Star Trek V: The Final Frontier: Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m trope=>work
m Mass update links
Line 6: Line 6:
{{quote|"''Why are seat belts being installed in movie theatres this Summer?''"|Paramount teaser ad intended to refer to the movie's fast pace, [[I Thought It Meant|not to]] [[Anything But That|being strapped in and forced to watch the flick]].}}
{{quote|"''Why are seat belts being installed in movie theatres this Summer?''"|Paramount teaser ad intended to refer to the movie's fast pace, [[I Thought It Meant|not to]] [[Anything But That|being strapped in and forced to watch the flick]].}}


They've [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Film)|stared at V'Ger]], [[Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan (Film)|defeated Khan]], [[Star Trek III the Search For Spock (Film)|found Spock]] and [[Star Trek IV the Voyage Home (Film)|saved the whales]]. But can the ''Enterprise'' crew survive their greatest challenge yet? [[William Shatner]]! ...[[Dramatic Pause|In!]] ...[[Directed By Cast Member|Thedirectorseat]].
They've [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture|stared at V'Ger]], [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|defeated Khan]], [[Star Trek III: The Search For Spock|found Spock]] and [[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home|saved the whales]]. But can the ''Enterprise'' crew survive their greatest challenge yet? [[William Shatner]]! ...[[Dramatic Pause|In!]] ...[[Directed by Cast Member|Thedirectorseat]].


With a brand-new ''Enterprise'', Kirk and crew set out to resolve a hostage situation only to discover that they've been suckered as part of a grander scheme. Who's behind it? Why Spock's [[Long-Lost Relative|long-lost half-brother Sybok]], of course! Sybok commandeers the ''Enterprise'', winning over most of the crew by using his [[Telepathy|telepathic]] [[Epiphany Therapy]] on them. Failing to realize that there is [[No Such Thing As Space Jesus]], Sybok makes them set a course for the [[Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale|center of the galaxy]], where he believes [[God]] is waiting. With the bulk of his crew now working against him, Kirk must [[Die Hard On an X|John McClane]] his way up the ''Enterprise'' armed with his wits, a pair of rocket boots... and ''Trek's'' very first fart joke.
With a brand-new ''Enterprise'', Kirk and crew set out to resolve a hostage situation only to discover that they've been suckered as part of a grander scheme. Who's behind it? Why Spock's [[Long-Lost Relative|long-lost half-brother Sybok]], of course! Sybok commandeers the ''Enterprise'', winning over most of the crew by using his [[Telepathy|telepathic]] [[Epiphany Therapy]] on them. Failing to realize that there is [[No Such Thing as Space Jesus]], Sybok makes them set a course for the [[Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale|center of the galaxy]], where he believes [[God]] is waiting. With the bulk of his crew now working against him, Kirk must [[Die Hard on an X|John McClane]] his way up the ''Enterprise'' armed with his wits, a pair of rocket boots... and ''Trek's'' very first fart joke.


Now it should be noted the [[Mis Blamed|movie's failings aren't all Shatner's fault]]. We can also thank [[Executive Meddling]] for all the forced "humor" and the [[TV Strikes|1988 WGA strike]] for short-circuiting the screenwriting, and the infamous [[Special Effect Failure]] was due to ILM being too busy with other projects to work on the film.
Now it should be noted the [[Mis Blamed|movie's failings aren't all Shatner's fault]]. We can also thank [[Executive Meddling]] for all the forced "humor" and the [[TV Strikes|1988 WGA strike]] for short-circuiting the screenwriting, and the infamous [[Special Effect Failure]] was due to ILM being too busy with other projects to work on the film.


