I recently had the privilege of attending a Fathom event screening for the 35th anniversary of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The first three films in the series have always spoken to me the most, but this anniversary edition included a discussion with the filmmakers that made it very special, and really drove home what an epic conclusion The Voyage Home was to the series.

To recap the plot of The Voyage Home, Admiral James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner, and his crew go on a mission to San Francisco in 1986. Their mission is to retrieve humpback whales, because only that species can communicate with an alien probe that may attack Earth. With the help of Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy, they embark on a treacherous ride, but one that is all fun for us. With so many iconic characters, ranging from Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, Sulu, played by George Takei, and many others, The Voyage Home is a true adventure, one that really makes us appreciate the franchise.

While at this screening I thought a lot about the success of Star Trek. In the pre-recorded discussion the filmmakers pointed out that the key film in the series was Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan (1982), because that was where the big adventures really took off. It got even better in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), and the fun took a twist into endless galactic entertainment with The Voyage Home.

Overall, the 35-year anniversary screening was well worth a viewing, and I learned a lot about the origin Star Trek film series. It had me anxious to know what will happen with the series, especially after the death of Anton Yelchin, who played Pavel Chekov in several recent Star Trek films. But whatever happens next, I’m sure the fan base will be in for a treat, because Star Trek is always a fun ride. Four stars for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, 35th year anniversary edition.