I tried to watch "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" for the first time on TV a few years ago. I got to the part where they're all staring at special effects on the viewscreen, then gave up out of boredom. After that, I read up about it online and spoke to a friend who had seen it and it seemed that the prevailing opinion about this movie was the same as mine - it's a movie that focuses too much on special effects and is ultimately a dull and hollow waste of time. So I assumed I wasn't missing anything by giving up on the movie so early in its running time, and was resolved to never watching it again.
Then I came here and was absolutely floored by the amount of goodwill the movie seems to have earned amongst folks at TrekBBS. There seemed to be as many posts praising it as there were ripping Nemesis and it even beat my beloved "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" decisively in "Best Star Trek movie" polls. So curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it another chance. I really wanted to do all I could do to ensure that (if at all possible) I could end up liking and appreciating this movie the way many people here do, so I took the recommendation of many to watch the director's edition. I wanted to give it the fairest chance possible and assumed that in checking out the best version available, I would be able to determine once and for all if I belong on the side of the people who just can't see any merit in the movie whatsoever and those who passionately defend it as an underrated gem. It seemed to me like there was no middle ground on this movie - people either loved it or hated...until I wound up in the middle about it myself.
All things considered, I think it's actually pretty good. It never made me as angry or insulted my intelligence the way I felt "Star Trek: Insurrection" did, and it didn't frustrate me by having a story so poor that it makes all of the performances in it seem wasted on a misguided premise (again like "Insurrection", but also like "The Final Frontier", and "Nemesis"). What did bother me about it was that I thought it was too heartless (until the end), too lethagically paced, and (still) had an annoying overabundance of special effects shots. Still, there was much to like:
- I love the basic story of the movie and the way it was resolved.
- I was absolutely enthralled by the beautifully rendered space vistas at the beginning (starting with the astronaut floating around), and I found the design of "V'Ger" wonderful.
- This may be the oldest Star Trek movie, but I think it is the most impressive in terms of production design. I think it's the only one that's really captured the majesty one imagines would really be on display for people living in space, moreso than any of the other Star Trek shows and movies. I think they knew they had great special effects and production design to work with when they did this movie...
That must be why that unfortunate decision was made to include some of the scenes that are way too self-indulgent with special effects. I agree with all the complaints about how endless that scene of Kirk being taken to the Enterprise was. The only way I could stand it was by minimizing the window it was in (was watching the movie on a media player on my computer) and surfing the net for its duration, glancing over occasionally until it was over. I didn't find much to like in that scene, except the music and that one shot (apparently only included in the Director's edition) of Kirk looking out the window and the ship's reflection being seen next to his face. I can understand why a member of this forum (I forget which) seemed to like that shot enough to make it his avatar. But that damn scene of them entering "V'ger" is still insufferable. I enjoyed the way its insides were depicted, but all those shots of the crew just looking at it in awe exhausted me.
I also didn't like the way the characters were portrayed, except McCoy. Kirk seemed to have lost all the warmth and good-humour he always possessed in the series, instead spending most of the time re-iterating how dire the situation is because something is about to attack earth and only they can stop it. I know it was a serious situation, so he shouldn't be clowning around, but still, seeing Kirk act so dead serious for so long was just a bummer. I don't know how we were supposed to feel about Kirk and Dekker. I hated Kirk (first time ever) for being such an insensitive, rank-pulling, pompous, selfish jerk to Dekker, but I couldn't feel sorry for or root for Dekker because he was so whiny.
Spock seemed more cold and distant than usual as well. I know the central quality of his character is stoicism, but I don't think he was ever so dull in the show. He has a couple of intriguingly eloquent lines about the desire of all beings to know where they come from and a nice zen moment after his experience out in space on his own, but for the most part, I was disappointed by how detached he seemed from everything and how little of interest there was in his words and actions. Thankfully, McCoy brought from the show his usual endearing grumpiness, neurotic fear of danger, and level-headed ability to always talk sense into Kirk when Kirk most needs it.