Still, the concept ''was'' Shatner's idea, and he knew about the studio's humor requirements before he even began work. Gene Roddenberry himself had expressed strong reservations about the pitch; He had good reason to be concerned, as he had previously written [http://www.well.com/~sjroby/godthing.html his own story] about the crew meeting God and hated the result. But Shatner persisted with the idea of [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny|Kirk coming up against God and winning]]. ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' and religious topics have always been uneasy bedfellows; ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine (TV)|Deep Space Nine]]'' is the only series to pull it off, and Trekkies are divided on even that.
Still, the concept ''was'' Shatner's idea, and he knew about the studio's humor requirements before he even began work. Gene Roddenberry himself had expressed strong reservations about the pitch; He had good reason to be concerned, as he had previously written [http://www.well.com/~sjroby/godthing.html his own story] about the crew meeting God and hated the result. But Shatner persisted with the idea of [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny|Kirk coming up against God and winning]]. ''[[Star Trek]]'' and religious topics have always been uneasy bedfellows; ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' is the only series to pull it off, and Trekkies are divided on even that.


This movie isn't a total write-off, though: ''Star Trek V'' also features plenty of [[Character Development]] scenes between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (the [[Book Ends]] with the three camping are quite enjoyable), an absolutely ''brilliant'' backstory scene involving McCoy and his father, and has a collection of well imagined individual sequences such as [[Coming in Hot]] with a shuttlecraft.
This movie isn't a total write-off, though: ''Star Trek V'' also features plenty of [[Character Development]] scenes between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy (the [[Book Ends]] with the three camping are quite enjoyable), an absolutely ''brilliant'' backstory scene involving McCoy and his father, and has a collection of well imagined individual sequences such as [[Coming in Hot]] with a shuttlecraft.
Line 39: Line 39:
* [[Catfolk]]/[[Catgirl]]: With three breasts. Defeated by Kirk when he throws her into a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|literal]] ''[[Cats Hate Water|pool table]]''.
* [[Catfolk]]/[[Catgirl]]: With three breasts. Defeated by Kirk when he throws her into a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|literal]] ''[[Cats Hate Water|pool table]]''.
* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The "comedy" disappears and the movie becomes much more serious once they begin their trip to the Great Barrier.
* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The "comedy" disappears and the movie becomes much more serious once they begin their trip to the Great Barrier.
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Both inverted and possibly played straight. While the obvious inversion is [[Remember the New Guy|Sybok]], who is revealed to be Spock's half-brother, we later have Kirk note he had a brother once, who he lost and was lucky enough to come back, referring to Spock's resurrection. However, the way Kirk says this sounds like he's forgotten he actually ''did'' have a brother who was lost, (George Kirk Jr), who was killed back in the classic series.
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]: Both inverted and possibly played straight. While the obvious inversion is [[Remember the New Guy?|Sybok]], who is revealed to be Spock's half-brother, we later have Kirk note he had a brother once, who he lost and was lucky enough to come back, referring to Spock's resurrection. However, the way Kirk says this sounds like he's forgotten he actually ''did'' have a brother who was lost, (George Kirk Jr), who was killed back in the classic series.
** Kirk most likely is referring to George, in that he's consoling Spock, who just lost a brother himself, and "how I got him back" isn't literal. This is hit home when McCoy pipes in.
** Kirk most likely is referring to George, in that he's consoling Spock, who just lost a brother himself, and "how I got him back" isn't literal. This is hit home when McCoy pipes in.
{{quote| '''McCoy:''' I thought men like us don't have families.<br />
{{quote| '''McCoy:''' I thought men like us don't have families.<br />
Line 57: Line 57:
* [[False Innocence Trick]]: The Enterprise passes through the barrier around the heart of the galaxy and finds the legendary planet Sha Ka Ree, believed to be the home of God. When the protagonists find God he's apparently imprisoned there, and tries to trick them into helping him escape. A subversion, because Kirk figures out there's something funny going on and manages to get "God" to reveal his true evil nature before he gets away.
