Is Wrath of Khan Overrated

AllStarEntprise · September 1 2012, 07:36 AM

So I've been pondering this for weeks. I tried watching and rewatching Wrath of Khan and Space Seed, and I just couldn't get in to them like I used to. I know a majority of people inside and outside the fandom consider TWOK to be the best Star Trek movie of the 11 but is it really? While I do enjoy it I can't help but feel that it may be oversold on it's amazingness.

This may be unrelated but part of it stems from Search For Spock, Everything TWOK set up is ripped away in TSFS. Kirk's mid-life crisis, career as an admiral, Kirk finds his son and loses him just as fast, Spock dies but is revived just as fast as Kirk's son was introduced and killed off. By Voyage home the only thing that remains is the Genesis Torpedo.

C.E. Evans · September 1 2012, 07:40 AM

It's the nature of folks to question anything that's popular as being overrated, IMO. But I loved "The Genesis Trilogy" and thought all three films comprised a pretty epic Trek story.

teacake · September 1 2012, 08:28 AM

I prefer Space Seed.

TWOK is way down on my list of favorite movies, so yes I think it is over rated. I think it's rather clunky.

Maurice · September 1 2012, 09:13 AM

It's a good film but its supposed excellence has been overinflated.

R. Star · September 1 2012, 09:19 AM

While there comes a point where there's only so many times you can watch any given movie, Wrath of Khan aways remains my favorite. While on the surface it's a simple story, there is a subtle level of depth to it. For me it's the little things that enhnace the movie, like Khan's book collection all of them having a theme of revenge, damnation or both and the secondary plot points of age and usefulness.

controlfreak · September 1 2012, 09:32 AM

It is duly rated. Fan favourite, generally regarded as a good film, recapturing the spirit of the original show and the dynamic of the characters. If people want to take issue with minor bits and pieces, it's certainly their choice, but it won't diminish the quality of the film or how much it hit it right out of the park.

lurok · September 1 2012, 10:05 AM

No.

But most of the other movies are.

Lonemagpie · September 1 2012, 11:59 AM

Nah, it's great, though it's not without niggles and problems - I actually just it again last week and had to go "WTF?" when they mention Reliant being 4000km away and there's a shot of the Enterprise pulling away from it, and Reliant looks about one quarter the size of the Big E from that perspective. Which means it must be pretty fucking big if it's already 2500 fucking miles behind!

I'd never noticed that before...

Admiral Bear · September 1 2012, 11:59 AM

I've seen it far too many times to enjoy it in the same way I used to, but it's still a great film, and it's not got a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for nothing.

I do prefer the director's cut though as it gives far more emotional depth to Scotty's reaction to Peter Preston's death.

CorporalCaptain · September 1 2012, 12:07 PM

It's not overrated—especially when you compare it with all the other Star Trek films.

It easily blows away any NextGen film, and crushes TFF and TUC. That leaves only TMP, III, TVH, and XI in or approaching its class. I find it superior to TMP, III, and TVH, for different respective reasons, so that places it in my top two.

Not overrated.

King Daniel Into Darkness · September 1 2012, 12:23 PM

Yes, I think Wrath of Khan is overrated. It's not a bad film, but I don't think it's as good as people say.

I preferred the fun and adventure of III. Even if the Vulcan katra stuff was pure magic mumbo jumbo.

NrobbieC · September 1 2012, 01:33 PM

I think it's overrated, it's dull and slow, but had I been around when it was brand new I imagine my opinion would be different. I could see someone who was my age now when that came out probably considering it their favourite.

CorporalCaptain · September 1 2012, 02:18 PM

Would you have to consider TWOK overrated, if you don't consider it your personal #1 favorite Trek film? To me, it seems like that's a bit extreme.

LOKAI of CHERON · September 1 2012, 02:30 PM

No, not overrated at all! Whenever I screen Star Trek movies for friends and family outside of fandom it is by far the biggest "crowd pleaser" as it were.

NrobbieC · September 1 2012, 02:41 PM

CorporalCaptain wrote:

Would you have to consider TWOK overrated, if you don't consider it your personal #1 favorite Trek film? To me, it seems like that's a bit extreme.

Of course not, I'm just saying I can understand why some older fans consider it as good as they do despite the fact I feel it's a massive clunker.

September 1 2012, 07:40 AM	#2
C.E. Evans Vice Admiral Location: Saint Louis (aka Defiance)	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated It's the nature of folks to question anything that's popular as being overrated, IMO. But I loved "The Genesis Trilogy" and thought all three films comprised a pretty epic Trek story. __________________ "Shout, shout, let it all out..."

