star trek the search for spock 4k

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (4K Ultra HD)

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is a two-disc 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc / Digital set, released on 5 September 2022 , featuring the 4K UHD release version of the Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . As is currently usual with UHD/Blu-ray double releases of older productions, all special features (excepting the audio commentaries and isolated music score tracks, which are present on the 4K UHD disc as well) are only included on the Blu-ray disc of the release. The two discs are mounted in a standard plastic snapcase, which itself was for the North American release issued within a matching softboard slipover sleeve. The other releases came without the sleeve.

The 4K UHD standalone version of the film was released on the occasion of the completion of the long awaited [1] in 4K HD 2160p resolution remastered version of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture   (The Director's Edition) in 2022, and was simultaneously released as part of the Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture 6-Movie Collection 4K UHD set. The remastering of The Search for Spock had actually already been completed a year earlier along with the other first three original crew films, and the 4K UHD version was then released as part of the preceding 55th anniversary Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection . And while an individual downscaled standalone Blu-ray version was, it was decided to wait with the individual releases of the standalone 4K UHD versions until the remastering of the last two original crew films was completed a year later.

As usual with these releases (geo-restricted to North America only, as the – former Blu-ray Region B [2] – European/Australasian releases do not have these) a redeemable code is included to download the film in 4K resolution digitally.

As is increasingly becoming commonplace, no DVD counterpart was issued for this particular release. Those dwindling number of DVD customers still wanting one, had to make do with the original Star Trek III: The Search for Spock  (Special Edition) DVD release from 2003.

• 1 Special features
• 2 Background information
• 3 Footnotes
• 4 External link

Special features [ ]

As well as the extras originally featured on the prior Special Edition DVD, excepting the text commentary by Mike and Denise Okuda and the Easter egg, the release also included the special features in high definition, as originally done for the 2009 Blu-ray release.

• Commentary by Leonard Nimoy, Harve Bennett , Charles Correll and Robin Curtis
• Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
• Captain's Log (26:13)
• Terraforming and the Prime Directive (25:53)
• Industrial Light & Magic : The Visual Effects of Star Trek (13:50) †
• Spock : The Early Years (6:22) †
• Space Docks and Bird of Prey (27:49)
• Speaking Klingon (21:04)
• Klingon and Vulcan Costumes (12:16)
• Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (16:52) †
• Starfleet Academy SciSec Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer (2:42) †
• Photo Gallery: Pre-Production, The Movie
• Storyboards: Main Titles, The Klingon Attack, Entering Spacedock , Searching for Life, Finding Spock, The Destruction of the Grissom , Stealing the Enterprise, Self Destruct , Kirk Fights Kruge , The Katra Ritual
• Theatrical Trailer (1:12) †

† - in HD (others in standard definition)

Background information [ ]

• Contrary to the Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition and last two original crew films, Scandinavia waived the standalone version release of The Search for Spock , as it had already seen a release a year earlier, albeit as part of their Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection only, but that was not much of an issue for the customer base over there as any import would do.
• In similar fashion, the two Australasian (Australia and New Zealand) releases had dispensed with the separate Blu-ray disc in the set, but which was not that much of an issue either as Blu-ray versions had all become region-free as well by this time, meaning that any import would also do in the territory.

Footnotes [ ]

• ↑ Talks of a High Definition release of the Director's Edition had been floating around since April 2013, but various reasons conspired against such a release for nearly a decade. For further background information on this subject matter, see main article .
• ↑ The Region geo-restricting encoding had, for all intent and purposes, been dispensed with all together by the industry upon the advent of the UHD format, even though that policy change has never been made public officially. This incidentally, has also applied for the Blu-ray disc format, whose region encoding was since late 2009 silently, but gradually, abandoned as well – which in Star Trek 's case started with the Blu-ray releases of TOS Season 2 and Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection [1] (X) – only to pick up speed from the mid-2010s onward.

External link [ ]

• Review at Blu-ray.com
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Calypso (episode)

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 4K Blu-ray Review

The third star trek feature is neither as grand nor as compelling as its predecessors, but it scrubs up very well in 4k..

The Bottom Line

Buoyed by the critical and financial response to scaled back Star Trek in The Wrath of Khan , Paramount Pictures quickly greenlit a follow-up but hit a roadblock with the absence of Spock, one of the franchise's most iconic characters. Was there a viable path to his return? Would star Leonard Nimoy even want to? No spoilers here - the title already ruined it - but upgrading Nimoy to the director and a small story thread ensured The Search for Spock righted the good ship Enterprise.

When a troubled Dr. McCoy (DeForrest Kelly) commandeers the Enterprise and returns it to the terraformed Genesis planet, the crew is astonished to see signs of life; a mysterious being is located on the highly unstable topography, leading to a conflict with Klingons, led by Commander Krug (Christopher Lloyd) who seeks to weaponize this immense power for the good of the Empire.

As a follow-up to The Wrath of Khan , there's no doubt that The Search for Spock is found wanting. Still, it remains a highly entertaining film that does everything it sets out to do while propelling the narrative forward in several very compelling ways.

Video transfer

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with H.265 compression and graded for HDR-10 and Dolby Vision.

As with its two predecessors, Paramount has returned to the original negative of The Search for Spock to strike a brand new 4K transfer, which wipes the slate clean of the troublesome masters which have featured on various DVD and Blu-ray iterations over the last two decades. It's an overdue move, but one that pays dividends with modern film scanning and restoration techniques.

The image is clear and as detailed as the reasonably grainy film stock allows (often exacerbated by dimly lit sets) but thankfully free from film artifacts and noise that have become a part of the image since the '80s, which further reinforced its low budget origins.

As good as it is, the transfer isn't suddenly transformed into a slick digital production, and you certainly won't be using it to demonstrate your slick new LCD or OLED TV, but this presentation respectfully captures The Search for Spock in all its filmic nature, in a quality that matches, and most likely exceeds that of its original theatrical exhibition.

Audio transfer

The default audio track is a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix, at 24 bits.

The first in the franchise to be released theatrically in six-track Dolby audio, it's clear that the studio didn't penny pinch on this part of The Search for Spock 's production, which no doubt provided an excellent base for the 7.1 track that accompanied the 2009 Blu-ray release. This 4K presentation repurposes the latter, which, while it shows its age, is still perfectly acceptable today.

While remaining quite a front-heavy mix, some reasonably impressive attempts to engage the rear channels with discreet effects, particularly during battle scenes, but less so in quieter sequences. The subwoofer springs to life with some decent feedback when needed, even if it's boomy and not as refined as a more modern effort. James Horner's score doesn't hold a candle to his contribution for Wrath of Khan , but it's still quite compelling and mixed at an appropriate level.

Again, Paramount has likely done the best they can with the elements here, but it might be wise to set expectations too low.