So a lot of things about this movie disappointed me, but very few actually infuriated me and for that reason, I can understand somewhat why people like it so much and why many consider it one of the better Star Trek movies. I don't think it comes close to approaching the quality of my 'holy trinity' of Star Trek movies (First Contact, The Wrath of Khan, and The Voyage Home), but I can understand people liking it more than or as much as "The Undiscovered Country" and "The Search for Spock". Like them, and unlike "The Final Frontier" and the last two TNG movies, it was obviously made with top notch attention to detail in terms of special effects, production design, and story. Where it fails is in flattening the characters and lavishing the attention that should be on them on the F/X.
The biggest surprise to me, however, is that despite all of this, there were some character moments that I adored. Oddly enough, my favourite character was Ilia after she's possessed. I love the way she only thought of the other characters as carbon-based "units" and am especially fond of how she referred to Kirk as "Kirk unit". In my opinion, the single greatest scene in the movie is when Kirk bluffs her about having the information "V'ger" wants. Her pleading, "Kirk unit, Kirk unit!" made me laugh so hard...she sounded like a little kid trying to beg Mommy to buy her a dolly or something. It really enforced (in the most hilarious way possible) the idea that even with its apparent limitless destructive power, "V'Ger" is basically just a curious and naive child. The blatant 2001 rip-off of Spock's journey out in space was my other favourite. It was the one scene where I didn't mind that the movie was trying to overstuff me on eye candy.
While the characters felt too distant from their TV counterparts most of the time, I was pleasantly surprised by a few moments that I did feel channeled them. For example, the "Kirk Unit" exchange reminded me very much of "The Corbomite Manuever" and made me smile in doing such. The moment where McCoy calls Kirk out on being a jerk and letting his obsession with the Enterprise and being in command of it motivate him to be unfair to Dekker also pleased me, as I felt it recalled the end of "The Naked Time" (revealing Kirk's romantic relationship-like attachment to his ship). "V'ger" ending up being a mispronunciation due to something (dirt?) covering the real name strangely can now be interpreted as a cute "Simpsons" reference!
I think this movie's ending is on par with those of all the early Star Trek movies (not including five, which I never made it to). Dekker trying to explain human nature to possessed Ilia and then having to join with her and V'ger to make both of them understand it was an idea that I'm very impressed with. Two of the best utilized and most important recurring themes of classic "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is the wonder not just of humans towards space, but of human nature itself as seen through the perception of beings that are not humans. I believe this movie (in scenes like the Dekker and possessed Ilia ones) captured both in a way none of the other movies have.
I also like how the ending addressed that classic Star Trek theme of the line between man and machine and the moral that while machine can surpass human in terms of physical ability, it never can in terms of emotion and insight, and therefore needs humankind, no matter how much more advanced it becomes on a technical level. I thought it was cool how the solution to the conflict of the movie was machine accepting its need for humanity and the resolution being achieved by the literal joining in harmony of human and machine. At the same time, however, my inner cynic tells me to scoff at the obvious reality that this had to be the solution at least partially so people making future Star Trek movies could avoid having to deal with Dekker and Ilia as part of the Enterprise crew.
Other stray questions and observations...
* For a movie that put so much painstaking detail into presenting itself as futuristic-looking, they sure screwed up on that front with McCoy's appearance when he first boards the Enterprise. I know the idea is that he's been relaxing, but did they have to make him look like he's clearly a 70s hippie (sans the long hair on the head) to show him looking "casual"?
* Did anyone else think the tops of the uniforms looked kind of like polo/golf shirts? I like how they had the rank lines on the sleeves like the uniforms on the show. Did the uniforms in Star Trek II-VI have those lines? I don't recall seeing them. I don't agree with the many people who criticize the uniforms so much. I think they were good...the shirts just should have been higher, altering the pants accordingly.
* Am I the only one who got sick of the new Star Trek theme? It's a lovely tune, but it was way overplayed. The movie reminded me of "Encounter at Farpoint" where the theme was played CONSTANTLY, to the point where it became irritating. Such a dramatic theme should be used sparingly, lest it become overbearing.
* I think the Dekker and Ilia 'romantic relationship' is the least convincing one I've ever seen in a Star Trek movie. Yes, even worse than Uhura and Spock. There was just no chemistry or tenderness between them and no explanation for how or why they would be attracted to each other.
