MovieChat Forums > Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Discussion > This movie highlights why Bones is funda...

This movie highlights why Bones is fundamentally crap and annoying

posted 12 years ago by The_Eighth_Passenger
13 replies | jump to latest

I am admittedly a newcomer to the Trek world, having been very impressed with the '09 film and deciding to work my way through the back catalogue of TOS series and films, so I do not have a great nostalgic fondness for the characters in the same way most others who would post on here do. Having said that, I have found Kelley's performances as Bones to be almost teeth-grating bad. I get that 'the trio' is based around Spock's logic and McCoy's heart but he is just so badly written, unfunny and annoying. I just got through The Final Frontier and I believe both my annoyance with Bones and the bad writing and portrayal of his character have come to a head. Besides an actually quite good yet ultimately pointless scene in which he kills his terminally ill father all he does in stand in the background looking gormless and lost as Spock and Kirk discuss the plot, occasionally interjecting with unhelpful and unfunny quips at the most inappropriate times (like, in the middle of life or death moments). Oh yeah, he also constantly abuses Spock in a way that goes way beyond banter and just comes across as bitchy. He is always looking towards Kirk for approval of his ongoing slagging off of Spock. This is a constant through TOS and not just specific to this film.

With Kirk and Spock, even through the wobbly scripts and hammy Shatner performances there is always the feeling that the two men have a deep bond as friends and a huge amount of mutual respect professionally. We are supposed to feel that McCoy is part of this too but he just seems like he is sycophantically sucking up to Kirk most of the time (despite ALWAYS bitching and moaning when Kirk takes a course of action that amounts to more than giving up to whatever the current threat happens to be) whilst simultaneously trying to wind Spock up and deliver mostly bad, sometimes terrible 'comedy relief' moments with an awful performance by Kelley.

Well, that went on longer then I thought it would.

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] bjlevine 12 years ago

McCoy is just filling his role as the emotional part of the triumverate. Its one of the reasons why I like season one the best, as McCoy is a little more reserved than in later seasons (or movies). He was supposed to be Kirk's bartender, the guy Kirk bounced his feelings off of for advice. In that, he fills the role rather nicely.

"Oh no...they sent the wrong Spock!"

[–] The_Eighth_Passenger 12 years ago

I have only seen them all once (as I said, working my way through since the '09 flick) and season one was about 3 years ago but now you mention it I can't remember disliking him so much before so you're probably right. Do you agree that he is overwhelmingly annoying in TFF?

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] bjlevine 12 years ago

The movies are pretty uneven character wise, so its hard to judge. Not a big fan of TFF so its hard for me to judge.

McCoy can be acerbic with Spock in TOS, but its mostly because he is committed to try and bring out the human side of Spock, something Spock is reluctant to do.

Here's my favorite McCoy/Spock scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3ql8x3OR4

oh, wait, I meant this one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIOsLh8JNvE

"Oh no...they sent the wrong Spock!"

[–] The_Eighth_Passenger 12 years ago

Yeah that's a good scene.

Formerly AD655321 I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] Porpoise01 12 years ago

crusty, lovable
Damn hard to write, and often
Easy to get wrong

I grow more tired
Minute by minute. I hope
It won't last too long

[–] eyesmalloy 11 years ago

The_Eighth_Passenger, you are certainly a newbie to Star Trek if you can't appreciate Dr. McCoy. He is a pivotal character to the series and has been from the beginning. The foundation of the series is the three (not two) leads, those being Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Spock is logical to a fault, almost completely devoid of emotion. McCoy is the opposite, almost too emotional, which often blinds him to the big picture. Kirk is the leader and acts as the mediator between the two, who recognizes both have valid points. As another pointed out, McCoy is like the bartender Kirk bounces ideas off of while Spock is like a computer that Kirk consults for concrete facts. The tug-of-war between logic and emotion, alien and human, is at the heart of the Star Trek universe. To deny Dr. Leonard McCoy as an essential part of that is nerd blasphemy.