Bonus materials

Unfortunately, at odds with the U.S. release, Paramount has not included a copy of the standard Blu-ray in the Australian release, which means all the video-based features are completely missing in action. This is a super disappointing trend that shows no sign of abating.

However, the 4K disc does include two previously released audio commentaries , the first featuring Director Leonard Nimoy, Writer/Producer Harve Bennett, Director of Photography Charles Correll, and Actress Robin Curtis, and a second featuring Director Nicholas Meyer alongside Star Trek writers Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor.

While it doesn't reach nearly the heights of its predecessor, it's hard to dislike Search for Spock, which shines anew in a great 4K remaster.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock [Blu-ray]

Ben Gourlay

Ben joined the TweakTown team in 2008 and has since reviewed 100s of movies. Ben is based in Australia and has covered entertainment news and reviews since 2002. A student of film, Ben brings a wide understanding of the medium to the latest happenings in entertainment circles and the latest blockbuster theatrical reviews.

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Coming on May 28 , the  Star Trek III Steelbook will feature the 2021 remastered edition of the film on both 4K and Blu-ray disc, with outer artwork based upon the ‘Crystal Spock’ teaser poster and using the original title treatment styling. A transparent slipcover (with title treatment,  Enterprise , and Klingon Bird of Prey) protects the Steelbook artwork.

The interior highlights the Enterprise arriving at Spacedock in the early moments of the film, and the back cover features the Enterprise crew watching their starship burn up above the Genesis Planet.

Walmart is also offering a special version of the Star Trek III  Steelbook, an exclusive edition that comes with a  Star Trek III mini theatrical key art poster and a booklet featuring the teaser poster.

Preorders are open for this Steelbook now at Walmart and at Barnes & Noble ; the Amazon product page can be found here (with preorders not yet available as of this writing).

Aside from the three Kelvin Timeline films, the only other standalone Star Trek film Steelbook release came in 2015 when  The Wrath of Khan got a Best Buy exclusive in the United States. The Search for Spock last received the Steelbook treatment back in 2016, when the ten Original Series and  Next Generation films each got a   Star Trek 50th Anniversary Blu-ray release.

We’ll update this article with more detail as it becomes available. For those of you who are physical media collectors, do you plan to pick up this  Star Trek III Steelbook in May? Let us know in the comments below!

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Star Trek III: Search for Spock 40th Anniversary Steelbook [4K UHD]

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Product Description

One of the biggest blockbusters of 1984, the action-packed third installment of the STAR TREK film franchise celebrates 40 years with this limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook. Picking up immediately after STAR TREK II, Admiral Kirk finds the defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet to be empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a visit from Spock's father, provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock’s living essence. Kirk attempts to steal the U.S.S. Enterprise and defy Starfleet’s Genesis planet quarantine to search for his friend, but the Klingons are planning a deadline rendezvous.

Product details

• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.65 x 6.85 x 5.5 inches; 7.23 ounces
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ 4K, Subtitled
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 105 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2024
• Actors ‏ : ‎ James Doohan, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy
• Dubbed: ‏ : ‎ English, French
• Studio ‏ : ‎ PARAMOUNT
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CWPCP9S2
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• #92 in Action & Adventure Blu-ray Discs

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Star Trek: Celebrate The Search For Spock With This Exclusive 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Pre-Order

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Star Trek III: The Search For Spock turns 40 this year, and the franchise is ready to celebrate with a limited edition celebratory steelbook. Shoppers at Walmart can get even more: In addition to the steelbook, the exclusive set now available for pre-order includes an exclusive press booklet and poster. It's an incredible collector's item for Star Trek fans and a great tribute to a definitive installment of the saga.

The Best Star Trek: Discovery Merch, Collectibles, Clothing and More

Boldly looking for the best Star Trek: Discovery merch as the show ends in 2024? Here are our top picks.

The Search For Spock was the first Star Trek film directed by Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy. It forms the middle part of a hugely successful trilogy in the film series starring the crew of the Original Series. Bookended by Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , the interlinked story arguably stands as Star Trek's peak in movie theaters.

A bonus is Christopher Lloyd's appearance as the chilling Klingon Commander Kruge. It was the first time fans got to spend quality time with the revamped alien warriors following a cameo at the start of Star Trek: The Motion Picture , and came three years before Michael Dorn's Worf joined the crew of The Next Generation.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock 4K + Blu-ray Steelbook

Following the dramatic events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers to hijack the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise and return to the newly created, restricted, and mysterious Genesis Planet. Has Spock somehow survived his ultimate sacrifice?

What's Included In The Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Walmart Exclusive?

The Walmart exclusive features the limited edition set with some added physical extras:

• Limited Edition Steelbook case with unique Spock crystal artwork.
• Star Trek III: The Search For Spock 2021 remaster on both 4K and Blu-ray disc.
• Exclusive reproduction of the original press booklet.
• Exclusive theatrical poster.

The Blu-ray special features in this anniversary set include:

• Library Computer.
• Production.
• The Star Trek Universe.
• Photo Gallery.
• Storyboards.
• Theatrical Trailer.
• Easter Egg.

The Search For Ultra-HIgh-Definition Spock Is Over

Spock remains one of Trek's most iconic characters, with a story and character arc that reaches from the first series pilot ( The Cage ) to the continuing missions of Strange New Worlds . This is a great chance for fans to own a definitive chapter in Spock's life in the best possible format.

The Walmart exclusive is the best version available, including some brilliant collector's pieces, but fans better hurry: Like Kirk and crew's mission in the film, it's a race against time to grab this limited edition before it sells out.

The Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Walmart exclusive steelbook is available for pre-order now and is scheduled to ship from May 29th, 2024.

Unleashing The Top 12 Star Trek Merchandise Must-Haves In 2024

Looking for the best Star Trek merchandise of the year? Look no further! Here are our top 12 picks.

