Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Review

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Release Date: 18th December 1986 - Australia

Production Companies

Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distribution

Paramount Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 118 minutes


Budget: $26,000,000

Box Office Gross: $133,000,000 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

Hunted by the very

Federation that they have

sworn to defend, the crew

of the U.S.S. Enterprise

returns to Earth to answer

the crimes they committed

while saving a resurrected 

Spock.

But along the way, they

learn that Earth is under

attack by a strange alien

probe. It demands an

answer from a life form

that no longer exists.

Under the command of a

captured Klingon Bird of

Prey, Kirk and his crew

will bend space and time

to save the Earth and

rediscover the true

meaning of friendship.

Cast

William Shatner - Admiral

James T. Kirk

Leonard Nimoy - Spock

DeForest Kelley - Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Catherine Hicks - Gillian

James Doohan - Scotty

Walter Koenig - Chekov

George Takei - Sulu

Nichelle Nichols - Uhura

Robin Curtis - Saavik

Mark Lenard - Sarek

Jane Wyatt - Amanda Grayson

Robert Ellenstein - Federation Council President

John Schuck - Klingon Ambassador

Brock Peters - Admiral Cartwright

Michael Snyder - Starfleet Communications Officer

Michael Berryman - Starfleet Display Officer

Mike Brislane - Saratoga Science Officer

Grace Lee Whitney - Commander Rand

Jane Wiedlin - Alien Communications Officer (Cameo)

Vijay Amritaj - Starship Captain (Cameo)

Majel Barrett - Commander Chapel

Nick Ramus - Saratoga Helmsman

Thaddeus Golas - Controller #1

Marty Pistone - Controller #2

Scott DeVenney - Bob Briggs

Viola Kates Stimpson - Lady in Tour

Phil Rubenstein - 1st Garbageman

John Miranda - 2nd Garbageman

Joe Knowland - Antique Store Owner

Bob Sarlatte - Waiter

Everett Lee - Cafe Owner

Richard Harder - Joe

Alex Henteloff - Nichols

Tony Edwards - Pilot

Eve Smith - Elderly Patient

Tom Mustin - Intern #1

Greg Karas - Intern #2

Raymond Singer - Young Doctor

David Ellenstein - Doctor #1

Judy Levitt - Doctor #2

Teresa E. Victor - Usher

James Menges - Jogger

Kirk Thatcher - Punk on Bus (Cameo)

Jeff Lester - FBI Agent

Joe Lando - San Francisco Police Officer

Newell Tarrant - CDO

Mike Timoney - Electronic Technician

Jeffrey Martin - Electronic Technician

Joseph Naradzay - Marine Sergeant

Donald W. Zautcke - Marine Lieutenant

Madge Sinclair - Saratoga Captain (Uncredited)

Crew

Story/Director - Leonard Nimoy

Based on "Star Trek"/Executive

Consultant - Gene Roddenberry

Story/Screenplay/Producer - Harve Bennett

Screenplay - Steve Meerson,

Peter Krikes and Nicholas Meyer

Associate Producers - Brooke Beton and

Kirk Thatcher

Executive Producer - Ralph Winter

Production Designer - Jack T. Collks

Art Directors - Joe Aubel and

Peter Landsdown Smith

Assistant Art Director - Joseph E. Hubbard

Assistant Art Director/Visual Effects

Art Director: ILM - Nilo Rodis-Jamero

Set Decorator - John M. Dwyer

Costume Designer - Robert Fletcher

Makeup Artists - Wes & Jeff Dawn

and James Lee McCoy

Creature Crew - Dale Brady,

Shannon Shea, Craig Caton, Brian Wade,

Allen Feuerstein and Nancy Nimoy

Director of Photography - Donald Peterman

Underwater Director of Photography - Jack Cooperman

Location Managers - Michael Mann

and Michael John Meehan

Unit Production Manager - Mel Efros

Second Unit Director - Michael Owens

Stunt Coordinator - R.A. Rondell

Special Effects Supervisor - Michael Lantieri

Visual Effects Supervisor - Ken Ralston

Effects Director of Photography: ILM - Don Dow

Whale Design & Project Supervisor: ILM - Walt Conti

Underwater Whale Photography: ILM - Pete Romano

Model Shop Supervisor: ILM - Jeff Mann

Production Manager: ILM - Edward Hirsh

Camera Operators: ILM - Selwyn Eddy,

John V. Fante, Peter Daulton, Toby Heindel

and Pat Sweeney

Assistant Camera: ILM - Jo Carson,

Ray Gilberti, Pete Kozachik and Martin Rosenberg

Matte Photography Supervisor: ILM - Craig Barron

Visual Consultant: ILM - Ralph McQuarrie

Graphic Designer - Michael Okuda

Computer Animation and Tactical Displays:

Video Images - John Wash and Richard E. Hollander

Film Editor - Peter E. Berger

Title Designers - Dan Curry and

Harry Moreau

Sound Effects - Mark A. Mangini

Sound Effects Editors - David Stone,

Michael J. Benavente, Warren Hamilton Jr.

and Stephen Hunter Flick

Special Sound Effects - George Budd,

Alan Howarth and John Pospisil

Sound Effects Recordist - Doug Hemphill

Sound Mixer - Gene S. Cantamessa

Re-Recording Mixers - Terry Porter,

David J. Hudson and Mel Metcalfe

Composer: Theme "Star Trek" - Alexander Courage

Music - Leonard Rosenman

Awards

1987 Academy Awards

Best Cinematography - Don Peterman (Nominated)

Best Sound - Terry Porter, David J. Hudson,
Mel Metcalfe and Gene S. Cantamessa (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - Mark A. Mangini (Nominated)
Best Music, Original Score - Leonard Rosenman (Nominated)

Review

I enjoy watching the film adaptations of Star Trek, but Star Wars is a much better sci-fi movie franchise with far more memorable characters, world-building and epic battles. In all fairness, Lucasfilm's series has a better impact than Trek. In re-exploring the fourth chapter, which I hadn't seen for a long time, the story brings the original characters on a journey back to Earth. It takes place in a different time when they interact in unfamiliar surroundings. THE VOYAGE HOME was a changing form of the Trek series in that it became less dramatic and focused more on comedy as this film communicates a storyline that begins in the year 2286 and ends in the late 80s.

Nicholas Meyer, the man behind The Wrath of Khan, was also involved in this film. This time, director/actor Leonard Nimoy scored big after The Search for Spock proved divisive for Trekkers, which satisfied and disappointed them. His direction is relaxed, spacious and suited to a feature film. He has co-designed a feature with an unusual plot and more hilarity, thus creating a comical version of Star Trek. Surprisingly, THE VOYAGE HOME didn't wreck the entire franchise. Otherwise, The Next Generation would never have existed. Aside from the comedy and time travel, the elements are all there. There is a message about saving the whales, which melded into the plot with consequences that I will not spoil this information for you.

All the cast had a ball at this film, especially DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy and Walter Koenig. Catherine Hicks exhibits a wide range of several scenes, and William Shatner's acting here is one of his better performances in the series. Though, he doesn't overact as much. The romance with Shatner carries out very well, but the comic duo with Nimoy is far more interesting. The technical aspects are substantial and provide a different feel to Star Trek, with a good mix of exterior photography and set design.

There hasn't been a better Trek movie since J.J. Abrams' first reboot (click here), but THE VOYAGE HOME is no exception. This film is a unique and entertaining addition to the Star Trek canon, which showcases the franchise's versatility and ability to reinvent itself. It is a treasure to be remembered by all Trekkers and sci-fi filmgoers. I highly recommend it.

Star rating: (9/10) Excellent Movie

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