Star Trek Film Franchise Started 28 Years Ago Today December 7, 2007
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Feature Films (TMP-NEM) , trackbackHappy Star Trek film franchise anniversary day! On December 7th 1979* the epic turn of the Star Trek TV series hit the big screen in the form of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
ST:TMP was rushed and met with mixed reaction, but was enough of a success to launch the one of the longest running film franchise in history. Coincidentally the TOS portion of the Trek film franchise also ended in the first weekend of December. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country premiered December 6th 1991. Next week will mark the 5 year point since the tenth and last film in the series (Star Trek Nemesis) premiered and we are currently in the longest Trek film drought since 1979. But in 1 year and 18 days the franchise is back with the simply titled Star Trek. Lets hope we never have to wait this long again.
Were you there?
Vote in the latest poll…were you there opening night 28 years ago?
*Nitpicker Note: ST:TMP technically premiered 28 years ago yesterday, on December 6th 1979 at a gala fund-raising event for the National Space Club at the Smithsonian Institute National Air and Space Museum. The event was attended by Gene Roddenberry and the cast.
Step into the wayback machine and watch the trailer for ST: TMP
and while we are talking 1979…check out the number one hit song of that year
Other fun facts from December 1979
- The first Indiana Jones film (Raiders of the Lost Ark) was in production
- The Soviet Union invaded and seized control of Afghanistan (leading to the USA Olympics boycott in 1980)
- The first European Ariane rocket was launched
- The eradication of the smallpox virus is certified
- At least 4 members of the cast of the new Star Trek were yet to be born (Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pine, Rachel Nichols, and Anton Yelchin
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first?
remind me why the 80s sucked lol (except for star trek ofcourse)
This future trekkie was gestating in the womb.
Moog Rogues and vector graphics and that narrator guy’s voice. I’m luvin’ it!
December 7, 1979… a date that will live in… famy.
Oh yeah, and Blondie!!!!
Hey, I thought I was Steve! Who’s this impostor?
I remember standing in the cold outside a Boston theater — first in line — waiting to by tickets for myself and my friends. I wish ST XI wasn’t opening on Christmas day. We won’t have a chance to repeat the experience for this re-start.
Gosh I was there and was only 14 years old.
And next Christmas it all comes full circle.
I remember waiting for this film and taking a non Trek fan with me after it was over I felt so bad for him.I felt like I duped the poor guy into seeing it..I remember saying after,apologetically,it wasn’t THAT BAD.his response to me was that I was just a Trek fan who couldn’t accept the fact that it was a bad movie.He was right.I was in denial.After this movie I figured Trek was done.Then Wrath of Khan came out and Trek hit a kind of stride,but still it was a bit of a fanboy series.As much as I like the original cast and am looking forward to seeing Nimoy as Spock again I am looking forward to seeing this concept(Trek with the original characters,not aged actors)bring the legend back.Mr Abrams;Blow our minds.
I guess from now on I’ll be “Steve” instead of “steve”. Seems there should be a way to keep two people from having the same ID names on this site though.
And Yes, I was there at the World Premiere of STTMP (OUTSIDE the theater, I might add), it was at the KB MacArthur theater in Washington DC, with the reception at the Air and Space Museum afterwards. Got a few pictures, I remember the cast emerging from the theater, Shatner and Kelley came out a side entrance (messed up my carefully calibrated focus on my camera) and shook some fans hands, Nimoy and Doohan came out the front and went right for the limo. Pretty exciting evening, I did go back and see the movie in that same theater a few days later (I don’t think it’s there anymore).
Yes, opening night I was a freshman in college. What fun it was.
————————————————
5. CmdrR – December 7, 2007
“December 7, 1979… a date that will live in… famy.”
Considering this is also the day Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, I understand your reference and attempt at humor, but considering the tragedy of it and the loss of lives…in my opinion I think your post was in poor taste.
I remember the premiere quite well. I had to take the bus to get to the theatre since I didn’t drive yet. Even at age 15 I had the discretion to know this wasn’t a great movie. What’s more it wasn’t “my” Star Trek. Sure the actors were there but that wasn’t my Enterprise, my uniforms or even my Klingons! STII took us back to something closer, but I’m still waiting to see “my” Star Trek up there on the big screen.
Loved most of TMP.( Wished they’d left out the “going thru the cloud” sequence, though. How many reaction at a blue screen shots did they think Takei had in him, anyway?) TMP gave us a lot, but what it gave was better used by TWOK. Anyway, it was all fun. So, I’m hoping XI makes me feel like a teenager again.
Star Trek and Debbie Harry, what’s not to like!!
13: Shut up
I was a senior in high school, and I stood in line for an hour and a half for the premiere. It was freezing that night, but I didn’t care. Earlier that year, James Doohan visited the local college campus and really pumped up the crowd in anticipation of TMP. “Wait ’til you see my engine room,” he said with a grin. I don’t think I’d anticipated any film, before or since, like I awaited that one — except maybe for Trek ‘08…..
I liked ST:TMP…and like the director’s cut even more. We haven’t seen *real* science fiction in a Star Trek feature film since. Yes, it was “cerebral” but that’s what I liked about it.
I was still four months away from being born when this movie came out so I never actually got to see it on the big screen. Over the years this film has grown on me little by little. Having said that I would still rank this second last out of the Trek film. With Star Trek V obviously being ranked last.
I can onl imagine the anticipation this film brought. All I know is that I can’t remember ever feeling as much anticipation about a Star Trek film as I do about Star Trek (2008)!
I was told once that the narrtor’s voice is Orson Welles.
Definity as much anticipation for Trek 2008 as I felt for ST;TMP in ‘79.Trek 2008 is going to be a make or break film.
17. Dave – December 7, 2007
“13: Shut up”
Now how kind was that?….I am sure you can do much better if you try. If you don’t like the opinion, that’s the way it goes, but I wasn’t talking to you unless you and CmdrR are the same poster. If you REALLY don’t like it, whine to Anthony.
Yes, my friend wanted me to cut class, first year in college to see the first showing of the day. Silly me, I didn’t want to cut class. I did see it that evening with him and other friends. Very exciting indeed. I do remember unfortunately a guy snoring.
I think I’ll watch the Directors Cut tonight!
The narrator of the trailers for TMP was indeed Orson Welles, his wonderful voice very well used. Seeing that preview, you really thought that you might be transported into the incredible future Star Trek presented.
And that’s one of the things that TMP really did deliver. I was 12 when it premiered and I was captivated by it. My mother (who took me to the film) fell asleep about 20 minutes in. Go figure.
TMP may lack the momentum and action that TOS had, but it’s vision of the future, so complete, realistic, and detailed, sticks with me to this day. It has a special place in my heart, even if it drags a bit.
The narrator’s voice is Orson Welles… interestingly since director Robert Wise worked for Welles nearly 40 years earlier as editor on “Citizen Kane”… seemed fitting.
I had never anticipated a movie more… from seeing the blurbs each month in StarLog to seeing the first picture of the new Enterprise, I was jazzed… and was not disappointed. Having already been an old hand at Trek Fandom at the tender age of 12, and read the novel of TMP a couple days before the movie opened… I was raring to go see it. I didn’t get to see it opening day, but that weekend I convinced my dad to take me… and it was another great moment in my film loving life. The slower, more deliberate pace didn’t throw me, as I was already a fan of 2001… so it seemed like a natural extension of things that I already loved. I had never before seen a starship look so real… and television heroes seem so larger than life. For the next 20 years, it remained in my heart as a pure enjoyable experience… and I saw it many many times again. It would always sadden me when people would comment on its “slowness” or call it the “motion-less picture” when they talked about it in comparison to the more action packed, popcorny later films… but it remained the touchstone of my trek enthusiasm.
I am gratified that it, and the Director’s Edition that I had a part in, have been given a second chance… and it is regarded more fondly now in retrospect. It gives us a glimpse of the “franchise” at its crossroad. At the beginning of its greatest adventures. We witnessed a birth. A next step in its evolution… Even after my experiences with the DE, it remains one of my favorite films… and, like a good friend, I’ve overlooked its flaws and consider it one of the films that most influenced me in my professional life.
A great human adventure for me, indeed.
drd
man i so sick of the abuse st: tmp gets. it had such incredible moments of beauty, that have not been seen in any star trek film, or really any other film i can think of, with the posible exception of 2001: a space odessey. its not perfect, but still is miles better than any st film tthat have followed.
it was the only one that was truly a film made for the cinema, not an extended tv episode.
and the new redeisgn of the old enterprise, will never match the elegent redesign of the old girl for they made in ‘79. that thing is a work of art.
and what a fantastic score.
i do love that film. happy b day
Wow. Hard to believe it’s been that long.
I remember seeing TMP on opening night in a tiny California town called Los Banos. I enjoyed the movie and talked the owner of the theater into giving me the giant lobby poster with the cast cutouts and blinking lights.
Unfortunately, it was too big to fit in my house so I had to disassemble it and put it in storage – where it was destroyed by water damage years later. Sigh.
I also got the 35mm feature trailer for the film, which I sliced into hundreds of individual slides.
Since I was in broadcasting at the time, Paramount sent me an official press kit with cool cast photos.
A friend also sent me the shooting script for the film which had a completely different ending.
In the shooting script, no one could decipher V’ger’s message. Kirk and Spock had to beam now to the Smithsonian Institude and actually thread a 16mm film about Voyager on an antique 16mm projector! I kid you not.
I’ll have to dig that script out of box in the garage somewhere.
well, It may or may not not have been the best film, but it least it didn’t have the lightweight low budget production feel of many of the other movies. I hated the uniforms, hated the bridge, hated the transporter room, hated the rectangular nacelles with fins, hated the cold/rude version of Spock in the early going. Whatever was left was okay…
oh yeah, “a spockalypse now”. great film.
i really liked the part where the alien bursts from chekov’s chest. and those giant sandworms that kirk is riding across ceti alpha V, too cool.
i admit the film drags a bit when uhura is being chased by nomad into the steel factory, but it’s still pretty sweet how she crushes his ass.
wait a minute. i’ve been drinking and i think my 70’s dvd’s are in the wrong boxes.
never mind.
I didn’t see it in the theater that I can remember – I did get an iron on patch at Burger King though… TWOK was my first Trek in the Theater – and I saw it, and every other Trek after on it’s opening day… Bring on Christmas 08!!!
I was over 7 years away from being born.
15 years old, and I was there. Movieland in Yonkers, New York. Movieland was one of the first multiplexes in Westchester; 4 screens! TMP was in the biggest one (First one on the left!).
Some memories: The long line to buy the tickets, then the big cattle pen you had to wait in after you bought them. Then you’d see the previous showing let out and everyone was cheering and buzzing. “Was it cool?” someone would yell, and a lot of “Yeahs!” would come back.
Into the theater, and we found our seats, waiting for the previews to start. I’ll never forget the gasps and claps the moment the lights went down and Ilia’s theme started playing. TMP was the first movie I saw with a fanfare. Ilia’s theme playing in the dark definitely set a “big” tone to the film.
