The Final Frontier - 30th anniversary (June 9th)

[BlueStuff]

Star Trek V is 30 years old today. In the spirit of celebration, instead of bashing the film as most of us frequently do, why not try and list things we actually ENJOYED about this film?

For me, the interplay between Kirk, Spock and McCoy is still magical. Their chemistry after so many years was perfect and was on full display here.

Anyone remember seeing this one in theaters? What did you think back in 1989?

 

[Yellow Flame Sushi]

The music and cinematography were nice.

 

[Tosk]

I don't think I could easily list all the little things I like about the film. I used to hate it once upon a time, because I focused on the really obvious negatives. These days I find it very easy to ignore the bad and ugly stuff, and just enjoy all the rest.

It's absolutely the most TOS-like film of all six. For better or worse.

 

[LAFR]

The trailers in the theater prior to it were nice.

 

[Armus]

This is the first Star Trek film I remember hearing about when it was originally released. I was 9 years old. It was the summer of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Batman, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. I watched TNG at that time but I wasn't a fan of TOS yet. So like many people, I did not watch it in the theater. I remember the trailer, when Scotty bumped his head, the audience roared with laughter.

I've recently rewatched it and I like a lot of things about it. It's a warm hearted film that aims to be TMP-lite, with more humor and action. The cinematography, the costumes, Shatner's framing, and the music are top notch. And at 106 minutes, it doesn't overstay its welcome.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I read J.M. Dillard's novelization about two weeks before the film opened. The story Dillard told, honestly, is pretty solid, and she delves into the background of various minor characters. (Dillard's St. John Talbot is a remarkably tragic figure.)

I saw the film either the second or third weekend. I enjoyed it, and I have always enjoyed it. Shatner's direction is, for me, better than Nimoy's or Frake's. The bright, airy bridge is my favorite of the movie-era bridges. The cinematography is really good and makes the film feel expansive. Shatner gets a lot out of his location filming.

In some ways, I think knowing that Roddenberry hated it makes me like it even more.

 

[Vger23]

Up to (and only with the exception of) 2009, this was my favorite Trek movie-going experience. It was my first Trek movie on opening night. I was 13 and my dad took me to dinner and then a 7:10 show. We had a blast. The box office was packed, filled with promotional material for opening night...our theater was sold out. Everyone had a great time, laughing, cheering etc. I will never forget that. There was even a standing ovation at the end. This was before the bad reviews had hit and everyone started mercilessly banging on it.

I will say that it is not only the most TOS-like film, but it is probably the film that captures a "typical Star Trek" plot the best. It's unfortunate that there were production woes that led to an admittedly flawed product, but I think this film is unfairly judged and that a lot of people simply refuse to see the good in it.

• It has the biggest heart and most kinetic energy of any of the prime universe films.
• Shatner made the film feel like a movie, rather than a made-for-TV affair.
• Besides TMP, it was the ONLY Trek film that made me feel any sense of wonder or mystery regarding the unknown.
• It explores and portrays the main characters and their relationships in a very different and appreciated way
• It introduces a well-acted and interesting "guest character"
• Production design was excellent
• Musical score is second only to TMP
• Beautiful cinematography and location shooting

 

[Vger23]

I read J.M. Dillard's novelization about two weeks before the film opened. The story Dillard told, honestly, is pretty solid, and she delves into the background of various minor characters. (Dillard's St. John Talbot is a remarkably tragic figure.)

I saw the film either the second or third weekend. I enjoyed it, and I have always enjoyed it. Shatner's direction is, for me, better than Nimoy's or Frake's. The bright, airy bridge is my favorite of the movie-era bridges. The cinematography is really good and makes the film feel expansive. Shatner gets a lot out of his location filming.

In some ways, I think knowing that Roddenberry hated it makes me like it even more.

The novelization is actually fantastic. It does go to show just how powerful a minor overhaul to the script might have been. A few brief plot points the novel touches upon enhance the story greatly.

 

[DonIago]

I appreciate the novelization because it gives the antagonists depth.

 

[Lord Garth]

Even though I don't rock climb per se, as a hiker, I love watching Kirk climb and the music that went along with it. During some of hikes, I've gone off course sometimes and had to do some climbing myself and thensome. And I've heard the same types of lectures from people I know who are like McCoy. I've got stories.

