 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- PG
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1986
Common Sense Media says
Buoyant, farcical time-travel Enterprise escapade.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Star Trek movie is the most farcical of the big-screen series. As much comedy as adventure derives from the journey of the Starfleet heroes to 1986 Earth, and the relative rudeness and local color they encounter in San Francisco. There are instances of comical swearing and drug references.
What's the story?
Having rescued a returned-from-the-dead Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and committing multiple offenses against Starfleet in the process, the core crew of the now-destroyed starship Enterprise arein exile on the planet Vulcan. Voting unanimously to return to Earth and face justice, they depart in their captured Klingon ship, only to find their home planet besieged by a bizarre, enigmatic alien space probe that's battering Earth through storms and energy drains. The heroes figure out that the probe is trying to contact humpback whales, described as an intelligent species which, by the 23rd century, have been long extinct, hunted to their doom by greedy humans. Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) orders the crew to time-warp back to the 20th century, where humpback whales can be found.
Is it any good?
STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME successfully captured the same lighthearted spirit of some of the classic 1960s TV episodes. The bulk of the fun -- and it is, much of the time, played for breezy laughs, despite the mortal peril for the Earth -- centers on the super-competent 23rd-century visitors' awkwardness fitting into 1986 Earth society and dealing with money, rude people, profanity, exact bus fare, and more.
The cast has seldom been more charming (and that's saying a lot), and there's a running undercurrent about Spock gradually reconnecting with his shipmates and learning to balance logic with emotion. Sure, the special effects are good too (note the use of early CGI to simulate the time warp), but it's the beloved characterizations that set it apart from the vast majority of screen science-fiction that's all about the gadgets, rockets, aliens, and monster costumes.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's emphasis on comedy, and the culture-shock of the future space travelers in (more or less) present-day Earth society. What aspects of this world do you think would bewilder visitors from tomorrow? Also, what eco-messages do you find in the movie?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
January 2, 2010
AGE
Perfect!
I LOVED this movie! THE best Star Trek yet! SOOO good!
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AGE
great movie
saving the whales is a great message. nice computer history lesson (Scotty and the Apple 2)
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AGE
Perfect for 11 and up, but do not let any younger children watch it.
This movie shows loyality, duty, and friendship.
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AGE
The greatest voyage ever
This is the best Star Trek movie I've seen. The only thing you should be concerned about is the fact there is lots of swearing including the finger and "dumb-a**".
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AGE
Very positive message and great role models.
I saw this movie first when I was a kid, so I knew it was one of the most appropriate for my kids to see. Outside of a few relatively mild curse-words (d*amn, a$$, etc.) it was perfect. The message of saving the whales for the future of humanity is very positive, as is the comeraderie of the crew of the Enterprise and their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.
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AGE
This star trek movie is like almost all of the other star treks. The only main Difference is the the social behavier because there is alot more swearing. The message is also very interesting because a probe is sent to earth to see if there are any whales on the planet. But there aren't any, so Kirk goes back in time to get a whale. Kirk gets the whale for two reasons. First all the have been hunted to extiction, this is the message: save the whales, and to save the the planet.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 3, 2009
AGE
This Movie Is Not That Great For 5 Year Olds
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AGE
Fun Science Fiction
STAR TREK IV is a good movie, and is appropriate for preteens and up. Outside of some tense scenes, language is the only thing wrong with the movie. There are several "a*s"s, "s**t"s, and "d**n"s. Spock uses "hell" in almost every phrase when he thinks it is appropriate to curse on Earth "ex: They told us the hell to come back to Earth". A man flips another off.
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AGE
Very dated, quirky and easily the tamest of the Star Trek movies
Leonard Nimoy directed the 1986 films, Star Trek: The Voyage home, which is, of course, the fourth film in the Star Trek film series. Previously, Nimoy had directed the third Star Trek film, The Search for Spock. So, I guess our very own Mr. Sock enjoyed the experience of making one of these films so much, that he just had to come back and make another one. Turns out, he made a really, really good decision: It was the highest grossing, most acclaimed and most loved Star Trek film until the masterpiece that is Star Trek: First Contact, came out. But, even that film didn't make as much money as it did. The story is unusual, even for a Star Trek Film: The crew of the U.S.S. enterprise must go back in time to San Francisco 1986, to find a pair of humpback wales, which have gone instinct in the 23 century, and bring them safely back there. Ridiculous? Heck, no! This is Star Trek! That's one of the many things that I love about it! Star Trek: The Voyage Home is also, by far, the most lighthearted and funny of the Star Trek films, which makes it pretty much a sci-fi- comedy. So, it is still fittingly rated PG: There is very infrequent sci-fi action violence which almost always maintains a comical mood and tone. also, there is slightly more frequent profanity, than in most Star trek movies, but it is also, almost always used for humor. And, finally, there is some frequent drinking and one minor drug reference. So, if you are a Star Trek fan and you haven't yet checked this movie out, than what the heck could you possibly be waiting for?
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AGE
Oldies can be goodies!
WONDERFUL! Interesting, topical, humorous, multicultural, well-done. I would show this to any child above 8 years old and expect to have a good conversation when the film ended.
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| Topics: | adventures, ocean creatures, space and aliens |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Leonard Nimoy |
| Cast: | DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 26, 1986 |
| DVD release date: | March 3, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | parental guidance |
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