Then the first disappointment. I remember thinking that the titles looked like a bad vacation slide show. Very amateurish. No dissolve, no movement. Just the (admittedly cool, and now famous) new Star Trek font flashing the credits. But the theme! VERY cool! I really loved the music. (I still have the LP that I used to crank when I’d get home from HS) Then the Klingons showed up with their new theme, and got wiped out. I forgot about the credits…
Looking back, as I and others have posted here before, TMP ironically remains the most grandly cinematic of all the ST films. They never lit or photographed the Enterprise better. No Enterprise in any film or subsequent series ever felt as massively impressive as the Enterprise of TMP. As much as I love TWOK, it looks small after you see TMP. And no one who grew up watching ST as a kid in the 70’s, where ST really took hold in reruns, can watch the unfairly criticized Kirk/Scotty docking sequence and not choke up. The head on shot of the Enterprise in drydock with Goldsmith’s score crashing is one of the great moments.
Another thing, and someone needs to verify this, but i believe TMP sold more tickets than any other ST movie. When adjusted for inflation, TMP is the ST franchise box office champ. I did the math once, and although IV grossed more, it sold fewer tickets. So while Khan brought vigor to the franchise, and made it fun, TMP’s success ensured that Paramount would at least try another shot at ST.
So it is nice to recognize TMP for what it was, and what it meant. Now that it has been properly edited (with real credits!) it would be nice to have the one ST movie that really NEEDS to be seen on a big screen get a true HD polishing up, and be seen as a double bill with Khan next year before we all get in line for XI. Er, I mean, get our Fandango tickets. I guess no one really stands in line anymore!
P. S. I actually had dinner with production designer Harold Michelson and his wife Lillian years later, and it was a “fascinating” evening. He was (is?) a gentleman, and had some great stories about ST, Catch 22, and Mel Brooks.
Never forget the night I saw it. When Chekov remarked upon the Enterprise’s exit out of the wormhole, ‘We’re out of it.’ , someone yelled from the back of the theater – ‘So are we!’
The entire theater cracked up.
Well, what I hated a about TWOK: depressing Kirk, less ambitous story, lightweight production feel, Kahn’s crew somehow got much younger and blonder, Kahn somehow knows Chekov. What I liked about TWOK: Spock character back to true form, they fixed the uniforms (kind of), battle sequence special effects, audience more emotionally engaged…
I wasn’t much of a movie goer at 16 months old, preferred eating crayons and watching Scooby.
19. Mr Snuffleupacus – I agree TMP was very cerebral, and had the most awe-inspiring special effects IMO of all Trek. The unveiling of the Enterprise still gives me goosebumps. It showed what could have been in a Star Trek II Television series, which would have been cool.
I have to agree with the comments about TMP in particular having that “cinematic” quality that the other movies didn’t quite have. That’s not to say the other movies pale to TMP (the others have their own strengths), but that I think it isn’t the bad movie most seem to think it is.
I was there Opening Day, in College at 19 years old. House was packed with all age groups. Metal Command Insignia Pins being sold out front. Sold Out before I could get to them. An usher asked everyone who was waiting to see “Star Wars’ to move to one side, I thought the crowd was going to mob her as they corrected the mistake together – - “STAR TREK!!!!!” they shouted. She quickly disappeared wide-eyed and educated.
Been to all Trek Opening Days since . . . that Christmas Day 08 premiere may play havoc on my record.
#26 Daren Doc
Have tremendous feelings for this film as well. The MOST Cinematic of all Treks thus far.
Hmmm…….well, judging by the trailer and song, it’s a miracle anyone lived through the 70’s. They made TMP seem even more bland and boring than it actually was…and that takes work. Hard work.
I think I’ve fonder and more nostalgic memories of Blondie than of TMP. Damn, Debbie Harry was hot.
Loved TMP the only true 70’s version of Trek.
Strange, I don’t remember seeing TMP in the theater. I most definitely remember seeing TWOK though. When the opening fanfare sounded, and the starfield came up, the audience cheered!
I’m hoping for that kind of excitement for STXI.
(I think Orson Welles sounds like he’s about to fall asleep in the TMP trailer)
33: Re tmp as box office champ.
last year we did an article that covered this:
http://trekmovie.com/2006/12/17/today-marks-longest-period-without-trek-film-since-1979/
(it is also linked in the article above)
TMP is the box office champ after inflation…it brought in around $200 mil in todays dollars domestically. Paramount wanted more and so they lowered the amount they spent on trek films from then on (until the new which is back in the ‘tentpole’ budget range).
Say, I wonder if Bill Shatner has recorded his version of Heart Of Glass? Maybe a duet with Ms. Harry. :D
40. Dennis Bailey – December 7, 2007
I think I’ve fonder and more nostalgic memories of Blondie than of TMP. Damn, Debbie Harry was hot.
Hey, finally something we can agree on, Dennis! :)
I was freshman in college, and I can recall the anticipation for this movie was killing me!!!! I somehow talked this girl that I was dating at the time into seeing TMP. Within the first 20 minutes of the film she fell into a coma. I know this movie has taken a lot of abuse — but if you can recall all of the hype and build-up at the time, it was unfortunately a disappointment, a lot of fluff with no substance — and my G-d those pajama style uniforms were extremely painful to watch!
#43 Honored that you responded, and sorry I missed the link. I didn’t realize it led to the box office results. I only found this great site recently, and I am humbled by the company here.
I have a soft spot for TMP. I’m an oldest child, too!
I didn’t discover Trek until Search For Spock but since we’re talking anniversaries here I do remember the anticipation me and my friends had leading up to opening night of Trek VI. The theater was packed. A few people in costume. Having come off the disappointing Final Frontier my friends and I were anticipating the crew to pull one last winner from their hat. The lights dimmed and that night became one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at the movies. The audience was engaged. They were laughing, clapping and it all crescendoed with loud cheers and applause when Chang’s Bird of Prey bit the dust.
SWEET MEMORIES OF T.M.P.
-I was roughly 7 years old at the time and remember seeing ads for the film on the backs of Marvel Comics during the summer of ‘79 (featuring an artists rendition of the new Enterprise) and the tagline, “A 23rd Century Odyssey… Now.”
-I remember my father taking my sister and I to see it in an old-style movie house in Western Massaschusetts… nice and cozy and small, but with a big screen, so you were completely immersed by the picture… I remember the voyage through the V’Ger cloud was truly awesome to watch on the big screen
-I remember my father taking us to McDonald’s and picking up the STAR TREK Happy Meals, which, for some reason, came with very weird, spongy rubber space ships, which looked NOTHING like anything in the TREK universe!
-I remember ads for the Mego dolls and figures (again in various Marvel Comics), alongside ads for THE BLACK HOLE and “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” and wishing I’d get them ALL for Christmas! (And being completely disappointed that the Mego action figures didn’t come with ANY phasers or tricorders for the TREK figures.)
-I remember loving TMP initially, then thinking it was boring on reflection (my 7-year old mind thinking, “Where were the phaser/laser battles?”), then catching it again about 2 dozen times on my Dad’s HBO later on in ‘80 or ‘81 and falling in love with it all over again
-And I love TMP to this day… so much so, I’m getting a TMP mug for my desk at work through eBay this week. STAR WARS, of course, was the granddaddy of my sci-fi childhood, but the STAR TREK re-runs, cartoon show and TMP film was a close second.
P.S. -
Having said all that, I still think the wormhole sequence is laughably bad!
“BEEELAAAAY… THAAAT… PHAAAASEEEER… ORRRRRDEEER!!!”
Great stories…
^
Steve and steve try using yor last names.
Funny how people can have different perceptions through 20/20 hindsight, compared to others who lived the experience at the time. I grew up in the 1960’s, loved TOS and when they announced TMP, I practically ached in anticipation of seeing it on opening day. On December 7, 1979 I attended the first evening showing of Star Trek: The Motion Picture with my two best friends and fellow Trekkers. I was 24 and, being a lifelong film buff, was almost giddy with excitement to see this “epic”….
Well, as I sat there watching it, the crushing disappointment I felt was palpable…..it was like being hit by a freight train…..the movie was GAWDAWFUL!!!! Since that time I have watched it, oh maybe 20 times, desperately trying to find any merit with the movie and there’s little to be found. Many of you, maybe from wanting it to be good, try to cherrypick “moments” from it, but no, that’s simply wishing for something that isn’t there in the first place. To think that Robert Wise, the same man who directed The Day The Earth Stood Still, could have helmed this snorefest is beyond comprehension! Even the Director’s Cut that came out years later stinks up the place!
Wrath Of Khan was a breath of fresh air when it came along!!
I was at the Paramount theater in saint cloud minnesota when a group of us went to see STTMP, I thought it was really cool and I accepted the new klingon look. Loved the FX but fell asleep during the V’ger inspection. It was around the point where sulu is swaying a bit at his console.. I am so glad they finished the FX for the DVD Special edition. Wish they had used the STWOK uniforms,,Oh well! cant go back! I bought the soundtrack album as well as the laserdisc as well.
and it was swell!
I recall I watched TMP at the Avalon Mall movie theatre in St. John’s, NL when I was 14 years old with my non-Trekkie friends. After movie, I told them how much I loved it and one of them told me that he slept thru the movie.
I was in the Navy and ironically I was stationed on board the
USS Enterprise CVN-65… The entire crew had a special viewing… It was awesome…
This movie has grown on me over the years. I saw it the for first time in Indianapolis in 1979. I loved the movie and I was only 8 years old at that time. When it started everyone in the theater was giddy with excitement and after the Klingons got zapped by V’Ger the excitement continued to grow. Then the movie started to drag and I could tell people were getting restless and just wanted the thing to end. I, however, was amazed with the visuals and how cool it was to see Kirk and Spock once again on the bridge of the Enterprise and just soaked up every minute of it.
I have always loved this movie and now that I am older and wiser I enjoy it even more. The Directors Edition is an even better version and I have viewed it many times as well. Great Job Daren Docterman!!
Now, I eagerly await this film’s release in HD. Any news you can share for us on that front Daren??
P.P.S.-
And my other personal favorite:
“PHOOOOO-TOOOON… TOOOR-PEEEEEE-DOOOOOOES…
…A-WAAAAAAAAAAY!!!”
(Cracks me up every time I see it.)
I wouldn’t be born for another twenty days or so. TMP isn’t one of my favorite Trek stories, but I respect the film.
Awww…. Happy Birthday, Star Trek movie franchise!
Good memories….
I can remember clipping the Phase-II inspired movie ad out of a magazine and pasting to my wall – a little bit miffed that the ship was ‘not quite right’. To my surprise, the ship was different in the film, looking much more refined.
I guess that when I realized I had fallen in love with ‘her’. Beyond the writing, over the top acting, and the ‘guy in the suit’ episodes, Star Trek for me was about the ship.
