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William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Allie, Ricardo Montalban. Directed by Nicolas Meyer. Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic). Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Surround (English), Stereo (French). Two discs. 116 minutes. 1982. Paramount 09117. PG. $29.99.

It's hard to believe today, but Star Trek as we know it might have been cut short in the early 1980s, its sole legacies the TV episodes of the original series and a single film. Indeed, if it hadn't been for the huge success of Star Wars in 1977, it's unlikely that even that first film would ever have been made. But in trying to match the spirit and success of Star Wars rather than the original TV series, Paramount ended up with 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture, a polished but slow and sterile film that didn't exactly set the world on fire. The cast, in particular, struggled with little success to recapture a chemistry and focus that had grown rusty in the nearly 10 years since the series had left the air.

Nevertheless, that first movie earned enough money to encourage Paramount to release a second installment three years later. This time they cut the budget dramatically, even going so far as to hand the job over to their television division to keep costs down. Harve Bennett, a prolific TV producer, was assigned to head up the effort. In a flash of inspiration or, more likely, blind luck, Bennett hired Nicholas Meyer to direct. Primarily a novelist and screenwriter, Meyer's sole previous stint behind the camera had been Time After Time.

Meyer's gift to fans was not only, arguably, the best Star Trek film ever made, but the revival of the franchise. Khan has everything you'd want from Star Trek—drama, humor, adventure, life, death, special effects that still hold up 20 years later, and, most important, rich relationships among the characters. The cast is in the groove, and the plot, about a genetically engineered villain, Khan Noonien Singh, seeking revenge on Captain Kirk for events that transpired in the original-series episode "Space Seed," is well-crafted and moves along at a lightning pace compared with the first film.

It also has a great villain. The role of Khan is perhaps the most memorable in Ricardo Montalban's long and varied career. No less a critic than the legendarily crusty then-critic of The New Yorker, Pauline Kael, gave him the sort of praise usually reserved for Oscar contenders. Montalban steals every scene he's in.

Previously released on a bare-bones DVD of the theatrical cut, this two-disc Director's Edition is a solid effort all around. There are several minutes of added footage that first appeared in the film's first television broadcast. Though not of overwhelming importance, the new scenes add some nice character touches without slowing the plot. Other extras include a text commentary by Michael Okuda, co-author of The Star Trek Encyclopedia, cast and crew interviews, the inevitable theatrical trailer, and more. In his short, apparently recent interview, Montalban looks years younger than he does in the film. Does this man have a portrait in an attic someplace?

Even non-fans might want to pick up the DVD for the commentary track from director Nicholas Meyer. It's nothing short of outstanding—possibly the most informative background discussion I've yet heard on a DVD, and one of the few I've felt compelled to listen to from beginning to end. Meyer considers himself first and foremost a storyteller, and the story he tells here is fascinating. Rather than "Wagon Train to the Stars" (the line creator Gene Roddenberry used to sell the original series), Meyer viewed Star Trek as "Horatio Hornblower in Space." This concept guided everything he did on the movie. Here he touches on writing, directing, plot development, dealing with actors and studio chiefs, art and creativity (and where he had to compromise), movie stars vs actors and how he got the performances he wanted from the cast (Shatner in particular), special effects, music (composer James Horner has a surprising walk-through cameo in the film), production, and set design—you name it. With any luck, we'll get another such commentary from him in the inevitable special edition of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, which Meyer also directed. And, oh yes, he also has an interesting comment on the history of that title.

The picture quality is good but unspectacular. I saw no obvious edge enhancement or other artifacts, but the transfer is quite soft much of the time. The audio is fine—a little dated compared with the best modern efforts, but it never takes you out of the film. In short, you won't use this DVD's technical chops to show off your home theater, but they won't spoil your enjoyment of the film.

Subsequent events in the Star Trek universe have undercut the full emotional punch that Khan provided fans on its initial release—a significant element of its appeal. (To say more would ruin the film for the three readers who haven't seen it or any subsequent Star Trek movies.) But this is nit-picking. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is one of the most rewarding voyages of the irrepressible starship Enterprise.