It's true that one of McCoy's functions is to provide comic relief, but don't forget that comedy usually comes from pain. This is certainly the case for McCoy, as proven in The Final Frontier during the scene with his father. Going further back, it's more than apparent that McCoy is carrying around a lot of pain, which explains his alternation between cynicism and heartfelt honesty. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the other Star Trek movie which people have grave misgivings about, it's clear that McCoy loves Spock. This is obvious again in The Search For Spock since he risks his life to return Spock's mind to his body. He gives Spock a hard time because he is desperate for Spock to show his humanity. He wants to have a human conversation with his friend, one that isn't entirely logical. And while Spock often dismisses McCoy's comments, he understands what McCoy is after. McCoy often defers to Kirk during their altercations for two reasons. One, Kirk is the captain and has the final say on things. Two, Spock is much more Kirk's friend and McCoy doesn't want to offend him.

The two men, McCoy and Spock, would probably not be friends were it not for Kirk. Just as he proves aboard the Enterprise, Kirk is the glue that holds everything together. Spock and Bones are Kirk's best friends. Anyone who's ever had two best friends with very different personalities understands that they get along for your sake only. Kirk loves both of these men and they love him. After spending so much time together and sharing a mutual respect, McCoy and Spock grow to love each other as friends too.

Lastly, let me say that I like The Final Frontier. It isn't the best of the films, of course, but it's not a bad movie. Personally, I give it a 6.5/10. The writing, cinematography, set design, costume design, acting, and direction are all pretty good. I've watched the documentaries on the 7-disc Blu-ray set, so I know the difficulties Mr. Shatner faced during production thanks to the budget and creative differences with the producers. Though he had directed for the small screen many times, this was his first feature film, which is no walk in the park for anyone. I'm tired of people trashing this film like it's a Rob Schneider movie or something. The ending definitely needed a better explanation and I am deeply thankful that Nicholas Meyer returned to direct The Undiscovered Country, which DID revive the series. But despite it's failures, I will always have a fondness and appreciation for Frontier.

My favorite quote from it: "Damn it, Bones, you're a doctor. You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with a wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!"

[–] sr_wolfrider 11 years ago

Eyesmalloy already offered a firm defense of Bones. But I find it odd that you'd use the word "fundamentally" when you admit to not knowing much about the franchise or seeing much of Bones.

Let me also say, you picked a terrible film to start with. Most agree that 5 is pretty bad and 4 and 6 are the only two which are well directed. Furthermore, most agree that 1 is the only movie that captures any inkling of science fiction (the rest are primarily action movies).

[–] LightningLad 11 years ago

I disagree, Bones is my favourite Trek character. Not all his lines are winners, but I tend to think he brought sarcasm to space before Han Solo. Without him to always break things up the Kirk/Spock dynamic would be just too cramped for me.

But well-written and well thought out post.

http://themortalcreeps.weebly.com/

[–] Jose_Accent_On_E 10 years ago

gormless

Eh?

Without him to always break things up the Kirk/Spock dynamic would be just too cramped for me.

Not to mention gay...

No really...

OK, I recall reading a novelization of one of the movies (I believe) where Kirk puts waaaaay too much effort in explaining why he's not getting it on with Spocksie...

[–] SteveResin 9 years ago

Not to mention gay...

No really...

Please Captain, not in front of the Klingons...

Bones is fantastic, I'm amazed there are fans out there who can't take to him. Chekov is the biggest irritant to me, as I find Koenig ludicrously bad at acting, and the "wessel" gag stopped being funny in the 60s.

--------------------
Duty Now For The Future

[–] wrlord2001 10 years ago

You're an idiot.

[–] The_Eighth_Passenger 10 years ago

Ouch! That really hurt you meany!

I'm just a bloody normal bloke, a normal bloke who likes a bit of torture.

[–] Herreken 7 years ago

Oh yeah, he also constantly abuses Spock in a way that goes way beyond banter and just comes across as bitchy. He is always looking towards Kirk for approval of his ongoing slagging off of Spock.This is a constant through TOS and not just specific to this film.

I think there's a lot less of this not only in this film but in all the Star Trek films compared to TOS. And that's one of the things I dislike about the film series. Spock & Bones are almost good friends. It makes sense after working together so long but I missed the intensity of the arguments they used to have in TOS.

And I'm not a nostalgic fanboy or anything. I had seen few TOS episodes here and there over the years but it was only last year that I watched the whole series.

I'm a fan of McCoy (and Kelley's portrayal of him) but I admit he seems kind of useless in the films. He's always there on the bridge. Why? You're a doctor, man. Get back to sickbay.

DISPLAY thy breasts, my Julia!