September 1 2012, 08:28 AM	#3
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated I prefer Space Seed. TWOK is way down on my list of favorite movies, so yes I think it is over rated. I think it's rather clunky. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

September 1 2012, 09:13 AM	#4
Maurice Rear Admiral Location: Maurice in San Francisco	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated It's a good film but its supposed excellence has been overinflated. __________________ * * * "Star Trek…at times sparkled with true ingenuity, and pure science fiction approaches, and at other times was more carnival like, and very much more the creature of television than the creature of a legitimate literary form." —Rod Serling, 1970"

September 1 2012, 09:19 AM	#5
R. Star Rear Admiral Location: Terra 3	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated While there comes a point where there's only so many times you can watch any given movie, Wrath of Khan aways remains my favorite. While on the surface it's a simple story, there is a subtle level of depth to it. For me it's the little things that enhnace the movie, like Khan's book collection all of them having a theme of revenge, damnation or both and the secondary plot points of age and usefulness. __________________ "I was never a Star Trek fan." J.J. Abrams

September 1 2012, 09:32 AM	#6
controlfreak Commander Location: Under foot.	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated It is duly rated. Fan favourite, generally regarded as a good film, recapturing the spirit of the original show and the dynamic of the characters. If people want to take issue with minor bits and pieces, it's certainly their choice, but it won't diminish the quality of the film or how much it hit it right out of the park. __________________ I'm sorry, officer, but that's definitely not a breathalizer.

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September 1 2012, 07:36 AM	#1
AllStarEntprise Commander	Is Wrath of Khan Overrated So I've been pondering this for weeks. I tried watching and rewatching Wrath of Khan and Space Seed, and I just couldn't get in to them like I used to. I know a majority of people inside and outside the fandom consider TWOK to be the best Star Trek movie of the 11 but is it really? While I do enjoy it I can't help but feel that it may be oversold on it's amazingness. This may be unrelated but part of it stems from Search For Spock, Everything TWOK set up is ripped away in TSFS. Kirk's mid-life crisis, career as an admiral, Kirk finds his son and loses him just as fast, Spock dies but is revived just as fast as Kirk's son was introduced and killed off. By Voyage home the only thing that remains is the Genesis Torpedo.

September 1 2012, 10:05 AM	#7
lurok Commodore Location: Lost In The EU Expanse	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated No. But most of the other movies are. __________________ “Between ennui and ecstasy unwinds our whole experience of time.”

September 1 2012, 11:59 AM	#8
Lonemagpie Writer Location: Yorkshire	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated Nah, it's great, though it's not without niggles and problems - I actually just it again last week and had to go "WTF?" when they mention Reliant being 4000km away and there's a shot of the Enterprise pulling away from it, and Reliant looks about one quarter the size of the Big E from that perspective. Which means it must be pretty fucking big if it's already 2500 fucking miles behind! I'd never noticed that before... __________________ "I got two modes with people- Bite, and Avoid" Reading: The Hobbit (JRR Tolkien) Blog- http://lonemagpie.livejournal.com

September 1 2012, 11:59 AM	#9
Admiral Bear Captain	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated I've seen it far too many times to enjoy it in the same way I used to, but it's still a great film, and it's not got a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for nothing. I do prefer the director's cut though as it gives far more emotional depth to Scotty's reaction to Peter Preston's death. __________________ SAY NO TO SHAMASTERS! SAY NO TO DSTL! SAY NO TO LIES.

September 1 2012, 12:07 PM	#10
CorporalCaptain Vice Admiral Location: In pre-production	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated It's not overrated—especially when you compare it with all the other Star Trek films. It easily blows away any NextGen film, and crushes TFF and TUC. That leaves only TMP, III, TVH, and XI in or approaching its class. I find it superior to TMP, III, and TVH, for different respective reasons, so that places it in my top two. Not overrated. __________________ John

September 1 2012, 12:23 PM	#11
King Daniel Into Darkness Admiral Location: Behind the aft nacelle	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated Yes, I think Wrath of Khan is overrated. It's not a bad film, but I don't think it's as good as people say. I preferred the fun and adventure of III. Even if the Vulcan katra stuff was pure magic mumbo jumbo. __________________ Star Trek Imponderables, fun mashups of Trek's biggest continuity errors! Ep1, Ep2 and Ep3

September 1 2012, 01:33 PM	#12
NrobbieC Commander Location: Burton, UK	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated I think it's overrated, it's dull and slow, but had I been around when it was brand new I imagine my opinion would be different. I could see someone who was my age now when that came out probably considering it their favourite.

September 1 2012, 02:18 PM	#13
CorporalCaptain Vice Admiral Location: In pre-production	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated Would you have to consider TWOK overrated, if you don't consider it your personal #1 favorite Trek film? To me, it seems like that's a bit extreme. __________________ John

September 1 2012, 02:30 PM	#14
LOKAI of CHERON Fleet Captain Location: Post-apocalyptic ruins of my once mighty Homeworld.	Re: Is Wrath of Khan Overrated No, not overrated at all! Whenever I screen Star Trek movies for friends and family outside of fandom it is by far the biggest "crowd pleaser" as it were. __________________ YOU MONOTONE HUMANS ARE ALL ALIKE... FIRST YOU CONDEMN, THEN ATTACK.