10 Greatest Sequels In Star Trek
3. Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Star Trek II pulls double duties on this list. It is both a sequel to The Motion Picture and to Space Seed, though perhaps more directly to the latter. With Nicholas Meyer taking over the reigns from Robert Wise, the franchise received a tone shift. Gone was the cerebral elegiac explorations of the first film, replaced now with a more militaristic, no less beautiful, feel.
The Enterprise is depicted with both stock footage and new shots created for the battle with the Reliant. Ricardo Montalban returns to bring his own unique gravitas to proceedings, while the crew receive those new uniforms that this writer loves so much.
While Space Seed suited the tone of The Original Series well, ending on a hopeful note of possibility, this film suits the grungier feel of the films at that time. Perhaps grunge is a harsh description - utilitarian may be best. There is barely a hair out of place on the Federation ship, while Khan and crew represent abandon and chaos.
The film manages to honour the story that came before, wrapping The Motion Picture's aesthetic in, and still create something entirely new for audiences.