Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Remember that back in 1982 when the movie was released, we didn't have the internet. Only tabloids would publish spoilers and many tabloids published that Spock would die. Then in the Opening Scene of the movie, Spock did die - only to wake up moments later. All throughout the movie, it was hinted that either Spock or Kirk would die. Eg: Spock's initial "fake death" in the mock battle bridge. Kirk saying to Spock "Aren't you suppose to be dead?" Spock and Kirk's conversation about "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one." Kirk facing a No-Win situation (first hinted in the Kobyashi Maru test). Then Kirk actually faces a No-Win situation. The Warp Core is damaged and with Khan setting the Genesis torpedo detonator on explode.
A few minutes before the Genesis Torpedo detonates, Spock leaves his chair only to go down to Engineering. Kirk knows he won't make it without a miracle happening. He asks Sulu how much time left before the Torpedo detonates. After receiving a reply from the helmsman, he mumbles to himself, "We aren't going to make it, are we?" Powerful music erupts and we see Spock hastely climb down a Jeffries Tube, run through the hallway, goes into Engineering. McCoy tries to stop him but Spock puts the Vulcan Nerve Pinch on the Southern Doctor.
Spock steals Scotty's work gloves and enters the see-through chamber. He opens up the lid of the Warp Core and Scotty is yelling, "Noo noo get out of there!" Spock reaches his hands inside the warp tube. Moments later, radiation levels return back to normal. Kirk orders the Enterprise to go to Warp. He yells to himself, "Good job Mr.Scotty!" After leaving the vicinity of the explosion, Kirk is relieved only to look to his right seeing his Science Officer, and best friend is missing. The intercom goes online and you hear the voice of McCoy saying, "Jim...I think you better...get down here right away."
Kirk runs down to Engineering and sees a mutant Spock trying to find his way in the chamber. Kirk runs towards the chamber only to be stopped by Scotty and McCoy. You hear Scotty say in retaliation to Kirk's attempt at opening the chamber, "You'll flood the whole compartment." Moments later, Scotty mumbles, "He's dead already." Kirk is astonished at what happen, observing Captain Spock's awkward movements. Spock tugs on his uniform and walks towards Kirk. The Vulcan walks right into the glass wall seperating the 2 men.
Spock slowly trembling down to his knees asks Kirk, "Ship....out of danger?" Kirk says "You saved us all." Spock says "The needs of the many..." Kirk finishes Spock's line by going "outweigh the needs of the few...or the one." A few moments later, Spock says "You shall always be my best friend" and closes his eyes. Kirk ready to explode into tears mumbles "noo..oo".
At the funeral, you see a disheartened crew standing alongside Spock's burial torpedo tube ready to be launched into space and onto the Genesis planet. In Kirk's memorial speech he states, "he was the most...human..." His lips tremble with sadness and fear. It seemed like he had lost a family member - the soulmate that he known for over 15 years. After his torpedo tube lands on Genesis, we hear Leonard Nimoy's voice in the background repeat Kirk's famous "Space The Final Frontier" speech.
Critics always hammer on William Shatner's acting ability. The memorial scene really proved his critics wrong. Overall, the ending to this movie really gave you a sense of joy and sadness mixed into 1 bundle. The joy being that Kirk and the Enterprise was going to live on while Spock died being the sad part. Viewers at the theaters cried during Spock's death and the memorial. Once leaving the theater, they really didn't know whether to feel happy or sad about the ending. It was still by far, the best movie ending that I (personally) have ever seen despite the movie being almost 20 years old.
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