* I was surprised to see Scotty so slim in this movie. I wonder what happened between it and "The Wrath of Khan" to make him bulk up so much?
* Did anyone else think the ridges of the Klingons at the beginning looked kind of like mohawks?
Then I came here and was absolutely floored by the amount of goodwill the movie seems to have earned amongst folks at TrekBBS. There seemed to be as many posts praising it as there were ripping Nemesis and it even beat my beloved "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" decisively in "Best Star Trek movie" polls. So curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it another chance. I really wanted to do all I could do to ensure that (if at all possible) I could end up liking and appreciating this movie the way many people here do, so I took the recommendation of many to watch the director's edition. I wanted to give it the fairest chance possible and assumed that in checking out the best version available, I would be able to determine once and for all if I belong on the side of the people who just can't see any merit in the movie whatsoever and those who passionately defend it as an underrated gem. It seemed to me like there was no middle ground on this movie - people either loved it or hated...until I wound up in the middle about it myself.
All things considered, I think it's actually pretty good. It never made me as angry or insulted my intelligence the way I felt "Star Trek: Insurrection" did, and it didn't frustrate me by having a story so poor that it makes all of the performances in it seem wasted on a misguided premise (again like "Insurrection", but also like "The Final Frontier", and "Nemesis"). What did bother me about it was that I thought it was too heartless (until the end), too lethagically paced, and (still) had an annoying overabundance of special effects shots. Still, there was much to like:
- I love the basic story of the movie and the way it was resolved.
- I was absolutely enthralled by the beautifully rendered space vistas at the beginning (starting with the astronaut floating around), and I found the design of "V'Ger" wonderful.
- This may be the oldest Star Trek movie, but I think it is the most impressive in terms of production design. I think it's the only one that's really captured the majesty one imagines would really be on display for people living in space, moreso than any of the other Star Trek shows and movies. I think they knew they had great special effects and production design to work with when they did this movie...
That must be why that unfortunate decision was made to include some of the scenes that are way too self-indulgent with special effects. I agree with all the complaints about how endless that scene of Kirk being taken to the Enterprise was. The only way I could stand it was by minimizing the window it was in (was watching the movie on a media player on my computer) and surfing the net for its duration, glancing over occasionally until it was over. I didn't find much to like in that scene, except the music and that one shot (apparently only included in the Director's edition) of Kirk looking out the window and the ship's reflection being seen next to his face. I can understand why a member of this forum (I forget which) seemed to like that shot enough to make it his avatar. But that damn scene of them entering "V'ger" is still insufferable. I enjoyed the way its insides were depicted, but all those shots of the crew just looking at it in awe exhausted me.
I also didn't like the way the characters were portrayed, except McCoy. Kirk seemed to have lost all the warmth and good-humour he always possessed in the series, instead spending most of the time re-iterating how dire the situation is because something is about to attack earth and only they can stop it. I know it was a serious situation, so he shouldn't be clowning around, but still, seeing Kirk act so dead serious for so long was just a bummer. I don't know how we were supposed to feel about Kirk and Dekker. I hated Kirk (first time ever) for being such an insensitive, rank-pulling, pompous, selfish jerk to Dekker, but I couldn't feel sorry for or root for Dekker because he was so whiny.
Spock seemed more cold and distant than usual as well. I know the central quality of his character is stoicism, but I don't think he was ever so dull in the show. He has a couple of intriguingly eloquent lines about the desire of all beings to know where they come from and a nice zen moment after his experience out in space on his own, but for the most part, I was disappointed by how detached he seemed from everything and how little of interest there was in his words and actions. Thankfully, McCoy brought from the show his usual endearing grumpiness, neurotic fear of danger, and level-headed ability to always talk sense into Kirk when Kirk most needs it.
So a lot of things about this movie disappointed me, but very few actually infuriated me and for that reason, I can understand somewhat why people like it so much and why many consider it one of the better Star Trek movies. I don't think it comes close to approaching the quality of my 'holy trinity' of Star Trek movies (First Contact, The Wrath of Khan, and The Voyage Home), but I can understand people liking it more than or as much as "The Undiscovered Country" and "The Search for Spock". Like them, and unlike "The Final Frontier" and the last two TNG movies, it was obviously made with top notch attention to detail in terms of special effects, production design, and story. Where it fails is in flattening the characters and lavishing the attention that should be on them on the F/X.