I saw the movie in Baden-Solingen West Germany, on a Canadian Armed Forces base, in a British run theater. Thankfully, the movie was in English. When they served popcorn, the options for toppings was sugar or dust. And they server ice cream in a gooey-orange paper tube. Not your usual movie fare.
The movie seemed so serious to a 14-year old boy. I was already a member of the Star Wars Army of Fanatics, but in my heart Star Trek would always be my first love. What! i thought… Klingon’s that don’t look like Klingon’s, and they don’t speak English? NO SPOCK? Who was this pretender? And who were these new people? And why were they all wearing pajamas?
WHERE WAS MY MUSIC? OMG!!!
But those moment faded, when the longest reveal in movie history took place. I imagined myself in the Admirals shoes, seeing her literally for the first time all over again. Someone beside me said – get it over already – but for me the reveal could have lasted forever.
And then I realized that the ship needed lights so that we could see she was a ship! Amazing – why had we not thought of that before. It made sense, sorta. They needed more lights I concluded. Lots more. I mean, they didn’t have to light the Millennium Falcon!
Then we had a wormhole. What was a wormhole, and why had we not seen this before? Ok, I can live with the wormhole stuff, cause my Enterprise has a big new photon torpedo bulge. My Star Trek had changed. It really got serious.
Imagine my surprise when Spock finally shows up. The movie seemed almost perfect, getting back to what I know and remember. What was the finest moment for this tech-junkie – the engine room finally got an engine! And Spock can stop this worm-hole-thing. And we can go to warp speed.
Warp speed with a circle of lights around the ship. Something definitely wrong here, but at least the ship looks cool, especially if it had more lights.
And then the movie went on and on and on. Persis was sexy, but not in an Uhura kinda way. And the movie went on, and on. And what the heck was this Vger thingy? I resolved to read the adaptation by Alan Dean Foster as soon as I could afford to buy the book.
I left the theater defending the long movie to my friends. They could not understand it (nor did I really), and were firmly in the ‘it sucked’ camp, and that Star Wars was way better.
That day I took my first steps into the ST vs SW battle. There were no blogs to fill, no web sites to view, and the Apple I was an expensive toy at the PX that only smart people could use.
No matter. We had our fix of sci fi, bad popcorn and orange ice cream, and while we walked back to catch the bus firmly holding our beliefs which was the better movie – we all whistled the theme to Star Wars.
Good memories.
David
Here’s to a set of new memories, unrequited expectations, and the hope for a franchise rekindled in 2008!
I loved TMP, but I have to say that I’m less than impressed with the trailer. Ah well.
James Bond is not the longest running film franchise at 21. The 1940s Charlie Chan movies and Blondie movies were really cranked out, with 44 and 28 titles, and then there are the 34 Godzilla movies.
There are at least 14 major Sherlock Holmes movies, too, and oodles more to varying degrees of the definition of “major release”.
Star Trek is tied with Friday the 13th at 10.
#61. I think is the best post on this topic…..!
^
Very good story David..!
Disco or not, “Heart of Glass” was a great track. “Dreaming”, though, is my favorite. And Clem Burke is a *machine*. Listen to those drums!
I saw STTMP first-run at the tender age of 6½. I’m sure I didn’t understand half of what was going on, but I did understand the grandeur of it all. The imagery was amazing and really made an impression on me. I was drawing the Enterprise in weird Crayola-created clouds for a year thereafter and the soundtrack was the first instrumental album I ever had.
The director’s edition was a substantial improvement, putting a much more human face on what had originally been a much colder film. My hat is off to Daren and everyone who helped Mr. Wise finally achieve his vision. He was an exceptionally talented gentleman.
Oh that makes me feel soooooo old! Seems like only yesterday.
LLAP.
The posts from people who were there when it opened begin to tell you about the audience expectations–which I begin with in my review on my Soul of Star Trek site:
http://soulofstartrek.blogspot.com/search/label/Star%20Trek%20I%3A%20The%20Motion%20Picture
It really was the first half hour that meant the most to people then–to see the crew back, and a big screen Enterprise! It’s still my favorite part of the movie–from the credits to just after Spock joins the crew. But the gaps in story and in effects were evident, many corrected in the Director’s Cut DVD. And hasn’t anybody mentioned the music? That remains outstanding.
So many good stories.
There’s no Trek film I hate. I genuinely enjoy every single one of them a great deal, and think they are -all- a cut well above the usual Hollywood cruft. Yet, as a Trek film, TMP has always ranked towards the bottom of my list, somewhere near TFF. But, then, I’ve only seen it on televisions–usually, small televisions, with very old tape cassettes (yes! We still have a VHS player!). In any case, while there are moments I love, I’ve never considered it from the point of view of a young Trekkie seeing his first Trek big screen movie.
I think it only works for a kid, and a kid who’s already a Trekkie, but, you know? From that perspective, The Motion Picture must have been -stunning-. My first Trek theater experience was First Contact, and that was bloody epic and remains a fond memory to this day… but TMP. Wow. That would have blown my mind at that age.
So what I’m saying is: thanks for the anecdotes. They’re nice. And it gives us younglings a better sense of what Trek was like in the past.
Honestly, sounds like the same fractious, angry, strongly opinionated, and helplessly devoted fanbase of today.
I wonder if TMP’s lower-quality drama quotient and general appeal to hardcore fans is part of the reason Star Wars became mainstream and Star Trek, despite boasting a top-ten viewership at one point, never quite broke through.
It -is- true, incidentally. that TMP was, in today’s dollars, the highest-grossing Trek film ever.
1979..I was 13 at the time and I was totally blown away by the special effects. Man the Big E went fast! The warp speed effect still sends chills up my spine!
Unfortunately the trailer reflects the problems the initial release of the movie had, that have been discussed in detail on these pages. The Directors Edition of the film addresses these issues, however, in my opinion.
Looking back at the Blondie video-Ms. Harry was wonderful!
Disco was king then. I remember that very clearly. It was all the rage.
Disco also permeated into other genres of music, with results that upon listening now are dated.
I was there on opening night. I know I have not before or since experienced this amount of excitement of anticipation for a movie, and never will again!
I wished they had stuck closer to the series style than they did, but after seeing it dozens of times and years later, comparing it to the later movies, in many ways it is my favorite of the Star Trek-based movies. I know it is the one I watch the most often, especially since the Director’s Edition came out (Thanks for your hand in that, DarenDoc-Very well done).
I could nitpick this and the other Star Trek movies because they strayed too far from the style of the series, but at least they had the real cast, which (at least in the case of the big three) is the essence of Star Trek.
although I am a huge fan of startrek, It’s interesting to note those more then half of the star trek films were considered not that terrific, even by fans. I mean TMP was decent, but didn’t have enough story to make it go, SEARCH FOR SPOCK, again was decent but lacked something, FINAL FRONTIER had an interesting story idea but ended up being a bunch of crap, GENERATIONS had to many things that the studio and big wigs wanted tacked on, INSURECTION was like a TNG episode with movie effects, and NEMESIS while I thought it was good, a lot of fans did not. so thats what six films that were okey at best, so that leaves four left that were actually good. Not good odds. In the end however, It has always been more about the shows for me, then the movies. Althoug the movies when good were really good.
nuff said
I was a toddler. My parents hired a babysitter so they could go see it. I saw it on TV a couple years later, but it wasn’t until the late 80’s that I was old enough to care.
I now own the director’s cut, and I have to say that it’s infinitely superior to the original theatrical version.
It wouldn’t be an entirely bad thing if JJ and the marketing gurus echoed the tone of this trailer for the upcoming movie. Get a big booming familiar voice [James Earl Jones mayhaps?], introduce the new cast one at a time, & tease with shots of Enterprise under construction……
It would be to make one drool….
Cool, Daren Doc chimes in!
I sure hope the remaster of this film is in the queue at Paramount and Mr. Dochterman can do his thing at HD resolution soon!
Yeah, I was there having just graduated from High School. I was wowed by the special effects the first time I saw it. On second viewing, I was disappointed by the stiff interactions between the principal actors and the beating over the head of the whole “God Is Really Just a Little Child” story. V’Ger was a whole lot more impressive than Nomad though. My girlfriend laughed out loud when Spock said” I should have known”, and I can’t really blame her. I’m still glad it came out though.
Would love to see a DVD released of the original theatrical cut of TMP.
And as much as everyone laughed at the uniforms, calling them PJs and what-not, at least they weren’t wearing wooly red jackets. I remember hearing folks saying, “They look like…the Mounties on the Enterprise!”
Born in 73 I grew up on Star Trek re-runs on TV. Dad, being a man of great taste, took me to 3 key movies early in life. Star Trek TMP, Superman & Star Wars. Even though I was fairly young I have not known many movies that measured-up after that.
Of course I am biased (but there is a few of us eh)!
For myself I have a great sense of nostalgia & love for the orginal Star Trek. The originals are legends in multiple spheres … & the movies, despite varied quality (& lack of budget) were precious special events.
This is my first post ever (after a few years reading a few opinions).
The new movie is a great opportunity to pass the baton on.
As `fans` we will have to be flexible in our reaction. If you expect the Enterprise to look the same, forget it. Small potatoes really. Remember ST is forward thinking & challenges. It is mostly about a great adventure of friends on a voyage of personal (& scientific, physical, emotional etc) discovery. It appeals to many b/c of a positive future … perhaps somewhere we would like to be … a situation where we can be all we can be.
I miss Shatner with Nimoy`s Spock & Bones. Don`t expect this new movie to replace them in your hearts.
Fresh minds, new ideas.
… And despite being around 5/6 years old … despite critical comments … STMP was a damn good flick to me.
I was woking at a movie theater in Lakewood California. At that time it had the 2nd or 3rd largest screen in the enitre state. The manager gave me the day off, and let me in early so I could choose the best seats for me and all my friends…all free of charge!!
A truly fantastic film that enfolds its full grandeur in the director‘s edition. I think it‘s particularly its combination of cerebral showcase, its epic storytelling and its special effects on the one hand, and its emotional, moving actual context and conclusion on the other hand that shape the fascination TMP exerts:
“This simple feeling is beyond V’Ger’s comprehension. No meaning, no hope. And Jim, no answers. It’s asking questions. ‘Is this all that I am? Is there nothing more?’”
Boy, that trailer is awful. The film was not nearly as good today as it was when I saw it as a kid, but I really think the Enterprise herself stole the show (something that should never happen, really). And when I saw that dazzling display when the ship engaged warp, I about soiled myself. I still love those sequences…
I remember being so stoked about this film. I was 10 years old. I remember the posters-Airport ‘77 like.
I remember the first scene when Kirk appeared. The audience erupted with applause.
Yes, the film is a bit boring but cinematically it supersedes the others and cemented Trek’s return to it’s rightful place in entertainment history. It is an epic.
pretty much all I can remember about it was how thrilled i was to see trek back!
The one thing about this movie that always stood out for me was Jerry Goldsmith’s score.
The other BIG thing was the refitted Enterprise, perhaps the one of the best miniatures ever built for a movie.
