 Montalbán 's performance as Khan was favorably received by critics . Discussing the Star Trek motion pictures , the Associated Press noted that Star Trek films were measured by how menacing their foe was , and that Khan was among the best in the series ; a 2002 review of the Star Trek films ranked Khan as the greatest enemy seen in any of the films . Reviewers of The Wrath of Khan , such as Roger Ebert , rated Khan as one of the strongest aspects of the film . New Yorker critic Pauline Kael said Montalbán 's performance " was the only validation he has ever had of his power to command the big screen . " 