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Star Trek III - The Search for Spock Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook

£29.99

Released: 27th May 2024. Star Trek III - The Search for Spock Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook One of the biggest blockbusters of 1984, the action-packed third installment of the STAR TREK® film franchise celebrates 40 years with this limited edition 4K Ultra HD™ Steelbook®. Picking up immediately after STAR TREK II, Admiral Kirk finds the defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet to be empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a visit from Spock’s father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock’s living essence. Kirk attempts to steal the U.S.S. Enterprise and defy Starfleet’s Genesis planet quarantine to search for his friend, but the Klingons are planning a deadly rendezvous. Extras: SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary by Director Leonard Nimoy, Writer/Producer Harve Bennett, Director of Photography Charles Correll, and Robin Curtis Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor Blu-ray EXCLUSIVES: Library Computer Production: Captain's Log, Terrforming and the Prime Directive, Industrial Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek, Spock: The Early Years The Star Trek Universe: Space Docks and Birds of Prey, Speaking Klingon, Klingon and Vulcan Costumes, Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer Photo Gallery Storyboards Theatrical Trailer Easter Egg  

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

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Description

• Commentary by Director Leonard Nimoy, Writer/Producer Harve Bennett, Director of Photography Charles Correll, and Robin Curtis
• Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
• Library Computer
• Production: Captain's Log, Terrforming and the Prime Directive, Industrial Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek, Spock: The Early Years
• The Star Trek Universe: Space Docks and Birds of Prey, Speaking Klingon, Klingon and Vulcan Costumes, Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer
• Photo Gallery
• Storyboards
• Theatrical Trailer

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Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (4K UHD, Limited Edition Steelbook)

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (4K UHD, Limited Edition Steelbook) is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

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DESCRIPTION

One of the biggest blockbusters of 1984, the action-packed third installment of the STAR TREK film franchise celebrates 40 years with this limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook. Picking up immediately after STAR TREK II, Admiral Kirk finds the defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet to be empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a visit from Spock's father, provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock’s living essence. Kirk attempts to steal the U.S.S. Enterprise and defy Starfleet’s Genesis planet quarantine to search for his friend, but the Klingons are planning a deadline rendezvous.

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Original 4-Movie Collection)

Leonard Nimoy takes the helm in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and the third entry may be somewhat of a letdown after the previous film but is nonetheless an entertaining and suitable installment to the series. The search continues on 4K Ultra HD equipped with a beautiful Dolby Vision video, an identical Dolby TrueHD track, and pretty much the same set of supplements. As part of the Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray  Set , the overall UHD package is Recommended. Read our reviews for:

• Star Trek: The Motion Picture  - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan  - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home  - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray...coming soon

Admiral Kirk's defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet are empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a surprise visit from Sarek, Spock's father, provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence. With one friend alive and one not, but both in pain, Kirk attempts to help his friends by stealing the U.S.S. Enterprise and defying Starfleet's Genesis planet quarantine. But the Klingons have also learned of Genesis and race to meet Kirk in a deadly rendezvous.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 4K Ultra HD

• Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin Curtis
• Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Blu-ray

• Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin Curtis  
• Library Computer (HD)
• Captain’s Log
• Terraforming and the Prime Directive
• Industry Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek
• Spock: The Early Years (HD)
• Space Docks and Birds of Prey
• Speaking Klingon
• Klingon and Vulcan Costumes
• Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (HD)
• Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer
• Storyboards
• Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Picking up immediately after the events of The Wrath of Khan , the second sequel continues its predecessor's themes on death and rebirth with a story that quite frankly, is a bit too on the nose. In fact, the title The Search for Spock pretty much broadcasts the movie's intentions while perhaps, simultaneously insinuating the previous entry's emotional conclusion. This is a 100-minute trek to resurrect one of the most beloved characters of the series while also paving the path for the death of the franchise's most iconic and important character of all. Of course, in a universe where the filmmakers can conjure up creative solutions for bringing back the dead — such as mind-melding Spock's living spirit known as the " katra " to McCoy and Spock's corpse coincidentally reincarnating to maturity on the aptly-named planet Genesis — then, it should not come as a surprise when certain iconic figures also make their convenient return in the future.

For me, this has always felt like a blatant cheat on the part of the filmmakers, a complete dodge from genuinely grappling with the aftermath of Khan in a follow-up that's reputed to be about dealing with a major blow to the spirit of the crew. Naturally, we can't really have a Star Trek movie without Spock, and I completely understand the need for this. But this is essentially the equivalent of Kirk avoiding the "no-win scenario" of the Kobayashi Maru, and it seems like a missed opportunity for something truly great. Yet, in spite of my grumblings with Harve Bennett's plot, I admit enjoying Leonard Nimoy's film directorial debut. It's a fun third entry where Nimoy proves himself a skilled and talented helmer, navigating the action and drama with a great sense of adventure. At the same time, he gives fans a memorable and ruthless adversary in Christopher Lloyd's Kruge. The second entry in the so-called "Genesis Arc" storyline is somewhat of a letdown after two excellent installments, but all things considered, it's a competent Trek movie.  

For a more in-depth take on the film, check out Josh Zyber's review of the 2009 Blu-ray HERE .

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray

Paramount Home Entertainment brings the Star Trek film series to 4K Ultra HD as an eight-disc combo pack dubbed the "4-Movie Collection" that includes a flyer with Digital Copy codes for each movie. Said code unlocks 4K UHD digital copies on services like iTunes and Vudu with Dolby Vision HDR video and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 audio. The first four dual-layered UHD66 discs are housed inside a slightly thicker black, eco-elite case with two center spindles. Meanwhile, the remaining four Region Free Blu-ray copies are packaged inside a separate thicker-than-normal blue, eco-elite case with two center spindles. The two packages come with a glossy, side-sliding slipcover. At startup, viewers are greeted with a static screen, the usual options along the bottom, and music playing in the background.

Video Review

The Genesis storyline continues to the prohibited Ultra HD zone with what appears to be a true remaster of the original camera negatives because the HEVC H.265 encode is a significant improvement over previous home video editions. Aside from the occasional soft moments, which happen fairly often but are inherent to the original photography, the native 4K transfer is considerably sharper with better definition and clarity of the background information. Whether aboard the Enterprise or the Klingon Bird of Prey or exploring the heavily vegetated planet, details in the stage design are incredibly discrete from a distance, and the smallest damage and smudge in the costumes are plain to see. Ignoring the caked-on makeup of the cast, facial complexions are highly revealing with excellent lifelike textures, exposing various pores, wrinkles and negligible blemishes. Even the matte composition effects look impressive at this resolution.

Unlike the previous two entries, cinematographer Charles Correll took a more colorful, vibrant approach to the second sequel, and his efforts really shine on UHD. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation displays a richly saturated palette, from the bold crimson red lighting and the deeper shade of burgundy in the uniforms to the electrifying blues and lively greens of the foliage and the Klingon ship. Moreover, the other earthy hues, oranges and yellows are more animated and spirited, making the movie somewhat reminiscent of the original television series. Contrast and brightness balance also enjoy a welcomed boost, showering the action with brilliant, radiant whites and inky, velvety blacks with excellent shadow detailing. The improved specular highlights add a crisp, tight sparkle to the stars, the lighting along the exterior of ships and a realistic sheen to the various metallic objects. 

