I feel much as you do........I'll still watch it, but it feels like a TV episode in most respects to me.
Why do you rank TFF highly?
- Thread starter EnriqueH
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I feel much as you do........I'll still watch it, but it feels like a TV episode in most respects to me.
I liked the film for a couple of reasons:
It was Kirk/Spock/McCoy-centric.
It relegated the rest of the crew to bit players - which is what they are.
It was like a television episode.
There are a lot of good scenes in that film: well-thought out and well-played.
It was Kirk/Spock/McCoy-centric.
It relegated the rest of the crew to bit players - which is what they are.
It was like a television episode.
There are a lot of good scenes in that film: well-thought out and well-played.
In a nutshell, I'd say that if people find this movie likable, it is because it carries on in the vein that the preceding film did, in being a lighthearted, fun adventure version of cinematic Trek. Much more outright comedy in 4 & 5 than any of the other TOS films. I'll admit, that back in the day, I was a little disappointed by that direction of the franchise, but in hindsight, the actors really do lend better to that than I might have given them credit, & the personality they bring to it is what makes these films good fun. Yes, it does have a flavor reminiscent of the old tv show's lighter fare
Did you ever watch it?
Shatner's direction is occasionally superb. If he had been a director for hire on a movie he didn't write, and where he wasn't making his own role too heroic... he might well have got good reviews for making a mediocre movie look unexpectedly good.
As an auteur.... no.
As an auteur.... no.
For me the scene on the Observation Deck where Spock spurns Sybok sits side by side with Spock's TWOK death scene. This is a crowning moment of this iconic trio's friendship as they begin to round off their careers. And Shatner's acting as Kirk defends his refusal of Sybok's offer of his pain experience is absolutely exquisite.
It's not so much that I rank the film higher but it has scenes within it that are truly marvellous.
So much good in this movie gets overlooked because people are too caught up in the tunnel vision of "but it sucks!!!"
It's certainly not going to be to everyone's liking....but even if you hate the movie overall, it would be hard to admit there aren't some brilliant scenes or elements.
It's certainly not going to be to everyone's liking....but even if you hate the movie overall, it would be hard to admit there aren't some brilliant scenes or elements.
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The film was very much in the spirit of the original series, particularly episodes like The Way to Eden. Its also strangely innocent, almost worthy of a G rating. Nothing gruesome happens, no parasites invading human flesh, every fight's bloodless and the apparent romances are all sexless. Its very charming, in its own way, with how innofensive it is. Even Sybok comes across as someone interesting but manages never to be all that menacing. The Klingons, also, are less menacing in favor of being competitive in their desire for status as top dog versus Captain Kirk. And the brotherhood of the Big 3 is strongly represented, throughout. If you just want to spend time with the crew, if thats all your really in it for, then The Final Frontier wont disappoint.
Funny...I don't care for the campfire scenes but really like the rest of the film!
I think there are a few reasons why I rank TFF highly
1. It was the only movie to really get the chemistry of "The Big 3" correct from the TV show
2. It was curious, actually going where no one has gone before
3. The Yosemite scene were emotional and restrained, and I still think about the scene where they are on the observation deck and the camera pans to the wheel with Trek's tagline
4. The "I need my pain" scene
5. McCoy's father scene
6. The Music ("The Mountain" is one of the more underrated tracks in Star Trek's film score)
7. I liked the fat klingon
8. The movie set out to be fun and it was stupid fun
It's not my favorite movie (Star Trek VI is) but I still rank it somewhere in the middle.
1. It was the only movie to really get the chemistry of "The Big 3" correct from the TV show
2. It was curious, actually going where no one has gone before
3. The Yosemite scene were emotional and restrained, and I still think about the scene where they are on the observation deck and the camera pans to the wheel with Trek's tagline
4. The "I need my pain" scene
5. McCoy's father scene
6. The Music ("The Mountain" is one of the more underrated tracks in Star Trek's film score)
7. I liked the fat klingon
8. The movie set out to be fun and it was stupid fun
It's not my favorite movie (Star Trek VI is) but I still rank it somewhere in the middle.
I thought it was wonderfully shot. I wish Shatner would return to it and maybe attempt to do a re-cut.
This is the case for me. The film has high points, but it's the middle ground for Trek movies, only beating out TSFS because of how fun it is. But, it beats all the TNG films so it has that going for it.
Aside from maybe TMP, which was admittedly a very different kind of film, this is easily the most beautiful and dynamically shot film of the original 6.
He wanted to do a 'directors cut' where he would re-edit scenes and update the God-awful special effects but Paramount refused to give him any money to do it.
A shame because I would love to see that myself. One of the things that drags it down for me is the poor special effects (it really stands out since the other 12 films have decent effects at the very least--TFF sticks out like a sore thumb in that regard). And yeah, it could probably use some re-editing in areas as well.
Now that was about 10 years ago when they were doing all the "Special Edition" DVDs for the first 10 films. Nowadays, with computer technology the way it is they probably could do it for a fraction of the cost. I think there are enough fans to make it worth their while personally. I know I'd buy it.
TFF has always been my favorite TOS film. It just felt the most like TOS series. The dynamic between kirk, spock and McCoy was just incredible, right there with the best TOS episodes. Luckinbill as Sybock wasnt just a straight evil wanting revenge villian. I was also big on the comics at the time. It was shortly after this film that DC Comics relaunched the trek comics.
I've made a statement many times about this topic when many fans junk on V and give VI these un-deserved praises which I grew a lot of heat over, but I'll say it again, what would Star Trek VI be if the movie had the same SFX as TFF? V is a very nice looking movie visually and despite its off story, and horrible SFX, it didn't have the constant out of character experiences that VI displayed in almost every frame. For V the goal was adventure and it went in that direction and the movie looked good, the characters were the characters and I never questioned their motives. Maybe the SFX won't be the end all savior to that movie but I think it would hold up better if there was a treatment to best the merits of the work done on principal photography.
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