Lets just go out on a limb here and say that, in an otherwise mediocre spin-off movie series from a TV show that is way too fondly remembered by sci-fi geeks with way too much time on their hands, this is the best of the batch. And the best thing about this 1982 space opera is unquestionably Ricardo Montalbans suitably operatic Khan: cruel, vain, grandiose, and gleefully, gloatingly theatrical in his evil. Like the old Hollywood pro that he is (having begun his screen career four decades earlier, which then continued for years at MGM), Montalban recognizes that villainy needs to be played to the hiltand then right over the hilt and up the forearm when possible. Its possible to forgetpreferable to forget, reallythe presence of Shatner, Nimoy and their dull crew and just bask in Montalbans malevolent glory. Like the man says, From hells heart, I stab at thee! For hates sake, I spit my last breath at thee! (PG) BRIAN MILLER
Fri., Dec. 25, 11:59 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 26, 11:59 p.m., 2009