Back in Summer of ’89…
The Voyage Home cast a very long shadow… After the boffo success of its predessessor, Director William Shatner was happy to amp up the humour and pathos, but unfortunately, it ended up leaning heavily into satirism. Sure, Final Frontier is far, far from my favourite Trek, but it’s still a fun-but-flawed ride, kinda like a big budget 80’s Cannon misfire – think Superman IV, or Masters of the Universe. I used to avoid this one like the Neutral Zone, but it’s grown on me over the years.
To be fair, the problems behind the scenes are the stuff of legend, and it’s easy to see what Bill and co. were trying to do – but it seems the gravity of the situation got the best of them.
The movie did feature the glorious return of composer Jerry Goldsmith to the series, the use of the original ‘Motion Picture’ theme was a definite high point. And the original movie poster by illustrious artist Bob Peak, and his signature streaky lighting effects, is just epic.
As part of my mega-meta-movie Summer of ’89 marathon (I watch every movie I saw in theatres that summer on the day of its original release, see comments), I’m throwing this one in the top-loader tonight. -Pop
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier crashed into theaters 36 years ago today.