Taking the musical reins from the legendary
Jerry Goldsmith,
James Horner boarded the Starship Enterprise to deliver what would prove to be his breakthrough score. A surprisingly dark, emotional effort some distance removed from
Goldsmith's utopian fanfare,
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was instrumental in steering the franchise into more complex territory.
Horner's lucid melodies and sweeping orchestral arrangements possess a sense of genuine danger and malice long absent from Star Trek's musical backdrop, climaxing in the profoundly emotional catharsis of "Spock." His efforts lend Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's vision a newfound gravitas. ~ Jason Ankeny