the idea of a "God Like
Being" in the center of our galaxy, it just so illogical.

The movie has a lot of embarrassing and just plan bad moments. The
first of which is the meeting of three characters who represent the
"Planet of Galactic Peace." However, their intro is rushed and these
characters are not given any depth at all. Why introduce us to these
"important" characters if they care not going to be used in any
meaningful (maybe one of them at the end) plot point at all? The
direction by William Shatner also seems very uneven. Take the scene
with Scotty and Uhura on the bridge. There is a very awkward moment of
silence after their main dialogue is over. And the mugging Shatner does
when McCoy makes very awkward comments to Spock's story about Sybok is
just out of place. And add to that a semi-naked Uhura and Scotty
hitting his head for a "Three Stooges" laugh and you begin to sink in
your chair. The Klingon plot seems tacked on just to add depth to the
story. And by the time we see where the movie is going, we just feel
very disappointed and underwhelmed.

That said, I can't help but enjoy the wealth of good character moments
in the film. I for one liked the campfire scene and the attempts of
deep philosophy about old age and death. I also liked exploring the
"pain" of McCoy and Spock and Kirk's insistence that he "needs his
pain." While most of the humor was forced and bad, the best had to be
the "I could use a shower" scene, which is one of the biggest laughs in
all of the Trek films. There were many moments of good direction by
Shatner, especially in McCoy's "pain scene." I do sympathize with
Shatner a little, when listening to the commentary track, about how
this was cut and that was cut but I still think on a whole, this movie
was doomed to fail.

The DVD's picture is sharp and the sound is excellent. The extras are
quite good but I would have liked more insight as to what went wrong
with the film besides tight schedule and budget. Shatner's commentary
with his daughter is good but has too many quiet moments. Check out the
hidden and brief "comic reel."

At this point in time, I do rank Star Trek V above Nemesis, mainly due
to that movie's bad continuity issues but just barely. Still, it is
Star Trek and if you like the characters, just sit back, don't expect
much and enjoy the show.