Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

When director Nicholas Meyer took on the daunting task of directing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, he essentially discarded much of the first film's trappings, including the pajama-like Starfleet uniforms (known colloquially as "penguin grays") and it's oh-so-serious approach to storytelling, 23rd Century style. What the acclaimed writer and fledgling director wanted for his modestly-budgeted movie was a more "seagoing" adventure tale -- with literary references to works by Dickens, Milton, and Melville -- within the context of the Star Trek universe. In order to accomplish this, Meyer called for new costumes, new and fresh takes on the characters and situations, and a new score that would not use any of Jerry Goldsmith's score for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

To compose the music for Star Trek II Meyer commissioned a young composer named James Horner, who had already scored a moderately successful film called Battle Beyond the Stars and would later win an...Read more

In my heart of hearts, Jerry Goldsmith's overture from STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE will always be the definitive STAR TREK theme. All the others (with the exception of the ST II:TWOK score) are just pale imitations and wannabes. But James Horner accomplishes what the other TREK composers have failed to do: he composed a lavish, fast-paced, aggressive score that by its very nature leaves you giddy with uncontrollable excitement. It's a pity that the soundtrack album, so like so many other soundtrack recordings, is incomplete. The rousing "Battle In The Mutara Nebula" is cut off after the Enterprise gets blasted across the torpedo port; the sequence where the ship snakes around in the nebula and blows Khan's RELIANT to kingdom come from behind (the film's action high point!) is missing, as is the funeral music for Spock, the cues for the Genesis cave and the two scenes where the Ceti eels are implanted and destroyed. A SUPERMAN-style score expansion is desperately needed, as...Read more

Sure, one can complain that Horner rips himself off constantly, especially in more recent times, but it cannot be denied that his themes are consistently memorable and stirring. His music for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is no different.

The main theme is an excellent set-up for a dramatic epic. Most of the Trek films have great main themes, but what really sets this score apart is its consistency throughout. It provides several different themes that are each excellent and varied yet unified to enhance the space operatic nature of the movie.

Take for instance, "Spock" which adds a mystical tone to the film, setting up for its extension in "Star Trek III" (also with music by James Horner). "Spock" has a beautiful eeriness to it and offers a respite between cues.

"Surprise Attack" is a superb action cue that despite its pounding and odd keys is quite listenable outside the film. The cue is great at building tension and at...Read more