We summarized the plot of it (actually titled Star Trek II) here (link).
He did. This film has a number of action sequences. The 2 raids on Paradise City, the escape up the turboshaft, the finale - which is action from Sybok's death until the BoP kills the alien - all point to Shatner's wish for more action and "real steel clanging doors" or something like that.
It's not "Lethal Weapon" paced action, but TWOK had a couple of short space battles and one extended hunt scene. It wasn't an "action" movie either.
Besides, he is an actor. Actors went to act. So his film contained a variety of avenues for him and the others. But Shatner liked to be physical (mountain climbing, horseback riding, fight scene), loved to goof around (all his gags), and liked to handle meaty material ("I need my pain!").
Star Trek V actually mimics Shatner's personality pretty well. Right down to the horses.
The turbolift moment, excessive comedic elements and deck numbering snafu aside, was pretty decent. A movie invariably needs action somewhere at some point, and a good claustrophobic chase scene can do wonders. In this film, the attempt was more psychological in scope due to brainwashing. It doesn't quite work, almost does at times, and it's a refreshing change from the usual "running away from the monster to the beat of loud music even if it's good".
The plot switch in getting the BoP to come in to destroy the being seemed pretty neat as well and should have been proper epic, and almost does. IMHO, TFF had a good story buried inside so much fluff, which leads to the next point...
It's sadly not "Loaded Weapon" either, as at least LW's comedy often landed (and still more often than not holds up). TFF's attempts at comedy too often fizzle (and didn't even land at the time), but to the best of my current understanding, the need for the comedy was dictated to Shatner because of how wildly successful TVH and the use of comedy there was?
Yeah, the Sybok scene with the big three and "I need my pain" is probably the best scene in the film and is strong character development regardless.
In the Federation, no planet seemed better suited for horses than Nimbus III. Heck, the idea of this planet and structure was actually great... but not really delved into to give the movie a greater grounding and footing. Apart from "oh, it failed, let's do a burp joke" and some deleted scenes whose wooden acting otherwise had more of what the film needed.
I think if enough had actually gone RIGHT for the film, Shatner may have been convinced his story wouldn't have worked as he had devised it. I've never really seen much evidence that he can't be reasoned with. *In particular, Walter Koenig realizing he should have brought his feelings forward earlier and Shatner wishing he had, too.*
But I think with the effects going wrong, the strikes, studio interference, he never felt as if his original idea got the chance. So, he's clung onto the idea. If everything had gone smoothly, I can imagine a scenario where with more time, he could have evolved the story into something more workable.
But I think with the effects going wrong, the strikes, studio interference, he never felt as if his original idea got the chance. So, he's clung onto the idea. If everything had gone smoothly, I can imagine a scenario where with more time, he could have evolved the story into something more workable.
Shatner definitely seems to be a reasonable guy (and personally I think he came across as the more reasonable at the end between him and Nimoy, what with Nimoy ghosting Shatner without explanation knowing full well that a world of Trek fans would be imagining what Shatner supposedly did to deserve this and that any imagined explanation would be infinitely worse than whatever the actual reason was).
However, Shatner has maintained as recently as in the behind the scenes video of that Unification short film (the one where CGI young Kirk meets Spock on his deathbed) that he should NOT have compromised on his vision for 5 and that his agreeing to compromise was what made the film worse.
It's interesting what kind of directing career Shatner might have had in an alternate universe where that was his main contribution to the film world instead of acting. Historically, the movie studio system does not like directors who are too headstrong, no matter how talented they are, and Shatner would've learned sooner or later that directors have to make compromises at points. (You might look no further than Akira Kurosawa for instance, one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century, who got a reputation for being too demanding and too expensive and his career was basically on life support until George Lucas helped hm out to get financing for his last films after the success of Star Wars, which was inspired by Kurosawa's samurai films)
I mentioned earlier (probably MUCH earlier on this thread LOL) that I was working on a my own cut of Final Frontier - well it is now finished. The edit features upgraded and new special effects (thank you to Wil Jaspers who also provided the effects for the Special Edition that was shown to Shatner circa 2005). It also has a focus on bringing the tone of the film closer to Undiscovered Country while also intending to have it be a better fit with others as I see 2-6 as being one long form story. If anyone would like to have a watch of it just shoot me a private message. It is called 'Star Trek 5 : Revisited' and the tagline is 'Watch it for the First Time...Again'.
Or even the trauma of dying in Star Trek II
i have not watched star trek V but based on the synopsis alone i am convinced its better then IV. IV is probably one of the worst movies i have ever seen. and if V is bad then they are both bad. but for some reason people dont hate IV.
Well, I would recommend watching it first as it might help understand the perspective.
And not sure what makes IV the worst. Even TSFS has more logic problems. IV tells a fun and coherent story that also involves a lot of Trek staples.
4 was the one movie that managed to bring in the rare "general" audiences as it was a modern day (at the time) comedy movie that anyone could watch without really knowing anything about Star Trek. Moreso than Star Trek 2009. Trek has been alternating between chasing 4's general audience or chasing the Trek fan acclaim of Wrath of Khan and failing to do either. First Contact was probably the only successful attempt which brought in the Trek fans and did well at the box office.
The comedy angle wouldn't really be successful again until Lower Decks (which alternately alienated some fans like myself but seemed to have been a hit)
Care to explain why you think STIV was the worst movie?
just think the storyline involving whales was a bad idea and felt too preachy for me. as if they wanted to lecture about animal rights so they decided to make whales as a key in the storyline. but i have to watch star trek V to decide if its better or not.
What animal would you have preferred they use?
Given what was going on in the 80s socially this choice made sense to save the whales.
honestly i would give up on this type of story all together.
Well I guess it's a good thing you didn't produce the movie then, seeing as how it was the most popular Trek film with fans and non-fans alike. So they must have done something right despite your opinions to the contrary.
At this time, this was extremely topical and an important cause to highlight.
Did you see STIV in theatre? I'm wondering if there's a bit of the "Exorcist Effect" going on here - I've spoken to a lot of people who didn't see Exorcist until the early Oughts or even later, and found it predictable and cliched because they failed to realise that Exorcist invented that kind of horror movie. Perhaps there's something similar going on with your reaction to an environmental message that was fresh and important at the time but seems a bit trite 40 years later.
Not that I'm trying to cast shade on your feelings. If you don't like STIV, you don't like it. I personally don't like the Exorcist -- though I can appreciate it on a technical level, I don't enjoy watching it.
I'm just curious about how people's opinions form on these things, that's all.