Awash in a very fine layer of natural grain throughout, the 2.35:1 image has a lovely film-like quality and appreciable dimensionality. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 84/100)

Audio Review

Once again, the second sequel lands on UHD with an identical Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack that's relatively faithful to the original stereo design. However, the front-heavy presentation is arguably stronger than its predecessors, displaying excellent balance and good fidelity with background activity that moves convincingly between the channels and into the off-screen space. The mid-range may not be particularly dynamic or extensive, but it maintains clean definition and appreciable distinction in James Horner's score and during the loudest segments, generating a broad, spacious soundstage during action sequences. While vocals are clear and precise, a hefty low-end provides some weight and presence to the on-screen visuals. There's little activity in the surrounds, mostly reserved for some mild bleeding and a few random ambient effects. The receiver's Dolby Surround or DTS: Neural:X up-mixing functionality does well in expanding some of these atmospherics into the top heights with satisfying effectiveness. All in all, it's an enjoyable lossless mix that fairs better than the previous two entries.

For a more in-depth take on the audio quality, you can read Josh Zyber's review of the Blu-ray HERE . (Audio Rating: 84/100)

Special Features

For this Ultra HD edition, Paramount beams up the same archival materials from past releases, but they are still well worth picking through if you haven't gone through them before.

Ultra HD Disc

• Audio Commentary featuring Leonard Nimoy, Harve Bennett, Charles Correll, & Robin Curtis
• Audio Commentary featuring Ronald D. Moore & Michael Taylor

Remastered Blu-ray Disc

• Library Computer Viewing Mode 
• Production (HD, SD)
• EASTER EGG! Ken Ralston on Models and Creature Effects (7 min)
• Captain’s Log (26 min)
• Terraforming and the Prime Directive (26 min)
• Industry Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek (14 min)
• Spock: The Early Years (6 min)
• The Star Trek Universe (HD, SD)
• Space Docks and Birds-of-Prey (28 min)
• Speaking Klingon (21 min)
• Klingon and Vulcan Costumes (12 min)
• Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (17 min)
• Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer (3 min)
• Photo Galleries (HD) contains two sets of BTS photos and publicity stills
• Storyboards (HD)
• Trailer (HD)

Final Thoughts

Leonard Nimoy takes the helm in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , the third entry in the franchise that sees the resurrection of one beloved character but the death of another iconic figure. As the follow-up in the "Genesis Arc" trilogy, the second sequel is somewhat of a letdown and missed opportunity for something more substantial and thoughtful, yet the movie nonetheless makes for an entertaining and suitable installment to the series. The search continues on 4K Ultra HD equipped with a beautiful and impressive Dolby Vision HDR presentation, giving fans a significant upgrade over its Blu-ray counterpart, but it features the same Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack and pretty much the same set of supplements. As part of the Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection set, the overall UHD package is recommended .

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RETRO REVIEW: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Is a Near-Perfect Adventure

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Many Star Trek fans believe that only the even-numbered films starring the Original Series cast are good -- but Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is the exception to this "rule." It was the first film directed by Leonard Nimoy and the first one to suggest Gene Roddenberry's characters had a future on the big screen. Despite controversial story choices, The Search for Spock was a classic Star Trek adventure that represented everything fans loved about Roddenberry's universe.

One can't consider The Search for Spock without talking about its predecessor, since it opened with Spock's death scene from The Wrath of Khan . Audiences safely assumed from the title that the crew of the USS Enterprise would find Spock alive somehow. This decision was welcomed by most fans, even though it undercut the sacrifice Spock made to save the ship. And the return of everyone's favorite Vulcan wasn't the only questionable decision made by the filmmakers. But for those who think the only good thing about Star Trek III is that it set up "the one with the whales," the film is worth revisiting as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Why Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Got a Negative Reaction

From starfleet antagonism to the death of the enterprise, fans' feelings were hurt, why leonard nimoy directed star trek iii: the search for spock.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was the first film directed by Leonard Nimoy, and how he convinced the studio to let him went beyond mere logic.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock left an ache in the hearts of Star Trek fans -- with good reason. Until the reboot entries, it was the most cynical Star Trek movie . The film was was the first time Starfleet was painted as an antagonist to the heroes. Then there was the part where Captain James T. Kirk's son David Marcus was unceremoniously killed by a Klingon. And the greatest sin the movie committed was the destruction of the USS Enterprise . The ship was a character in the Star Trek universe, but it was also and even more importantly, home to the characters and the fans. The loss of the ship hurt more than even the loss of Spock, especially because there was no sci-fi magic that could resurrect the vessel.

The most famous line from The Wrath of Khan -- outside of Kirk yelling his name -- was "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." The Search for Spock was an entire film dedicated to the opposite idea. Along with the decimation of the most beautiful ship in sci-fi history , it saw Kirk and the Enterprise crew throw away their careers and become criminals just to rescue Spock's body. They didn't even know he was still alive when they crossed the proverbial line. With hindsight and the films that followed, this expression of loyalty and friendship is the film's greatest strength... but at the time it debuted, Star Trek III felt like an affront to everything Star Trek was supposed to be.

The USS Enterprise Crew Was at Their Best in Star Trek III

Every character had a part to play in the search for spock, every star trek crew, ranked.

Star Trek is one of the most iconic sci-fi franchises of all time, with new series growing each year. Here is every Star Trek crew ranked.

In some of the other Star Trek films and many episodes of The Original Series , characters outside of Kirk, Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy often had little to do. But in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, each member of the crew had their moment. Nichelle Nichols' character Nyota Uhura was absent for the second act, but her scene at the transporter with "Mister Adventure" defined her as a genuine Star Trek badass. Similarly, George Takei's Hikaru Sulu was able to take out a disrespectful Starfleet security guard... while wearing a caped sci-fi outfit that Lando Calrissan would love. James Doohan's Montgomery "Scotty" Scott was able to hamstring Starfleet's newest, most powerful ship with the turn of a wrench.

A contemporaneous review in Starburst magazine said the film "is nothing more than a lot of character studies revolving around the qualities of friendship and commitment," as if it were a bad thing. Other Star Trek stories clearly established the Enterprise crew's professionalism and loyalty to each other as Starfleet officers. The Search for Spock established without doubt that their affection for each other went beyond the uniform. Small, simple details such as the speed with which they all agreed to commit treason against Starfleet to help Spock showed that they were as important to each other as the characters were to fans. Those enduring relationships were why the entire franchise endured for six decades.

Defined in the context of Star Trek 's aspirational ideals, these characters -- and these actors -- could do anything. Along with the familiar cast, Star Trek III brought back Mark Lenard as Sarek, Spock's father who infamously married a human . It was only Sarek's second time on-screen in live action. Lenard would go on to play the role four more times, in two sequels and The Next Generation , as well as voice Sarek in Star Trek: The Animated Series . But bringing him back in The Search for Spock created a deep connection to TOS ... and not the only one.

The Search for Spock Was a Darker Star Trek Story Than Expected

Intrigue with starfleet and heavy losses were new elements, why darker, grittier star trek shows aren’t a bad thing.