It’s also slightly impressionistic, with the Vejur cloud effects, and I think it’s pace allows the audience a chance to enjoy the scenery, so to speak.
Other fun fact from 1979: i was born.
Orson Welles was probably quite sad when he had to read up “a Robert Wise film”. The guy who edited his early films is now the director of a multi-million dollar budget sci-fi epic while he’s narrating trailers and frozen pea commercials for a living.
I’ve first seen TMP on TV on 25 December 1998 (yes, exactly ten years before Trek ‘08….) which was also the day before my 12th birthday. (Maybe they thought it’s a Christmas movie…) At the time I was totally amazed by it and I still like it. It’s quite a spectacular film with the only real “hardcore” science fiction story among the Trek films.
I stood in line in the rain on 86th Street in New York City to see TMP in 1979. I was 15, and had been watching Trek on WPIX since it was put into syndication. Like many, my first impression was built on the 1st half hour, especially those bad-ass Klingon D7’s.
This was true Science Fiction, an mystery about an unknown lifeform…
After TMP it was all about fighting the bad guy (except for IV o course). This was not so obvious in the TOS movies because there was always a good story behind it. It became very obvious during the TNG movies. That was really fighting the bad guy and NO science fiction whatsoever.
Its funny – the first 2 trek films mirrored what happened with the 2 pilots…1st attempt was considered too cerebal and a disappointment…..second attempt cost much less and was more straight foward and action packed which met with all round approval and reallly launched the series…
TMP may not be the best trek film but its probably the most cinematic…definatly went for the 2001 approach…..in terms of best to worst i’d put it:
TWOK, TSFS, FC, TVH, TUC, TMP, GEN, NEM, TFF, INS
Didnt see it at the cinema in ‘79 (have seen them Khan onwards though) but i did see it as part of a Trek film day at a theatre in 1986 to celebrate Voyage Homes release which showed I to IV…what a day that was especially having only seen each one only once before at the time
“ST:TMP was rushed and met with mixed reaction, but was enough of a success to launch the 2nd longest running film franchise in history (behind James Bond). ”
Um…arent there 11 Jason films? (including Freddy v Jason) and there are a zillion Godzilla movies..and Elvis’ films were a series unto their own – he did 33 films (ok know that dosnt really count as they wernt sequels…well…’On Tour’ was to ‘That the Way It Is’ i guess) and what about Tarzan?…
Like Trek, Bonds biggest drought was 6 years (1989 – 1995)…Bond rebooted its franchaise with the 21st film after the lackluster previous one…Trek is doing so (sort of..well it seems to be more of a sequel/prequel than a reboot) with its 11th….the last movie of each series before the ‘reboot’ was winter 2002…..however Die Another Day was a big hit (over $400 million ww) unlike Nemesis (around $70 million ww?)….lets hope ‘Star Trek’ gets similar success/reviews to Casnio Royale. (hell half of CRs box office would be a major coup for Trek as CR did around $600 million ww)
33 – Yeah adjusted TMP is the biggest BO hit of the Trek films….biggest gross overseas too…Then TVH..
35 – They were the kids of Botany Bay crew.
53 – wait for the Special Special Edition in a few years when they CG in the Khan uniforms…
17 years old and I went alone down to Leicester Square to the UK premier with no fanfare or guest appearances….TMP to TWOK is as the Cage was to WNMHGB in so many ways. Trek 08 really is a first in comparison.
89…I believe the UK premier was a few days later…?
I think I caught it opening night , not to sure, but did see it in it’s first week. After reading articles in Starlog for over a year about this movie, I could not wait for it to open. I was to say the least, a bit disappointed. It was the most cinematic of the bunch though. I didn’t really start to appreciate it until I bought a VHS of it 10 years later. I believe it was the one where they added extra footage. It had one scene where Kirk left the E to retrieve Spock. When he left the airlock you could see the soundstage. They didn’t even bother to add the effects to fix it. I will say I much prefered the Directors Cut over what they released in ‘79
I liked Bill’s wig
continuing the Bond/Trek connections – both ‘reboots’ are using an actor from the previous incarnation to provide some kind of link (Dench and Nimoy) plus both ‘reboots’ go back to the origins of the franchaise in a kind of prequel (but not exactly) showing audiences how it all began which has previously not been done
oh and both have similar budgets…
#26. Daren Doc
Yep, same here…the photos in Starlog and all the hype were excruciating to wait through, even at age 11! But man, when we finally got to see it at Arizona’s largest screen at the time (Cine Capri in Phoenix), what an absolute blast.
Decades later I picked up the eagerly-awaited DE and cranked it up on my own home theater…only to find trekmovie.com awhile later and your comments as one who worked on it. Awesome! Funny how it all connects sometimes :)
Pararmount was committed to a Dec 7 release and the the machine had to squeeze out something to exploit the success of Star Wars.The fans were handed a second hand stinker based on a television revival script.
The day the film opened, I had a day and evening’s worth of activities I had to do so I made the 12:30 a.m. show in St. Louis an a huge theatre–had to be a 500 seater. And it was packed.
There were fabulous moments which gave me a rush–Kirk’s entrance, the Enterprise flyover, coming out of the disappearing Vger. It wasn’t a classic but I was so happy to see ST back in production that I didn’t care.
dec 7 1979…
My Dad took me and some friends [and my brother and sister...uncool when you are 17!!!] and we waited in line at the Century Theater in San Jose and we were so excited as we entered the domed cinema and then we watched in awe… and sat there in wonder as we saw the ugly new Klingons, and then just kept sitting there as first we went round and round and round the E and then the much hyped transporter mishap was a blur and over way too fast and then we went and took a slow boat to v-ger and then took forever to get through the dullest and yet most confusing film segment ever filmed.
Oh, then Kirk and the crew outsmarted the computer and it’ was over…
long ride home… talking about an upcoming concert and NOT about TMP
Minor point:
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” was in PRE-Production in December 1979. Shooting began on June 23, 1980.
Actually, Godzilla films are the longest running film franchise. James Bond has 21, while Godzilla has 28
92 – it was certainly a bit of a shock to see Kirk with an uber thick curly jet black head of hair after seeing him with fairly fine, straight, very light brown hair in TOS
I gasped when i saw the new Italian Kirk step out the shuttle
I remember seeing TMP here in Glasgow in the Odeon cinema sauchiehall street I was 18. God was I disspointed! But to see the big E again was a rush it looked stunning. When TWOK came out I remember people in tears including my now wife when SPock sacrificed himself .
Sent from iPhone in costa coffee on a wet pissing down sat afternoon
merry Christmas to you all from BOnnie Scotland
I saw TMP with my Star Trek-loving male friends at 15, BUT saw TWOK on a a date with a girl at 17. This is not relevant to anything, but I ended up losing contact with her soon after. KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
I remember me and my little brother going to see it at the wallace theather in levelland texas. I felt sorry for my brother. I had to carry him back to the car because he feel asleep (he isnt a great fan) lol.
where was i in 1979 ? hmm i was not born till 86 so i was not around, hmm i wonder what the 70s was like , and even 80s , since i really grew up in the 90s
Star Trek the motion picture… at the Glen Burnie Mall theater ( back when theaters were a single)
stood in line for an hour,but when that opening crawl ran and those klingon ships came across the screen it was like mana from heaven.
the opening enterprise shots brought tears to my eyes.
look,i read roddenberry’s novel befoe i saw the film, so my mind was able to fill in a lot of story gaps that left others hanging, but with that being said,i was and still am, engrossed by that film.
why… becasue first and foremost it was a film.
and as for STMP being a stinker.. well i am probably among the few that, with the exception ot ST-IV, this WAS THE ONLY MOTION PICTURE LEVEL FILM THE ORIGINAL SERIES MADE. all the rest, regardless of story content or what, looked like nothing more than movies of the week, or 2 hour TV specials.
di I enjoy them .. absolutly. were they more engrossing that TMP.. at times most definitly
( i cried at spocks death and funeral. the most touching moment in any St event .but besides that…i especially HATED wrath of kahn because of that. reussed effects .hey, that damn space dock crewman is probably still waving his hand in spce today.. as a joke he should be in the new movie prview. poorly developed matte shots…that cave scene.. urgh!).
so with all it’s flaws, ST TMP is still a powerful film for me, and the directors DVD did it the justice it deserved. turning it into a masterpriece of film work.
look ST TMP was to it’s time what Phantom Menace was to it’s.. so much anticipation and creative influences went in to making a film that would stand above it’s own legacy, that no matter what was created and put on the screen it would be loved by as many who despised it.
but fro the goals that GR set out to accomplish, and the dreams he wanted to realize, I thought it was truly a work of art that stands up to the greatest of Sf films.
(hey, i saw 2001 in 1970 and came out of that movie saying WTF was that all about?
so if GR’s goal was to create an epic in those paramiters..well, he sure did …..LOL!!)
but,hey I liked ST V up until the 1st Ferris and Co cardboard FX enterprise shot( Vaaarp,Speed NOW!)
My freind fell asleep too.I struggled to stay awake.
KIRK’S CURIOUSLY SHIFTY TOUPEE…
(#100- “…the new Italian Kirk.” LOL!!!)
Personally, I think Kirk grabbed a non-quite-dead-yet tribble and slapped it on his head, as it seems to move up and down throughout the course of the film! (First, tiny forehead… then next shot, MONDO forehead!)
I’m so glad to see you allspeaking so fondly about TMP. I love it, may honestly be my favorate of the films because of the story’s nature. I can’t tell you how sick I to hear this film bashed over the years, so it’s nice and refreshing to hear all the positive comments.
re 49 SPB… et al
This is interesting… I thought I was reading a post from myself practically. First sign of Trek was on the back of a marvel cover, and I saw the movie in what was called The Paris Theater, off North Street in Pittsfield, Mass.
I was 12. Exact same reaction. Awe struck mostly at the start and then on reflection, a little boring.
Anyway, other thoughts about the franchise after reading so many posts…. they never improved on the classic trek uniforms in my opinion… Love those old pajamas ;)
And agree, that the only movie with a true cinematic scope is TMP, but will also say that I think TMP through Voyage Home are all good. (esp now with the directors cut of TMP, what a difference) They could have still lost a few minutes of cloud travel, and the wormhole sequence truly contains what I consider some of the worst acting and dialogue in movie history…
Later. Doug
I also want to add the first time i saw this film, sadly, was not only on television, but a small black and white television (yeah remember those?). i was a wee boy, but even this that B&W, I sware you could still get a great sense of scale.
I stood in line freezing my butt off waiting in the longest line I ever stood in for a movie. I was 13 years old and a trek fan and went to see any Sci-fi movie in the theaters back then including Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica (in surround sound!) But Insurrection was so bad that it was the last Trek movie I saw in theaters and I didn’t see Nemisis until it came out on video.
