The third in the series of Star Trek movies. I doubt that I will spoil anything for anyone to say that the whole point of the movie was to resurrect Spock. (He died in the last one.) Good points include James T. "Prime Directive My Ass" Kirk ignores direct orders once again and kicks some Klingon butt. Also this is the first time that fans got to see more than a short sequence with the new and improved Klingons that became standard in Star trek: The Next Generation.

Bad points include... The Plot or lack there of and wooden acting on the part of the usual offenders. Also there is some rather hoaky science, but that's par for the course in Star Trek or any other space opera.

It does set up a rather good movie though. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Thanks to ithron for pointing out a mistake about the Klingons

Of the odd numbered Star Trek movies, this wasn't the worst offender. (Clearly, that was Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.) The problem with this movie is that "Let's resurrect a major character!" is a pretty thin premise to hang a plot on. The plot device -- the Genesis planet -- had already been established so it wasn't as ludicrous as it could have been.

Leonard Nimoy's directing skills helped salvage the film; he directed with a fairly deft touch and a sense of humor; note the engine backfire sound effects when the USS Excelsior ground to a halt after Scotty sabotaged it. The opportunity to direct this film, as well as realizing a surprising affection for the character he had been eager to kill off, led Nimoy back into the franchise.

Casting was a bit of a problem, though: Christopher Lloyd, while a gifted "oddball" actor (see Back to the Future) didn't quite have the gravitas to pull off the vicious heavy Kruge, and Robin Curtis was much more generic in the Saavik role than her predecessor Kirstie Alley. William Shatner was at his hammiest: "I...have had...enough of you!" The Genesis set, particularly during the planet's death throes, was barely more believable than the styrofoam rock-laden sets of the '60s series.

In its favor, though, Star Trek III developed concepts from the previous film, helping to create a trilogy that held together rather well. (What a concept, actions and events having repercussions!) The destruction of the USS Enterprise was appropriately dramatic, and DeForest Kelley actually got a share of the limelight. Star Trek III may not be Art, but it doesn't suck.

Every time I watch this movie, I seem to like it a little more. While it has nothing on the movies surrounding it (Wrath of Khan and Voyage Home) I always enjoyed the premise of the entire crew pulling together to save Spock. It continues the theme of sacrifice introduced in the Wrath of Khan and really finishes the story. I would have to say the destruction of the Enterprise was the high point of the movie, a truly bold move by the writers. While not as good as any of the even Treks, I feel that this is by far the best of the odd ones.