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

AI/ LLM reviews of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Google Gemini

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" represents a
significant departure for the film series, with
Captain Kirk himself taking the director's chair.
It attempts to explore profound themes of faith,
pain, and the search for God, but its execution
often falls short, leading to a divisive entry
in the franchise.

Plot Overview:

The film introduces Sybok, a renegade Vulcan
and Spock's half-brother, who is on a fervent
quest for "ultimate knowledge" and believes he
can find God. His journey begins by taking
hostages on Nimbus III, the "Planet of Galactic
Peace," a diplomatic outpost that has devolved
into a wasteland. Among his captives are
a Klingon, a Romulan, and a Federation
representative, whose abduction triggers
a Priority One situation for Starfleet.

Captain Kirk, enjoying a much-needed shore leave
climbing El Capitan in Yosemite with Spock
and McCoy, finds his relaxation abruptly
interrupted. The trio is ordered back to the
recently refitted (and still buggy)
USS Enterprise-A. They are dispatched to
Nimbus III to rescue the hostages. Upon
confronting Sybok, the crew learns of his unique
ability to "take away pain" by forcing
individuals to confront their deepest emotional
wounds. He attempts this on Kirk, Spock,
and McCoy, with varying degrees of success.

Sybok's true intention is to use the Enterprise
to travel beyond the Great Barrier, a mythical
region at the center of the galaxy, where he
believes God resides. The journey is fraught
with peril, including a pursuing Klingon
Bird-of-Prey commanded by Captain Klaa,
who seeks to capture Kirk for a personal
vendetta. The Enterprise eventually breaches
the Great Barrier and encounters a powerful,
seemingly divine entity. However, the "God"
they find is not what Sybok envisioned,
revealing itself to be a malevolent, imprisoned
entity seeking escape. A final confrontation
ensues, leading to sacrifices and a desperate
escape. The film concludes with Kirk, Spock,
and McCoy sharing a moment of camaraderie,
their bonds reaffirmed despite the chaotic
and existential journey.

Strengths:

Character Focus: The film attempts to delve
into the core trio's (Kirk, Spock, McCoy)
relationships and personal pain, particularly
through Sybok's mind-melding ability. Moments
of camaraderie and philosophical discussion
between them are often highlights.

Themes of Faith and Pain: The central premise
of seeking God and confronting personal pain
is ambitious and thought-provoking, aligning
with Star Trek's philosophical roots.

Yosemite Scenes: The opening scenes in Yosemite
National Park are visually appealing and provide
a rare, intimate look at the main characters
outside of their Starfleet duties.

Jerry Goldsmith's Score: Once again, Jerry
Goldsmith delivers a memorable and powerful
score that elevates many of the film's scenes.

Weaknesses:

Sybok as a Villain/Antagonist: Sybok's character
and motivations, while central, often feel
underdeveloped or inconsistent. His ability
to remove pain is a powerful concept but
is not always convincingly portrayed.

Inconsistent Tone: The film struggles
to balance its serious philosophical
themes with moments of awkward humour
and silliness (e.g., Uhura's fan dance,
Scotty hitting his head). This tonal
inconsistency undermines the overall gravitas.

Special Effects: The special effects, even for
its time, are widely considered to be
a significant weakness. The depiction of
the Great Barrier, the "God" entity,
and many other visual elements look
unconvincing and cheap, detracting
from the epic scope.

Plot Holes and Pacing: The plot often feels
disjointed, with illogical character actions
and a meandering pace. The Klingon subplot
feels tacked on and ultimately irrelevant
to the main narrative.

"God" Reveal: The ultimate reveal of the "God"
entity is often criticised as being underwhelming
and poorly executed, failing to deliver on the
film's ambitious premise.

Budgetary Constraints: The film clearly suffered
from a limited budget, which impacted
the quality of the special effects
and the overall scale.

Overall Impression:

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" is
a well-intentioned but ultimately flawed entry
in the Star Trek film series. While it attempts
to explore profound philosophical questions
and deepen the relationships between its core
characters, it is severely hampered by a muddled
script, inconsistent tone, and notably poor
special effects. It remains a polarising film
among fans, often cited as the weakest
of the original cast's cinematic adventures.

Rating: 4/10

ChatGPT

Alright — let’s
tackle **“Star Trek V: The Final Frontier”**
using the script from [chakoteya.net] (http://www.chakoteya.net/movies/movie5.html).

---

**Film:** *Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*
**Release Date:** June 9, 1989
**Director:** William Shatner
**Screenplay:** David Loughery,
story by William Shatner, Harve Bennett, and Loughery

---

## 📋 **Summary (from the script)**

The crew of the newly refitted Enterprise-A
is on shore leave when they’re summoned to deal
with a hostage crisis on Nimbus III — the
so-called “Planet of Galactic Peace.” There,
Spock’s long-lost half-brother Sybok has taken
ambassadors hostage. But Sybok’s real goal is to
hijack the Enterprise and force it through
the Great Barrier at the center of the galaxy
to find Sha Ka Ree — the mythical home of God.

Sybok is a charismatic Vulcan who embraces
emotion instead of suppressing it. He wins over
the crew by “taking away their pain,” but Kirk
resists. They reach Sha Ka Ree — only to discover
the “God” there is actually a dangerous,
manipulative entity imprisoned behind
the Barrier. It attacks them when they refuse to
be