Review Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
- Thread starter Doctor Omega
- Start date
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Back when there was still hope that Shatner might knock it out of the park... somehow....
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
I had no idea that it was soooooo popular back in the day!
And Jimmy Doohan seemed to absolutely LOVE the movie back then!
He really changed his mind in interviews years afterwards though....
Odd.
And Jimmy Doohan seemed to absolutely LOVE the movie back then!
He really changed his mind in interviews years afterwards though....
Odd.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Shatner: Directing “Star Trek V” Was A Mistake
While fans may debate the merits of “Star Trek Into Darkness,” that film’s criticism pales in comparison to the critical drubbing several of the pre J.J. Abrams-era “Star Trek” films received – most notably the much vilified “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”.
Coming off the popular Leonard Nimoy-directed “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” which was both profitable and one of the better received critical entries, Captain Kirk himself William Shatner opted to direct the project which had a decent logline – a renegade Vulcan hijacks the Enterprise in search of God whom he believes lies at the center of the galaxy behind a massive energy barrier.
The film was heavily compromised before it began – multiple script revisions, severe budget cuts and a writers strike crippled the film from the get-go. Problems plagued the production, Shatner reportedly had a bit of a breakdown whilst filming, and visual effects weren’t given to ILM as usual but rather farmed out to a small FX house which struggled. The result was a film that “nearly killed the franchise” according to a producer.
Shatner is now releasing a memoir titled “Live Long and… What I Might Have Learned Along the Way” due next week and seems to regret choosing to direct the film after series creator Gene Roddenberry thought Shatner’s original story idea was objectionable. Roddenberry reportedly didn’t like the idea of a western religion-esque God being part of a “Star Trek” film and so the two compromised:
“I had a choice. I could accept the compromise or refuse to direct the movie. I made a mistake; I accepted the compromise, which doomed the picture from the beginning. [The decision was] consistent with who I was at the time.”
Costing $33 million, the movie made $63 million all up – thanks mostly to a strong opening. Time has not seen the film receive a critical re-evaluation, though some of the smaller individual scenes have risen in estimation such as Kirk’s famous “I need my pain” monologue and the famed line “what does God need with a starship?”.
While fans may debate the merits of “Star Trek Into Darkness,” that film’s criticism pales in comparison to the critical drubbing several of the pre J.J. Abrams-era “Star Trek” films received – most notably the much vilified “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”.
Coming off the popular Leonard Nimoy-directed “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” which was both profitable and one of the better received critical entries, Captain Kirk himself William Shatner opted to direct the project which had a decent logline – a renegade Vulcan hijacks the Enterprise in search of God whom he believes lies at the center of the galaxy behind a massive energy barrier.
The film was heavily compromised before it began – multiple script revisions, severe budget cuts and a writers strike crippled the film from the get-go. Problems plagued the production, Shatner reportedly had a bit of a breakdown whilst filming, and visual effects weren’t given to ILM as usual but rather farmed out to a small FX house which struggled. The result was a film that “nearly killed the franchise” according to a producer.
Shatner is now releasing a memoir titled “Live Long and… What I Might Have Learned Along the Way” due next week and seems to regret choosing to direct the film after series creator Gene Roddenberry thought Shatner’s original story idea was objectionable. Roddenberry reportedly didn’t like the idea of a western religion-esque God being part of a “Star Trek” film and so the two compromised:
“I had a choice. I could accept the compromise or refuse to direct the movie. I made a mistake; I accepted the compromise, which doomed the picture from the beginning. [The decision was] consistent with who I was at the time.”
Costing $33 million, the movie made $63 million all up – thanks mostly to a strong opening. Time has not seen the film receive a critical re-evaluation, though some of the smaller individual scenes have risen in estimation such as Kirk’s famous “I need my pain” monologue and the famed line “what does God need with a starship?”.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Star Trek legend and veteran author William Shatner discusses the meaning of life, finding value in work, and living well whatever your age.
"I have always felt," William Shatner says early in his newest memoir, that "like the great comedian George Burns, who lived to 100, I couldn’t die as long as I was booked." And Shatner is always booked.
Still, a brief health scare in 2016 forced him to take stock. After mulling over the lessons he's learned, the places he's been, and all the miracles and strange occurrences he's witnessed over the course of an enduring career in Hollywood and on the stage, he arrived at one simple rule for living a long and good life: don't die.
It's the only one-size-fits-all advice, Shatner argues in Live Long and..:What I Learned Along the Way, because everyone has a unique life—but, to help us all out, he's more than willing to share stories from his unique life. With a combination of pithy humor and thoughtful vulnerability, Shatner lays out his journey from childhood to peak stardom and all the bumps in the road. (Sometimes the literal road, as in the case of his 2,400-mile motorcycle trip across the country with a bike that didn't function.)
William Shatner is one of our most beloved entertainers, and he intends never to stop entertaining. His funny, provocative, and poignant reflections offer an unforgettable read about a remarkable man.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
It never ceases to amaze me that Shatner keeps republishing the same book over and over again, with the paragraphs cut up and rearranged. With a new cover and title on it.
chainsaw_metal1
Member: Rank 8
I admit, I do love those two lines, and there are some great moments in the film. But as a whole, it really is terrible. I'll concede that the film was affected by outside problems, but after a "trilogy" of sorts (Khan, Search for Spock, and the Whales), it certainly doesn't hold up as well and paled in comparison. At least they went out on a high note with Undiscovered Country (that was a great film, come at me, as the cool kids say).
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
New documentary movie at the cinemas soon......
Follow Alex Honnold as he becomes the first person to ever free solo climb Yosemite's 3,000ft high El Capitan Wall. With no ropes or safety gear, he completed arguably the greatest feat in rock climbing history.
https://www.imdforums.com/threads/free-solo-2018.6328/
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
The Moon's a Window to Heaven
Shake that booty, Nichelle - even if it isn't you doing the singing!
Shake that booty, Nichelle - even if it isn't you doing the singing!
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
As detailed in her autobiography, Nichelle was very upset indeed with Bill Shatner and Harve Bennett, when - after months of telling her that she would be singing whatever song was chosen for the fan dance scene, they decided to go with the lead singer of Hiroshima instead.
"You have embarrassed me in front of the fans and I will never, ever forgive you Harve!"
She added: "They both stood there in silence, not knowing what to say, which was probably just as well, for their sakes."
And..... "When I saw the finished film, with the lead singer from Hiroshima doing the singing, I could have died!"
Sometimes the drama behind the scenes was more enthralling than the mush that ended up on screen.
Last edited:
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
(Episode 33) Truth OR Myth? Error, Error, Mistakes! Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Retrospective / Review
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10