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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Worst in series; some tricky religious content.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 9–10

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Starfleet is notably racially and species-integrated, and there is a strong sense of friendship, military duty, and loyalty (Mr. Scott won't disregard an order to get a transporter working, even with Klingons and God on the attack as potential distractions). Religious believers, though -- to the extent that the cultists here can be described as such -- are pretty much brainwashed, uncivilized rabble.
  • Violence:

    Ray-gun and rifle-type fire, bloodless hand-to-hand combat.
  • Sex:

    Uhura does a skimpily clad dance to distract some bad guys. There is a catlike alien woman with prominent (multi-breasted) cleavage.
  • Language:

    "God-damned" and "pisses me off" uttered.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Dr. McCoy praises the merits of Kentucky bourbon. Drinking in a riotous interspecies bar. Klingons are shown especially drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Parents need to know that some critics have interpreted an unsubtle anti-religious message here. The villain is a religious fanatic with a barbaric flock of pilgrims and a fondness for mind control. As for the vague, godlike being (perhaps even the God) he seeks, it comes across as a manipulative, power-crazed alien-monster menace. There is also drinking, mild curse words, and some fist-fighting and ray-gun violence. A brief subplot involves physician-assisted euthanasia (portraying it more or less with disfavor).

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the tone of this movie. Is it anti-religious? Producer Gene Roddenberry (not the only major contributor to Star Trek, but a leading figure) is often counted among celebrity atheists. Yet nonfiction books have also been written about the "spirituality" of Trek. How does sci-fi in general regard traditional religion? How do kid-favorites like The Golden Compass and Harry Potter regard religion?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    I Must Be the Only One, But...

    I thought this movie was great, and the best in the series so far, outside of KHAN. There are great positive messages, acting, and a great script. I found no "religious" content offending. There are some shots of people being hit by vapor rays, but nothing graphic. There are also some "d**n"s, "h*ll"s, "bas*ard"s, and one "a*s".

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