other ways to have brought back Spock?

[TREK_GOD_1]

The resurrection of Spock was perfect as filmed. The Genesis effect restored the body, but Vulcan religion restored his Katra. Almost from the start of ST, Vulcans were presented as having abilities beyond that of humans--and restoration of the living spirit, or soul transference was not out of place as one of those abilities. It added a greater, interesting dimension to the culture, rather than being painted as all about being cold, clinical--without something greater in their lives and reason to be.

 

[Scotchy]

They could've revealed that Sybock was killed in his place, thus making the "Country" permanently "Undiscovered."

 

[Mysterion]

Shoulda left him dead. Bringing him back just undercuts the dramatic themes of TWOK.

 

[MikeS]

I rewatched this movie for the first time in over twenty years last night. I was pleasantly surprised and the movie has definitely risen in the ranks of my "top ten"! It is really enjoyable when watched as "a movie from the eighties". You also have to remember that when this was made there were only 79 episodes and two movies to reference a "history" from. I'm not going to bad mouth any of the effects because they were, for the time, state-of-the-art. Though, that said, I think they generally hold up well and I positively love the Bird of Prey, Space Dock and Excelsior model work.

Other positives:

Return of centring on the Kirk/Spock/McCoy friendship triangle
Friendship > Duty
Irony and humour stemming from Spocks decision to place his Katra in McCoy
Bittersweet dichotomy of getting back Spock/losing Enterprise and David
Doc Brown as crazy Klingon Kommander
Kirk is so cool he still beats the Klingons even when caught with his trousers down
The "Mind who you call Tiny" and "Mr adventure" scenes lighten the mood and give the others something to do.

 

[Paradise City]

It's interesting that McCoy wants to go to Genesis. He's got the katra, shouldn't he just have to go to Vulcan? He's got some foresight to know that going to Genesis to pick up his refurbished body is the way to go.

Anyway, Star Trek III is a great film.