Well my girlfriend saw Star Trek TMP last month, she liked it… but yesterday she saw the Changeling, and well… I couldn’t come up with any decent justification on why they were so similar, and if TMP was after why didn’t they make reference to nomad or atleast use it as referece while dealing with v’ger. Still I love tmp
#88…. kids of the botany bay crew? What? They sure didn’t look like 14-15 year olds to me. The sure weren’t any children on Botany Bay when they were brought out of their sleep 15 years before TWOK…
I wouldn’t be born for another six years, and thus my first experience with Trek was TNG. Still, TMP is one of my favourites out of the movie series. It has a grandeur and gravity that’s been lacking in any movie since then
%105 says “and as for STMP being a stinker.. well i am probably among the few that, with the exception ot ST-IV, this WAS THE ONLY MOTION PICTURE LEVEL FILM THE ORIGINAL SERIES MADE”
Absolutely. Yet another primary reason why I love this film. And I’ve always thought the characters acted properly considering the amount of time had passed since they had seen each other and the situation at hand.
TMP is way underrated.
Love the Blondie video…Deborah looked great back then, didn’t she?
Dreaming, Heart of Glass, Call Me…Atomic…all great songs. They don’t play em like that anymore.
#52 Harry…Good points. I would say that you were more likely to be disappointed because you were in your 20’s and more mature, I and it seems most of the others here who actually saw it day one were teenagers at best. We didn’t have the experience to judge it fairly against other films (not yet, anyway) so we might have gotten a litle “caught up in the moment”. I can appreciate your disappointment, though.
Another litlle fun fact of movie going back in the dim days; multiple visits to see the same movie. No VHS yet (not widespread anyway), and really no cable. HS kids who liked a movie would see it every weekend, it seemed. By that measure, Khan has got to be the high point of multiple viewings. My buddies and I must have seen TWOK 15 times. We went back to see TMP a few times, but it never really caught fire.
I guess Stanky #70 about covered it for me too.
The 70’s and 80’s gave us some fantastic Movies overall.
I was 12 and I saw STMP a few days after standing with my mother in an immensely long line to meet DeForest Kelley and George Takei at a Toys R Us. DeForest Kelley said I had a “distinctive” name. I have never been more excited for any movie. I loved it. Robert Wise’s The Andromeda Strain was already one of my favorite movies, so the pacing of STMP did not surprise or bother me.The Enterprise was beyond gorgeous and the score is still my favorite of all time. I was shocked when my Star Trek obsessed mother expressed her disappointment when the movie was over. Of course, later I could understand the complaints, but I still love STMP anyway. As much as I love the subsequent films, I still prefer STMP’s vision of the future to ST:TWOK’s more militarized, less intellectual one.
So, the question remains….WHEN will The Motion Picture get a proper screening in Cinemas again? I expected it to be released back when the directors edition came out. If CBS-D can get their work released on the big screen, then why not The Motion Picture? I’ve been wanting to see it on the big screen for years. I was far too young to catch it back in the seventies.
Jeez, I remember winning tickets from “Starburst” candy bars and watching it in the local flea pit ..
Whilst we are retro-tripping, thought I’d scan some TMP stuff from my attic …. Swap Shop, STMP popup book … aww the memories
http://springheadmedia.com/photos/index.php?dir=Star%20Trek%20TMP
ST:TMP fatal flaw;Such an advanced space going machine couldn’t figure out that it needed to wipe a little soot of it’s nameplate to get it’s name right.
Why it’s Mister…………………………………………..
(motionless actors, as if it took them 10 seconds to actually remember who the guy is)
Spock!
Too emphasize my point it went around calling everyone carbon based units.Carbon soot on nameplate.”Carbon units interfere with V’ger”.Hmm.Now I know .The movie was a commercial for “Easy off”oven cleaner.
too bad persis isn’t still around she could’ve done Easy Off coomercials in her little white bathrobe.”Remove the carbon infestation with Easy Off oven cleaner”
00h
#104: The 1970’s was Farrah Fawcett Majors posters, Saturday Night Fever, Rocky, Star Wars, disco Star Wars, a Fifth of Beethoven, Patty Hearst, Paul McCartney and Wings, Jimmy Carter, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, bell bottoms, King Kong, disco, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, Clash, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.
The 1980s was about CD’s, more Star Wars, Michael Jackson, Ronald Reagan, John Lennon, Iran hostages and regime change, Thompson Twins/Flock of Seagulls/Duran Duran mindless crap, MTV ascendancy, and how the bands from the 1970s started sucking, disbanded or died (Except Wings. They sucked in the ’70s, too). Also, TWOK, TSFS, TVH, TFF and TNG. Plus Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Probably the high point.
Any historians out there, feel free to add something.
#122
As I understand it, the time it takes for them to figure it out is a metaphor showing how far we have abandoned the times of connectivity ourselves – the times in which we instantly and instinctively would have understood V’ger’s longing for spiritual knowledge, love, and in the end, unification. The protagonists have to run through a similar process like V’Ger had to in order to make the viewers understand what V’Ger’s question “Is this all that I am? Is there nothing more?” really implies.
JC, that’s really funny. She and Nomad can do a teamup.
107 – Re The Italian Kirk
“Heya Mista Sonak! ”
Kirk and his jet blacker than black hair got a mention from Mr Takei on that godawful shat roast
“Bills hair is just like my men..every year it gets thicker and darker’
Kirk had the thick black curly do for Treks I to IV (it looked its best in TWOK)….but by Trek V he had mid brown hair and in VI went back to his TOS light brown styled to the left…peppered with a little grey..then in Generations a full on healthy chesnut brown to make Picard all envious..(maybe thats why he let him fall off that bridge)
Wonder what he’ll have in the new movie? my bet is a return to the gelled light brown quiff with a lock of hair hanging down the forehead of season 2…
guess Kirk must have broke out the just for men and hit the rogaine inbetween Enterprise refits..
I was still 5 years off been born when this opened
Spot on, Iowagirl.
Kirk and Spock were both searching to fill voids in their souls brought on by age and experience. V’ger was doing the same, looking for his dad. To paraphrase Bones, “well isn’t it convenient we happen to be going the same direction.”
If you make it past the first 30 minutes, there is a good Trek story in here.
I always thought TMP was rubbish! It was like a boring, second-rate 2001 and didn’t feel like the TOS at all, and that was a real shame. TWOK, on the other hand, now that was Star Trek!
Anybody notice that DeForest Kelly’s clip in the trailer is flipped? His hair is parted on the wrong side and his insignia is on the wrong side!
#117 Gene L. Coon
Gene, thanks for your feedback to my comments! Wow, when you mentioned going with your buddies to see TWOK 15 times, I chuckled out loud…….that is the EXACT number of times I went back to see Khan myself with an assortment of different people each time, albeit, admittedly, with one best friend in particular who was just as nuts about Star Trek as moi!
Anybody else out there who, during the original release, went to see TWOK approximately 15 times?? :)
I love TMP. It had great effects, an epic storyline centering on a very real threat to Earth, and one of Jerry Goldsmith’s finest scores.
And the scenes between Kirk, Spock and McCoy were simply great. It was kind of intense to think that after the 5 year mission ended, Spock decided to retreat as far away from his humanity as possible, and attain Kohlinar. Seeing the hurt and disappointment his human friends felt when he wouldn’t acknowledge them was very moving. But in the end he realized that he needed them; this was something that anyone who’s ever been estranged from a close friend or a family member could relate to. The troika had been separated for years, and I think of this film as the one where they had to find their stride again; a necessary step so that we could enjoy them as close friends again in the films that followed.
And there were some terrific lines.
McCoy: “Spock, you haven’t changed a bit. You’re just as warm and sociable as ever.”
Spock: “Nor have you, Doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.”
:)
#133- While I will agree that TWOK was the absolute best of the movies (even today), TMP had a great story (originally planned as a pilot for the Star Trek: Phase II series that never happened). It was a true Trek story, reminiscent of the kind of science fiction only Star Trek could deliver. I’ll never forget the opening scene with the Imperial Klingons in their D-7 Battlecruisers, the Kholinar scene on Vulcan (much better in the DVD version), or the closeup look of the refitted NCC-1701. That was fantastic. Sure, it would have flowed better if Admiral Kirk and co. had discovered VGer’s true identity sooner, and the cloud scene had been more condensed, but it is still better than STV, STVI, or any of the TNG movies, I think. I not even sure if I like STIII better. Anyway, here we are. Good luck, Abrams.
Well, I just read on CNN that the Writers Strike is going to last a while yet as both sides dig in their heels on key points.
Interesting that during this strike period, any and all writers can take the time to “squirrel” themselves away and hammer away on their next book, novel, screenplay, opus…..and have “product” ready to sell whenever this bloodbath is over………would that be considered a “silver lining” to this particular dark cloud?
#137, I’m glad you brought up Trek III, a very underrated film, IMO. I really give Harve Bennett a lot of credit. When he was hired, the first thing he did was sequester himself in a Paramount screening room for a week and watch EVERY episode of TOS! If only other franchise-runners did that much research. It was Bennett who had the idea that Khan would make for an exciting sequel, and in III he brought back fan favorite Sarek. As the writer of III, Bennett gave us a story that highlighted some of Star Trek’s greatest recurring themes – namely loyalty and sacrifice (the very words Kirk says to Admiral Morrow when he’s explaining what he needs to do) – and rather neatly resolved the issue of Spock’s death at the same time.
Great interplay between the renegade Enterprise crew, heretofore unknown Vulcan mysticism, an exciting space battle, true loss (both the beloved Enterprise herself and David Marcus), Kirk in his best fist fight of the movies, the term “miracle worker”, just the right amount of humor … just some of the reasons I think of Mr. Bennett as almost being a Gene Coon of the 80’s. Harve definitely understood what made TOS work. He just “got it”.
I think Trek 3 is one of the best character stories Trek has ever done. Everyone had a moment, and some great drama, esp w/ crash n burn ent. I felt that pain!
d
STIII – what I liked: Excelsior (the only nicely designed fed ship since original Enterprise), spacedock, character relationships, the ending TOS music. What I hated: Kirk/TJ Hooker, lack of respect for Admiral Kirk by others in Starfleet, weak storyline, low budget production, planet scenes that looked like they were shot in a garage.
Harry B., you made a great observation. Seems most of us who were 60’s or 70’s kids, were greatly disappointed by TMP (which I could definitely see happening). Whereas anyone younger has a more favorable opinion, because they are just thinking about it as a movie they saw on VHS or on cable. I myself probably saw TMP last of any of the originals. I saw ST IV in theaters but because my older cousin was going and I tagged along. I saw ST V on HBO and I was just getting the age where you “get” Star Trek, having started watching TNG during Season 3. ST VI I saw in the theaters. Around that time of the 25th anniversary, I think USA network was airing the old movies, and I finally caught ST TMP. Looking back, it has so much uniqueness that it kind of stands on its own in Star Trek. Good or bad, that makes it more interesting to me.
