SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: Approx. 7:48 Min.
Produced by Otoy in conjunction with The Roddenberry Archive, this 4K 2024 short film includes William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy’s widow, Susan Bay Nimoy, as two of its executive producers. Paramount and Skywalker Sound are among the project’s additional collaborators.
From Jules Urbach’s virtually dialogue-free story, Carlos Baena directed this film. Star Trek composer Michael Giacchino supplies a poignant, piano-driven musical score. Though much of the film is produced through CGI and on sets, some location shooting occurred in San Marino, California.
As noted in other sources, Shatner’s ‘Captain/Admiral Kirk’ (though CGI and body double Sam Witmer) appears in three familiar incarnations: his Original Series form, the motion picture era (circa Star Trek II), and primarily his Star Trek: Generations look. Working from Nimoy’s CGI likeness (reminiscent of his elderly appearance in the Kelvin Timeline Trek films), Lawrence Selleck appears as Spock’s body double.
Other cast members include Robin Curtis reprising her ‘Saavik’ from Star Treks III-IV, and briefly Gary Lockwood (remarkably, without a body double), in his sole reprisal of ‘Gary Mitchell,’ from Star Trek’s second TV pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
Nods/footage consist of: Trek’s first TV pilot (“The Cage”), Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and the Kelvin Timeline Trek films. Otoy’s three previous Trek short films, including 2023’s 7658754: Regeneration (which depicts Spock on Veridan III son after Star Trek: Generations), are hinted.
SPOILER ALERT: The film begins with a single written line recalling Kirk’s insightful advice to Lt. Saavik about peceiving the pendulum between life and death early on in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Otoy’s 765874 Regeneration had previously revealed that Spock had claimed the late Captain Kirk’s Starfleet badge from his mountaintop gravesite on Veridan III. Next, seen exploring a lush garden-like park, Kirk is now without his badge, but otherwise still resembles his look from Star Trek: Generations. At the park fountain, he quietly encounters a large yet mysterious contingent of observers.
Among them is an now-elderly former protégé, with whom Kirk exchanges grateful glances in this reunion. She, in turn, introduces her late middle-aged adult son – to Kirk’s amazement. Approaching an alien ‘gatekeeper’ of sorts, Kirk is evidently given a token. It transports him into a shadowy mirror-like realm, which reflects Kirk’s past as a starship captain and then a Starfleet admiral. His earlier counterparts vanish once the present-day Kirk emerges. Reattaching his badge (the token), Kirk again shifts to another reality.
The film’s sole dialogue replays Kirk’s wistful thoughts contemplating the Genesis Planet from Star Trek II. Awaiting Kirk (having entered the Kelvin Timeline’s alternate reality) is a private suite on New Vulcan, where, in his final moments, is his dying best friend. Spiritual unification across space and time has occurred, as two Starfleet legends witness a final sunrise together. In essence, the film becomes both an epilogue to 1994’s Star Trek: Generations and a prologue for 2016’s Star Trek: Beyond.
Cast:
Captain James. T. Kirk: William Shatner & Sam Witmer (Shatner’s body double)
Spock: Leonard Nimoy & Lawrence Selleck (Nimoy’s body double)
Saavik: Robin Curtis
Yor: Gordon Tarpley
Sorak: Mark Chinnery
Gary Mitchell: Gary Lockwood
Yeoman J.M. Colt: Mahé Thaissa (body double for Star Trek: The Cage’s late actress Laurel Goodwin)
Crusher: John Daltorio
Observers By The Fountain: Credited Extras
Stand-Ins: See Film Credits
Note: With its credits included, the film’s running time is actually 10:44. This short film serves as a 30th Anniversary tribute to Star Trek Generations. For others, it further offers a 40th Anniversary homage of Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.
REVIEW:
Though thirty years late, William Shatner’s ‘Captain Kirk’ finally gets a death scene worthy of the pop culture icon. The same applies to Leonard Nimoy’s ‘Spock’ almost a decade after the actor’s passing. For that matter, giving Robin Curtis’ underrated ‘Saavik’ a welcome though long-belated thank-you for her own Trek contributions makes good sense. The fact that her scene at last acknowledges Saavik as Spock’s romantic soulmate does wonders for the character.
Displaying Star Trek’s thoughtful afterlife, 765874: Unification is a cinematic gem in just under eight minutes. As a heartfelt tribute to the nearly 60-year legacy Captain Kirk and Spock share, such silent storytelling is undeniably brilliant. Despite some noticeable limitations of CGI in recreating Shatner’s Kirk (as he appeared thirty years ago), this film’s production values are still top-caliber.
Casual viewers, however, should be forewarned: the blink-and-you’ll-see-miss-it glimpses of so many franchise incarnations, including Star Trek: Discovery’s Yor or Yeoman J.M. Colt from Captain Pike’s era, may seem bewildering. While Yor’s inclusion (assuming one researches it), as does as a near-omnipotent Gary Mitchell, visually make sense, so many other quick cuts (i.e. even a glimpse of Star Trek: Picard’s Daystrom Station where Kirk’s remains are evidently now in storage) aren’t necessarily pertinent teases.
Still, this story’s ethereal substance is obvious to grasp; and, frankly, that’s what matters most. As a classy mini-reunion depicting the original Kirk and Spock a final time (given their previous appearance together was 1991’s Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), 765874 Unification makes a welcome gift for any Trekker.
BONUS FEATURES:
The film includes a dedication to Leonard Nimoy.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
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