Why a more complex version of the Star Trek universe isn’t as far away from the original vision as you think and may benefit the franchise.

Star Trek III 's use of actor Christopher Lloyd as Kruge was a franchise-defining moment, since this was the first time the Klingons were the "heavies" of a film. The Starburst reviewer said the film "lacks a full blooded villain in the [mold] of Khan " and was "predictable." While it was always a safe bet Kirk and company were going survive, the heroes suffered perhaps their worse defeat of all time in The Search for Spock . Kruge did what countless other antagonists could never do: destroy the Enterprise . (Although technically, Kirk used the ship's self-destruct to kill all but one of Kruge's soldiers.) Kruge also ordered the death of Kirk's son, albeit unknowingly.

Kruge was a far worse nemesis than Khan ever was, because of how much these losses cost Kirk and the Enterprise crew personally. The other thing no one predicted was that Starfleet was also an antagonist in the film. This angered purists -- not the least of whom was Gene Roddenberry, who had no story control . Starfleet Command wanted to mothball the Enterprise in favor of the USS Excelsior and break up the crew. And because of the political fallout from the secret Genesis Project, Starfleet wouldn't allow Kirk to go retrieve a fallen captain's body, despite the fact that doing so was in accordance with Vulcan cultural customs.

Kirk wasn't the only character who was wronged, either. McCoy was perceived to be suffering from mental illness or injury. Instead of being treated by his colleagues at Starfleet Medical, he was thrown in jail for trying to charter transport to Genesis. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was all about the characters getting older, and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock built on that idea by giving it political consequences. Why Starfleet was being so difficult didn't make sense at the time, but after 40 years, accepting that it is an imperfect organization makes the movie play much better.

How The Search for Spock Suffered Thanks to Paramount

Leonard nimoy and harve bennett fought to make star trek iii work, 10 great movies that were almost ruined by studio interference.

The Godfather and Blade Runner are beloved today, but it could've been a very different story if their studios had had their way.

Even though Star Trek II made Paramount nearly $40 million of profit, The Search for Spock only saw a $5 million budget increase -- and most of that surplus went to visual effects. To save money and time, all but one sequence in the film was shot on studio sets... even when location shoots would have benefited the movie immensely, as on the Genesis Planet. This actually made the film feel very much like an episode of The Original Series . It added to the charm and strengthened Star Trek III 's connections to that beloved show. Some other complications didn't work out as well.

Nimoy and Star Trek writer-producer Harve Bennett talked about the marketing in the film's commentary track. The destruction of the Enterprise was supposed to be a shocking, emotional beat -- yet Paramount put the explosion in the trailer, calling the film "the final voyage of the USS Enterprise ." This did not endear The Search for Spock to fans. It was the equivalent of if Star Wars: The Force Awakens had advertised Han Solo's death. In 1984, a trilogy was typically all a film series would get. Star Trek fans went into Star Trek III expecting closure, and instead, they got a high-minded "To be continued…" that read as a cop-out non-ending.

But with four decades in the rear-view, audiences can appreciate The Search for Spock for what it is. It's a movie about a storied group of heroes, dismissed and ignored by those they served, who took matters into their own hands. They risked everything -- from their careers to their freedom -- just to honor a fallen friend. They got their comrade back, but he wasn't the same and the price was steep. Star Trek III strikes a marvelous balance between action, adventure, and the character drama that kept fans watching The Original Series over and over. It's an unlikely triumph and what propelled Gene Roddenberry's universe onwards for 22 more films and TV series. Not bad for one of the odd-numbered movies.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is streaming on Max.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock's body.

• The best use of the entire Enterprise crew in the movies up to that point.
• The film focuses on character relationships first and foremost.
• Stunning visual effects and score that elevate the film.
• The lack of location shots don't allow the Genesis Planet to feel as epic as it was.
• David Marcus's death feels more cynical than earned.
• No real denouement in the film makes ending feel abrupt.

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Trek History: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

The third installment of the original motion picture saga first debuted in theaters on this day 40 years ago!

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock premiered in theaters on this day, 40 years ago, on June 1, 1984 in Star Trek History.

In The Search for Spock , Admiral Kirk's defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet are empty victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a visit from Spock's father, provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence. Kirk attempts to steal the U.S.S. Enterprise and defy Starfleet's Genesis planet quarantine to search for his friend, but the Klingons are planning a deadly rendezvous.

Bring home the third installment of the original motion picture saga in 4K UHD with HDR-10 and Dolby Vision, boldly remastered from the original film elements!

Star Trek’s Most Infamous Retcon Looks Quaint Today

Don’t worry, Spock was only mostly dead.

When Paramount greenlit a third Star Trek film the day after the second one opened in 1982, there was really only one goal: bring back Spock, whose noble sacrifice at the end of The Wrath of Khan sent shockwaves throughout pop culture. It was an audacious and emotional demise that fit perfectly with the operatic melodrama of Nicholas Meyer’s film. In fact, it was so dramatic, it felt incomplete without Spock’s grieving friends carrying out a daring, Federation-defying, friendship-first mission to take advantage of cosmic convolutions and resurrect him.

Spock’s blend of calming reason and alien strangeness defined Star Trek more than any captain; he sees the galaxy differently than his crewmates, both with scientific acumen and a curiosity about his own imaginative inabilities. The character was carefully balanced by placing contrasting personalities around him, so it’s fitting that his absence in 1984’s The Search for Spock , directed by Leonard Nimoy, feels like a loss of galactic proportions.

Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of a battered Enterprise arrive at Spacedock in mourning, and it’s not long before Spock’s father, Sarek (Mark Lenard), confronts Kirk over his decision to jettison Spock’s body onto Wrath’s newly formed Genesis planet. He tells Kirk that Spock’s “katra,” in effect his spirit, needs to be laid to rest with his body back on Vulcan, and they both learn that Spock transferred his katra to Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), which explains why Bones keeps breaking out in an eerie Leonard Nimoy impression for most of the film.

Admiral Morrow (Robert Hooks) won’t let Kirk return to Genesis, so Kirk and his crew steal the Enterprise for an unsanctioned mission to honor their truest friend while trying to avoid the Klingon Bird of Prey hunting down Genesis’ secrets. While it’s named after Spock, this is as pure a Kirk film as we ever got, and the conviction and charm that Shatner channels in every scene makes him a winning hero to root for. “Kirk, you do this, and you’ll never sit in the captain’s chair again,” Morrow warns seconds before the Enterprise jets off, and Shatner’s face shows how much this warning steels Kirk’s resolve to buck authority and save his comrade.