* [[False Innocence Trick]]: The Enterprise passes through the barrier around the heart of the galaxy and finds the legendary planet Sha Ka Ree, believed to be the home of God. When the protagonists find God he's apparently imprisoned there, and tries to trick them into helping him escape. A subversion, because Kirk figures out there's something funny going on and manages to get "God" to reveal his true evil nature before he gets away.
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: Literally, and proving that the ''Enterprise'' DOES have toilets. Just before Scotty's jailbreak, look at the stencil on the "chair" Kirk is sitting on. "WARNING: DO NOT USE WHILE IN SPACEDOCK".
* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: Literally, and proving that the ''Enterprise'' DOES have toilets. Just before Scotty's jailbreak, look at the stencil on the "chair" Kirk is sitting on. "WARNING: DO NOT USE WHILE IN SPACEDOCK".
* [[Getting Smilies Painted On Your Soul]]: Sybok's telepathy, which makes everyone he "treats" euphoric and immediately ready to join his cause.
* [[Getting Smilies Painted on Your Soul]]: Sybok's telepathy, which makes everyone he "treats" euphoric and immediately ready to join his cause.
* [[A God Am I]]: "One voice, many faces."
* [[A God Am I]]: "One voice, many faces."
* [[God Test]]
* [[God Test]]
Line 79: Line 79:
{{quote| '''Kirk:''' I could use a shower.<br />
{{quote| '''Kirk:''' I could use a shower.<br />
'''Spock:''' Yes. }}
'''Spock:''' Yes. }}
* [[No Such Thing As Space Jesus]]
* [[No Such Thing as Space Jesus]]
* [[Not the Fall That Kills You]]: Kirk falls several thousand feet down El Capitan only to be caught by Spock about a foot away from the ground.
* [[Not the Fall That Kills You]]: Kirk falls several thousand feet down El Capitan only to be caught by Spock about a foot away from the ground.
* [[Path of Inspiration]]: Sybok's offer of internal peace.
* [[Path of Inspiration]]: Sybok's offer of internal peace.
Line 95: Line 95:
* [[Reassigned to Antarctica]]: The three ambassadors on Nimbus III (the reasons are noted in the novelization).
* [[Reassigned to Antarctica]]: The three ambassadors on Nimbus III (the reasons are noted in the novelization).
* [[Redemption Equals Death]]: {{spoiler|Sybok}}'s remaining lifespan goes down to about 15 seconds once he [[The Atoner|realizes the error of his ways]].
* [[Redemption Equals Death]]: {{spoiler|Sybok}}'s remaining lifespan goes down to about 15 seconds once he [[The Atoner|realizes the error of his ways]].
* [[Remember the New Guy]]: Sybok
* [[Remember the New Guy?]]: Sybok
** Not really. Kirk is actually surprised that Spock even has a brother.
** Not really. Kirk is actually surprised that Spock even has a brother.
* [[Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale]]: At least they didn't go with Shatner's original idea of going to the ''center of the universe''.
* [[Sci-Fi Writers Have No Sense of Scale]]: At least they didn't go with Shatner's original idea of going to the ''center of the universe''.
** Not necessarily an example of the trope. Ships were a lot faster in the original series and other movies set in the same time frame than they were in later material. They could travel to the edge of the galaxy and back in a very small amount of time or map every gas anomaly in the Beta Quadrant in a few months.
** Not necessarily an example of the trope. Ships were a lot faster in the original series and other movies set in the same time frame than they were in later material. They could travel to the edge of the galaxy and back in a very small amount of time or map every gas anomaly in the Beta Quadrant in a few months.
** Also, the Pioneer probe blown up by the Klingons had been traveling at only a tiny fraction of lightspeed from Earth for 300 years, meaning the Klingons would have to be pretty deep within Federation space to encounter it. Of course, these Klingons were explicitly looking for a fight, so it's not unreasonable that they ''were'' deep in Federation space.
** Also, the Pioneer probe blown up by the Klingons had been traveling at only a tiny fraction of lightspeed from Earth for 300 years, meaning the Klingons would have to be pretty deep within Federation space to encounter it. Of course, these Klingons were explicitly looking for a fight, so it's not unreasonable that they ''were'' deep in Federation space.
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: "God"
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: "God"
* [[Shout-Out]]: One of the names of the planet where they find "God", Sha Kaa Ree, comes from [[Sean Connery]]'s name.
* [[Shout-Out]]: One of the names of the planet where they find "God", Sha Kaa Ree, comes from [[Sean Connery]]'s name.
** It's also a [[Development Gag]] (see [[What Could Have Been]]).
** It's also a [[Development Gag]] (see [[What Could Have Been]]).
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Star_Trek_V:_The_Final_Frontier"