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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Review - Why Does God Need a Starship?
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh bravely venture where no fan really wants to go again: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Directed by William Shatner, this 1989 installment is infamous for its budget issues, questionable special effects, and the plot where the crew of the Enterprise-A goes on a quest to find God at the center of the galaxy.
The discussion highlights the film's "so bad it's good" qualities, from the malfunctioning Enterprise (broken doors, no tractor beam) to the bizarre campfire scenes involving "marshmelons" and Spock playing the lyre. The hosts debate Shatner's directorial choices, the introduction of Spock's half-brother Sybok (who "heals" pain), and the controversial decision to have the loyal crew turn against Kirk. They also touch on the behind-the-scenes drama, including Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley refusing to let their characters betray Kirk, the cut "rock man" monster finale, and the film's poor box office performance during the "Summer of Sequels" in 1989. Ultimately, they view it as a guilty pleasure that captures the camaraderie of the original trio, even if the execution was flawed.
Key Highlights
[05:47] Televangelist Inspiration: Joseph explains that the movie was inspired by the televangelist scandals of the 80s, with Sybok acting as a charismatic leader promising salvation to gain followers.
[09:27] Shatner's Direction: A discussion on William Shatner's ego and how it affected the production, noting that George Takei originally refused to be in the film because of him.
[13:04] "Marshmelons": The crew laughs about the odd pronunciation of "marshmallows" in the movie, sharing trivia that it was originally a prank by McCoy in the novelization that made it onto the screen.
[17:13] The Rock Man: Joseph mentions the original finale was supposed to feature rock monsters, but budget cuts and poor costumes forced them to change it to a floating head of "God."
[20:39] Sharing the Pain: A breakdown of the scene where Sybok reveals the hidden pain of McCoy (his father's death) and Spock (his birth), noting it as one of the few genuinely good emotional moments in the film.
[40:29] Marshmallow Dispenser: The hosts discover that the prop marshmallow dispenser used by Spock was actually a real promotional item from Kraft, and they check eBay prices for it live.
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By Joseph Gettinger
4.3
33 ratings
In this episode of Sci-Fi Graveyard, Joseph, Jeremy, and Josh bravely venture where no fan really wants to go again: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Directed by William Shatner, this 1989 installment is infamous for its budget issues, questionable special effects, and the plot where the crew of the Enterprise-A goes on a quest to find God at the center of the galaxy.
The discussion highlights the film's "so bad it's good" qualities, from the malfunctioning Enterprise (broken doors, no tractor beam) to the bizarre campfire scenes involving "marshmelons" and Spock playing the lyre. The hosts debate Shatner's directorial choices, the introduction of Spock's half-brother Sybok (who "heals" pain), and the controversial decision to have the loyal crew turn against Kirk. They also touch on the behind-the-scenes drama, including Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley refusing to let their characters betray Kirk, the cut "rock man" monster finale, and the film's poor box office performance during the "Summer of Sequels" in 1989. Ultimately, they view it as a guilty pleasure that captures the camaraderie of the original trio, even if the execution was flawed.
Key Highlights
[05:47] Televangelist Inspiration: Joseph explains that the movie was inspired by the televangelist scandals of the 80s, with Sybok acting as a charismatic leader promising salvation to gain followers.
[09:27] Shatner's Direction: A discussion on William Shatner's ego and how it affected the production, noting that George Takei originally refused to be in the film because of him.
[13:04] "Marshmelons": The crew laughs about the odd pronunciation of "marshmallows" in the movie, sharing trivia that it was originally a prank by McCoy in the novelization that made it onto the screen.
[17:13] The Rock Man: Joseph mentions the original finale was supposed to feature rock monsters, but budget cuts and poor costumes forced them to change it to a floating head of "God."
[20:39] Sharing the Pain: A breakdown of the scene where Sybok reveals the hidden pain of McCoy (his father's death) and Spock (his birth), noting it as one of the few genuinely good emotional moments in the film.
[40:29] Marshmallow Dispenser: The hosts discover that the prop marshmallow dispenser used by Spock was actually a real promotional item from Kraft, and they check eBay prices for it live.