TMP Appreciation

[Newt]

Greetings fellow Star Trek fans.
Been down the Star Trek memory lane of recent. Rewatching lots of trek and having a good time doing so.

TMP might be my least watched Star Trek film. I was introduced to trek in the 90s on video tape. I have a mixed opinion on the first feature film. I’ve had issues with its passing, costumes and direction. But I don’t consider it to be a bad Star Trek outing.

I can’t imagine being a fan at that time. An decade without any live action Star Trek. Only reruns and it could have not been more popular and don’t forget TAS.
From what I can tell by reading up and watching videos of fan conventions in the 70’s, there was a thirst for Star Trek and science fiction.

The 70s gave us
The Andromeda Strain
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Star Wars
Logan's Run
Alien
Superman
Definitely room for the 60’s cult phenomenon on the silver screen.
Looking at TMP I’d say it was ambitious first outing with its very serious science fiction themes of exploration, the meaning of existence run very deep.

Jerry Goldsmith gave us a masterpiece score that resonated for decades.

The starship Enterprise was beautifully redesigned. It may be favourite model design of all time. I see Star Wars fans get weepy over the millennium falcon, but to me that flying cheeseburger has nothing on the Enterprise refit.
The Enterprise in those early films feels like a character in its own right almost. Its destruction is still emotional to watch in III.

Let us not forget without this cinematic outing we would have nothing afterwards we hold dear as Star Trek we know and love today. It is the keystone for Star Trek. Live Long and Prosper Star Trek The Motion Picture.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I can’t imagine being a fan at that time. An decade without any live action Star Trek. Only reruns and it could have not been more popular and don’t forget TAS.
From what I can tell by reading up and watching videos of fan conventions in the 70’s, there was a thirst for Star Trek and science fiction.

The 70s gave us
The Andromeda Strain
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Star Wars
Logan's Run
Alien
Superman

I would add The Black Hole and the remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers as part of that motherload.

I came to TMP via about eight TOS episodes that were selected to celebrate the arrival of colour TV in Australia in 1975. Before my family bought a colour TV, I saw them in b/w, of course, and Saturday morning episodes of TAS, also in b/w.

My interest in TMP was as another reunion movie of an old TV series, but it instantly made me an avid Trek fan. While many diehard funs were more excited by ST II, for me it was always TMP that was my pinnacle.

Definitely recommended is a scroll through the Fanlore site, where you will see lots of 1979 reactions to TMP! Also articles in early editions of "The Best of Trek" books from Signet, compiled from the pages of "Trek", a pro-zine of its day. Also the Facebook group, the Star Trek -- The Motion Picture Appreciation Society, which has a clear focus on TMP.

 

[Newt]

My interest in TMP was as another reunion movie of an old TV series, but it instantly made me an avid Trek fan

I assume you saw it at the cinema first time round?

 

[Kraig]

For 1970s Sci movies, I would also add: Soylent Green, The Omega Man, Capricorn One, THX 1138, Planet of the Apes franchise, Slaughterhouse-Five, Silent Running, West World / Future World, Dark Star, Zardoz and A Boy and His Dog.

 

[Newt]

It was certainly a golden era of science fiction. Many original ideas unlike recent times of endless sequels of comic book movies.

 

[Kraig]

It was certainly a golden era of science fiction. Many original ideas unlike recent times of endless sequels of comic book movies.

The success of Star Trek in syndication, and all the other science fiction movies box office making money in the early 70s probably made the decision for Paramount executives to take a chance on a full length motion picture version of Star Trek a lot easier.

 

[Newt]

Well they do say the insane box office take of Star Wars changed everything. Some money grubbing executives at paramount asking around what have we got that will give us a piece of sci-fi craze. I believe I read Star Trek was in preproduction for a return to tv at the time and changed gears to become TMP.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I assume you saw it at the cinema first time round?

Yes indeed. It had a gala premiere in Sydney the day before my 21st birthday (14th December). On the night of my party, one of my school friends had been to the premiere and his description of the movie — and most of the audience in cosplay — was wild!

A week later, it had another gala premiere in Melbourne. Persis Khambatta and DeForest Kelley were flown out to do press interviews.

