People who saw wrath of khan in 1982

[Captain Shaw]

I was wondering what did people think of the start of the film when you see the crew being killed one by one.
Did people know what was happening was a test or did people think this was going to be a very short film.

 

[QuasarVM]

I knew it wasn't real.

Since it all happened so early in the film, I knew it couldn't be real...it didn't feel real.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I knew it was real.

Since it all happened so early in the film, I knew it couldn't be real...it didn't feel real.

I thought maybe people thought it was one of those films that showed you then end then they show the story on how they got to that point.

 

[trevanian]

I was thinking the ENTIRE scene was fake because the Vulcan chick said, 'damn.'

 

[Captain Mike]

Being 14 at the time and seeing it with some of my classmates at the time I would definitely say it was the BEST WTF moment in my life.

 

[Vger]

Was a kid and did not know what to think. I do remember the talk about Spock dying so I figured that was it.

 

[Psion]

At the time, there was a lot of talk about Spock dying in the film ... it simply wasn't a surprise for any Star Trek fan or even somewhat savvy movie-goer. But that simulation scene had me wondering if all the rumors of Spock's death were based on that scene alone. But then came that fateful engineering report while the mighty Enterprise limped in retreat from the Reliant ... and as soon as the camera focused on Spock, I knew Meyers had played me well.

So, to answer your question, I immediately figured out it was just a simulator, but that damned scene expertly defused all the rumors about our favorite Vulcan and let the audience enjoy the rest of the movie without them.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I was 11 at the time and was more of a Star Wars fan than a Trekker at back then, so yeh, it seemed real to me. My thought when I saw Spock fall was "Holy crap! How is Kirk going to fix this?" But then I heard Kirk's voice over the loudspeakers and well...

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I only remember bits and pieces from watching it in the theater, since I was 5 at the time. But I do recall being extremely excited to see it. I remember us driving home from somewhere and my parents saying "Let's go see Star Trek 2 tonight." And I was like "Yaaaaaaay!" Not so much because it was Star Trek, but because going to the movies was always really exciting for me as a kid. When it came on HBO later on, I watched the hell out of it. I'd say my Star Trek fandom began with TWOK.

 

[JTK2099]

The thing that shocked me the most was seeing someone other than Kirk in the captain's chair. After that I pretty much assumed it was all a red herring.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I only remember bits and pieces from watching it in the theater, since I was 5 at the time. But I do recall being extremely excited to see it. I remember us driving home from somewhere and my parents saying "Let's go see Star Trek 2 tonight." And I was like "Yaaaaaaay!" Not so much because it was Star Trek, but because going to the movies was always really exciting for me as a kid. When it came on HBO later on, I watched the hell out of it. I'd say my Star Trek fandom began with TWOK.

How come they let you in to see it when you where only 5 as the film is classed has a 12

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I only remember bits and pieces from watching it in the theater, since I was 5 at the time. But I do recall being extremely excited to see it. I remember us driving home from somewhere and my parents saying "Let's go see Star Trek 2 tonight." And I was like "Yaaaaaaay!" Not so much because it was Star Trek, but because going to the movies was always really exciting for me as a kid. When it came on HBO later on, I watched the hell out of it. I'd say my Star Trek fandom began with TWOK.

How come they let you in to see it when you where only 5 as the film is classed has a 12

We don't have that here. I guess. What are you talking about?

 

[Kirby]

I would definitely say it was the BEST WTF moment in my life.

I was 13, and that was exactly the response I had. I was so relieved when it turned out to be a test.

 

[Adm_Drake]

As the explosions started on the bridge, I started to realize it was a simulation, mostly due to the lack of visual FX shots.

One other detail from the original showing that I remember, the title presented on the screen was Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. No 'II' (2). If you look at posters and other material from the time, some show the "II", some not.

 

[Hober Mallow]

I was 13, and that was exactly the response I had. I was so relieved when it turned out to be a test.

The idea for this scene was that since everyone had heard Spock was going to die in the movie, they'd show him -- and everyone else -- die at the beginning of the movie, so that you think that that was the death scene and Spock's real death takes you by surprise. Were you surprised by Spock's death scene? Did the opening scene produce the desired effect?

 

[Hambone]

It had the exact effect on me that the creators wanted; I had heard that Spock "dies" in the movie, but after the first scene I figured it was all a ruse. Then at the end when he died for real, it was all the more shocking.

The thing I remember most about seeing this movie? During the Ceti Eel scene, I gave my date a "wet willie", making her scream out loud...not a smart move on my part. No num-nums for me that night.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

I was wondering what did people think of the start of the film when you see the crew being killed one by one.
Did people know what was happening was a test or did people think this was going to be a very short film.

I would love to meet anyone who thought that the movie would end 5 minutes into it. I have some pointing and laughing I'd like to do.

 

[Therin of Andor]

There had been very few publicity shots for ST II until just before the movie came out. My friends and I had imagined Kirstie Alley's Saavik to be a bit of a disposable Mary Sue character... until we heard her voice in those opening scenes. All change!

We were then taken aback by Spock's "death" in what turned out to be the simulator room. It was only the cheesy other deaths, one by one, that signalled it was all a ruse.

Then later, that shot of Kirk noticing Spock's empty chair: we knew there was no turning back.

 

[arch101]

I was there on opening day-Friday, June 4th, 1982, 7PM show. I knew right away that something was up. It was too early in the film and something was 'off' about the way the other characters were acting towards Saavik.
Yes, I went back the next night to see it again.

 

[Ssosmcin]

How come they let you in to see it when you where only 5 as the film is classed has a 12

We don't have that here. I guess. What are you talking about?

He's talking about movie ratings, which are different in the US than in the UK. In the US Star Trek II was rated PG, which meant that Parental Guidance was Suggested. If you went in with an adult guardian, theaters would allow younger people into a PG rated movie.