For all its heart-on-sleeve, swashbuckling emotions, The Search for Spock had a tepid reception, and amid the original run of Trek movies, even the reappraisal of Robert Wise’s The Motion Picture feels more full-bodied. The effects are creaky, the stakes less gripping, and the film turns to sentiment and spirituality with such zeal that it’s jarring to watch Vulcan mysticism win the day. But most egregiously, The Search for Spock revolves around a massive retcon of the bold move the series had just made.

But retcons mean something different today than they did in 1984, and there are many reasons why Search for Spock feels clean-cut and contained compared to other canon kerfuffles. Back then, there was only one Star Trek timeline and one batch of characters moving through the galaxy in a strictly linear fashion. There were no overlapping continuities like we’d see in the ’90s, where events from The Next Generation should have (but didn’t) impact Deep Space Nine , and continuity errors began to creep in.

Unlike The Search for Spock, which only introduced fashion errors.

In addition, Spock’s resurrection, achieved by a Vulcan ritual to meld his Genesis-reanimated body with his Bones-inhabiting katra, only has repercussions for Spock. The convoluted process can’t be replicated for anyone else on death’s door. It’s a far neater change than hoping audiences will quietly forget that warp speed is destroying the fabric of space .

The severity of any retcon is tied to the scope and function of a franchise. Trek continuity is now considered valuable to executives, and while the series has always deified its old stories and characters, today’s motive to protect canon feels more cynical. Like an antique sports car, classic Trek must remain untouched to maintain its financial value. The introduction of the alternate Kelvin Timeline in Star Trek, the 2009 reboot movie, felt like an attempt to give the new cast a chance out of the original’s spotlight, but it just affirmed the idea that The Original Series had to be honored, never challenged.

A franchise is easier to sell if it has a strict sense of cohesion and uniformity, and Search for Spock reminds us of a simpler relationship between creatives and audiences. It’s a wish-fulfillment exercise that centers the deep social bonds between the Enterprise crew that now supersedes their Starfleet duty, as they risk just as much as Spock did in trying to bring him back. There’s a rich romanticism that outshines any misgivings about the impermanence of dramatic storytelling choices. The Search for Spock excels not because it says Spock cannot die, but that Star Trek’s characters wouldn’t let him.

• Science Fiction

Star Trek 3 Is Finding Its Way Back to Theaters

B etween now-classic movies like the Spider-Man films and the 1999 Mummy flick, it’s been a spring of re-releases. Most of them have been from studios like Sony and Disney, but now Paramount is making a play by returning Star Trek III: The Search for Spock to the silver screen.

To commemorate the film’s upcoming 40th anniversary—it hit theaters June 1, 1984—the film will be playing in theaters June 14. At time of writing, it’s not clear if it’ll be just June 14 or if it will stick around longer, something that’s happening more now with re-releases; The Phantom Menace had a two-week run. What is known is that Matt Ferguson, who drew a special poster for Phantom and other re-released Star Wars films, has crafted a special poster for Search for Spock, which you can see below.

Search for Spock was the middle chapter in a three-part story arc that began with 1982's Wrath of Khan . Spock died at the end of that film, but his living spirit (or katra) was transferred into McCoy’s mind. Disbanded by the Federation after beating Khan, the Enterprise crew reunited to return Spock’s body back to Vulcan as a way to possibly bring him back from the dead. The only thing in their way is a group of hostile Klingons (led by Christopher Lloyd) who want to steal the Genesis terraforming device that Khan tried using.

Spock was fittingly directed by Leonard Nimoy, and it was his first time behind the camera. He’d become the first Star Trek cast member to get a shot at directing for the franchise, and would later be followed by Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, and Patrick Stewart, and plenty more. When it released, it got fairly solid reviews and made $87 million, a response that meant Nimoy got to be involved in more films beyond just being the ever-stoic Vulcan: he directed and conceived the story for 1986's Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and wrote 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. (Outside the franchise, he also directed movies like Three Men and a Baby, The Good Mother, and Holy Matrimony.)

Between this, the almost-ended final season of Star Trek: Discovery , and the recent 15th anniversary of the 2009reboot film , among other Star Trek news of late , it’s an eventful time for the franchise.

[via Empire Magazine ]

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .

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'Star Trek III: The Search for Spock' Is Returning to Theaters, But There’s a Catch

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The Big Picture

• Star Trek III: The Search For Spock returns to U.K. theaters for its 40th anniversary.
• The film made $76 million domestically in 1984 with divisive reviews but strong performances from the cast.
• Despite the U.K. release only, there is hope for a U.S. release soon, giving fans a chance to see the iconic film in theaters in 2024.

Not long after Star Wars: The Phantom Menace returned to theaters for its 25th anniversary and made waves at the box office, another iconic sci-fi franchise is following in its footsteps. Empire Magazine officially revealed that Star Trek III: The Search For Spock will be re-released in theaters to celebrate the film's 40th anniversary. The report is also accompanied by a new poster from Matt Ferguson , aka Cakes Comics, who has partnered with other major movie franchises such as Star Wars and Planet of the Apes for posters in the past.

The Search For Spock initially premiered in theaters on June 1, 1984, and brought in an impressive haul of $76 million domestically, including an opening weekend of $16 million, which adjusted for inflation computes to a $216 million domestic total and $45 million opening weekend in 2024. For comparison, Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong , the two biggest movies of the year so far, opened with around $80-$85 million domestically earlier this year. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock has been divisive among fans in the 40 years since its release, and lands as the eighth-highest-rated Star Trek movie out of 13 on Rotten Tomatoes , with a 76% score from critics and a 64% rating from audiences.

The only catch is that, as of now, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock is only scheduled to re-release in theaters in the U.K. It's unknown at this time if or when a U.S. release will be announced, but given the franchise has passionate fans all over the world, it's possible that an announcement is coming soon. This will be the first time since its 1984 release that The Search For Spock is back in theaters, and there are surely young and old Star Trek fans across generations who would jump at the chance to see the film in theaters in 2024.

Who Stars in 'Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'?

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock returned the previous film's iconic cast members, such as William Shatner as the legendary Captain Kirk , Leonard Nimoy (who also directed the film) as Spock, and DeForest Kelley as McCoy. The film also rounded out a strong supporting cast which consists of James Doohan as Scotty, Walter Koenig as Chekov, George Takei as Sulu, and Nichelle Nichols as Uhura. While opinions on the film are split, particularly about some rocky special effects, the one thing that has garnered universal appreciation for Star Trek III: The Search For Spock is the impressive performances across the board.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock returns to U.K. theaters on June 14. Check out the new poster above and stay tuned to Collider for future updates on the re-release schedule, and stream the film on Max in the meantime.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock's body.

STREAM ON MAX

Den of Geek

The Search for Spock Changed Star Trek Canon Forever

The Search for Spock changed the game for Star Trek canon.

