XPost: rec.arts.startrek.misc, rec.arts.startrek.fandom, rec.arts.sf.tv
XPost: rec.arts.tv, can.arts.sf

Ai/LLM reviews of Star IV - The Voyage home

Google Gemini

"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" takes a significant
departure from the previous two films, trading high-stakes
space battles for a charming, comedic, and environmentally
conscious time-travel adventure. It's a film that showcases
the beloved Enterprise crew in a new light, proving their
versatility and enduring appeal.

Plot Overview:
Following the events of "The Search for Spock,"
the crew of the now-destroyed USS Enterprise
is returning to Earth in a captured Klingon Bird-of-Prey,
facing court-martial for their insubordination.
However, a far greater threat emerges:
a mysterious, colossal alien probe approaches Earth,
emitting a powerful signal that disrupts the planet's
atmosphere, oceans, and power grids, threatening
to destroy all life. Spock, still recovering
and regaining his memories, deduces that the probe
is attempting to communicate with humpback whales,
which have been extinct since the 21st century.

Realising that the only way to save Earth is to bring
humpback whales to the future, Kirk and his crew embark
on a daring mission: a slingshot maneuver around the sun
to travel back in time to 1986 San Francisco. Once there,
they face the challenges of a primitive 20th-century
society, attempting to locate and transport two whales,
George and Gracie, back to their own time.
Their efforts involve humorous encounters with contemporary
culture, a desperate search for a suitable whale tank,
and a race against time to return before Earth
is annihilated. After successfully bringing
the whales to the future, the creatures communicate
with the probe, causing it to cease its destructive
activity, thus saving Earth. The film concludes
with the crew facing their disciplinary hearing,
where Kirk is demoted to Captain but given command
of a newly commissioned starship, the USS Enterprise-A.

Strengths:Humor and Charm: The film is replete
with witty dialogue and genuinely funny moments
as the futuristic crew navigates the quirks of 1980s Earth.
McCoy's exasperation with 20th-century medicine,
Scotty's attempts to interact with computers,
and Chekov's search for "nuclear wessels"
are particular highlights.

Environmental Message: The film delivers a powerful
and timely environmental message about the importance
of protecting endangered species and the planet,
which resonates strongly even today.

Character Dynamics: The crew's camaraderie and individual
personalities shine through. The film allows each character
to have their moment, showcasing their unique skills
and the strong bonds that tie them together.

Accessible to New Viewers: Unlike its predecessors,
"The Voyage Home" is largely self-contained
and doesn't require extensive knowledge
of previous Star Trek lore to enjoy, making it
a great entry point for new fans.

Optimistic Tone: After the darker themes
of "Wrath of Khan" and "Search for Spock,"
this film offers a refreshing and optimistic outlook,
emphasising hope and problem-solving.

James Horner's Score: While different from his previous
Trek work, Horner's score for this film is vibrant
and perfectly complements its lighter tone.

Weaknesses:

Lower Stakes (Relative to Previous Films):
While Earth is in danger, the personal stakes
for the crew feel less immediate compared
to the direct revenge plot of "Wrath of Khan"
or the desperate rescue mission of "Search for Spock."

Plot Conveniences: The ease with which the crew
adapts to 1986, and some of the solutions they
find (e.g., the transparent aluminum formula),
can feel a bit too convenient.

Limited Action: Fans looking for intense space battles
might be disappointed, as the film focuses more
on character interaction and comedic situations.

Overall Impression:"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"
is a delightful and enduring classic
within the Star Trek film series.
It's a testament to the versatility of the original cast
and the franchise's ability to tackle diverse genres
while retaining its core themes of exploration,
problem-solving, and the importance of life.
Its blend of humour, heart, and a relevant environmental
message makes it a universally enjoyable and highly rewatchable film.

Rating: 8.8/10

ChatGPT

**Review: *Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home* (1986)**
**Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8.5/10)**
[*Transcript source: Chakoteya.net – The Voyage Home*] (http://www.chakoteya.net/movies/movie4.html)

---

### **Summary:**

*The Voyage Home* is the fourth entry in the original *Star Trek*
film series, affectionately known by fans
as “the one with the whales.” After the intense
themes of death and resurrection
in *The Search for Spock*, this installment
takes a lighter, more comedic approach.
The Enterprise crew must travel back to 20th-century
Earth to rescue humpback whales — the only
beings capable of communicating with
a mysterious probe that is threatening future Earth.

---

### **Review:**

**Tone & Style:**
This film is unique in the *Star Trek* canon.
It abandons space battles and villains
for a time-travel comedy with strong environmental themes.
Directed again by Leonard Nimoy, it shows the confidence
to let these characters breathe, joke, and feel human
while still serving a sci-fi premise.

**Plot:**
The plot is both bizarre and brilliant: a space probe
emits signals identical to whale song, and only extinct
humpback whales can stop Earth's destruction.
The