The biggest surprise to me, however, is that despite all of this, there were some character moments that I adored. Oddly enough, my favourite character was Ilia after she's possessed. I love the way she only thought of the other characters as carbon-based "units" and am especially fond of how she referred to Kirk as "Kirk unit". In my opinion, the single greatest scene in the movie is when Kirk bluffs her about having the information "V'ger" wants. Her pleading, "Kirk unit, Kirk unit!" made me laugh so hard...she sounded like a little kid trying to beg Mommy to buy her a dolly or something. It really enforced (in the most hilarious way possible) the idea that even with its apparent limitless destructive power, "V'Ger" is basically just a curious and naive child. The blatant 2001 rip-off of Spock's journey out in space was my other favourite. It was the one scene where I didn't mind that the movie was trying to overstuff me on eye candy.
While the characters felt too distant from their TV counterparts most of the time, I was pleasantly surprised by a few moments that I did feel channeled them. For example, the "Kirk Unit" exchange reminded me very much of "The Corbomite Manuever" and made me smile in doing such. The moment where McCoy calls Kirk out on being a jerk and letting his obsession with the Enterprise and being in command of it motivate him to be unfair to Dekker also pleased me, as I felt it recalled the end of "The Naked Time" (revealing Kirk's romantic relationship-like attachment to his ship). "V'ger" ending up being a mispronunciation due to something (dirt?) covering the real name strangely can now be interpreted as a cute "Simpsons" reference!
I think this movie's ending is on par with those of all the early Star Trek movies (not including five, which I never made it to). Dekker trying to explain human nature to possessed Ilia and then having to join with her and V'ger to make both of them understand it was an idea that I'm very impressed with. Two of the best utilized and most important recurring themes of classic "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is the wonder not just of humans towards space, but of human nature itself as seen through the perception of beings that are not humans. I believe this movie (in scenes like the Dekker and possessed Ilia ones) captured both in a way none of the other movies have.
I also like how the ending addressed that classic Star Trek theme of the line between man and machine and the moral that while machine can surpass human in terms of physical ability, it never can in terms of emotion and insight, and therefore needs humankind, no matter how much more advanced it becomes on a technical level. I thought it was cool how the solution to the conflict of the movie was machine accepting its need for humanity and the resolution being achieved by the literal joining in harmony of human and machine. At the same time, however, my inner cynic tells me to scoff at the obvious reality that this had to be the solution at least partially so people making future Star Trek movies could avoid having to deal with Dekker and Ilia as part of the Enterprise crew.
Other stray questions and observations...
* For a movie that put so much painstaking detail into presenting itself as futuristic-looking, they sure screwed up on that front with McCoy's appearance when he first boards the Enterprise. I know the idea is that he's been relaxing, but did they have to make him look like he's clearly a 70s hippie (sans the long hair on the head) to show him looking "casual"?
* Did anyone else think the tops of the uniforms looked kind of like polo/golf shirts? I like how they had the rank lines on the sleeves like the uniforms on the show. Did the uniforms in Star Trek II-VI have those lines? I don't recall seeing them. I don't agree with the many people who criticize the uniforms so much. I think they were good...the shirts just should have been higher, altering the pants accordingly.
* Am I the only one who got sick of the new Star Trek theme? It's a lovely tune, but it was way overplayed. The movie reminded me of "Encounter at Farpoint" where the theme was played CONSTANTLY, to the point where it became irritating. Such a dramatic theme should be used sparingly, lest it become overbearing.
* I think the Dekker and Ilia 'romantic relationship' is the least convincing one I've ever seen in a Star Trek movie. Yes, even worse than Uhura and Spock. There was just no chemistry or tenderness between them and no explanation for how or why they would be attracted to each other.
* I was surprised to see Scotty so slim in this movie. I wonder what happened between it and "The Wrath of Khan" to make him bulk up so much?
* Did anyone else think the ridges of the Klingons at the beginning looked kind of like mohawks?
