I've always thought Star Trek: The Motion Picture was an incredibly redundant and crappy name. And with all of today's Star Trek Into Darkness naming hype, I'm sure we can do a better job renaming Trek's first big-screen adventure. So lets come up with better names for TMP! Star Trek (1979) Star Trek: The Vejur Encounter Star Trek: In Thy Image (the name of the Phase II pilot that became TMP) ....?
I've always thought of it as In Thy Image. Heck, I independently had the idea that it should be called something like In Your Image even before I discovered that Foster's original script was actually called almost exactly the same thing!
I had that idea earlier but shied away from posting. I saved it though, in case I got my courage up. *pastes from clipboard*
I liked it. It's prosaic, but also pretty much what the movie is. First thing that came to mind. I'm sure I still have the Reeves-Stevens book on Phase II around here somewhere, that was quite interesting to read (especially the scripts, such as "In Thy Image", that came with it). Beyond that (and The Human Adventures) uh... Beyond the Unknown? The Visitor?
Star Trek: The Human Adventure Star Trek: In Thy Image Star Trek: Vejur Star Trek: Infestation Star Trek: Beyond the Universe . . . Star Trek at the Roller Disco Eight-Trek Star Trek: The Light Show Star Trek: Ain't No L7 Star Trek: The Commodores Right On Kling-On! Turn the Beam Around Evil Deltan Cloud of Glass Just A Live Machine
It would have just been STAR TREK except they worried that people wouldn't realize it was a movie and not just the TV show. The title was the right one for the time. The proposed subtitles aren't improving it, even if some are amusing.
Star Trek: The One Where Kirk Talks To A Machine Star Trek: Nomad 2 Star Trek: Disappointing Your Space Children Star Trek: Your Oath of Celibacy Does Not Cover Mind Screws Star Trek: Journey To The Center Of A Bizarre Brain Beyond Our Science Star Trek: You'll Never Guess Who Is the God of Whom Star Trek: A Space Odyssey Legally Distinct From That Other One
V'Ger: The Reason to Get Out of Bed In the Morning V'Ger: Vaporize Life By the Bowlful! . . . V'Ger: The Cure for the Common Star Trek "Wait! That's it right there! The Cure for the Common Star Trek! I think we've hit a home run. We don't need to take up any more of your time. I know you have some celebrating to do." "Any time fellas!"
It's probably worth noting that the first Christopher Reeve "Superman" movie, which came out around the same time, went the same route: Superman: The Motion Picture. It makes it sound like more of an event, than just a movie based on old tv show or comic book.