this film deserved a better story and script
I strongly disagree. Like the original pilot "The Cage," “The Corbomite Maneuver” and “Metamorphosis," The Motion Picture is a mature, cerebral, sci-fi story with very little action. Most kids and young adults won’t like it or grasp it. Its depth is evidenced by the emotional whollop experienced when Spock grasps Kirk’s hand in Sickbay (truly revealing emotion) or when Spock weeps for V’ger and comments on its personal dilemma, not to mention Decker’s self-sacrificial fusion with the machine so that it may evolve to the next level of awareness. The fact that the film inspires such a profound reaction proves that it’s not just a bad film that apologists try to make excuses for as critics claim.
The Motion Picture was one of the most expensive films of its time, but it did well at the box office and thus made a decent profit — a testimony to how hungry the public was for Star Trek after ten long years. In fact, aside from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, ST:TMP is still the most profitable of all the Star Trek movies featuring the original cast, making four times its expense worldwide; it even set a record of almost $12 million during its opening weekend at the U.S. box office. It therefore can’t very well be the cinematic turd that many critics claim. Also, consider the fact that The Motion Picture made more at the box office than the acclaimed films Alien and Apocalypse Now, both released the same year.
The Motion Picture towers alone, utterly unique in the feature film series — a profoundly spiritual TRIUMPH.
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strntz (12259)
5 years ago
I don't mind that it doesn't have a lot of action. I think films that are special effect top heavy become boring in their over the top sequences.
I think they spent almost 10 minutes running the camera up and down the Enterprise model. The sound effects were juvenile (particularly that effect that sounds like a bass guitar note fed into a synthesizer), the "uniforms" looked like pajamas, and the ship was cold and sterile. Whereas one could see feeling at home on TOS Enterprise, TMP looks like a mental hospital inside.
The ironic thing is that the first 10 minutes or so when the Klingons first attacked, then tried to escape from Vger, was brilliant. I just about wet myself in the theater wondering how I could stand such a great film. At that point, I thought it was going to be like 2001 with more action and hopefully an ending that wouldn't have to be debated for 50 years. I was wrong.
Just kind of died after the Klingons did.
That it was a remake of The Changeling just iced it for me. At least the ending makes sense.
EDIT: I am not at all surprised by the movie's theater performance. I think that was the only movie I ever saw on the opening night. I'm 62 now, and let me tell you there was a pent up demand for anything Star Trek. Any of the subsequent films would have grossed just as much as TMP did if released in it's stead.
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Wuchak (8737)
5 years ago
Kirk & Scotty’s space-jetting around the Enterprise at dock, gazing at the starship in awe, is perhaps overlong (4.5 minutes, not 10), but it helps to establish the serious vibe and wonder-inducing grand scope of the film. Roddenberry & Wise obviously wanted to show off the new model of the Enterprise after 10 long years absence.
The loose simplicity of the “pajamas” make more sense for a healthy and productive crew in the far-flung future than the tight, cumbersome Horatio-Hornblower-in-space uniforms Nicholas Meyer introduced in TWOK.
I've heard the "sterile" Enterprise sets criticisms before and I get what your saying, but -- say what you will -- the sets are a vast improvement over TOS and were the blueprint for TNG, except that they added a tan-ish/brown zing.
After the outstanding Kingon opening you noted, the story ominously switches to Vulcan where Spock undergoes the mystical rite kolinahr, which unexpectedly fails. From thereon Spock seems royally pissed off. His utter coldness prompts McCoy to observe: “Spock, you haven’t changed a bit. You’re just as warm and sociable as ever.” The Vulcan responds: “Nor have you, doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.” As you can see, Spock basically treats McCoy as not much more than an irritating gnat. Yet this ties into Spock’s frustrating failure to attain kolinahr and parallels V’ger’s plight.
Like “The Corbomite Maneuver” and “Metamorphosis," TMP is a mature, cerebral, sci-fi story with very little action. Most kids and young adults won’t like it or grasp it. Its depth is evidenced by the emotional whollop experienced when Spock grasps Kirk’s hand in Sickbay (truly revealing emotion) or when Spock weeps for V’ger and comments on its personal dilemma, not to mention Decker’s self-sacrificial fusion with the machine so that it may evolve to the next level of awareness.
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Wuchak (8737)
5 years ago
It's essentially an amalgam of some of the episodes: It combines the basic plot of “The Changeling” with the vibe of “The Corbomite Maneuver”: There’s not much action, the Enterprise comes face to face with the unknown — in both cases a gigantic alien vessel — and the crew have to put their heads together to prevail. The way crewman Baily willingly decides to leave the Enterprise and go off with the alien ship brings to mind the way Decker leaves to merge with V’ger. There are also obvious elements of "The Doomsday Machine."
While TMP shares plot elements with "The Changeling," it's a very different experience. In the episode Nomad's origins are revealed around the midway point, 25 minutes in or so, whereas the truth about V'ger isn't revealed until the very ending of the 2 hour movie. Also there's a huge difference between a meter-length tin can and the ominous, mysterious V-ger cloud.
In any case, if the viewer is psyched-up for a movie-length version of the suspenseful “The Doomsday Machine,” I can see TMP being disappointing. Although TMP shares similarities with that popular episode, it has more in common with “The Cage,” Roddenberry’s first stab at Star Trek. Like TMP, “The Cage” is a weighty sci-fi drama with very little action. In light of these factors, as long as the viewer makes the necessary psychological adjustments, the flick is extraordinary.
Although TMP is definitely an “A” level picture as far as epic, awe-inspiring pieces of cinematic art go, I can understand why some some would rate it lower, like yourself. I suggest making the necessary mental adjustments and watching it again. Relax and let the movie give you a good time; put on a pot of coffee (you’re gonna need it — ha, ha!), kick back and relish the movie magic.
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strntz (12259)
5 years ago
I'm too old to make any further mental adjustments..
Look, I don't hate it, it's just that the movies I watch over and over are like comfort food for me. Most of those (the ones that aren't comedies) are great dramas and don't have a lot of action. TMP just doesn't resonate with me the way a lot of other movies do for me - The Cage included which I think is fabulous. If I'm in the channel flipping mode, I'll stop and watch parts of TMP.
On the plus side, no one Trekkers cared about died in this movie.
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Wuchak (8737)
5 years ago
It's all good, strntz.
I meant "mental adjustments" in the sense of preparing yourself for what you are about to consume. For instance, you have to be braced for a comedy to enjoy the episodes "I, Mudd" and "The Trouble with Tribbles." If you want space action & suspense "The Doomsday Machine" will do whereas if you want something more dramatic & spiritual "Metamorphosis" should fill the bill. They're all Star Trek, but very different in tone.
I know what you mean, though, about a movie not resonating even while enjoying some elements of it. I feel that way about TWOK, which is my least favorite Star Trek flick. I have a thread on that board explaining my issues with it.
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