Star Trek : The Final FrontierThe franchise has failed to offer the essence and spirit of the series since, but this one shatters the lower expectations of the franchise and begs the question of its existence. There isn't anything rhythmic let along be poetic in here, just a mere misguided action flick that can't even be called sci-fi for its failed attempt to go mythical back fires very poorly on itself. The script never had enough crisp or meat to make it to the screen in the first place addition to that, the execution by Leonard Nimoy seems to have gone loose rather than getting it all together or improving. The performance is decent but not something outstanding not that it could have saved the feature, for there wasn't much range or space for the actors to factor in. It is short on technical aspects like visual effects, sound department and editing. The only sequence to look forward is the conversation among Spock, Kirk and McCoy. Star Trek : The Final Frontier is accurately titled on terms of its production of the features as it brings into halt on every single aspect of it like characters, plot-line and the spark of creativity that made it's predecessor what it is.

I enjoyed this film when it was first released. I recall when I first saw it and noted that unlike the previous movies, Star Trek V followed the format of the original show; an opening teaser, opening credits, etc.My speculation on what really impacted the reception of the movie is that it became a victim of edits and budget cuts. It was the fifth movie, and the studios were going for maximum profits so at a time when VCR and DVDs were just entering the market, a movie's success was tracked by ticket sales, which meant heavy editing to get more showings per day. That was tragic.The story is very much Star Trek. Finding GOD and an unknown half brother of Spock are not that much different than finding Christ in "Bread and Circuses", or finding Apollo in "Who Mourns For Adonis", or learning that Kirk broke up with a woman who now wants to kill him or that Spock was betrothed in an arranged marriage where his parents failed to make an appearance. What was innovative was giving character expansion. The novel did more of that, so I suspect that good scenes were either note done or were done and then promptly tossed into a waste bucket. One can find some of them on DVD or on the Internet, and they help fill the gaps.This movie really explains William Shatner. He is an actor who can see a big picture and wants to direct. He is a director who knows the entrainment industry and craft and wants to be an executive producer. He is a product of what is called "old school" and the "studio system". He is a talented individual and in this movie it really shows. There is humor like there is in the tv show. Women have a prominent part, and if one adds the deleted scenes, they have a more prominent and substantial role. Their is good music scoring, good cinematography and photography. The original special effects blended well and do not dominate the movie.Parts of the movie which did not get shown ultimately find their way onto another movie must see, "Galaxy Quest". That tells a person something.So ignore the rumors, ignore the snide remarks and bad press and watch this movie with an open mind. You will not be disappointed.

With most Star Trek films, I've seen them several times, but this was only my second viewing of the fifth installment. I thought this film was very stupid and, actually, fairly boring the first time I saw it. But I thought that I may have been jaded knowing that most people strongly dislike this movie, so I watched it again, trying to keep an open mind. It turns out, it just is a stupid movie.I'll give William Shatner, who I lay the blame on as director of the film though I know he wasn't alone in creating the story, this much credit: the idea that "Eden", known as Sha'Ka'Ree to Vulcans, could exist at the center of the galaxy is somewhat intriguing. But that's all I can say in the movie's favor, and that's not much.It just seemed like this was never really happening, that Capt. Kirk is dreaming his own macho vision of Trek while on shore leave. Since when does Star Trek simply feel like a extremely poor rendition of Star Wars? That's how the film felt when we were taken to Paradise City (fan of Appetite for Destruction are you, Bill?) and it never improves from there. Could you have made Uhura any more of a stereotype? Couldn't you have tried a little harder to make stunts seem more credible? If it was really that easy to fly through the "Great Barrier", why hadn't anyone done it yet?? The humor is so out of place, the Klingons so unbelievable, the set of Sha'Ka'Ree so unimpressive, the three-breasted cat dancer so stupid, it's such a shame.Please, someone call the guy who directed Wrath of Khan or else this franchise is sunk.Some final thoughts: Just change the channel.*My film rating follows the soccer player rating measure of 6 as a baseline: you did what was expected of you. This film is a 2 because I'm sure that there are worse films out there, somewhere, maybe on Nimbus III.

This is a movie only true Star Trek fans would ever endure. In fact, in order to get your official Trekkie membership card and decoder ring, you have to wear a costume, go to at least one convention, and explain why you hate Star Trek V. So here is my critique:This abortion directed by William Shatner is by far my least favorite Star Trek movie. Given the quality of The Motion Picture, that alone should attest to how truly bad this movie turned out. There are many reasons why, not all related to Shatner, but he sure didn't help either. Just like when Spock mind melded with V'Ger, I think examining why this movie is so utterly horrible gives you great insight into megalomaniac mind of William Shatner. The fact that he insisted upon directing this movie shows he has something in common with Kirk. He was jealous of the success Nimoy (his second banana on the show & in Shatners mind distant second in talent) had in directing Star Trek III and IV. Sounds a bit like Kirk marching into his boss's office during the first movie to demand the Enterprise back because would never allow anybody to steal his glory. Second, Shatner isn't as funny as he thinks he is. Big surprise, right? (It's blatantly obvious Shatner thinks not even God can do something better than he can) This movie followed the wildly successful 4th movie (yup, the one with the whales) and what was different about it from the previous movies, beside how much money it made, was that it made you laugh out loud. This was due to the whole "fish outta water" routine of refined and evolved Starfleet officers of Roddenberry's enlightened future interacting with the violently barbaric Dark Age degenerates of 1986. It was funny without trying to be funny. The characters were just being themselves, but Shatner was clearly unaware of that fact. He saw comedy as the key to box office bucks. The forced comedic elements of The Final Frontier provides clear evidence why Shatner's lounge act wasn't exactly a smashing success. Finally, and most disturbingly, being director meant he had more input on the character of Kirk than ever before. So what does Shatner make Kirk do that he has never done before? He orders Spock to murder somebody in cold blood. Spock refuses and when his logical and peaceful first officer refuses the order to execute a living being, Kirk is shocked. He acts like Spock didn't notice the fine print on the Prime Directive user agreement where he agreed to blow away any creature on demand. So how does the great Captain Kirk handle his best friend refusing to follow his order to murder? Right out of the Starfleet Academy manual, of course. When trapped in the brig of his own ship he proceeds to pout, call Spock names, then throw a temper tantrum, all while being totally ambivalent about stopping the mad man has stolen his ship. Shatner, the director, wanted to show us that Kirk earned the respect of the fleet by reacting like a spoiled toddler in times of crisis. Clearly we were seeing more the method Shatner would react than Kirk in that situation. Again, as I originally stated, it's not only Shatner's fault the movie was so poor. Don't forget the scene where the enemy runs toward, and not away screaming in fear, at Uhura's elderly nude body dancing in the moonlight. Clearly the bad ideas were coming in from all sides. In fact the entire movie was deemed to be non-cannon in the Star Trek universe. The keepers of official Star Trek mythology finally said, screw it. It was easier to disregard the entire movie than to explain why so many issues were contrary to already established facts. The Final Frontier was William Shanter's big chance to put his own personal touch on the role that made him famous. Upon seeing the results, all this movie proves is that Shatner's mind is a very scary place.