STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991) *1/2 I imagine the Trekkies were happy to see the gang all out for one last round-up. It's far from the best Star Trek film-and further from the best of the tv series episodes-but….you know, I wish they would just keep on making Ghostbusters stuff. Hell, I even liked the cartoon series that had monkeys and stuff instead of the real Ghostbusters! So the loyal Trekkies won't be disappointed, and that's really all that matters. People like you and me might occasionally find our minds drifting to consider the contrasting career trajectories of the actors involved-starting with Christopher Plummer (who has been in several great films, great in several others, and is great fun spouting off literary clichés) and Kim Cattrall (for whom this is close to the peak, though not quite the glory of Mannequin ). If you want to look at it objectively (Trekkies signing off) the problem with the film is that it's more a mediocre murder/mystery in space than creative Sci-Fi. Of course Gene Rodenberry was gone, but had never been as involved in the film-writing anyway. Leonard Nimoy took the opportunity to make some very interesting insights into the end of the Cold War (Mr. Nimoy, a peace activitist from way back in the days when it was risking your career to be one), but none of it ever really…you know, gains critical mass….for me. Iman does a nice turn in it, but mainly that had me hoping that David Bowie would show up as "The Man Who Sold the World" and associated commentary, but I always figured that probably wouldn't happen. Well, it might could have. But I'm happy to see 'em all trotting around one last time, and happier to think about how happy it makes so many of the friends that I've had over the years.
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