Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

 The second installment in the Star Trek Cinematic Universe (not the Star Trek Film Universe, as that abbreviation would be rather improper) is still one of the absolute best in the series. Heck, it's a great science fiction film across other franchises as well. 

Maybe getting a director who knew almost nothing about the franchise made the difference? 

See: this is actually a sequel to a single episode of the original series, only this time it is interspersed with references to 'Moby Dick' and a space battle akin to two gunslingers duking it out on Main Street at high noon. 

It's good stuff.

The Enterprise is now being used as a training vessel for new recruits. Kirk has been promoted to admiral, and his job is to assess cadets, but clearly he misses being out there, on the edge of his seat. Meanwhile, another ship called the Reliant is looking for planets devoid of life so they can test a new project called Genesis. This is an experiment where they create life out of lifelessness, in the hopes of making lifeless rocks viable as a possible solution to famine and overpopulation. 

The best of intentions, ey? When has that ever done anything right in science fiction?

On one planet, the Reliant comes across survivors from a ship called the Botany Bay. They are a group of genetically engineered and enhanced humans from the late 20th century, led by a man called Khan. He already crossed paths with the Enterprise and they were dropped on this planet, which wasn't barren back then. But a freak cosmic accident displaced the planet's orbit and made it a wretched place. Khan is a megalomaniac with a grudge, and he hijacks the Reliant in order to be able to kill Kirk, his one goal in life. He also whizzes off with the Genesis missile. 

So now Kirk and his crew of cadets and old faithful comrades have to try and find Khan and stop him once and for all. 

This really is great. Not only is the pacing very snappy, the writing and characterisation is very much on point. That they incorporated the original crew's age is a nice touch, but it doesn't overshadow anything. The setup is also so neat, and even if you have never seen the episode 'Space Seed' where this is a sequel to, you can immediately understand why Khan is out for revenge. Yes, there is some exposition, but it isn't shoved down your throat and it doesn't halt the pacing in any way. Khan wants payback and will stop at nothing, so yes: he is Ahab. 

The acting is excellent. Yes, even those that love to nitpick about William Shatner: he is much better than you might think and doesn't go as overboard as in the series. But who really steals the show in every scene he's in is Ricardo Montalban as Khan. Yes, he hams it up a little, but as Khan has always felt like a Shakespearean villain who is larger than life, that actually fits the character rather well. 

So you have excellent writing and great dialogue, a compelling and memorable villain; so what else is there? How about some of the best space battles in history? No, it isn't as swift or energetic as 'Star Wars', this is more a game of hide and seek akin to submarine bouts, but it is tense all the way and the payoff is more than worth the wait. 

Even if you're not a fan of the franchise, this is the one to see. The series has other good entries, but this one surpasses its fandom and is just a wonderfully entertaining science fiction epic.