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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (PG, 1989)

common sense media says

Worst in series; some tricky religious content.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

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).

Positive 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 applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Dr. McCoy praises the merits of Kentucky bourbon. Drinking in a riotous interspecies bar. Klingons are shown especially drunk.
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More on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
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?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The first four Star Trek movies flow neatly into each other to tell one continuous saga, wrapped up in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Now the series starts over from scratch. But Starfleet still orders Captain Kirk and his crew from their camping trip and marshmallow roasts (!?) to speed to a desert planet, where ambassadors of the Klingon and Romulan Empires have been taken hostage. The Enterprise is thus lured into a trap and hijacked by Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill), Mr. Spock's long-lost brother, a renegade cult leader. Sybok intends to literally find heaven and God by taking the ship into a forbidden zone of space.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
With uneven scripting and f/x, STAR TREK V is generally considered the least worthwhile among the big-screen adaptations, and feels like a slipshod, just-before cancellation episode of the original TV series. Great to see the classic cast interacting, and there's a revelation about Dr. McCoy that explains the spacegoing physician's grouchy House-like attitude. But the rest is mediocre. In V's defense, the previous three Star Trek movies were a tough act to follow.

The journey to this "Final Frontier" resolves in unsatisfactory fashion, with lots of ray-gun blasts but few answers. In fact, it's easy (and, unfortunately, makes the most sense) to interpret the movie as a photon torpedo-salvo against religion.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: William Shatner
Cast: James Doohan, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 108 minutes
Theatrical release: June 9, 1989
DVD release: October 14, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG
This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Cooldee
parent
11
 
Star Trek 5 has not relgious issues!
Religion is not an issue in this movie! I had not seen this movie yet, but in my opinion, there are not religous issues in this movie!
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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (3)
That Reviewing Kid
kid, 11 years old
10
 
Weaker and weaker she soars, Captain
Strip teasing and an alien with three breasts feature alongside some tricky religious comment and a lot of swearing.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
Family ...
teen, 13 years old
12
 
An alright movie
This is an okay Star Trek movie. Unfortunatley you see Uhura strip and an alien with no clothes (This enables you to see some things which are not suitable for young children). Words including "a**" and "b***ard" are used.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
Tsion
parent of 15 year old
10
 
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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helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)

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