Star Trek- the Motion Picture 1979

[bp1701a]

I love TMP, lots of awsome details for ship,uniforms,etc, now, if DR.MEGO could amke some figures,, outfits,, weapons,,, that would be AWSOMEEEEEE !!!!

[Van Hammersly]

I think my big takeaway from the movie is, "In the future, astronauts will wear pajamas in space. They are sort of the Hugh Hefners of the galaxy."

This movie will always have a certain charm for me, and I will always find it eminently watchable.

My main criticism would be in terms of how much the movie itself is in awe of its own special effects. Consider how long the film takes to show us the Enterprise moving out of drydock...then think of how much time STAR WARS spends showing us the Millennium Falcon blasting out of Mos Eisley. An apples to oranges comparison, perhaps, but one has an immediacy, while the other has...a decided...lack...thereof.

(I like them both, so sue me.)

[HardyGirl]

As a Trek fan I love TMP ....
But looking at it from a distance it's pretty horrible .. and almost impossible to market to children.

And yet it was marketed to kids. Star Trek was the first franchised tie-in to be featured in a Happy Meal (which to me was the beginning of the end for McDs, but that's another story). When Power Records went back to being Peter Pan records, they released some new Star Trek Book and Record sets, (w/ the new uniforms). I have a TV tray, and PJs w/ the Motion Picture Spock on them. And as Brian said trading cards and the like. And it's the only Star Trek movie w/ a G rating.

[Thor]

I've alway liked this film and I think one of the keys to appreciating it is not to compare it with Star Trek II. TWOK is a action film while STTMP is more of a epic film in the 2001 tradition. I admit it is slow but the recent director's cut really improved the pacing.

[Steeler80]

My main criticism would be in terms of how much the movie itself is in awe of its own special effects. Consider how long the film takes to show us the Enterprise moving out of drydock...then think of how much time STAR WARS spends showing us the Millennium Falcon blasting out of Mos Eisley. An apples to oranges comparison, perhaps, but one has an immediacy, while the other has...a decided...lack...thereof.

I think this nails my problem with the movie exactly.

This said, I do like the movie on its own merits and the fact that, without it, we wouldn't have had TWOK makes it important as well.

[david_b]

I've alway liked this film and I think one of the keys to appreciating it is not to compare it with Star Trek II. TWOK is a action film while STTMP is more of a epic film in the 2001 tradition. I admit it is slow but the recent director's cut really improved the pacing.

Very well said..! It does have an 'epic style' the others don't have. Despite some wonkiness in one or two areas (like the transporter accident..), it does have quite a very majestic feel.

And the earlier comment from mego73 on the turning point for Spock accepting his human half is VERY TRUE. Story-wise, it might have seemed like a trite subplot, but the Directors Cut (showing Spock's tears later on..) often forgotten.

[david_b]

I love TMP, lots of awsome details for ship,uniforms,etc, now, if DR.MEGO could amke some figures,, outfits,, weapons,,, that would be AWSOMEEEEEE !!!!

YES, YES.. and YES..!! Outfits would be a BIG Seller..!!

[johnmiic]

If you look beyond the reuse of the Nomad/Doomsday Machine themes, you will see that this film is actually about Mr. Spock coming to terms with his human half. I consider that an important Star Trek event.

Haralan Ellison caught that in a review he did in 1979 and not many others did, ( I didn't). David Gerrold devoted a lot to that theme in his Starlog columns a few years after. What would have drove it home would have been the Spock tears scene on the bridge which was cut in favor of showing more SPFX.

[Werewolf]

I liked it as a kid and still like it now. Yeah, it's a little slow moving at times and Khan is a lot better. But it's not bad movie by any means.