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In Simon Pegg’s immortal comedy series Spaced , his character Tim declares: “Every odd-numbered Star Trek movie is shit.” This is, of course, hilarious today, because Pegg was in two odd-numbered Trek films, and even co-wrote the 13th movie, 2016’s Star Trek Beyond . But, the fandom myth of the odd-numbered Star Trek “curse” almost certainly begins with 1984’s Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Released in movie theaters on June 1, 1984, the third Star Trek feature film was really the second part of what would become a trilogy of films, concluding with The Voyage Home in 1986. But, more than that, The Search for Spock was a pivotal moment in which the more mature aesthetic of Star Trek truly came into its own. Despite the unkind things said about The Search for Spock over the years, the truth is, the movie is perhaps more representative of the franchise as a whole than either of the more well-loved films that precede and follow it.

As The Search for Spock turns 40, here’s why the cohesive world-building of this movie—as directed by Leonard Nimoy—not only works, but impacted the franchise positively forever.

The Search for Spock begins with grainy, diffuse footage from its immediate predecessor; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . Before the titles appear, we relive Spock’s death, and moments from his space burial, as the crew of the Enterprise launched his body in a photon torpedo casket, out into space. This move brilliantly recaps the previous film, but also telegraphs out the stakes of The Search ; this movie is about the Star Trek characters, and what they want and need. In short, the prologue and the title of the film promise us something—Spock will be found, because otherwise calling a movie a “search” for Spock would be a weird bummer.

Refreshingly, producer Harve Bennett and Nimoy don’t care about “spoilers” at all. The idea that Spock would be resurrected is basically promised in the title and the simple existence of the movie. If it were a Friends episode it would be called “The One Where Spock Comes Back to Life.” If it were an episode of the 1980s Transformers , it would be called “The Return of Mr. Spock.” You get it.

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Even though Nimoy’s name is conspicuously absent from the cast credits, we know he’ll return in this story, which he crafted with Bennett. As Nimoy said at the time, and later, in his 1995 memoir I Am Spock , his primary goal in the movie was to show the Enterprise crew as a family, and give each cast member a moment in the spotlight. “We worked, very consciously, to define special moments for each of the Enterprise bridge crew,” he wrote. Nimoy’s work on Mission: Impossible partially influenced this ensemble structure, because in that series, “each character had a specific job to complete on any given adventure.”

Weirdly, prior to The Search for Spock , this wasn’t really the format of the original Star Trek at all. As much as our cultural memory thinks of Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov on equal footing in The Original Series , the truth is that they were really supporting characters, gussied-up guest stars who only later became what we think of as main characters, somewhat after the fact. And arguably, in the two previous films— The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan —the crew members who weren’t Kirk, Spock, and Bones had even less to do than before. But The Search for Spock changed all that, and in truly highlighting every single member of the crew—from Sulu’s badass martial arts to Uhura’s hilarious handling of an arrogant young upstart—the film retroactively made us feel like these characters had been correctly showcased all along.

To put it another way, because Spock wasn’t there, the rest of the Star Trek team had more of a chance to shine. As much as this is a Kirk and Bones movie, it’s also a Saavik and David Marcus movie. Robin Curtis was given the thankless task of replacing Kirstie Alley as Saavik, but, arguably, played the character more Vulcan-ish than her predecessor. And because Nimoy was the director of the film, Curtis remains the only actor to play a Vulcan who was cast by the man who basically invented how to play a Vulcan. Does this make Curtis a slightly more canonical Saavik and Alley’s version a bit apocryphal in retrospect? Maybe not. But tie-in media depictions of Saavik, whether in prose or comic book form, tend to favor the Curtis version of the character. 

Beyond the character-focused stories that drive the film, The Search for Spock also gave the Star Trek canon a huge makeover. While The Wrath of Khan introduced the new, more naval-inspired “monster maroon” uniforms, The Search for Spock expanded the visual palette of Starfleet significantly. This is the film that expanded the fleet, giving us not just the USS Excelsior and the USS Grissom , but also the iconic Spacedock, designed by Industrial Light and Magic. This Spacedock—which in canon is called Spacedock One—was a major inspiration for Star Trek: Picard season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas. In a recent Search for Spock 40th anniversary magazine interview , Matalas praised the Starfleet designs of Star Trek III , saying, “ The Search for Spock is burned into my DNA as the height of what modern Star Trek could be. It was also the height of those ILM miniatures.”

In addition to the new ships and bases for Starfleet, The Search for Spock also gave us the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, not to mention the deadly Klingon dagger, the d’k tahg. While redesigned Klingons had appeared briefly in The Motion Picture , it was in The Search for Spock that Christopher Lloyd as Kruge and John Larroquette as Maltz truly solidified what became the modern conception of Klingons. Yes, Ronald D. Moore would further refine the Klingon culture in The Next Generation , adding the much-needed element of honor, but the dangerous Klingons—the ones you took seriously—began here.

So, with all this wonderful Star Trek goodness, why does The Search for Spock have a less-than-great reputation? Perhaps it’s because the Enterprise was destroyed in this film. Maybe it’s because the movie doesn’t have a true ending, and seems to simply stop . Or maybe it’s because unlike The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home , this movie seems more aimed at fans, and less concerned if a mainstream audience can follow what’s going on.

Still, 40 years later, The Search for Spock feels like a blueprint for what modern Star Trek became. It’s a movie that boldly wears its heart on its sleeve, and values the needs of the few—its fans—over the needs of a fickle mainstream public. As the crew steals the Enterprise , Kirk says, “May the wind be out our backs.” After The Search , the Trek franchise would experience good weather, stormy weather, and sometimes, nothing at all. But at this moment, the sailing was smooth, and beautiful. 

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Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is streaming on Max in the US and Paramount+ in the UK.

Ryan Britt is a longtime contributor to Den of Geek! He is also the author of three non-fiction books: the Star Trek pop history book PHASERS…

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‘Star Trek III’ at 40: The Story of How (and Why) Leonard Nimoy Brought Spock Back After Being Killed Off In ‘The Wrath of Khan’

Where to stream:.

• Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

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Bill maher applauds william shatner for controversial ‘star trek’ interracial kiss, patrick stewart was asked to wear a wig at his ‘star trek’ audition — a wig that flew by itself from heathrow to lax, tom hardy “never said ‘good morning'” or “good night” while filming ‘star trek: nemesis,’ says patrick stewart.

Star Trek is an enormous and expanding universe, but if there is one specific thing, one icon that projects the essence of this franchise with the power of a starship at warp, it’s Mr. Spock and his pointy ears. Like John Wayne on a horse or Charlie Chaplin falling down, Leonard Nimoy’s stern visage is one of the key texts of the moving image. And after Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , the geniuses in charge had killed the character. Illogical.

