The TOS Films - A Recap

In my mind the six films make up a final season to the original series, with the Animated Series being included in between as well.  Sure the original series was cancelled, but these films represent a fairly triumphant revival that brought brought Trek back from death in a fairly entertaining and popular way.  Sure there are misses, but that is mostly "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".  Even the oft-dubbed "Motionless Picture" is watchable, particularly in it's Director's Cut, but even it's Theatrical Cut has some high points, and despite the flaws in that film, it has great special effects and was a financial success that lead to everything Trek that came after.

Obviously the high mark of the franchise came in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan", a film that works even beyond the Trek lore, but the two films that followed it are nearly as thought provoking and certainly as much fun.  The third film is possibly the most underrated of the franchise, while the fourth is still fun even if it "the one with the whales" and doesn't get taken seriously by some...it never took itself seriously so I think it succeeds.

The fifth movie is a real blunder from beginning to end, but luckily this cast got a top notch send-off in the sixth film, which really summed up this cast, their television series, and this film series brilliantly.  It did a terrific job of wrapping up this crew in fine entertaining and thought provoking form, while simultaneously leading perfectly into the TNG era, with the impending peace between the Federation and the Klingons.

I grew up on these films, and watched them more religiously then I probably watched TOS or TNG (hell I still end up popping most of these films in at least once a year)...these are what Trek symbolizes to me.  I more often think of Kirk and Co. in their Red Naval Uniforms than in their original tri-colored shirts.  This is the era of Trek I grew up watching, and I love it dearly.

NEXT TIME:  To the 24th Century...