"The Undiscovered Country" was the sixth of the Star Trek movies and hit the movie screens in 1991. Like "The Wrath of Khan", this film was directed by Nicholas Meyer, and tells the story of the last mission undertaken by Captain Kirk and his crew.
The film opens in 2293, with the USS Excelsior returning home from a three-year mission charting gaseous anomalies in beta quadrant. Under the command of Captain Sulu, it monitors a devastating explosion on the Klingon moon, Praxis - one that literally tears the moon apart. As well as losing a key energy production facility, the Klingons are left with a more pressing problem : within fifty years, the Klingon homeworld would be uninhabitable due to the resulting damage to its atmosphere.
Several months later, Kirk and most of his senior staff are mysteriously called to a meeting with Starfleet's top brass. Three months away from retirement, they're a little confused as to why they have been summoned - and why Spock is, apparently, missing. The mystery is presently cleared up : they are briefed on what happened on Praxis and informed that, as a result, peace talks have opened between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Further details are then provided by the Federation's Special Envoy : Spock. Compounding Kirk's surprise at Spock's role in proceedings is his dismay that Spock's plans for the Enterprise and her crew. Spock has volunteered them, without their knowledge, to escort Gorkon (the Klingon Chancellor) to Earth for a peace conference. Obviously Kirk - having spent his career fighting Klingons and still smarting from his son's death at Klingon hands - does not approve. He is not alone in expressing his concerns - several Admirals, including Cartwright, believe it very dangerous to even consider allowing Klingons free access to Federation space. All objections, however, are brushed aside by the Commander-in-Chief and Spock's plan is given the green light. Unfortunately, mixing Kirk and Klingons can only lead to trouble - especially when both parties are threatened with peace. (Just so long as nobody lets them near the Romulan Ale....D'OH !!).
There are several well-known guest stars in the movie : Michael Dorn (Worf from TNG and DS9) appears as a Klingon Defence Attorney, while Iman appears as a shape-shifting convict. Kim Cattrall also appears playing Lt. Valeris, a new Enterprise Bridge Officer. She was sponsored through the Academy by Spock and was the first Vulcan to graduate top of her class. General Chang, one of Gorkon's aides, is a great character - probably the most entertaining in the movie. He seems to enjoy testing Kirk - someone he shares a few traits with. Both are tough old warriors who are suspicious of the peace initiative. Overall this in a hugely entertaining movie - there's plenty of action, humor and opportunities for characters to bend the rules. For me, this beats "The Wrath of Khan" as the best of the Trek movie featuring the crew of the original series.