Now 40 years old, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock course-corrected the franchise, and brought the best first officer in the galaxy back to life. The movie is certainly the weakest of the arc that connects the second, third, and fourth films, but it is by no means anything other than a blast. If you remember it as mostly being the glue between The Wrath of Khan (the awesome showdown with Ricardo Mantalbán) and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (the one with the whales) you owe yourself a second ride with the crew of the USS Enterprise, motivated to break all the rules to save one of their own. 

The New 4K “Director’s Edition” of ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’ on Paramount+ Boldly Goes Where No Other Cuts Have Gone Before

How the movie came to be is a little amusing. Though Leonard Nimoy is remembered now as a warm, older representative of interstellar kindness who, toward the end, signed off his tweets as “Grampa,” there was a period where the Boston-born actor, director, photographer and philanthropist had a reputation as being a bit of a grump. In 1975, the Star Trek star published a memoir called I Am Not Spock , that many interpreted to mean “hey, don’t confuse me with that dorky TV show.” (It wasn’t really the case: the book’s title was inspired by an encounter with a confused child who met him at an airport, and contains imagined dialogues between Nimoy and his famous screen character.) Prior to production on Star Trek: The Motion Picture , a puzzling movie that can now be recognized for its greatness , Nimoy and Paramount were in a bit of a legal war over the studio’s licensing of Spock’s image for a series of Heineken ads . (The corporation got paid, Nimoy did not.) After a drawn-out case, Nimoy agreed to appear in Star Trek II conditional on the character getting a big death scene. His wish was granted, and that sacrificial moment is—with Spock announcing that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one—without question the most touching and memorable moment in the entire 58-year-old history of Trek . 

The legend goes that Nimoy’s attitude toward wearing the ears again thawed during the making of the movie. The producers were able to convince him to shoot a little insurance: an insert of Spock gripping Dr. McCoy’s face and uttering the word “remember.” A final shot of Spock’s coffin (a refitted photon torpedo tube) on the new planet Genesis, then-roiling with regenerative molecules, was just enough ammunition for fans to argue that Spock would definitely be coming back. When Leonard Nimoy was given the chance to direct the next movie (his first feature film, though he had experience on television) the phasers were officially charged. 

The resultant work, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock , is the dorkiest look at Cartesian dualism put to film. The mission is this: get the mind of Spock, temporarily dumped in his old Frenemy’s noodle, and the body of Spock, luckily regrowing on the weird (and unstable) man-made planet, and bring them both to the sacred Mount Seleya on Vulcan so an old Priestess could mumble some hocus pocus and make everything right again.

To make the movie more interesting, of course, there has to be some complications. First up, Starfleet has cordoned off Genesis, but that just means Captain Kirk and his buddies have to steal their old ship. Second, there are some pesky Klingons (led by Christopher Lloyd and including…John Larroquette?) who want the secrets of Genesis, and are ready to kill anything in their path. Then there’s the planet itself, a scientific failure about to blow up, and on it are Lt. Saavik and Kirk’s son David, trapped there doing recon work. Also: a rapidly aging Spockling who, even though I first saw this when I was a very young boy, I somehow intuited that he got it on with Saavik to survive the throes of his pon faar , a fearsome time in which normally logical Vulcans turn to absolute brutes if they can not find a mate. (Don’t look for court-ready evidence of this in the movie, but follow-up Trek novels offer more hints that this is what happened.) 

It’s a fairly simple story, but there’s a lot to treasure. It’s well-known that throughout the masterpiece of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Kirk and Khan are never “on stage” together, they only communicate through screens. Well, in this one, Kirk never knows his enemy’s name. He calls Christopher Lloyd’s Commander Kruge “Klingon Commander” right up to the end. 

And what an end! It’s William Shatner pounding Doc Brown in the face with his boot shouting “I have had ENOUGH of YOU!!!!!!” Hardly the classic dialogue from Spock’s death scene, but somehow perfect. There’s also a hilarious scene in a space station bar where it is implied that Dr. McCoy has an ongoing flirtation with a kitschy Jetsons -like waitress . It’s one of the few moments of high camp in the entire franchise, and it’s wonderful. Also, Star Trek III has some terrific sartorial choices, like Sulu’s not-quite-jacket/not-quite-cape that he wears during a scene in which they break McCoy out of the brig. 

The big finish, featuring the Vulcan ritual of Fal-Tor-Pan, is shot in a surreal, stage-like manner. The background actors include more beefy guys and willowy women than you typically think of as residents of the science-forward desert planet. Though it is somewhat dependent on the measure of your emotional investment in these characters, the concluding resurrection is surprisingly cathartic. It’s just plain nice to see the gang back together again. 

It is amusing, though, that the film’s stated message is that, no, the needs of the few or the one actually outweigh the needs of the many. When Kirk and Spock have this exchange, I always wait for one of them to add a “sometimes.” It never comes. I guess they just got swept up in the emotion of the moment, because this sentiment is hard to defend!

Anyway, Nimoy came back to direct Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , and stuck around for two more movies, made a memorable appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation , then was the connective tissue for J.J. Abrams’s 2009 Star Trek reboot and sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness . Clearly he turned his opinion around a bit. Indeed, in later years he wrote a second memoir, with a very funny title: I Am Spock . The choice was logical. 

Jordan Hoffman is a writer and critic in New York City. His work also appears in Vanity Fair, The Guardian, and the Times of Israel. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, and tweets at @JHoffman about Phish and Star Trek.

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‘Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series’ To Hit DVD On June 11th!

“Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Back!” — For the first time ever, all episodes from the classic TV series are brought together in one set with the release of Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series on DVD June 11 th , available for purchase online and in-store at major retailers.

Get ready to binge on all 95 episodes, and go down memory lane as our favorite high school teacher Gabe Kotter, returns to his childhood inner-city high school to teach a new generation of trouble making kids.

Welcome Back, Kotter premiered in 1975 and aired for four seasons. The series was nominated for four Emmy Awards® including Outstanding Comedy Series in 1976.  The original cast includes a young John Travolta playing the role of Vinnie Barbarino in his first principal TV role. The series also stars Gabe Kaplan as Gabe Kotter, Marcia Strassman as Julie Kotter, John Sylvester White as Mr. Woodman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Washington, Robert Hegyes as Epstein, and Ron Palillo as Horshack.

SYNOPSIS:   Gabriel Kaplan stars as Kotter, a graduate of a tough Brooklyn high school who returns to teach a classroom of underachieving “sweathogs” – Epstein, Washington, Horshack, and leader of the pack Vinnie Barbarino. Comedy class is in session!

Jason Price founded the mighty Icon Vs. Icon more than a decade ago. Along the way, he’s assembled an amazing group of like-minded individuals to spread the word on some of the most unique people and projects on the pop culture landscape.

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