My favorite part, toward the beginning, is when Kirk said, "Even as I fell, I knew I wouldn't die. I've always known I'll die alone." Let's not get into GEN. As far as I'm concerned, he went out saving the Enterprise-B.

After shore leave is cancelled, and we see Kirk's T-shirt, I love that it says "Go climb a rock." It might've been a little in-joke referencing "Errand of Mercy", when Kirk told Kor to "go climb a tree."

 

[Lord Garth]

There's a Guns N Roses song, "Paradise City", and I always think of this movie when I hear it.

Patrick Swayze should've had a cameo in the bar, cleaning the place up like "Road House".

 

[STEPhon IT]

I loved the production design of the movie done by Herman Zimmerman and executed beautifully by his team. The new Enterprise looked like what I expected it to appear, NEW, and I loved the blending in of TNG sets and the ones done for TFF; it appeared to be a nice transition in the Starfleet design into the world of TNG. It's a far better look of the Enterprise than what was done in TUC IMO where the designs didn't look progressive but instead made cosmetic changes... just for the sake of making changes.

 

[Galileo7]

I enjoyed the ambitious attempt at making a "full-scale" 1701-A Hangar deck set complete with two shuttlecrafts.

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[Vger23]

I'm going to fire this bad boy up in my home theater room tonight in honor of the anniversary. I'm pretty frigging excited....it's been a little while since I've screened this one!

So much fun! Star Trek V is awesome.

"You know....I'm right!!"

 

[Khan 2.0]

new article
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-trek-v-killed-franchise-30-years-1216680?

In the end, Star Trek V earned just over $52 million globally, at the time a franchise low.

incorrect that was domestic only

 

[XCV330]

must.. say..good things .. about the Marshmellon Movie. Trying..
the outdoor scenes look good. The fan dance ..Teenage me confused. put on backburner of brain where it may still reside. Forget the fan dance. It is wrong to dwell upon it.


the outdoor scenes look good. Shatner should have done a western.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

The best parts are the interactions between the Star Trek Trinity. It really doesn't deserve the hate it gets. It's not great but it's not a stinker either.

 

[DonIago]

Oh, I will say the line "What does God need with a starship?" is wonderful. I mean, it's a little devastating to the cult of Sybok to have such an obvious question tossed out, but after so much of the story seems to revolve around emotional brainwashing (I'm sorry, I just don't know what else we're supposed to think of what we're shown), it's nice to have someone cut right to the heart of the problems with what everyone's been smoking to this point in the story.

 

[Galileo7]

Oh, I will say the line "What does God need with a starship?" is wonderful. I mean, it's a little devastating to the cult of Sybok to have such an obvious question tossed out, but after so much of the story seems to revolve around emotional brainwashing (I'm sorry, I just don't know what else we're supposed to think of what we're shown), it's nice to have someone cut right to the heart of the problems with what everyone's been smoking to this point in the story.

Agree.

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[DonIago]

I'm sorry, I know this post is going somewhat against the spirit of the thread, but I think it's a worthwhile question...

Do we think that one of the issues that people tend to have with this story is that Trek to this point in time has been pretty areligious if not anti-religious, so when Sybok comes along stressing faith at the expense of logic, it's not only antithetical to what we've been watching to this point, but it seems like a gimme that things aren't going to go as Sybok hopes? Perhaps we're even looking forward to seeing him get taken down a few pegs?

I'm actually imagining what might have happened if God hadn't turned out to just be another hostile alien, whether that means that the movie portrayed it as actually being God, or just a God-like entity in terms of power and benevolence and such...

One thing the novelization did that maybe the film should have brought up: Sybok actually modifies the E's shields (I can't recall whether it's 'divine inspiration' or simply Sybok being very smart about such things), and that's what allows the E to safely navigate the Great Barrier.
On the one hand, it makes more sense of the E's ability to pass through the barrier despite all the brouhaha about it. On the other, if the film's primary message is about faith, then maybe it's more fitting that the E gets through simply because everyone believes.
...which doesn't really explain how the BoP gets through, but...uh...