Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise come out of retirement to save earth from being attacked by a large space probe only known as VGER.
Also stars Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Nicehelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and Stephen Collins.
While most people feel that this movie was extremely boring I felt that this was a very good science fiction film. It is no Wrath of kahn where Star Trek turned into a major summer movie franchise nor did it have the jokes as Star Trek 4, this search for and discovery of a new form of life (and some would argue, the BORG) is a wonderful start for a rollicking adventure that is the Star Trek movie franchise.
The first of a ten part marathon, my plan is to watch one Star Trek movie a month for ten months, this means I should be done in May, right in time for the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie. The first Star track is one of the most maligned. Most of the criticism?s leveled against it are pretty much right, the movie?s slow, kind of pointless, and mostly a special effects showcase. That said there?s a lot here to separate it from other lackluster odd-numbered Star Trek sequels like Star Trek 5, or Star Trek: Insurrection. First of all, one has to consider the advantages a lot of the sequels had that this one didn?t, they all had a tradition of new-school Star Trek to work with; this one only had a very cheesy T.V. show that they needed to turn into something palatable for 1979 cinema going audiences. The way they tried to do this was by minimizing the film?s action elements and turn it into a 2001: ASO style sci-fi film. The problem is that they did this with a very simple script that could have easily been a leftover from the series, and it also feels like it?s an hour long story that?s been padded to fit a two hour and fifteen minute movie; mainly by adding a lot of long, pointless special effects shots, good effects shots, but pointless nonetheless. The film can be downright broing a times, but at least they?re trying to make something good and not a Star Wars clone. Oddly though, the franchise wouldn?t really come into its own until it embraced its inner space opera.
the first of the star trek motion pictures. not the best film or episode i've seen but the idea of a machine with a conciousness was a really interesting one. nice to see all the old characters/actors together including william shatner (the legend he is). some really gorgeous cinematography/special effects too
For someone who grew up as the original series (ST:TOS) I was overjoyed to go to the theatre when this movie came out.
I am still enthralled by watching Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu on the big screen.
Furthermore, Kirstie Alley was hot and Stephen Collins was nobody.
Great story, could have been an episode on tv.
I found it to be long, laborious, and quite tedious. Certainly not for the casual fan. While I did see this way, it was interesting at parts and I can see how it builds into the series it becomes.
This may be the most misunderstood film in Trekdom; and no, I don't count Nemesis - Nemesis just sucks. I do not understand why so many people have beef with this movie. The story is a great one, all of the major cast (and some leftovers from Phase II) are included, the soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, and the effects are as good as they could be for the time. I've heard some say that this movie is nothing but a SFX extravaganza with a little story thrown in for good measure. I don't see it that way. Trek is nothing if not a showcase for contemporary SFX and - lets be honest - it's kinda hard to have a movie set 300 years in the future and in space without them. Another important consideration is this: when compared to it's successor movie, Wrath of Khan, it's easy to pick this movie apart, which isn't really fair to this movie when it is viewed as a stand-alone flick and the beginning of the Trek film franchise. Remember, when you watch this film, Wrath of Khan does not exist . . . . at least not yet. The only issue I have with this film is the uniforms. Pastel jumpsuits? I mean, REALLY?!
Robert Wise and Allan Dean Foster amd the crew of the Starship Enterprise get refit for the Big Screen in this epic film, which is truly a space epic set aboard the ship as they enter a mysterious cloud bound for Earth. Although at times it is plodding and has plenty of staring in awe, it isn't so bad, especially the director's edition of the DVD, where Wise was allowed to restore the half-completed film decades later.
06-29-08 --I had forgotten that I saw this at a younger age. It's easy to do when you look at how many Star Trek Movies there are. I mean they are filming Star Trek 11 right now. So, this one starts them off. I haven't seen the final episode of the TV series but this movie makes me want to see what I missed. It is long and a lot of Special Effect scenes that I'm sure were miraculous back in the day but you can tell they did it on purpose. Like long drawn out scenes of the Enterprise at Dock and stuff. Alittle cheesy. The Decker character = very annoying. He's better as a preacher playing alongside a bunch a kids in 7th Heaven. In all this movie brought back a lot of memories and I enjoyed it.
An overly indulgent adaptation of the famed science fiction show to the big screen. The score is brilliant so are the effects, but it takes itself to be the second coming of 2001 having a long take on the effects of the ship as it leaves a space dock. Then the story itself is not all that great having a side love story not related to the main characters of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. It's sequel fixed everything that made this film a disappointment.
Ordinarily I'm no fan of filmmakers going back and 'fixing' their earlier works (I'm talking about you, George Lucas), but in the case of 'ST:TMP' I'm more than happy to acknowledge that the changes here equal genuine improvements. Though a big hit back in its day, this initial big-screen outing for the classic Trek cast seemed to fall quickly out of favor, with even hardcore fans deriding its slow pace and uneven special effects. Personally, though, I've always felt that, even 'pre-fixed', this film deserved more credit than it got. Sure, the drama is often clunky (at times even campy), and the acting ranges from solid to downright wooden, but 'TMP' is also the only one of the Trek films to have a stand-alone story, and the only one that deals directly with the mystery and wonder of outer space. Though the pacing is still slow, there are moments of genuine awe to be found... and frankly I appreciate that the film takes the time to build up its near-palpable atmosphere of astonishment and terror at the sheer unknowable grandeur of the universe.
What was a ponderous, almost motionless motion picture in its theatrical release is much improved with the DVD director's cut. The new version is well worth checking out if you enjoy Star Trek.
This is the first feature film in the long-running movie franchise based on the late-1960s TV series and reunites the original TV cast led by William Shatner as Captain/Admiral Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock.
Due to its slow-paced editing and stilted acting, some viewers have called this film "Star Trek -- The Slow-Motion Picture" or "The Motionless Picture."
It's a shame that the talents of Director Robert Wise were not maximized, considering the emphasis of the special-effects, which made this the most expensive movie of its time.
One saving grace is the powerful music score and new theme by the late Jerry Goldsmith.
A Special-Edition Re-Edit has been released with a better pace and some never-before-seen footage.
The version of this movie that was on VHS with the added scenes is what made this movie work for me. The story became Spock finally accepting his human half, realizing logic isn't the total answer. The director's edition is good too.
My Dad (who loves the original Star Trek) told me this film was bad, but I felt that I had to see it for myself. What I found is that the film Lacked in almost every essential element of what constitutes a good film. The film had "little to say" and way too long to "say it". Overall the poor acting, the subpar effects , and the overall incomprehensible storyline made this Star Trek film the worst that I have seen. It seems that with such an iconic property like the original "Star Trek", the writer/director/producer could have come up with something a bit more memorable.
This is the 1st Star Trek Movie in a long series and it reunites the long running tv series cast for the 1st of many space adventures that goes beyond the Final Frontier..worth watching for the excelent special effects for its time and seing a young William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy as good friends Captain James T Kirk and Mr Spock...
A fantastic musical score combines with a great storyline and good special effects to make a film which, though not fantastic, is very epic and far more human than most old Star Trek stuff.
Star Trek 2001 style, with lots of special effects of space. It doesn't have much original series action or character moments, though the later scenes are more of a science fiction adventure.
Good God what a boring film. I may not be interested in ever, ever wasting my time on something like this again, but I have to give credit to the cast, as they seem to love what they're making. Even if I hated the damn thing.
MCT:September 15, 2008
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MCT:June 20, 2008
