TMP Seems more "Futuristic" Then "Star Trek '09"

[JarodRussell]

I watched TMP awhile back ago and realized I think this movie lookes more "futuristic" then the latest Star Trek remake by Abrams. Yes, they are both different movies, Star Trek had more action in it and a lot of cool new designs, but for some reason after watching TMP it seemed to lack the "futuristic" aptitude. The Enterprise re-fit in TMP had a better engine room, and a neat room that you played games in. Each part of the ship just looked like it was made to be in the future... V'Ger looked more threatening then the Romulan ship did... I don't know, is there something wrong with me?

I think TMP's look is timeless. You can watch it in 20 years and it will still be futuristic. nuTrek will look quite dated in a couple of years.

You're right. That whole red, blue, gold uniform thing. No one's going to like that in a few years. Now TOS, they did it right, with that red, blue gold uniform thing. Timeless.

Right, reduce it just to the uniforms colors. Attaboy.

 

[Maurice]

I don't think that's entirely accurate, either. A big deal was made that the TNG sets were built as they were because the rigging/catwalks were already in place for the movie sets. If the soundstage were being used for other purposed, why would they keep all the rigging in place? If these were moved to the scene dock, you wouldn't have to reassemble them in the exact same locations on the stage.

It was used for another purpose. It just happened to be another Star Trek purpose at the time. TNG 'cannibalized' the sets from ST:TFF, which had used cannibalized parts all the way back to Phase II production...

And between the Trek movies? Did they or did they not strike the sets? That was my point.

 

[beamMe]

I think TMP's look is timeless. You can watch it in 20 years and it will still be futuristic. nuTrek will look quite dated in a couple of years.

You're right. That whole red, blue, gold uniform thing. No one's going to like that in a few years. Now TOS, they did it right, with that red, blue gold uniform thing. Timeless.

Right, reduce it just to the uniforms colors. Attaboy.

The point is: TOS, TMP and Star Trek - is, is and will be dated.
TMP screams '70s' - it's not timeless at all.

 

[JarodRussell]

The point is: TOS, TMP and Star Trek - is, is and will be dated.
TMP screams '70s' - it's not timeless at all.

It screams 70s? How?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Because everyone knows it was made in the 1970's, that's all.

 

[JarodRussell]

Because everyone knows it was made in the 1970's, that's all.

Well, he says it like it's a fact and not an opinion. Maybe he can explain it to me with pictures or something.

 

[beamMe]

The point is: TOS, TMP and Star Trek - is, is and will be dated.
TMP screams '70s' - it's not timeless at all.

It screams 70s? How?

Because everyone knows it was made in the 1970's, that's all.

And it looks like it - it's the whole aesthetic.

 

[beamMe]

Because everyone knows it was made in the 1970's, that's all.

Well, he says it like it's a fact and not an opinion. Maybe he can explain it to me with pictures or something.

He could. But he doesn't want to bother.

 

[Maurice]

Despite the 70s-ness of some elements, the things that still feel futuristic to me in TMP are:

• Casual use of antigravity (floating ladder, floating containers in corridor, etc.)
• The corridors...they just feel non-contemporary
• The drydock

That's about it.

 

[beamMe]

Despite the 70s-ness of some elements, the things that still feel futuristic to me in TMP are:

• Casual use of antigravity (floating ladder, floating containers in corridor, etc.)
• The corridors...they just feel non-contemporary
• The drydock

That's about it.

I'd throw in a few design-elements of the Enterprise as well, since they worked so well on the new version of that ship in the Abrams-film.

 

[Vance]

And it looks like it - it's the whole aesthetic.

I have to disagree with that. The things that say '1978!' the most in the movie are really the utterly ridiculous uniforms and wigs. The sets, models, and effects aren't nearly as period-dated like that. I really have to hand it to the art crews on the movie, if nothing else.

The pacing of the movie, and even elements of the script, however, are much more the grandiose-without-being-self-aware 1960s 'cinema' art style.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

What actually happened between Trek movies, according to the set design people, was that the expensive components of sets like the bridge - video monitors and playback equipment - would walk off, presumably to be utilized by other productions on the lot.

Video playback wasn't utilized on the bridge in TMP, of course, which is one of the reasons it does look dated - the rear-projected station displays are often dim and grainy, and of course the sophisticated computer animations are of a generation before the TRS-80.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Man, the TRS-80 looked so futuristic. At the time.

 

[Merky]

The bridge of the Enterprise in TMP looks like the interior of a airliner from the 70s.

Those muted browns, fabric seats, it's just how the 70s viewed the future.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I love the flower child chick in the front seat on the far right.

I think the Space Mountain control panel is of a later vintage though, even if the attraction dates to the 70s, and is Trek-influenced.

 

[Lieut. Arex]

Is that Patrick Wayne in the left aisle seat?

 

[Gepard]

Video playback wasn't utilized on the bridge in TMP, of course, which is one of the reasons it does look dated - the rear-projected station displays are often dim and grainy

While I agree that damages the effect, I still find those rear-projection screens less distracting than the obvious CRT monitors used in later Trek films, Alien, Aliens, Blade Runner, etc, etc. CRTs are such a dead technology that it dates those other, later, films quite badly. At least TMP managed to emulate flat panel displays, which is what we use now in The Future.

 

[Merky]

I wonder if the CRTs was just a more convenient solution. I think on the ST IV DVD... Okuda mentioned something along the lines for Spock's computer scene on Vulcan that they had a projector project the image onto a mirror that then projected it on the glass.

I think they just wanted to avoid setting it up and having to break it down.

 

[RAMA]

Quite frankly...they are right, you are wrong...

Why? Well firstly, the reason why you saw so much tight clothes on futuristic movies is that EVERY futurist or consultant recommended to moviemakers of the day that such clothes would be worn in the future, and unlike the material available today of the type, it would even be comfortable. Now jump ahead to the year 2000 or so, Under Armor and similar apparel has become more popular(I wore it before it became "trendy"), eventually I see a whole new category of casual clothing that will be...well tight..

RAMA

With obesity rates getting inexorably higher I seriously doubt that the average person will feel comfortable putting every fold of their grotesque, bloated, lumpy bodies on display.

The fit, young, attractive people, maybe. The average person? No. Although maybe that's wishful thinking.

Well fashion is usually inspired by the fit healthy people. lol But its not just fit people I see wearing Under Armor, its the trendy people, and since im in public a lot, I can see out of every 30 people or so, someone is wearing Under Armor!

Also, although current rates of obesity may be rising, there is no need to accept that is irreversible. Whether its through fitness or new technology (medications, genetic manipulation, or nantech) we may evenetually be able to beat the obesity epidemic. In fact, that's a great sci-fi tale in its own right waiting to be made!

RAMA

 

[Gepard]

I wonder if the CRTs was just a more convenient solution.

I'm pretty sure that was the case. There's an interview about it in one of the issues of Star Trek: The Magazine (I don't remember which one) where they talk about retrofitting the bridge set with the CRTs because the rear projection had been a nightmare for the lighting people and the DP on TMP.