What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?

[Lord Garth]

I'm very, very, very glad they didn't go with that theme. Not only does it sound bad, it also sounds extremely dated. It barely works for 1987. There's no way it would've flown by the time they got to the '90s. None. Zero.

Not only that but, while I can see it fitting the type of show TNG was in Seasons 1-2, it wouldn't have fit Seasons 3-7.

 

[Gul Sengosts]

I don't think liking TMP is that controversial, at least not the director's cut, a lot of people like it, including me. It's flawed (my least favourite thing about it is that imo it's weak on the characters side), but I don't mind at all that it's slow--being someone whose favourite sci-fi film is 2001, mind you. It's certainly the most high concept sci-fi among the Trek movies.

My controversial opinion is that it's more exciting than the Kelvin movies. They just bore me to hell.

 

[drt]

I don't mind that alternate theme, the mix on that YouTube recording is a bit tinny, presumably a better recording would have been used for the actual show. It's structured very similarly to the revised TMP theme they went with, I bet everyone would have been fine if it had been used. It just sounds off because we're used to the actual one.

 

[cooleddie74]

I do prefer the alternate Star Trek IV theme to the alternate TNG one.

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[Tallguy]

I do prefer the alternate Star Trek IV theme to the alternate TNG one.

That kind of opinion takes real Courage.

 

[Mytran]

I don't mind that alternate theme, the mix on that YouTube recording is a bit tinny, presumably a better recording would have been used for the actual show. It's structured very similarly to the revised TMP theme they went with, I bet everyone would have been fine if it had been used. It just sounds off because we're used to the actual one.

This one's a bit more recent:

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[plynch]

We dodged a very generic bullet with that alt theme.

 

[Tallguy]

But it was awesome when it played in Yesterday's Enterprise. And lots of other places.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I dig deep in the controversy. The theatrical cut of TMP is the best Trek film.

 

[drt]

This one's a bit more recent

That one does have a better quality recording.

I'm still of the opinion if that had been what they actually used, everyone would have been fine with it. Instead of a curiosity it would be the theme of a beloved TV show and if someone posted the different tempo'd version of the TMP theme they did use we'd think that was odd and unoriginal.

 

[Tallguy]

I dig deep in the controversy. The theatrical cut of TMP is the best Trek film.

Defend, please. Specifically against the DE. Either version, I suppose. Although before the 2022 edition most days I'd have agreed with you.

 

[Farscape One]

You know, the unused TNG theme reminds me of THE ORVILLE a bit.

 

[Tallguy]

I'm still of the opinion if that had been what they actually used, everyone would have been fine with it. Instead of a curiosity it would be the theme of a beloved TV show and if someone posted the different tempo'd version of the TMP theme they did use we'd think that was odd and unoriginal.

Like I said, that theme does get used a lot in McCarthy's TNG episodes. In fact it's the first music you hear in Farpoint after the credits.

As it was, many eyes rolled in September 1987 when the TMP theme came up. We all love Jerry Goldsmith but it was so obviously a cut and paste job (or whatever we would have called it then). We wanted a NEW theme.

Then the GNP record came out and people all said Dennis' original theme sounded too much like Superman. (Deep Space Nine sounds rather like The Planet Krypton. Williams is a god. We get it.)

I am astonished at how people react now when they see TMP. There is always confusion at the main title. "Why is this TNG? Did they go back and put it in? What was here before?" Kind of the same thing with Star Trek V. "Hey! This is KIRK! Why are they using PICARD'S music?!?" Oy.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

So, I watched TMP last Saturday (restored, Director's Cut, of course) and here's my controversial opinion.

It's good.

I enjoyed it immensely. It's gorgeous and it didn't feel long or padded. I'd forgotten this was where we first heard what would become the TNG theme! They probably could've cut some of the Magical Mystery Tour through V'Ger, but I think they were 1) trying to show the sheer scale and 2) enjoying having a budget.

I'm at work so I don't have the novelization in front of me: does it have why Spock goes for Kohlinor? Yes, it's because he wants to purge those pesky (human) emotions, but was it losing Kirk and The Gang that drove him there? I think so. Trying to stop pain and grief. A very human thing to do!

I'd also forgotten about Spock laughing. What an awesome scene! Laughing at his own absurdity. The realization that Pure Cold Logic is not what he wants. It made me think about the older & wiser Spock who will eventually tell Valeris that logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end, and appreciate Spock's journey all over again.

Not alone, not alone...... I feel this way like I'm the only soul that really likes TMP

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Defend, please. Specifically against the DE. Either version, I suppose. Although before the 2022 edition most days I'd have agreed with you.

The DE trashes the soundtrack. Possibly the coolest universal translator segment in the entire franchise is the synthetic voice reading of "INTRUDER UNIDENTIFIED...." It's absence is glaring. And the replacement red alert alarm klaxon is lame. Generally speaking, a soundtrack hanging together and jibing with the rest of the film is really very important. The original soundtrack did that better than the replacement. It was a remarkable achievement for the DE to take an imperfect soundtrack and make it substantially worse.

 

[Tallguy]

(Looking at my Art of TMP, Cinefex on TMP, TMP photonovel, three different editions of the soundtrack on CD, Roddenberry's novel, and of course The Complete Adventure 4K set of TMP... And that's just what's out on display...)

It's ok.

 

[drt]

Defend, please. Specifically against the DE. Either version, I suppose. Although before the 2022 edition most days I'd have agreed with you.

I prefer the theatrical as well, there are too many strange choices and distracting fanboy stuff in the DE (Dochterman Edition). I would have much preferred an actual director’s cut based on what Wise wanted to do in 1979.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Sure. But that's not almost a quote from City of Death!

I thought that's what you were doing but to have you confirm it...

Like a bouquet! :-)

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I prefer the theatrical as well, there are too many strange choices and distracting fanboy stuff in the DE (Dochterman Edition). I would have much preferred an actual director’s cut based on what Wise wanted to do in 1979.

That also.

 

[Tuskin38]

Like I said, that theme does get used a lot in McCarthy's TNG episodes. In fact it's the first music you hear in Farpoint after the credits.

Are you sure? I'm not hearing it.