Clip show!

I don't even remember the last time I watched this tape; it's probably been twenty years, maybe even longer. But when it first came out, I watched it "more than once", we'll say, to the point that I *may* have talked along with the promos that played at the beginning, advertising the first five movies, TNG and TOS on VHS, and Star Trek: The Astral Symphony, a compilation of music from the first five movies. I didn't talk along with the special itself, but it was surprising to me just how vividly I recalled most of it, even anticipating which interviewee would appear next, and what he or she would discuss.

As I've discussed often, I became a fan of the franchise during its 25th anniversary year (1991), having been almost entirely oblivious to Star Trek until then. I knew virtually nothing about it until I decided to explore it after being captivated by the teaser poster for The Undiscovered Country. I had already gotten caught up on everything by the time 25th Anniversary Special aired, but it was still instrumental in helping me establish a baseline for understanding just what it was that I had gotten into.

It also established the paradigm for what I would come to expect from such a special. In quick succession, the special places the birth of the franchise in the context of the space race and social climate of the Sixties, chronicles the production of the original series through its cancellation, skips past the animated series entirely, and onto the movies. Another segment focuses on TNG, including a breakdown of how a composite image of the Enterprise-D was made using different layers of imaging (one of my earliest whiffs of behind-the-scenes/making-of stuff that I have come to absolutely love). There's a montage of prolific Star Trek parodies from over the years, a survey of fandom and the rise of conventions, and a segment previewing The Undiscovered Country.

Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special, despite its inclusion about TNG, is by and large a special about TOS rather than the franchise. One could realistically call it "The Roddenberry Years", since The Great Bird of the Galaxy passed away just before the special aired. There is a segment briefly introducing Roddenberry and his background in the military and TV at the beginning, but it isn't presented in the context of a memorial; just as part of the genesis of Star Trek. No comment is made of his passing until on-screen text appears just before the end credits play noting his years of birth and death.

TNG is covered, but discussion of it is confined to establishing it as TOS's kid brother. It doesn't appear any effort was made to conduct new interviews for this special. Patrick Stewart, for instance, appears on the battle bridge set, in his first season costume, indicating that it was filmed around the time the series first went into production. It's interesting to go back to a time when the franchise was still defined by TOS, and TNG was still outside the mainstream consciousness (despite its high ratings)...and the rest of the spin-offs were still in the offing.

The most prolific commentator is Whoopi Goldberg - who says as much about TOS as she does about TNG! Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner don't appear at all, nor is there any mention whatsoever of "The Best of Both Worlds", or even of "Sarek". LeVar Burton visits Space Camp in a segment licensed from Reading Rainbow (he clearly uses his RR speaking voice). If I had to register one surprise, it's that the TNG guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy in "Unification" (which I watched on Blu-ray at the outset of this challenge) goes unacknowledged in the special. Both aired right around the same time, as lead-ins to the release of The Undiscovered Country.

Later, I would acquire two other behind-the-scenes specials on VHS: From "Star Wars" to "Jedi": The Making of a Saga and The Making of "Jurassic Park". Along with Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special, those two formed the basis of my entire fascination with such content. They're why I actually watch DVD bonus content today, and they're the gold standards by which I judge such fare.

One last thing: When I connect the VCR to my HDTV, I get a very snowy image. Can I do anything to get a better image, or is that just a consequence of the low resolution on an HD display?

Last July, a pal and I committed ourselves to touring through the Kirk/Spock era of Star Trek in its entirety, starting with the original series, through the animated series, and onto the movies. We meant to get to The Undiscovered Country months ago, but for one reason or another, it didn't happen until around midnight last night. It may not have been grouped with the other five last year, but I adore that it's my first movie viewing of 2014.

I last watched this in 2011, and I don't even care to guess which number viewing this one makes. My viewing pal hadn't seen it in quite some time and didn't remember it very well, so this time around, I found myself reflecting on it more in the context of her observations and criticisms.

One of her points of contention is that the anti-Klingon racism is so heavy handed throughout the film. It isn't subtle, I'll grant you, but I also think it's important that it not be. One of the chief gripes about Gene Roddenberry's vision for the future is that things involving humanity are simply too peachy keen. I appreciated seeing the divided factions, one side willing to work in good faith to secure a peaceful future; the other, so steeped in fear and suspicion that they somewhat ironically ally themselves with like-minded Klingon conspirators to quash peace talks. I've always identified strongly with storytelling that highlights how people can be on the same side as people from an opposing affiliation, and how being part of the same affiliation may not mean people are united.

It's also daring, really, that after 25 years of being our heroic leader, that it would be Captain Kirk to personify the poison of prejudice. William Shatner gives a terrific performance throughout, from lashing out at Spock for volunteering the Enterprise's involvement, his obviously forced civility as dinner host, through to his epiphany and breakthrough at the end. There are a lot of stars who would refuse a role where the hero is so flawed, and I don't know that I ever really gave Shatner credit for what he did here.

Upon reflection, I think this might be what sets The Undiscovered Country apart from the other movies in the series for me. There's a certain willingness to get its hands dirty that we've rarely seen within the franchise (at least, outside of Deep Space Nine). Until this movie, there was lots of nice talk about peacefulness and tolerance, etc., but we hadn't seen that really put to a test. This was really the first time that Star Trek showed us how it would walk the walk that went with all its talk.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was re-ranked on my Flickchart to #10/1610