Frank
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Thank you Fathom Events! I finally have been able to relive one of my earliest childhood memories by seeing this in theaters again. This movie is an excellent addition to the franchise. this was the third installment of what many people refer to as “the trilogy“ in the Star Trek movie ark. I am not upset to add spoilers into this review because it has been 35 years since its initial release and if you haven’t seen it yet that’s on you ;) this story follows the crew of the Enterprise-A back home to face judgment for their actions in Star Trek three and Star Trek two. Along the way, they encounter the infamous probe trying to reach an extinct species. In the tradition of the original series, time travel isn’t a problem for them like it is in anything next generation and beyond. A quick jaunt back to the 80s to pick up a pair of whales to solve all their problems. looking at the narrative in this film from a modern perspective makes it feel as though it wasn’t groundbreaking or revolutionary at all but keep in mind this was one of the first films to approach a problem like this. Many movies have learned a great deal from the Star Trek franchise and this movie in particular. The 80s and early 90s were a heyday for exploring the concept of time travel in this level of detail and this movie is no exception. This movie has something for everyone. Some points make you laugh, points that make you cry, and the general hopeful feeling that attaches itself to anything with the Star Trek name. In the film they specifically talk about what was a serious problem in the 80s; Well hunters. At that point, the humpback whale species totaled near 10,000 individuals. Because of this film and other protests etc. like, the humpback whale conservation effort has been able to drag humpback whales back from the brink of extinction. Currently, on earth, there are estimated to be between 130,000 and 150,000 humpbacks individuals alive today! Star Trek has always and continues to, inspire us to work toward a better world. It’s because of Star Trek and other fictional universes similar to it that we have things like smartphones, tablets, artificially intelligent computer systems, etc. as well as many of the conservation and human rights movements that we enjoy today. The long and short of it is simple; if you haven’t seen this movie, watch it. If you have seen this movie, watch it again! Share this movie with those close to you. Share this movie with those people who ask you what sci-fi has done for the world! This is one of the easiest movies for a non-Trekkie to get into and it is a story that, as simple as it is, should be watched and re-watched until its messages sink in. In the 80s, it was whales. Today, it’s the climate and the hundreds of other species that we are driving to the brink of extinction. Conservation is important! This film transmits this message in an easy-to-understand format.