Why do people love Wrath of Khan so much?

[Jonno1971]

After exiling a machiavellian, power hungry, manipulative superman and his crew on an uninhabited planet, Kirk doesn't seem to have notified Starfleet and ensured that some sort of warning beacon was placed in orbit. And also ensured that all Starfleet ships have that little piece of information added to their vast databases.


Fair point but i would'nt class this as a plot hole. It's one of those plot points where you're thinking "come on surely a star fleet captain would've notified the relevant authority figures". But for me i find it entirely believable that Kirk would'nt have done anything of the sort. Knowing Kirk as i feel i do. He does'nt tend to do anything by the book ;-)

 

[2takesfrakes]

Khan was a tyrant and all of that, but Kirk did what no one during the nineties could do ... he beat the living shit out Khan with a pipe. Khan not only never saw it coming, he dropped like a heavy sack of potatoes. Khan was bested - he accepted it and its consequences. He also seemed to like the idea of having an empire to build, as opposed to taking one over of puny Humans. With both of these factors at work at the time, Kirk wouldn't have felt it necessary to take extra steps to contain him. Both Men got what they wanted ...

 

[BillJ]

Scene chewing goodness from Shatner and Montalban.

 

[gottacook]

And the icing on the cake and the thing that gives the entire film it's unique mood is James Horner's score.

It should have had an Oscar nomination, I think. But Goldsmith might have done equally well if Wrath of Khan had been his first Trek assignment. And Horner does quote Goldsmith, at a most appropriate place in the story - the two distant trumpets a fifth apart, playing echoing triplets, from the beginning of Goldsmith's score for Patton, are heard at the moment when Khan reminisces about his past conquests ("On Earth... two hundred years ago... I was a prince").

 

[gottacook]

And that it could so easily have been fixed!

It's possible that this point - that it was unreasonable for the Reliant to accidentally come across Khan et al., and/or that it was unreasonable for Kirk to have simply abandoned them 15 years earlier - was recognized during production, and that a fix was rejected simply out of concern for story and editing rhythm. That is, it would have slowed down the story at exactly the point when it should be going into a higher gear.

 

[C57D]

Although I would gladly concede that Kirk bends or breaks the rules when he feels it necessary, I also see him following orders and living up to the responsibility implicate in his position (at least in TOS, not JJverse).

Khan and his followers came very close to hijacking the Enterprise, surely Kirk would think that a thorough warning system should be established to avoid risking another ship and it's crew. And to avoid 30 genetic supermen from getting free?

Sorry jono1971, I can't get your comments added as a quote!

 

[C57D]

It's possible that this point - that it was unreasonable for the Reliant to accidentally come across Khan et al., and/or that it was unreasonable for Kirk to have simply abandoned them 15 years earlier - was recognized during production, and that a fix was rejected simply out of concern for story and editing rhythm. That is, it would have slowed down the story at exactly the point when it should be going into a higher gear.

Maybe, but I am sure that a skilled screenwriter could write it with minimal disruption to the story flow. To me it just looks like sloppy writing and illogical plotting.

Maybe have an "in media res" where the scout crew have already beamed down and two of them moaning about being sent to this godawful planet, probably on a wild goose chase. And if it's not a total waste of time, how to make sure they get a good cut. Cue Khan and co, capture scout landing party, do full "fake ear" Ceti eel thing, then fade.

Then Reliant on mission for Genesis, but in deep space heading for next possible test planet. Get distress call from Khan commanded scout, send rescue team (led by Chekov). Khan and crew ambush straight away in transporter room and capture. Chekov insisting he'll never help Khan, who introduces Ceti Eel and fade out.

Back to Reliant in Khan's hands and on we go.............