In the wake of Leonard Nimoy’s death two weeks ago, the Internet’s primary reaction has been posting his character’s funeral scene from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, a film that will turn 33 in June. Ten Trek movies later, the film remains the franchise’s cinematic icon and a general cultural touchstone, with the latest J.J. Abrams reboots being longform and rather masturbatory references to the film. It was met with immediate success, but it’s worth looking at why the film has stayed so close to the public consciousness.
“How we deal with death is just as important as how we deal with life, had that not occurred to you?” Photos courtesy Paramount Pictures.
A film 20 years in the making
The whole thing started in 1964, when Gene Roddenberry put a pilot together that would spawn one of the most progressive television series of all time. The Cage was not well received, but producers commissioned a second pilot because they thought they’d like the series concept from a less high-minded script. Two years later, Roddenberry got his series, but its run was cut short. Star Trek’s fans were enthusiastic and numerous, but they apparently didn’t actually watch the show, as ratings lead NBC to try and cancel the series partway through season two. It was saved by a historic letter-writing campaign, but would only last one more year. It was the Firefly of the ’60s.
Chappie is a truly inexcusable movie, the kind that would be laughed out of most entry-level film classes. The fact that this script and this director and these plot elements can get $50 million budget and wide release is staggering.
Leonard Nimoy, best known for playing Spock in Star Trek and related movies, died in his home today due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nimoy disappeared into the character of Spock for more than 50 years, saying he began to take on Spock’s characteristics while shooting the series and never shaking the public persona, remaining a science-fiction convention headliner and highly sought after guest star right up until his death. Nimoy even said he had an identity crisis with the character, and released two volumes of autobiography, I am not Spock in 1975 followed by I am Spock in 1995, which included conversations he had with the character.
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