The movie’s general release happened the next day, but I had no luck getting anyone to go with me. I saw the novelization in my local supermarket, on a spinner rack at the checkout. The Australian version had captioned colourplates in the centre!

I promised myself I would only read so far, and then stop. I got to the end of the book on the Sunday night.

On the 24th December, I gave myself a Christmas present and attended the movie by myself. It was a transformational experience — and I ended up enjoying going solo to movies for decades! I spent the afternoon buying my first “Starlog” and every Bantam TOS novel I could find!

 

[Newt]

Sounds like you have some good memories of the film. Thank you for sharing them.

I spent the afternoon buying my first “Starlog

God I used to love that magazine

 

[Campe]

I was born just four days before TMP was released in the United States. I remember renting the Special Longer Version from our local video store when I couldn't have been more than five. My mom helped me move a kitchen chair with arms on it so I could pretend to be Captain Kirk. I don't remember much of that particular viewing, but I know I didn't watch the whole thing, choosing to go play instead while it was on. We taped it at some point on ABC (I'm guessing in 1983 based on Memory Alpha's listings of when it aired on the network) and this is the version I remember most from my childhood, until I received the 5 tape TOS movie set with the Enterprise polyptych on the spines.

I can't say that I enjoyed the movie that much as a child into my 20s, but in my 30s and 40s, I've truly learned to appreciate the film. Its not perfect, but I love the scope, scale and effort that went into the film. I also love its uniqueness as a Trek film. The different uniforms, the truly cinematic feel, not a villain per se (which I think was overused from TWOK on), but a misunderstood force of nature. It makes TMP, despite all of its flaws, my favorite of the original six.

 

[mb22]

For 1970s Sci movies, I would also add: Soylent Green, The Omega Man, Capricorn One, THX 1138, Planet of the Apes franchise, Slaughterhouse-Five, Silent Running, West World / Future World, Dark Star, Zardoz and A Boy and His Dog.

All very pessimistic, cynical and dystopian. Then came Star Wars and Close Encounters...

 

[Newt]

All very pessimistic, cynical and dystopian. Then came Star Wars and Close Encounters...

One could argue Star Wars is also dystopian.

 

[mb22]

One could argue Star Wars is also dystopian.

Despite all the killings and generally unhappy state of the evil Galactic Empire, the first film was presented as a fun Flash Gordon type adventure romp; it got more serious in the sequels. And it didn't deal with the real-life issues that the earlier dystopian 70s films did.

 

[Newt]

Despite all the killings and generally unhappy state of the evil Galactic Empire, the first film was presented as a fun Flash Gordon type adventure romp; it got more serious in the sequels. And it didn't deal with the real-life issues that the earlier dystopian 70s films did.

That is true.
But it does have elements of a dystopian in regards of the galactic empire.
Dystopia is defined as an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.
So one could argue the Star Wars film is a dystopian setting, but it is not its narrative or themes. Its is about finding hope, adventure and coming together to fight for the common good.

 

[Admiral Archer]

Star Trek The Motion Picture is my favorite film of all time.

The first time I'd ever heard of it, was when my dad bought me Rick Sternbach's Enterprise-D Blueprints from Star Trek The Next Generation in 1996. I was 7 years old and already quickly becoming a trekkie. I read in the manual to those blueprints that TNG borrowed heavily from a film called "Star Trek The Motion Picture", which I had never heard of. I knew that William Shatner (or rather, "that guy from Rescue 9-11" as I knew him initially) was the original Enterprise captain, information I had learned from watching the Generations movie. But TMP was something I hadn't seen. I begged my dad to rent it for me, and he kept putting it off, saying, "It's really boring". Finally one day I was very sick with a cold or something, and my parents offered to rent me any movie I wanted. I told them TMP. Dad just shrugged and agreed.

