As I mentioned in my review of the first film that there is a rule with Star Trek films that the even numbered ones are good and the odd numbered ones are bad? I've always felt that Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was the exception. While it's not as great as the movie that preceded it or the one that would come after, it's still a decently entertaining film in it's own right.
This film picks up almost right where the previous film left off, with the surviving crew of the Enterprise arriving home after their costly battle with Khan. Soon after, Kirk is visited by Spock's father Sarek (played by Mark Lenard), wanting to know what became of Spock's remains and stated they should have been brought back to Vulcan rather than jettisoned onto the newly formed Genesis planet. Sarek also mentions that prior to his self-sacrificial actions on the Enterprise, would have transferred his Katra to someone else. He assumed it would have been Kirk, but after reviewing the security footage from the Engineering room on the Enterprise (which was conveniently shot from all the same angles as the scenes in the previous film!), they discover it was actually McCoy (played by Deforest Kelley) that he transferred it too. Naturally, McCoy is less than thrilled with having Spock's memories and personality rattling around in his head. The main crew, consisting of Scotty (played by James Doohan), Chekov (played by Walter Koenig), Sulu (played by George Takei) as well as Kirk and McCoy borrow the battle damaged Enterprise and head back out to the Genesis planet to retrieve Spock's body to return to Vulcan.
Meanwhile, Saavik (played by Robin Curtis) and David (played by Merritt Butrick) are researching the new Genesis planet when they pick up a lifeform reading on their scanners. When they locate it, they are shocked to find it is a newly regenerated and rapidly aging Spock. To make matters worse, they are intercepted by a Klingon warship commanded by a vicious character named Kruge (played by Christopher Lloyd). Kruge and his cronies take out the ship that Saavik and David were on and take them and the young Spock hostage, intending to draw out the secrets of Genesis from David and Saavik. It's only a matter of time before Kirk and the rest arrive on the scene, leading to a battle between the Klingons and Kirk for Saavik, his son David and the newly regenerated Spock.
When the filmmakers approached making a third Star Trek movie, the original intention was to go forward without Spock but then someone clearly got nervous and determined that the third film had to involve resurrecting Spock. How determined were they to bring back Spock? Well, when they offered the role to Leonard Nimoy, he responded back that he wanted to direct the film...and the producers were totally fine with this. It probably helps that the adult Spock is off screen for the bulk of the film so Leonard Nimoy could focus on his behind the camera duties and to be fair, for his cinematic directorial debut, he does a good job with the film. The film looks good, the action is reasonably well staged and the film moves at a brisk pace. Harve Bennett wrote the script this time around, crafting a fairly straightforward story for the film. James Horner returns to craft a new score for the film, which is a bit more understated this time around, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The cast does well in this film, especially with DeForest Kelley in a couple scenes wonderfully capturing Leonard Nimoy in the few moments that Spock's personality and memories seem to take over a bit. They're such wonderful, funny little moments that Kelley played wonderfully. Shatner likewise gets a few good moments in the film as he once again finds himself faced with tragedy, as well as the inevitable final showdown between him and Kruge. Christopher Lloyd makes a decent villain in the Klingon Kruge. He's a vicious, imposing and threatening character who is determined to get what he wants doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. It's a very different type of character from the types of roles I'm used to seeing him play and he makes for an effective villain (even if he pales in comparison to Khan).
Overall, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is not a perfect film, but it in an entertaining one, maybe a bit underrated and probably the best of the odd numbered Star Trek films, or at least the best of the odd numbered Star Trek films with the original cast. Although that particular bar isn't exactly high, is it?
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