I've really grown to genuinely love "The Search for Spock."

[EnriqueH]

In fact, I ranked my favorite Trek TOS films:

IV
III
II (though I can understand and easily concede that it’s the “best”.
TMP
VI (haven’t seen it in ages, better than TMP in many reSpects but there’s something about TMP that I like more. Maybe it’s just I don’t like the feeling VI gives me that it’s the end)
V

 

[Tallguy]

I also think Robin Curtis is incredibly underrated as Saavik. She was different than Kirstie Alley but I’ve always liked her in the role and I don’t think she gets enough props for her performance.

I’ve always liked Kruge as well. He unfortunately had to follow Khan as lead villain, which is kinda like having to follow Darth Vader. But still, he was effective. More than anyone in the TOS era, I found Lloyd’s performance influential on the way future Klingons would be portrayed.

I've always loved Kruge. He's a little silly, but that's the writing not the performance.

Curtis on the other hand... This last time I just didn't worry that it was even the same character. Then she's fine. OTOH I've just recently discovered how much of Alley's performance was crafted in the dubbing. Yikes!

In fact, I ranked my favorite Trek TOS films:

Annnd we'll agree to disagree!

 

[Vger23]

In fact, I ranked my favorite Trek TOS films:

IV
III
II (though I can understand and easily concede that it’s the “best”.
TMP
VI (haven’t seen it in ages, better than TMP in many reSpects but there’s something about TMP that I like more. Maybe it’s just I don’t like the feeling VI gives me that it’s the end)
V

TWOK

TSFS
TMP

TFF


TUC


TVH

I've always loved Kruge. He's a little silly, but that's the writing not the performance.

Curtis on the other hand... This last time I just didn't worry that it was even the same character. Then she's fine. OTOH I've just recently discovered how much of Alley's performance was crafted in the dubbing. Yikes!

Annnd we'll agree to disagree!

What have you heard about the dubbing?

 

[EnriqueH]

There are moments when Kruge looks like he’s mouthing Torg’s dialogue when they’re whispering to each other.

 

[DonIago]

It's a Klingon thing. They don't share it with outsiders.

 

[Blip]

Despite the fact that I agree with quite a few of the cons about STIII expressed here, these days I consider it -for the most part- one of the more watchable TOS movies. But, I wanted to add a personal perspective about a scene no-one seems to have really touched upon:

Growing up I was surrrounded by a family and relatives that held a somewhat provincial outlook (read: conservative, racist, misogynist, homophobic, etc...). They thought it was all well and good to spout off ill-informed rhetoric about people of African descent, as well as others, and happily regurgitated the myth that "a woman's place is in the kitchen" -- all that sort of utter bollocks.

But seeing Uhura for the first time wielding that phaser and putting Mr Adventure in his place? Here was this highly competent, professional, female African-American, proving wrong all of the unintelligent rhetoric that my elders would have liked to indoctrinate me in. Nichelle Nichols sowed that first seed of doubt in a young boy's mind, and I'll forever be grateful to her for it.


But besides all that: Who wouldn't want to steal the Enterprise and go for a joyride in it to blow up Klingons?

 

[StarCruiser]

^ All I say here is AMEN!

 

[Tallguy]

Nichelle has a great scene and is then written out of the movie.

 

[DonIago]

The novelization at least somewhat explained what happened there in-universe, but I've not heard a good real-world explanation for it.

 

[Amasov]

For all the flack this movie undeservedly takes, it really did a ton of heavy lifting with the characters and formula. I mean, the crew face into sacrificing their careers (and potentially lives), a major character is resurrected, the Federation is on the brink of a renewed conflict with the Klingons, Kirk's son is executed, and the Enterprise is sacrificed.

It's a bold departure from "comfortable Trek" which, at that time, was all we knew.

I love TSFS for this.

Exactly right. I would argue that this movie is probably the one which shakes up the formula the most.

 

[EnriqueH]

THIS MAN’S SICK TAKE ALOOK!!!!

::UPPERCUT::

 

[Peach Wookiee]

The novelization at least somewhat explained what happened there in-universe, but I've not heard a good real-world explanation for it.

I wish they'd had it onscreen because it would have been very cool to see.

 

[DonIago]

Spoiler: ST3 Novel and Uhura

In the novelization, Uhura stays behind to jam Starfleet communications to help Our Heroes escape. She can do more from Earth than from the ship in that regard. Once she's basically done all she can in that regard, she flees to the Vulcan embassy. Federation Security is about to take her into custody when Sarek intervenes, which explains how she shows up on Vulcan later.

 

[DanGovier]

I treat TWOK and TSFS as basically one long film, and always watch them as such. And you can even add TVH to that and make it even longer :P

I definitely prefer TWOK over TSFS, but despite its flaws TSFS is still very enjoyable to watch. Plus Captain Styles and his little stick always make me laugh.

 

[Mark 2000]

TSFS is a pretty painful film to watch. The treatment of Saavik is unforgivable. She’s a helpless damsel most of the time, even though she’s probably as strong as the Klingons and, at times, is only being guarded by one of them, and she’s young Spock’s sexual outlet the rest of the time. The whole thing is shot like a TV movie, with flat lighting and flatter acting. Styles is the worst as a stereotypical foppish, effeminate villain. Uhura is left out of the boys club. The one thing it gets right is putting Kirk in the position of the hero for the first time in the movie series. In both TMP and TWOK Kirk pretty much fails as a leader when put to the final test. Someone else has to pick up the slack. In TSFS it’s his decisions and his sacrifices that save the day. And, yeah, Christopher Lloyd is the ultimate Klingon. Brutal but intelligent and worthy of the title “Lord”.

 

[Maurice]

Uhura at least has a scene where she does something decisive, whereas poor Chekov mostly stands around looking lost. But I guess since he had a bigger part in TWOK it was only fair.

Saavik was character assassinated, especially when she and David and waiting for the knife to come down. As the Starfleet officer she should have tried something.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

And, yeah, Christopher Lloyd is the ultimate Klingon. Brutal but intelligent and worthy of the title “Lord”.

Oh, he was brutal. But it's not intelligent behavior to kill someone who you've represented to be from "the team who developed [the Federation's] doomsday weapon" and who you evidently do believe to be one of "the very scientists you seek," at least until you've gotten what they know.

 

[EnriqueH]

Well, Chekov got to help blow up the Enterprise

 

[danielshock]

I also love this movie. I see it's flaws and definitely see the perspective of those who feel like it undoes the previous movie. It would have been so cool to see a Nick Meyer Trek 3. However.. I'm going to paraphrase a podcaster from another franchise and say: I choose to enjoy the Star Trek that IS and not let the Star Trek that is NOT (or that I would like to exist) interfere with that.

 

[Smellmet]

The search for spock has it's faults but it's highs are some of my favourite scenes in all of trek. The score, the stealing of the Enterprise, Christopher Lloyd, space dock, the excelsior, the bird of prey. All great stuff that furthered the franchise.