While I did fall asleep during that original viewing, it was not necessarily from boredom, as I was very sick, and I loved the comfortable aesthetics (I've mentioned elsewhere that TMP for me is aesthetically pleasing in a very "comfort food" kind of way). I loved the uniforms and the sterile environments right from the beginning. The Enterprise and the Klingon Battlecruisers were so breathtaking to see in such high detail as compared to what little I had seen of their original 60s counterparts (I watched the TOS reruns on TV after school at 4:30pm every day on NBC). I remember being confused as to who was wrong, Kirk or Decker, in the debate over who should be captain, and the transporter malfunction was distressing, but otherwise the film resonated with me in a way I could not explain. Unfortunately I didn't see it again until I was 14, and by then it was via the Director's Edition, which I asked for for Christmas when we couldn't find it at the video rental stores. By that point I had realized that this film was a true masterpiece, and vastly underrated among trekkies. Every day after school from 8th to 9th grade I would come home from school and watch the first 25 minutes of the film before starting on my homework. And after high school, when the blu rays for the first six films were released, I bought them just so I could have the first film on blu ray.

I still wish I could find a way to stream the Special Longer Version, as I think that was the version I first saw as a kid (basically all I remember of my initial viewing was that it was like the theatrical cut, only with the added scene on the bridge after Kirk first comes aboard where Sulu and Uhura discuss Kirk taking command) and in my current situation financially I can't afford the 4k set that includes it. Regardless, it remains my personal pick for the most perfect Star Trek film or episode, and a true work of art.

 

[Newt]

my dad bought me Rick Sternbach's Enterprise-D Blueprints from Star Trek The Next Generation

Same! I bloody loved them blueprints, spread them across the floor as I washed the show.

I can't afford the 4k set that includes it. Regardless, it remains my personal pick for the most perfect Star Trek film or episode, and a true work of art.

Sorry to hear that mate. Maybe worth searching the secondary market it might be cheaper?

 

[Newt]

I'm just looking on the at the my apple movie store. I purchased TMP a while back.
Says it in 4k dolby vision and has the directors edition as a special feature.

Then there's another one that's labelled Star Trek The Motion Picture The Directors Edition. With 4k dolby vision and dolby atmos and has the theatrical cut as a special feature.

Is there a noticeable difference between the two?

Edit. I have doubled dipped and purchased the Directors Edition in 4k
The directors edit as an special extra on the normal theatrical cut looks like it may be the old dvd version.

 

[Qonundrum]

Greetings fellow Star Trek fans.
Been down the Star Trek memory lane of recent. Rewatching lots of trek and having a good time doing so.

TMP might be my least watched Star Trek film. I was introduced to trek in the 90s on video tape. I have a mixed opinion on the first feature film. I’ve had issues with its passing, costumes and direction. But I don’t consider it to be a bad Star Trek outing.

it's a curate's egg for sure. Not without its moments, is the most "sci-fi" of the lot since it eschews a lot of more engaging drama in favor of trying to keep the audience in the same mental perspective of the crew in the scale and awe of both V'Ger and the new Enterprise.

I can’t imagine being a fan at that time. An decade without any live action Star Trek. Only reruns and it could have not been more popular and don’t forget TAS.

I wasn't around at the time, but had something of the same feeling until finding out that Trek movies were being made (III was the first I'd seen in the theater). If you're a fan of a show and the show ends, you still want to see more of it, even after the reruns of what's already been made. Then there are other fans who feel the same way. Unlike shows like "My Mother the Car", "Star Trek" had so many fans and a few of them figured up a way to create conventions where everyone could collectively congregate.

From what I can tell by reading up and watching videos of fan conventions in the 70’s, there was a thirst for Star Trek and science fiction.

Speaking of metaphorical parallels, the metaphor of consuming a form of entertainment as if it were luncheon meat, created probably by sci-fi magazine articles, is amusing, since it can't be drank or eaten as such, yet none of us at the theater have plates and dinner forks or anything), sci-fi and Trek fans were expecting new produced episodes, or even books, et al, to be made and experienced.

The 70s gave us
The Andromeda Strain
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Star Wars
Logan's Run
Alien
Superman
Definitely room for the 60’s cult phenomenon on the silver screen.

