Movie Review: Star Trek III The Search for Spock
Star Trek is an old love of mine. I have expressed my hot takes about the original series films here. Today I am going to expand upon the point I made in my review of the first film, namely, that Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is an underrated film. Being the middle child of an aclaimed trilogy that began with the classic Wrath of Khan and ended with the marvelous Voyage Home, Search for Spock is frequently overlooked by fans and casuals alike. It certainly is not because it is a bad film. It is simply that the other two are just so damn great. Yet from where I sit, Search for Spock is actually the most moving film of any of the original series stories.
As the name implies the movie follows the events of the previous film that ended with Spock’s noble sacrifice. A battle weary Enterprise ship and crew return to Earth only to learn that Spock passed his “katra” or soul into the mind of Dr. McCoy before he died. Kirk is tasked by Spock’s father with returning to the Genesis planet to find Spock’s body and bring it to planet Vulcan where he can be revived. Blocking Kirk’s path is his own Federation that has sealed off the planet to study the Genesis project, as well as a Klingon commander named Kruge who seeks to harness the Genesis technology for himself.
Complicating the journey even further is the mysterious young Vulcan discovered on the Genesis planet and its strange accelerated aging phenomena. There is a pretty neat subplot involving the Vulcan Starfleet officer Saavik (played by Robin Curtis this time instead of Kirstie Alley) and Captain Kirk’s scientist son David as they explore the chaotic world of the Genesis planet. The different teams clash over the planet culminating in an exciting space battle and some tense captain vs captain tactical back and forth between Kruge and Kirk.
One of the greatest virtues of the film is its theme. The Search for Spock is at root a film about loyalty. We see this in the main text as Kirk risks everything to save his friend. When Spock’s father Sarek at the end of the film points out how much it cost him to save his friend, Kirk eloquently responds, “If I hadn’t tried, the cost would have been my soul.” This theme manifests in several other areas. Kruge’s loyalty to the Klingon race drives him to defy intergalactic treaties to pursue the Genesis project as a weapon. When Kirk defies Starfleet orders and steals the Enterprise he tells his crew to stay behind and save their careers, but Sulu, Scott, and Chekov all volunteer to come along. There is even a kind of meta-theme with loyalty if we consider the film itself a memento of honor to the character of Spock and the fact that it was directed by Leonard Nimoy.
The film is also technically very well-executed. While it can’t compete with Wrath of Khan’s cinematic flair or the music of The Motion Picture’s drydock scene, Search for Spock 40 years after its release still looks and sounds fantastic. I loved the set and costume design on Vulcan in the later part of the film. I also really enjoyed the heist movie vibe of Kirk’s theft of the Enterprise near the film’s middle. While I wouldn’t put him on the same level as Nicholas Meyer, Nimoy deserves a lot of credit for his directing talent.
The Search for Spock does some things better than its predecessors but also falls short in other areas. A good example is the character of David, Kirk’s secret son. His death in this film is abrupt and cruel. The first time I watched this movie I remember feeling like the son of such an iconic character deserved better. Upon rewatch I came to appreciate that this film did something Wrath of Khan failed to accomplish: It made us care about Kirk’s relationship with David. It made it matter.
It also elevated our hatred for Kruge, played by a splendidly transformed Christopher Lloyd. He isn’t as charismatic or memorable as Khan, but he presents a meaningful threat to Kirk’s crew and has his own unique ambitions. The final battle with Kirk is a classic brawl much akin to the cheesy fist fights of the Original Series from the 60’s. It’s not as impressive a climax as either of the previous films, but it works as a visceral intimate conflict between Kirk and his son’s murderer.
The Search for Spock does not hold up as well for normies as any of the other first four films. From its opening scene which replays Spock’s sacrifice, it is clear that this is very much a fan movie — a story for Trekkies. Even still you will find yourself surprised by its emotional impact in its second half. The bond of duty and friendship between two men has rarely been so artfully presented in a work of cinema. It exemplifies the heart that was missing from the modern Star Trek remake films, entertaining as they may have been. Star Trek III may have given us Kirk and Spock’s finest moment together. Underrated or not, it is in my mind a must watch.
Grade: B+
