Nerds That Geek Movie Review - 'Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

'I have been, and ever shall be, your friend.'
- Captain Spock

​Loyalty is something I firmly believe all of us strive for simply because it does so much for people. It gives everyone a sense of trust, of belonging and it also provides folks with a sense of worth. It allows us to come together with our friends and family as well, letting those we know and care about that they can rely on us for just about anything.  

Of course, over time this loyalty will be tested, like anything in life and at times the boundaries of that loyalty will be pushed to the breaking point. It is that breaking point, and how far one is willing to go that remain the central themes in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Khan is dead.  But the battle that ended his vendetta has proven to be a pyrrhic victory. The U.S.S. Enterprise is badly damaged and Captain Spock gave his life to save her crew, and the galaxy is stunned at the creation of Planet Genesis. Upon return to Earth, Kirk is confronted by Spock's father Sarek and learns that a mind meld with Doctor McCoy has left the essence of his son's mind preserved and if Spock's body can be brought to Vulcan, there is an outside chance Kirk's oldest friend can still be saved. Now it is a race against time. For Planet Genesis is a failed experiment and accelerating toward destruction and lying in wait for Kirk and the Enterprise are rogue Klingons who are willing to wage war in an effort to obtain the secrets of Genesis.  

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​One would think that after the dark journey that Wrath of Khan takes us on that The Search for Spock would in some way be a lighter film. This is simply not the case because Star Trek III is equally as dark as its predecessor. We continue the painful emotional journey that James T. Kirk is going through during this phase of his life and career but there is a difference this time around.  Kirk is no longer bound by guilt or that sense of helplessness we saw in the last film.  

Instead he clearly sees this as his chance to redeem himself for so many mistakes, and he is willing to do everything he must to make it right, including sacrificing the U.S.S. Enterprise. That's what makes this film so special because this is when James T. Kirk went beyond what we already knew him to be. He was already heroic, an incredible leader and tactician, but the return to Genesis is when he became a legendary Captain. More importantly though, it is a wonderful sight to see all of Spock's friends rally behind the cause and join in the risk all for one chance to see their friend alive once again. Say what you will about the cheap move to bring Spock back to life, this crew did what all of us wish we could do, save a life that we have seen fade away far too early.  

It's that loyalty that drives this film, and leaves you cheering for the return of Captain Spock and it makes the end of the Enterprise that much more tragic when the order is given to self-destruct, yet it is also the final act of redemption. To destroy the ship he called home for so many years, to risk everything to save one man, this is when Kirk forgave himself for his mistakes and realized that while duty and honor are important, it is the loyalty to those who get us there that matter.  

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