So here’s a conundrum. This year is the 40th anniversary of one of my all time favorite movies. Star Trek IV was released in late 1986 and was a huge hit. It reignited the love of Trek and gave birth to Next Generation and everything that came afterwards. So what’s the problem? I’ve talked about this movie a lot over the years, so what’s left? I did an article on five things I “hated”. So many be this time I should the opposite!
Today I’m going to go over the moments I loved the most. I’ve seen this movie a million times even on an airplane, read the novelization and comic adaptation, and watched the dvd commentaries. So I know these scenes by heart. This movie was the first time I realized how adored Trek was by seeing it in a packer theatre that loved every second. I realized today I may have seen it the day it was released which may explain the exuberant crowd.
These are in not in any specific order
The Arrival
This movie got crazy level of publicity, it’s pretty clear paramount thought thought they had a hit on there hands. There was even a 900 number you could call and get plot details from the characters (yes I called it). And whenever a talk or news show showed a clip from the movie it was always this scene of the crew arriving in the city followed by a few quick jokes. Not hard to see whyit was so used it summed up the movie wonderfully.
Bus
It’s hard to pick just one joke once they land in 1986 because they’re all great. Inciting the infamous nuclear “weasel” bit. But the bus scene was something special, who wouldn’t love to have the ability to revert a jerk unconscious the way Spock does? And yes I know about the call back on Picard.
Miracle Worker
One of the problems with the other movies is the side characters don’t get a lot to do. Here they get plenty to do, it’s one of the strengths of this movie that they remember the other characters exist. And not only is Scotty funny here with the antique PC but just seeing him and McCoy together feels right of the original series.
Hospital Chase
I know some may criticize this scene for being a little too silly. I don’t care I love and will never forget the applause the end got when I saw the movie for the first time.
The Whalers
Words can’t explain how much I loved this. I really don’t know why either. It’s such a simple gag, bit something about seeing that mean Bird of Prey decloaking right on top it the whalers has me grinning ear to ear every time I see it.
The Final Scene
Try to imagine this one. No internet. No social media. Spoilers were almost nonexistent (unless you read tabloid’s). People didn’t gather to discuss theories on what would happen in the next movie. So the idea of getting a new Enterprise at the end wasn’t even a thought. Imagine the surprise of seeing it, big as life and accompanied by the series theme. Perfect moment right down to Kirk’s wonderful line and the “A” which now that’s taken for granted at the time we were blown away. That wonderful last shot with the crew together on the bridge of the restored Enterprise..,.. it doesn’t get better!
I love this movie!! I left off so many like the scene with Kirk and Spock riding with Gillian or the dinner scene or the opening scenes with the probe or Chekovs interrogation or Spocks resolution with Sarek. This movie had me right at the opening credits and that amazing music. As I said the success of this would lead directly to The Next Generation. In fact when the VHS came out months later TNG was already in production, so the Star Trek IV VHS had an early teaser for the new show (who remembers trailers on VHS?). Seems only fair to share it with you below.
You gotta love how they used clips from the movies since the effects weren’t done and all the clips come from the pilot only. They also obviously didn’t know the characters yet Troi was empathic not telepathic and they had no clue what Geordi’s deal was.
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