EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

Protraph Lack of good storyline.

PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Filipe Neto This film is the fifth film of the franchise and addresses, in the worst way, a spiritual theme: the search for God. The whole script is based on an unsuccessful space travel in search of the creator of all things. When a script starts from a bad idea it is lost, and this case proves this theory. The story of this movie sucks from beginning to end, and I do not even know how it was possible that such idiocy was actually carried on. The special effects are within what has been done in the previous films, the performance of the actors was not particularly inspiring, but what really put the film to waste was the plot with such absurd ideas. A missed opportunity.

Eric Stevenson I have yet to see a single episode of the "Star Trek" TV show (or shows) but seeing as how I'm so familiar with the movies, I guess you could go ahead and call me a fan. I had heard that this was the worst "Star Trek" movie ever made and from what I've seen, I agree wholeheartedly. It's sad seeing as how I managed to see all of the good ones already. Anyway, this movie mostly suffers from being needlessly padded. It's actually one of the shorter films, but it certainly seems longer. I guess it's just like that whenever you watch a boring movie. The villain's plan literally isn't revealed until over halfway through the film.He wants to literally find God. It's kind of weird, because I thought that "Star Trek" was supposed to be promoting secularism. They do have this weird moral about where God truly is at the end. I know Gene Roddenberry was an atheist, which is probably why he wants us to forget this film. It's a pity he never truly lived to see the full release of the one after this, the last one he was personally involved with. We get scenes of the characters on vacation which adds nothing to the story at all. I don't think until a half hour in they actually do something themselves. I will admit I like the sets and some of the conversations weren't bad, but any moviegoer can easily skip this one. **

Rainey Dawn I do not understand the weak arguments against this movie. Will Shatner plays Captain Kirk in this film just as well as he did in the TV episodes and the other films - so why complain about that with this film? The story is just as good as any other Star Trek film or TV episode. The addition of Sybok, Spock's 1/2 brother, is not much different than Kirk finding out he had a son, David. They have give us more information about each character's past... sooooooo what's the problem? I will never, never understand the complaints that some fans have against this movie. Never.This movie is just as humorous as Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). Star Trek has always added some humor to the drama playing out on the screen. Heck usually at the end of every TV episode there was a humorous moment that left the audience on an up note - which I liked very much. This motion picture has typical Star Trek humor. Why are fans complaining about that with this film? Basically this film concerns a half brother of Spock's named Sybok. Sybok is looking for "God". He believes he's found him and finds a way to take over the Enterprise to find what or who he believes is God.I love this movie... I really don't care if others think ill of me for loving it so much.10/10

sheepdater This is a movie only true Star Trek fans would ever endure. In fact, in order to get your official Trekkie membership card and decoder ring, you have to wear a costume, go to at least one convention, and explain why you hate Star Trek V. So here is my critique:This abortion directed by William Shatner is by far my least favorite Star Trek movie. Given the quality of The Motion Picture, that alone should attest to how truly bad this movie turned out. There are many reasons why, not all related to Shatner, but he sure didn't help either. Just like when Spock mind melded with V'Ger, I think examining why this movie is so utterly horrible gives you great insight into megalomaniac mind of William Shatner. The fact that he insisted upon directing this movie shows he has something in common with Kirk. He was jealous of the success Nimoy (his second banana on the show & in Shatners mind distant second in talent) had in directing Star Trek III and IV. Sounds a bit like Kirk marching into his boss's office during the first movie to demand the Enterprise back because would never allow anybody to steal his glory. Second, Shatner isn't as funny as he thinks he is. Big surprise, right? (It's blatantly obvious Shatner thinks not even God can do something better than he can) This movie followed the wildly successful 4th movie (yup, the one with the whales) and what was different about it from the previous movies, beside how much money it made, was that it made you laugh out loud. This was due to the whole "fish outta water" routine of refined and evolved Starfleet officers of Roddenberry's enlightened future interacting with the violently barbaric Dark Age degenerates of 1986. It was funny without trying to be funny. The characters were just being themselves, but Shatner was clearly unaware of that fact. He saw comedy as the key to box office bucks. The forced comedic elements of The Final Frontier provides clear evidence why Shatner's lounge act wasn't exactly a smashing success. Finally, and most disturbingly, being director meant he had more input on the character of Kirk than ever before. So what does Shatner make Kirk do that he has never done before? He orders Spock to murder somebody in cold blood. Spock refuses and when his logical and peaceful first officer refuses the order to execute a living being, Kirk is shocked. He acts like Spock didn't notice the fine print on the Prime Directive user agreement where he agreed to blow away any creature on demand. So how does the great Captain Kirk handle his best friend refusing to follow his order to murder? Right out of the Starfleet Academy manual, of course. When trapped in the brig of his own ship he proceeds to pout, call Spock names, then throw a temper tantrum, all while being totally ambivalent about stopping the mad man has stolen his ship. Shatner, the director, wanted to show us that Kirk earned the respect of the fleet by reacting like a spoiled toddler in times of crisis. Clearly we were seeing more the method Shatner would react than Kirk in that situation. Again, as I originally stated, it's not only Shatner's fault the movie was so poor. Don't forget the scene where the enemy runs toward, and not away screaming in fear, at Uhura's elderly nude body dancing in the moonlight. Clearly the bad ideas were coming in from all sides. In fact the entire movie was deemed to be non-cannon in the Star Trek universe. The keepers of official Star Trek mythology finally said, screw it. It was easier to disregard the entire movie than to explain why so many issues were contrary to already established facts. The Final Frontier was William Shanter's big chance to put his own personal touch on the role that made him famous. Upon seeing the results, all this movie proves is that Shatner's mind is a very scary place.