Which run the gamut between dystopian and its antonym. In another parallel dimension, microbes from Kal-El's spacepod would have propagated and destroyed Earth, but that wasn't what the 1978 Superman film was about. Thankfully, hehe. Actually, given superheroes on TV in the 1970s and 1960s, it was a huge risk to try to give the hero enough gravitas so audiences could really believe "a man could fly" and the other memes of the day. Well, compared to 60s "Batman", the 70s TV shows were fairly serious, and largely done well, but still lacked a certain quality that Superman had, and still had some camp value applied. "Wonder Woman" was arguably the best of the bunch.

Technically, people bought tickets, which funded the theater who paid for the license that covered the making of the film. It gets more complex after that, especially if there's product placement(s) in the film to help with production cost matters.

Looking at TMP I’d say it was ambitious first outing with its very serious science fiction themes of exploration, the meaning of existence run very deep.

Very. But it's almost too ambitious, though.

Jerry Goldsmith gave us a masterpiece score that resonated for decades.

He was one of a kind, with so many movies and shows, using so many styles. "Magnificent" doesn't begin to describe his talents, of what he would fathom while watching the material to write a score for.

The starship Enterprise was beautifully redesigned. It may be favourite model design of all time. I see Star Wars fans get weepy over the millennium falcon, but to me that flying cheeseburger has nothing on the Enterprise refit.

ROTFL!! "Falcon" did look good, but your description of the shape is perfect. And Enterprise refit is far more amazing. The flybys were a nuanced treat for audiences, who'd seen nothing of the like before. The close-ups also outdo Star Wars in terms of the sense of scale. TESB has the Falcon perched on a Star Destroyer to help, but the 1979 TMP really sells the sense of scale, and it builds - first the close-ups of people next to the Enterprise, then the Enterprise within V'Ger's domain.

The Enterprise in those early films feels like a character in its own right almost. Its destruction is still emotional to watch in III.

^^this

In 1984, it was big. Big enough to warrant a big spoiler for the theatrical teaser/trailer, but people still couldn't believe they did it. But it didn't feel like a cheap gimmick or contrived, that's how beautiful it all truly was.

Let us not forget without this cinematic outing we would have nothing afterwards we hold dear as Star Trek we know and love today. It is the keystone for Star Trek. Live Long and Prosper Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Very true. Enough audiences had bought one or more tickets, to ensure a high enough profit, that Paramount would commission another -- Harve Bennett helping ensure costs would be constrained, as well as tighter storytelling. And his era got a plethora of new ship and base designs as well, upping the ante.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm just looking on the at the my apple movie store. I purchased TMP a while back.
Says it in 4k dolby vision and has the directors edition as a special feature.

Then there's another one that's labelled Star Trek The Motion Picture The Directors Edition. With 4k dolby vision and dolby atmos and has the theatrical cut as a special feature.

Is there a noticeable difference between the two?

Maybe of interest: On the 4K "Director's Edition" Blu-Ray collectors' set, the "Special Longer Version" (ie. the one that premiered on US TV in the 80s, with several minutes of unadvertised extra footage) is available as seamless branching when you insert the theatrical version disc. It is the only commercial, legal way to watch the SLV on Blu-Ray.

 

[Qonundrum]

Maybe of interest: On the 4K "Director's Edition" Blu-Ray collectors' set, the "Special Longer Version" (ie. the one that premiered on US TV in the 80s, with several minutes of unadvertised extra footage) is available as seamless branching when you insert the theatrical version disc. It is the only commercial, legal way to watch the SLV on Blu-Ray.

The seamless branching is fantastic; most players made in the last two decades have enough buffer and read-ahead capability to do this, complete without icons appearing on screen to show it's about to change something. The savings in disc space, without the need to duplicate the same video/audio elements, is also a big plus, of course.

The SLV is a treat I can't recommend enough, especially as the makers took the time to (a) put in all the scenes and plot beats the TV airing in 2.35:1 aspect ratio on top of the restoration given to it. You don't get that level of care from too many franchises.

That, and the movie - while I watch it only once every couple of years or so - seems to get better over time.

Why they called it "Special Longer Version" when it was closer to "Remastered Network TV Broadcast Version", but they could call it "Applesauce Version" and it'd largely amount to the same thing.