Star Trek- the Motion Picture 1979

[Hector]

It's the least popular film when you ask ST fans

I'm a Trekkie geek myself (I'm sure many in here are as well)...and I highly disagree.

I've been to a few Trek conventions...and the Motion Picture is actually fondly remembered.

Out of the original crew...Star Trek V is by far the least loved...and it's actually ridiculed the most.

[Hector]

...and how Captain Kirk had funny looking curly hair.

Well...it was made just a tad before the 80s...so it's technically a 70s movie...thus the hair...

[Hector]

In this thread so far...I counted 12 posters who either like, love, or even think it's the best Trek movie...and only 5 who either dislike it...or say it was so-so.

The Mego Museum is the final word on this...and the verdict is the Motion Picture is right up there on top of the Trek world list...and therefore it rules.

[Van Hammersly]

I rather watch a MILLION viewings of ST the Motion Picture...than one single viewing of that absurd and silly Star Trek V: The Final Frontier crapfest...and no...I'm NOT joking.

Agreed! The fifth movie is quite spectacular in its unrelenting awfulness. If you want to read an amazingly dead-on review, just check out this link:

My BluRay Shelf: Is Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as terrible as everyone says? - HitFix.com

This guy actually watched the STAR TREK films with his 4-year-old son. Here's what the kid had to say about watching 5:

"No, Daddy! I tol' you! That film makes my head get all mad. I hate that one."

[Hector]

Thanks for the link...I bookmarked it...

[Captain]

I like the Motion Picture a lot. I like the story lines of some of the others better, but I was one of those kids who waited with baited breath every time a new rumored film or tv revival was mentioned. I flipped when the film finally did come out...somehow, I felt vindicated for standing up for trek on the school ground when everybody was saying Space:1999, or Star Wars, or whatever..was better. Trek was alive again!

Since I consider the ship and its inner workings as much a part of the cast as the actors, I was enthralled to see the ship and how she was portrayed. I had read the book before hand and new the story was going to be a little high fallutin' (and it was...heck, it sucked wind big time) but I was just glad to see all my old friends back in action. I thought the suits were kind of fruity, although they were indeed futuristic. Sets were fantastic. The music was phenomenal, and seeing that beautiful ship gliding across the big screen .....Still in awe.


Best of all at the time, there was Trek merchandise everywhere!!

[Hector]

Yes...only TMP (Wrath of Khan to a lesser extent) really got my blood going (aside from the original Star Wars and the first Superman flick)...that was momentous occasion back in 1979...sadly...I will never experience that ever again.

[david_b]

I'm a Trekkie geek myself (I'm sure many in here are as well)...and I highly disagree.

I've been to a few Trek conventions...and the Motion Picture is actually fondly remembered.

Out of the original crew...Star Trek V is by far the least loved...and it's actually ridiculed the most.

I'd think the most 'cringe-worthy' moments in V is the way the secondary characters are nearly all shown as buffoons. Actually to the point of embarrassment on the part of the viewer, the humor was forced and terrible.

Whatever minor strides being made in the earlier films to make Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, and Chekov something more than background window-dressing with perhaps a line or two (in the 'gee, there they are' category..) in the earlier films were totally ruined in this film.

I never understood why they couldn't have been given a bit more 'meat' in the stories, at least a few more dramatic scenes in the films. At least in "Voyage Home", they had some paired up comic scenes. But in the other outings, I'd think it's a bit insulting as veteran actors, despite the money and fandom, how they'd actually receive 'star billing' for such meager screen time, doing less than they did in the original series. Once again, it was 'the trio' hogging all the screen time.

Case in point: In ST-TMP, they gave relative-newcomer Stephen Collins oodles of more screen-time and dialog than any of the regulars from the old series.

At least in the later films, Mr. Nimoy and Mr. Meyer as directors gave them more quality screen time than Mr. Shatner..

Besides the muddled story, THAT is what I despise about ST-V the most. What a waste of good talent.

david_b

[david_b]

Yes...only TMP (Wrath of Khan to a lesser extent) really got my blood going (aside from the original Star Wars and the first Superman flick)...that was momentous occasion back in 1979...sadly...I will never experience that ever again.

Agreed..! I actually remember how mind-boggling it was that my non-geek friends in highschool and college actually liked 'Wrath of Khan', before I saw it. I even remember taking a date the first time I saw it and she liked it. Made my evening go a bit easier..

Actually, if I re-watch any of the Harve Bennett films ('Wrath' through 'Voyage'..), it's typically 'Search for Spock'.. With ALL the times I've sat through ST-II and ST-IV, 'Search' is a very enjoyable 'middle' film.

And, yes, the ending with everyone running up to 'welcome Spock back' combined wih the stirring music always chokes me up..

david_b

[Hector]

Ditto...and double ditto...my friend...

[Mikey]

Even though I do like the new TMP cut the best (with new CGI), I wish they would have edited in the extended edition parts.

Having owned the extended edition VHS for 25+ years I had gotten used to it as THE edition.

Example, everytime I watch the new cut I always expect McCoy to say "how do we know about any of us?" --- as a comeback to Kirk about Spock putting his own interests ahead of the ships.

[trekman101]

I always liked TMP...and the directors cut as already said is just wonderful....I think people forget all the cool stuff in this film because 'Wrath" was just so good

[david_b]

Actually, to answer the Opening Post to this thread.., I'd think that this movie actually cultivates the MOST discussion out of any original cast Trek films.

Either you like it or not, it still tends to generate a lot of viewpoints.. And, regardless of whether it's your particular favorite entry, is near/dear to a lot of hearts here on the Forum.

david_b

[The Bat]

In this thread so far...I counted 12 posters who either like, love, or even think it's the best Trek movie...and only 5 who either dislike it...or say it was so-so.

The Mego Museum is the final word on this...and the verdict is the Motion Picture is right up there on top of the Trek world list...and therefore it rules.

I find your logic Infallible.

[fallensaviour]

Even though I do like the new TMP cut the best (with new CGI), I wish they would have edited in the extended edition parts.

Having owned the extended edition VHS for 25+ years I had gotten used to it as THE edition.

Example, everytime I watch the new cut I always expect McCoy to say "how do we know about any of us?" --- as a comeback to Kirk about Spock putting his own interests ahead of the ships.

The "new cut" is the Directors cut and the true way you were meant to watch it...

Never mind your 25 year old VHS copy.It should never have existed in the first place.