Came back from school to see this with friends and family; my mother had to hold her arm out to keep me in my seat when Kirk steps from the air tram into Starfleet HQ.. At first I wanted more action in the movie, but I ended up going back to see it several times. This was the only heavy SF film in the series and the most epic, IMHO. Loved the Enterorise set. I’ll never forget the local papers review; ” Despite it’s lack of action, 40 million dollars worth of gorgeous gadgetry makes this film basd on the long running TV series fun to watch”. But they had a story about the characters searching for meaning in different ways. As much as I like the other movies, they just don’t hold up as well as this one. And the merchandising was incredible; laser tag phasers, McDonald’s, Mego. It started with a Parade magazine cover a year in advance, By summer 1979, toys began appearing in stores. A rare occurence then, now they market every movie as if its ET. Every theater showing it had a huge stand up and they sold T-shirts in the lobby. After all this was the 70’s when Star trek was being stripped every night and conventions would get 10,000 people. Star trek will probably never be as big as it was from 1975-1979. The main cast did not do the conventions as much after the movie– they had other things to do, I’m sure. Good for them.
addition to my post #57
One other thing I remember when I saw the movie the first time on opening night was how the theater erupted with cheers and shouting and applause when the Big E went to warp for the first time. People were actually laughing because it was so cool some didn’t even know how to react. I will never forget that.
Ahh good memories.
#139, 140
Exactly.
The destruction of the Enterprise, Kirk‘s breakdown when he hears that David is dead – scenes that make you hold your breath whenever you watch them, and finally, the moment which showed that nothing happened in vain:
“Jim. Your name… is Jim.”
Star Trek TMP, might be the worst (i.e. most boring) two hours of Star Trek ever made.
140.
True.
TMP will stand the test of time better than any other Trek film. In retrospect, It doesn’t have the dated look that TWOK has.
Interesting that some have mentioned the merits of TSFS, which I always thought was better than TWOK. This really became apparent after seeing a marathon of all Trek films up to TUC a few years ago. TSFS really showed its merits after viewing it right after TWOK.
I saw TMP on its premier night. After reading about the heavy-hitters involved, Trumbull AND Dykstra, Wise, Goldsmith, I knew it had to end up being something special. One of the things I remember is the darkness of the print. Later on I learned that this was done to cover up the matte lines which wouldn’t have been there if Trumbull &co. had been given enough time to complete the effects properly. Even still, the depth and richness of the effects came through with flying colors. It was as if the art of special effects had reached some kind of pinnacle. I’m still awestruck, even more so by the Director’s Edition. (Way to go, Daren! HD? Soon? Please??)
The acting? Well, the cast hadn’t worked together in years, so it actually worked in favor of portraying characters who had been somewhat estranged, so I really don’t mind the awkwardness, when taken in context.
And how can you top Goldsmith’s score? It was Oscar nominated and should have won. Afterward, he sadly started repeating himself to a degree that was almost Horneresque.
It’s great to read so many positive comments about a what has been very underrated and very much a landmark film.
It was very much ahead of its time.
I remember the cinema chock full of fans dressed up and ready to rock for Star Trek in New York, and I saw it for all the films until V.
I also agree that TSFS is an unsung classic. The reviewers laughed at Christopher Lloyd as Kruge, and then lauded him for his performance. And Mark Lenard and his emotional turn as Sarek was incredible. He spoke at my university in 1982 (mostly about Planet of the Apes), but his inclusion in TSFS and TVH (with Jane Wyatt) were brilliant. I got to chat with him a bit. But it’s his reconciliation with Spock that’s one of the great, and best-handled sub-stories in Trek. And as the Romulan Commander in BOT, he rocked. (As the Klingon Commander in TMP, he didn’t even have a chance).
Well, thanks to TMP, and especially TWOK (and the nod to Star Wars), we have a living franchise.
Hard to believe it’s going to be 6 years between Trek films. Reminds me of the 6 year gap between “Licence To Kill” and “Goldeneye” in the James Bond series. I hope that “Star Trek 08″ does what “Goldeneye” did for the james bond series back in 95.
150- I am personally hoping for that, too. However, a new Star Trek film is under more scrutiny before the first pen is put to note paper. There are so many canon issues to consider, something Bond filmmakers do not face in any 007 reincarnation. The TOS backstory could be the savior of the franchise’s future. Could this lead to a new(/old) Star Trek series (far from the restricted access to UPN)? I hope so.
Wow it is fun reading the memories of all of you. I saw this maybe a day or so after opening as a kid. I was one of those STAR TREK kids as I had the models, Starlog magazines, calendars, drawings, etc. My father took my brothers and I to a showing in the Dallas area. Poor guy I think he got a bit bored and or sleepy. He was not really into STAR TREK and the slow pacing did him in a bit. Ironically he is into old Naval and WWII films so one of these days I have to show him THE WRATH OF KHAN.;) Myself as a kid I really had mixed feelings about it. It was cool yet more of a family reunion to me with the adventure just around the corner.
Years later I am still a bit mixed but feel it is in the top of the STAR TREK films. I still feel STWOK, STTSFS, and this one are the top three for me. STV and even STVI really start to make the crew into more parody figures and start to lose their way. They really could of still been tighter films with the humor coming out naturally. That is just my thoughts on the original series films.
Anyways it is still a very cinematic TREK that I wish has reflected a bit more of the series in design and pacing. So a year or so from now we will all have some new memories to start on STAR TREK the news motion picture. Some of you will be taking your STAR TREK obsessed kids and I hope the ride is a fun filled one. Hmmmm I have two nephews I should take.;)
I saw TMP the opening weekend and then later I saw it at least five times during it’s run.
The movie was too rushed and they got too caught up in the effects and forgot what Star Trek was about (the characters). They really didn’t even have a script when they started and there were several snafu’s during the production. The film was still wet when they put it in the cans and shipped to the theaters.
All the acting was so stilted and seemed forced, but I still ate it up at the time because I’d waited ten years for some new Trek.
I agree with #140 and Mr. Orci, The Search for Spock is very underrated. Mr. Shatner did some of the best acting in his career in that movie.
#146- Have to disagree with you there. ST5 was the absolute worst, and in fact, I pretend it was never released. Awful!!! ST6 was only slightly better. I specifically did not like the portrayal of the Klingons in the movie. It was so inconsistent and silly.
TMP could have flowed better, but the story was great (especially the Spock/V-Ger tie-ins), and the opening scene still brings me chills (not to mention gives us a closeup look at the D-7 Battlecruiser and the Klingons as we know them now). Spock’s scenes on Vulcan are fantastic, and so is the in-depth look at the refitted Enterprise. What about the transporter accident? V-Ger’s temper tantrum? Great stuff…
#154
The Transporter accident creeped me out as a kid. The images of the officers “de-forming” was magnified by the horrible screams they were yelling during the accident. At the time it made you think it would have really sucked to have been those people.
I remember the day I went to see “Star Trek-The Motion Picture”(and with that cumbersome title I knew something was suspect!) when I was a lad of sixteen! Sadly enough after the audience had applauded for all the main character introductions, I think the audience and I were dumbstruck by the fact that the film was merely a re-working of old episode called “The Changeling”. Add to the constant beauty shots of Douglas Trumbull’s admittedly fine special effects work, my initial enthusiasm during the first few minutes were quickly dashed! I will add this to all this admittedly harsh criticism-this version of “Star Trek” was true to the series. There was an important element dropped from all the subsequent films because of the first film’s less than stellar box-office conquest-the science fiction element. In all of fandom’s analysis of success and failure-people have forgotten that the original “Star Trek” tackled lofty ideas that science fiction had always done better than any other written or filmed genre.
“Star Trek” employed science fiction writers and as you can see by the subsequent sequels-science fiction ideas have not made an appearance at all. Yes-we all love the fact that Nicholas Meyer truly revived the series with the second, but, inadvertently he threw out the whole notion of “boldly going where no man has gone” in favor of blatant adventure. Let’s hope that science fiction in general returns to the screen on a more regular basis instead of sporadically like it has since seventies!!
Hmmm… Madonna Road Plaza theater, San Luis Obispo, my junior year in college, with a friend who was also a member of the local S.T.A.R. chapter… Not quite old enough to enjoy the champagne that they had for the special showing, but, definately enjoyed the skill of the gal in the formal dress, playing “Ilia’s Theme” on the black baby grand piano, prior to letting ticket-holders in the auditorium.
Loved the film — even with the matte lines, and the shot of the “E” from the bow, with the Work Bees scooting around, Scotty with a mustache — and seeing Bjo Trimble there in the rec deck scene. Hated the grey “Doctor Denton’s” uniforms, and the stilted dialogue in places.
Later, when James Doohan came to the school for a special event showing in the campus auditorium, that made it even more special.
I get so sick of this… Star Trek is NOT the third longest running franchise after Bond. It is the third longest running after Godzilla. Bond is the second longest running after Godzilla.
With over 28 films to his credit, the big “G” is far and away the longest running film franchise.
True, Biodredd!
Getting back to quality, why does every Trek film have to look like a 2 hour TV episode? It’s almost as if the powers that be behind ever Trek film since TMP said “Oh no…we can’t make it look like a movie because then people will compare it to ST:TMP”. The just look cheap. TWOK as good as it was also suffered from this malady of cheapness.
I hope the next one LOOKS like a motion picture and not a Rick Berman episode! That’s one of my big wishes for the next one!
159
Here’s a juicy tidbit:
A few weeks before shooting, Nimoy came by the studio for a wardrobe fit and to discuss whatever last minute questions he had. While he was there, we took him on a little tour, showing him some of the set designs and conceptual art. After seeing the scale and production value of what we were doing he said it would be impossible to go back to television after this.
For # 159 and others here who aren’t aware of this. Every Star Trek film since TWOK was produced by the TV division of Paramount. This was part of the fallout from the expensive mess that TMP turned out to be. They no longer trusted Roddenberry and turned the franchise over to Harve Bennett, who was also television producer.
Harve told them he could make three movies for what TMP ended up costing.
I’m actually hoping Star Trek XI ends up being the epic that the franchise has been screaming to be all these years.
#160. roberto Orci – December 8, 2007
Hey Roberto, its great to have you on here. I really hope the flm has that epic, gasp-out loud aspect, that we really get to see for the first time some strange new worlds. This film is a fantastic opportunity to really bring the spirit of TOS alive, something which was lost in the latter TV series. I really hope we get to see some weird and wonderful aliens, (even some freaky alien wildlife which we never really saw on TV, like some cool monsters or something).
Can I ask, what is your favorite Trek moment?
#160. roberto Orci – December 8, 2007
Also, did Leonard Nimoy mean that it was impossible for Trek to return to TV, or Nimoy himself?! Cos if he meant Trek, that sounds really cool, and suggests we’re in for a fantastic film!
163.
he meant it would be impossible for TV to match our production value, so TREK could never go back.
162.
Tough one. So many favorite moments — from the novels, too.
I’m sure we all have similar top tens, so instead, how about my 10-20 type favorite moment :
When Picard fights to the death to make sure “Yesterday’s Enterprise” makes it back, and his final words, “Let us make sure history never forgets the name … ENTERPRISE.”
