Who is Khan?

[Solo]

OK, so Ive said several times around here that Ive never watched a single Star Trek episode, and none of the movies. Usually someone chimes up "see STII" within 1-2 posts.

Anyways, just by random chance, I caught the first 50 minutes of the movie last night (had to run to do other things). It wasnt mind-numbingly bad as I figured it would be, and to my shock, there was a really good score in there from James Horner, who I normally detest. But I had one issue. I knew who all the crew were, as they are pop culture icons (although I was legitmately surprised to see Kirstie Alley pop up, lolz, as well as a still fairly fit Shatner). But I felt like I was missing something with Khan, like his entire backstory or something. It felt like I was supposed to see this meancing character, but I felt nothing. So, who is Khan? Was he a character from the TV show or something?

[Ichirou]

Star Trek II isn't just a great Star Trek movie, it's a great sci-fi/action movie.  It's far from "mindnumbingly bad."

As for Khan, he's a villain from an episode of the old series.  I think they cover all the basics about him when you first meet him, but I'll summarize the episode from what I remember (the episode he appeared in is called "Space Seed" so you can look it up online later on to fill in the blanks).  Basically the Enterprise finds this old Earth spaceship called Botany Bay floating in space in the middle of nowhere.  Turns out all the passengers have been cryogenically frozen, as they apparently escaped the planet Earth at the end of the Eugenics War with hopes of finding a new planet.

The cryogenically frozen passengers wake up, and their leader is Khan.  It turns out Khan is the leader of a group of genetic super-intelligent supermen that was responsible for the war on Earth, and the process that turned them into supermen also gave them massive egos and the belief that they were the master race destined to dominate over mankind.  Khan quickly turns to taking control of the Enterprise, seduces one of Kirk's female officers, and captures Kirk and company with intent to kill them.  Kirk and company manage to defeat Khan (I don't remember exactly how) and they exile him to a nearby uninhabited but lush green planet, along with Kirk's officer who asks to go with him ('cuz she's in ).  The episode ends with Spock wondering what will bloom on that planet from the seed they have planted.

[Solo]

Ok, that sounds pretty cool. I think they sort of glossed over that. The dude who plays Khan looked familiar.

[Cheebs]

Ok, that sounds pretty cool. I think they sort of glossed over that. The dude who plays Khan looked familiar.

Ricardo Montalban!

[TVC15]

Ok, that sounds pretty cool. I think they sort of glossed over that. The dude who plays Khan looked familiar.

Ricardo Mantalban was in a whole ton of things in the 60s and 70s.  I guess he was one of the textbook hispanic characrter actors.  He's probably most famous for Fantasy Island.

Star Trek II is easily the most successful TV series to movie transition.  The first movie got the production values right, but its the sequel that really nailed the feeling of getting a deluxe episode.  You got the classic crew plus one of the most classic villains from the series.

[Solo]

Yeah. I definately liked the half I saw. Perhaps I will track down the DVD.

[TVC15]

Yeah. I definately liked the half I saw. Perhaps I will track down the DVD.

I believe the season of Star Trek that has the Khan ep is on iTunes, too.

It's kind of one of those things you have to look at in the context of the time it came out.  Sure, Khan coming back was kind of random, but it was really kickass to have hard continuity between the TV series and the movies coming out 15 years later. 

[Ichirou]

Ok, that sounds pretty cool. I think they sort of glossed over that. The dude who plays Khan looked familiar.

I think they very succinctly mention the most salient details when Chekov and the captain of the Defiant find the remains of the Botany Bay on the desert planet.

[Cheebs]

Yeah. I definately liked the half I saw. Perhaps I will track down the DVD.

if you like it check star trek VI, from the same director.

[MrAngryFace]

Star Trek VI fucking rocks all over II IMO