Gives me chills just typing it.
164
Bob, do you agree with Nimoy? Although it is an endorsement of the production design…do you think that STAR TREK as a franchise will not be able to return to TV. George Lucas thinks he can make Star Wars work on TV after spending the big bucks on the big screen…why not Trek.
#165. roberto Orci – December 8, 2007
That really was a cool moment, I really can’t wait for this film to come out. I’m not surprised that the previous films were made under Paramount’s TV division. With the money invested in this film I’m sure it’ll blow us all away! Good Luck!
Also, have you got any hints as to whats in the trailer, however cryptic those hints might be…?!
163
Sounds fantastic, if Trek did stay on film and didn’t return to TV, at least for a while, I think that would be quite good for the franchise. Nimoy’s comments are certainly testament to the work you’ve all been putting into the film, so thank you and good luck!
Also, any hints on what be in the teaser trailer, I don’t mind how cryptic they might be?!
sorry for the repeat, thought my original post didn’t..post!
166
I agree. I don’t believe in no win scenarios.
Roberto Orci
It is great to see you aboard here.
I have a question for you. Were you there when TMP came out? If so, tell us about your experience!
170
Ah…this sort of your Kobayashi Maru moment! I’m not worried a bit, you guys know what you’re doing and I’ll be there opening day no matter what.
It’s been great reading all of these background stories. Many of us in the 35-45 age group grew up with Trek and all of its incarnations…I always learn something new everytime I read one of these epic threads.
Family legend has it that my father would not go pick up my future mom for dates until Star Trek was over during the initial 60’s run. LOL. And one of my earliest memories is watching “Arena” with my dad and being scared to death by the Gorn captain. Makes one wonder if he was conceived after a Trek episode aired…wonder which one it was? No wonder I always wanted to be Kirk :)
I’m sure Trek will be back on tv in some form in the future – If the new films a big hit and there are sequels maybe something similar will happen to the success of Treks I to IV spawning TNG…After all Treks spirital home is tv….and with Star Wars going tv soon I’m sure Paramount will want to follow at some point…
However i’d be more than happy for Trek to be purely film from now on so am pleased at hearing Leonard Nimoys thoughts ..I’m so happy and relieved that it was a big budget (TOS) movie that is being done and not another tv show…The sheer concept of StarTrek crys out for big budget spetcal…
re Star Trek III – yeah I’ve always thought it was the 2nd best ST film behind TWOK with umpteen classic trek moments (it has THE single most powerful scene in any Trek film…the crew standing on top the mountain as they watch the enterprise fall from the heavens as Kirk goes ‘My God Bones…What have i done…’ ) as well as introducing a sack load of trek stapels for the 1st time (spacedock, bird of prey, excelsior etc)…
Plus its reallly the most faithful to the tv show – in fact its sort of like a mega budget version of the tv show done on an epic grand scale…and we see stuff coming back from the show – planet visiting (3 planets!)…Sarek…Vulcan…mindmelds…a character that is going insane. ..same ‘Battlefield’ destruct codes…Kirks climatic fight…evil Klingons…even tribbles..I think its the most ’startrek’ of the films actually…
Plus the SFX were (and still are) amazing – in fact i think they really are the best SFX of the entire Trek movies (yes even the TNG ones) …they look a damn sight realer than the CGI excess of the TNG and Star Wars prequels…theres something to be said for using expensive massive models…I hope the new film uses a few models..
The only flaw i can think of in relation to TSFS is that Kirsty Alley wasnt Savikk again :(
I am always mystified at all the negativity saying its one of the worst (mainly due i think to the faux – even = good, odd = bad rule)
Whoops, forgot to add: http://www.freezejeans.com/images/kirk.jpg
Heh.
I had just gotten my driver’s license, and saw it with my high school buddy Walter Winfield, on opening night. I saw it again a couple of nights later with my father and one of his co-workers, Bill Rice. (A shout out to Bill Rice, who was an on-air Howard Stern BEFORE there was a Howard Stern!!!!!!!)
I have – and I proudly admit my geekitude – seen EVERY ST movie on opening night since TMP. And I even saved the gaddamn ticket stubs to prove it.
Very cool that Mr Orci drops by!
As for STIII, I enjoyed it, but I respectfully disagree with 173, on the point about III being most like the series.
The blasphemous truth is that STV (The effing Frontier), that gets routinely murdered, is most similar in structure to an episode. It is the only movie with a prologue before the credits, and has a very episodey feel.
saw it with about 20 art students my freshman year in college. we spent alot of time talking about how the film depicted scale (shuttle vs. enterprise to enterprise vs. v’ger, etc.).
although it has been heavily panned, i always liked the first “probe” scene. it was just so… out there, with the burned lighting effect juxtaposed with normal lighting when it vanished (great sound design there as well). The sonic shower scene confounded me. still does. ilea/v’ger starts her inspection naked in a shower? wha?
p.s. hey there to “bob and silent alex”. are you guys doing okay for cash during the strike? can i send you a few beers to hold you over?
I remember getting my mother to take my brother and me to it. We got to the movie at a normal time we would would have gotten to any other movie, but I had no idea there were other fans as interested as me. It was packed and we had to sit on the front rows which gave me a crook in my neck from looking up the whole movie.
I remember hearing the prologue overture before the movie even started and thinking, “Wow, this is bigger than it was on the show. This is a big deal.” It really set the tone. It said too myself this was much more majestic than any treatment TV gave Star Trek. (The overture before the movie which was pretty common place at one time would be a great tradition to bring back to BIG movies again, by the way. In my opinion.)
Like it is most of the time with me I’m very aware of the music. Aside from the Jerry Goldsmith’s overture and the new theme (and the groovy cosmic bass that represented VGER), I really dug the new music that accompanied the new look of the Klingons. What a cool twist on these very familiar aliens from the old show and now there was a musical vocabulary to go with it.
The next big thing about the movie to me was simply – seeing the whole crew back together.
I’d seen Kelley, Shatner and Nimoy I think, on the Mike Douglas show a few years before all this. So I had kind of kept up with them and what was going on with their lives. But this – this put them all back where they belonged. And that was so great to see them all back together. Although I remember thinking it looked like Shatner was wearing eye liner. But still cool nonetheless.
There is one other cool aside. The whole Deltan race and their very liberal sexuality would have been so cool to explore. That’s one of the reasons I would have liked to see Phase II. Done during the time of shows like SOAP, and in the groovy 70’s where those boundaries were being pushed further…that could have been very interesting.
I would like to see a trilogy of movies with this new cast then move it to TV for a 50 episode run where we get to see the first two years of the “5 year mission”.
Maybe season 1-3 of TOS are indeed years 3,4,5??
(BTW, I don’t consider TAS as years 4,5.)
oh, and can anyone confirm or deny an old rumor that the reaction shot by chekov was authentic when he sees spock for the first time? i’d heard no one had told him nimoy was in the film at that point, and that was a candid moment…
I remember hearing that about Keonig’s reaction as being real. IWho knows.
I remember Nimoy on the Today Show speaking to Gene Shallit and not seeming very buzzed about doing this again.
I wish I understood this need for Trek to be in the movies and on TV, just pick one or the other.
Its confusing and seems like it doesn’t do either any good from a box office or ratings standpoint.
Though this is nothing new, the older I get, the more astounded I am at how fast time literally flies. Has it really been *twenty-eight/28/XXVIII* years? Day-YUM!
Hell, I’m still looking forward to Thanksgiving.
2007.
Anyway, I saw this first run on a date. Let’s just say the movie made a FAR greater impression than Date did. I can’t even remember Date’s name at this point, TWENTY-EIGHT friggin’ years later!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
Hmmmm, I detect a pattern in Mr. Orci’s comments…………..judging by his being impressed with City On The Edge Of Forever and Yesterday’s Enterprise, it wouldn’t surprise me if near the end of the new movie we have an elderly Spock making the ultimate sacrifice of himself and all he knows to save the timeline/history of the galaxy!
I bet Orci penned the critical scene himself with Nimoy getting off a killer line of dialogue, like the one spoken by Picard in Yesterday’s Enterprise, as he cited in post #165…….
Ooooh, I know……if Mr. Orci doesn’t respond to my observation, that’ll prove I’m close to the mark on this…………..yeah, that’s it……….heh…heh….. :)
183
They say time is the fire in which we burn….right now our time is running out..
We leave so many things unfinished in our lives….I know you understand
Yesterdays Ent is THE best TNG ep (yes even better than BOBW 1)
Its TNGs COTEOF. If the new movie is using those 2 eps as a kind of springboard we may very well be in for the best trek movie ever.
I always thought Yesterdays Ent also made a sort of companion piece to Mirror Mirror in terms of look, uniforms, attitudes etc however…(I know YE is primarily a timetravel ep but it also dips into parellel universes and TNG never did a mirror universe ep – YE was the closest to it)
Bob,
glad to hear you have hope. That being said, and we have discussed this before. I think it is critical that your Star Trek movie be a movie. I think the TOS movies were real movies, but the TNG films were just too much like big episodes…especially.
That being said…i think that Trek can work on TV again but it wont be easy.
TMP for me is the best Star Trek MOVIE out of all TOS movies. Yeah its had problems f.e. its went from low budget movie to TV series before ending with big budget epic movie.
I feel TMP was most ambitious Star Trek movie ever made and depicted true vision of Gene Roddenberry vision of the future. They got legendary Robert Wise to direct it. The TOS cast look great shape before they each added 50 pounds in TWOK (with exception of Nimoy & Takai).
Overall great movie and i hope XI will ambulate TMP cinematic scope and its very encouraging hearing Nimoy comments. Finally Paramount is trying to do Star Trek film franchise justice.
For me Star Trek is dead, Star Trek Nemesis and The Enterprise killed Star Trek. and the only man who can revive Trek is J.J Abrams.
Still William Shatner sucked in ST 7 : Generations and still it would be stupid to put him to ST11, Kirk is dead, unless they take out the real Kirk from the nexus and put clone Kirk back to nexus :)
Anthony at no. 187
I concur.
#16, Roberto:
That’s EXCELLENT NEWS!!!! Not that I haven’t been excited about this project anyway, but my level just rose up a notch! I knew you guys would make us proud!
I am glad to hear you guys are making a *movie* this time! :-)
I saw TMP opening night, a bitterly cold Canadian winter (Calgary), but tolerable because we were in a mall theater (big screen though), and stood in line for 3 or so hours with 2 friends. I remember my gym teacher (dude in his late 20s) spotted us, and roped us into “saving him a spot” in line for him and his girlfriend! And then finally we settled in, and the opening blew our teen minds: the glorious music and those massive Klingon ships, the deep bass rumble of their engines, and the resonant “TWONG” of that crazy bass guitar.
Funny: I hadn’t read any advance promo on the director’s cut DVD. i just saw it in the store, bought it, popped it into my player, and for the first half hour or so had a sort of freaky psychotic feeling like, wait a minute, I don’t remember *that*!! — is my memory shot or am I have a psychotic break? (I did manage to figure it out eventually).
Many here have commented both on the revolutionary vision of the 1979 TMP but also on the brilliant refurbishing on the director’s cut. Let me say also I would adore seeing another round of cleanup done for an HD release. As much as d.c. TMP looks good on DVD, there are still some issues, most notably the lack of inky black behind the Klingon ships in the opening scene. I wonder if the entire starfield could be replaced digitally, leaving behind the original ship models as foreground.
I’d still like to see that Memory Wall sequence and all the FX footage that Robert Abel and Associates shot for the film!
If they ever want me to buy another copy of the film — in any format — that’s what will have to be on there. And don’t tell me the footage doesn’t exist — I know damned well it does — from reliable sources.
Even Andy Probert says on his website he saw FX footage shot by RA&A that would have been groundbreaking and set a new standard for visual effects…
Paramount, we know it exists…bring it!
I saw the movie the day it opened… travelled 50 miles to do it too! I know I am in a minority here, but I LOVED the first movie, A lot! I think in many ways it tried to be more than an extended TV episode (and yes, I am fully aware of its similarities to a number of episodes). Yeah, the film has its flaws, but I still like it immensely– and which of the films doesn’t have its shortcomings?
I liked the new uniforms; still do (better than any since… I’m sorry but the uniforms in Trek II-VI just remind me of the Gestapo), the special effects, the existential bent, the philosophy, a villain that was not the kind we are used to seeing on the big screen.
I had a blast waiting in line for two hours waiting for the movie, laughing it up fellow fans as we eagerly anticipated the screening. I know a lot of fans were disappointed with it, I however, was not.
#179- Indeed.
Maybe seasons 1-3 are actually years 3,4, & 5. Or 2,3, & 4, for that matter.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but there is nothing official that states that TOS depicts the actual first three years of the mission. Hmmm…
oh… and when the cameras did their “twirl” on the head of the Klingon Cruiser I almost hurled… vertigo set in real fast.
Let’s not forget there would have been no billion dollar industry for Paramount without this film… and that I seem to recall the first TREK film made more box office than any of the other subsequent films (and before someone beats me to it, yes it was expensve…. especially since Paramount counted all of the start up costs of the earlier stabs at filming prior to ST-TMP).
I love Star Trek TMP. It may be slow paced, but it had an epic feeling to it; besides, it reminds me of 2001: A Space Odyssey and in my book that’s not a bad thing. It’s the kind of movie that doesn’t need huge battle scenes to prove a point.
Doug and Giuseppe……even though I didn’t care for TMP, it’s nice to hear that some fans enjoyed it!
In life to each their own or, hey, whatever floats your boat! :)
#193
Agree. I have seen many photos of both Kirk and Spock floating through the “Memory wall” while inside V’ger including Kirk getting attacked by little floating “probes” that stick to his spacesuit. When the Director’s edition was released I was disappointed with the simple “test” footage we were given. There should have been a lot more!!!
Why can’t Paramount release ALL of this footage or add it into an alternate version of TMP?? Maybe a split screen deal on the HDDVD that would show us where the footage was supposed to be along side the actual finished product we have all seen??
#187
Yup.
The Star Trek franchise should be on TV again in it’s classic form. That’s what ST was intended for in the first place and should be again.
Please show Spock in a future Star Trek uniform. Not those crappy brown suits from ST2! Retire those!
ST-TMP was one of the first times I tried so hard to love a film that every time I saw it with new people I always apologized for it! Pretty sad, I know, but it was a case of, “Well….just wait’ll the NEXT one comes out! It’ll be GREAT!” I recognized the good bits of TMP and tried to emphasize those, “Nice cloud effects, huh?” Painful lesson learned in my youth: One should NEVER apologize for a movie; it either entertains you, and stimulates you (even cheesy bad films can), or it doesn’t. When the people who WANT to like are bored by it, it doesn’t work. Many viewings later (and much money lost) had taught me; ST TMP is a bad film; and the 2001 “refit” is only marginally better. Thank Nick Meyer and Harve Bennett for NOT giving Trek fans what they thought they wanted. WRATH OF KHAN is (in my opinion) still the best Trek movie, to this day.
I was twenty months old.
Here’s hoping JJ Abrams and Co. can hit one out of the ballpark if they keep it fresh, and don’t become slaves to fan wishes (every Trek fan has different hopes for the new film; you can’t/shouldn’t try to please them all). But above all, keep it entertaining. Don’t be afraid to take risks with some aspects of Trek continuity (canon is such a stupid word; it’s a 41 yr old TV show, not holy scripture) that don’t work (i.e. 1960s style ships and uniforms). Make it fresh, take risks with it (”risk… is our business”). Make it fun, again. Here’s one old-school Trek fan who doesn’t mind a status quo shakeup now and then! It worked wonders for Battlestar Galactica! Good luck, can’t wait to see Trek revitalized!
My enjoyment for a number of the films has increased over the years. Notably, I appreciate ST:TMP for being one of the very few truly cinematic Trek movies. A number of them were great fun, but as others have said, they often felt like TV episodes writ large. I also thought that the Director’s Edition of TMP went a long way to correcting some of the flaws of the original release (and even of the later TV version), and making it a more watchable film, and one which is more easily connected with, emotionally.
Ironically, I’m also a fan of ST5: The Final Frontier. Even though it had some fairly serious flaws, it also had something the other films largely lacked: exploration and discovery as a central part of its theme.
ST5 also has a scene which, IMHO, managed to capture the essence of all of Trek up to that point. When teh ship clears the Great Barrier, and Kirk, Spock, and McCoy return to the bridge, Sybok turns the ship back over to Kirk and the crew.
Kirk asks, “How do you know I won’t just turn her around?”
Sybok answers, “Because, you, too, must know.”
Kirk pauses and thinks about this for a moment, then says, “Well, if we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this by the book.” In the end, Sybok was right; curiosity about the unknown was going to take them forward, no matter how they’d gotten there.
I think “The Final Frontier” works better, in many ways, on the small screen, but the story it told really is true to Trek, and for me it has become one of the higher points of the film series.
Best,
Alex
Great Poster art!
In response to Mr. Orci (and the below):
Since “Trek can never go back” to TV, are you telling us that after this movie there will be an end to the “Star Trek story”? I’ve been a fan since I was a kid, so the prospect just alarms and saddens me a little. I know some secrecy has to be maintained for the movie, so I’ll understand if you can’t answer my quesiton. Thanks.
164. roberto Orci – December 8, 2007
163.
he meant it would be impossible for TV to match our production value, so TREK could never go back.
I think Nimoy meant it more as a compliment and less as statement of fact.
Of course Trek can still be done on TV.
if the strike ever ends:)
ST:TMP ANECDOTE
1979, Dec 7th, Dekalb, Illinois (NIU). The Jefferson Starship came to play for Homecoming weekend. I went to see the movie with two of my friends. When I came back from the concession stand, band sat in the row right in front of us. There we were, watching the first Star Trek movie with the Jefferson Starship. Pretty cool, eh?
Boy, that trailer for TMP was boring as hell.
re 209
A lot of old film trailers are similar to this one…. waaaaay pre MTV in style, this wasn’t particularly a marketing failure or anything on paramounts part, so much as it’s just the way trailers were made back in the day. (snooze)
re 207 Robert…
Good luck with the strike man… really enjoying your work (transformers and particularly MI III which rescued that franchise in my opinion… looking forward to your take on Trek)
Doug L.
I completely agree with #203 Sebastian.
We just need a really good movie, and you can’t please all Trekkies all of the time, anyway. Just look at all the arguments they get into in these threads.
Good luck Roberto.
TMP is a film it took me a long time to appreciate. It’s very different from almost every Trek ever made. It also had issues with pacing and FX that weren’t solved until the Director’s Edition.
I was four when the film came out and first saw it on VHS in 1983. As an eight year old who loved the colour and boldness of TOS, it was very disappointing. As a 27 year old in 2002, I was a very happy bunny to see the movie better paced and very faithful new FX blending almost seamlessly with the originals!
I was disappointed at how dirty the print was and it seemed bizarre for Daren and his team’s FX to have to render dirt on their images to blend them better!
The two things I’m really hoping for when the Trek films get HD release are a fully-cleaned TMP with additional FX rebuilt in HD by Daren and for someone to buff up the original FX in STV:TFF. A bit of restructuring and some new FX would make all the difference in Shatner’s film.
We actually didn’t render dirt for the new effects… we did, however, add grain.
I’d love for the chance to go back to TMP and bring it up to HD quality, as I’m sure my partners Dave Fein and Mike Matessino would as well. As far as I know, no plans for doing that exist.
The idea for doing that kind of update to Trek V was a good one too, and I was part of pitching that as well… but I believe the studio at that time had no interest in pursuing it… a real shame.
It would be a lot of fun to bring the old team back together and bring the movie into the next century…
#213 Daren Doc
I’ve followed your work. I admire your efforts on TDM. I would Love to see what you would do for TFF. I believe that TFF could be greatly improved with new effects and the correction of the many errors–the turbo numbering etc. I do hope that the Powers that Be let you do your magic on TFF. LLAP Derek
9 years ago tonight, Star Trek: Insurrection hit theatres
#208, VERY cool! Was Grace or Marty still in the band then or was that when Mickey took over the lead singing chores?
Sounds like you got a double dose of Starship that day dude! ;-)
#199, I don’t think any RA&A footage should be cut back into the film as it was never finished. But, it would be cool to just have the footage shot as an extra on a separate DVD. I know footage exists, but who knows what shape the audio would be in…?
However, having said that, someone like Darren could take that footage and finish the effects digitally — taking the wires out of the spacewalk scene and adding whatever animation (Richard Taylor of RA&A told me they planned at the time to do even the glow effects for the bits as practical on-set visuals with on-set lighting. The bits were covered in hightly reflective Scotchlite and reflected the effects lighting.). and mattes were required to finish it up. Granted, from what I know of the sequence, that would have to be a labor of love as it would take many manhours to complete even using today’s technology.
I have no idea what miniature work was completed. Probert says on his site that he saw some finished work…so, it exists in the Paramount vaults somewhere.
There is no telling what exists collecting dust in the vaults. We may never know…sadly…
Darren, if anyone should update TFF — it should be you! I hope Paramount reconsiders and let’s Shatner re-edit the film and let you and your team finish the visuals!
I mean, for God’s sake! The film really doesn’t even have an ending the way it exists right now. The final “confrontation” on Sha Ka Ree is just shit patched together in the editing room to make a final release date!
I have a sneaking suspicion it’s just a matter of time before the film is restored. I never thought Richard Donner would get to complete Superman II the way he envsioned it, but it happened. The same will likely happen with STV.
You would think the dvd sales of a reworked Trek V would probably warrant the effort.
Doug L.
I’d love to see a remarstered Trek V with new FX and a new expanded ending….
Star Wars, TOS, Superman II, TMP have all had special treatment – so should Trek V