ST:TMP - Special, Longer Cut...

[Data Holmes]

How bad is it that I so want to watch this cut of the TMP so much that I actually have begone to dig around the net for the LD copy of it and dug out and hooked up the families old LD player...


Why can't we have this put onto DVD already.

 

[Maurice]

Ick. Cause it sucks.

 

[Data Holmes]

Ick. Cause it sucks.

Silence... I will not have someone speak ill of the SLC of TMP. :P


Really though, This was the version which I grew up on and the DE just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want my SLC version back!

 

[Grant]

That sentiment makes me glad they don't allow fans to decide the cuts of movies.

The SLV (not SLC) is the worst example of 'kitchen sink' style of extended versions. Horrible case of putting in almost every line of dialogue back in a movie no matter how inapproipriate.

It would be a decent movie at 120 minutes with a some more cutting and the welcome addition of the key deleted (in 1979) scenes: Spock crying, the destruct order, Sulu acknowledging Kirk's desire to regain command, Kirk mentioning McCoy's reluctance to use the transporter, Etc.

But the travesty of adding 12 minuters of mostly dull nonsense to an already slow movie is ridiculous.

But, all that said, they should have released the SLV via seamless branching in the Blu-ray release, since it would be compatible with the theatrical version. I say this only because they had the precedent of releasing the SLV in an official home video release in the past.

And, of course, all the deleted footage from all the movies should be in separate sections of the discs if the director thinks they shouldn't be part of the actual movie.

 

[Oso Blanco]

I also prefer the SLV over the theatrical cut, not to mention that horrible Directors Cut. I hope it will get its proper release sometime soon.

 

[RyanKCR]

The SLV is the only proper version. I know of the two really bad effects shots, but I'd take that over the horrible DE's audio mix and dropped key lines any day.

 

[Maurice]

It's full of wretched, bad takes and bits of business that really belonged on the cutting room floor...with footprints on it. It makes a slow film tedious. Bad bad bad.

 

[ScatmanRescueMe]

The SLV edit had one consideration 'fill the required timeslot !!!"

In this case, add 12 minutes to the movie. That is the absolute worst criteria for adding footage to a movie.

NONE of the 1960s through 1980s 'TV version edits' covering dozens of movies have been released as official Home Video versions--except for the two Trek films.

At least TWOK was Meyers preferred cut and only added a modest 3 1/2 minutes to the movie.

The SLV is atrocious. Those terrible scene of Ilia and Sulu--both of whom can barely act make a weak movie even worse. Parts of the script were written back when they thoguht Ilia would be a permanant regular casr member. It's totally pointless to get dubious quality backstory for a character that is going to be turned into a robot one hour into her only appearance.
The ponderous stuff in ilia's cabin was useless.
The '25% yaw 33% positive pitch' was stuningly out of place in a Trek movie.
The only good stuff from the SLV left out of the DC was:

"I am now discussing the subject of command fitness.."
"Or a crew of a thoudand ten miles tall."
"We all make god in our own image'

And those 3 bits make up less than 45 seconds of the 8 minutes from the SLV not used in the DC.

I even don't like the 'Ilia heals chekov' bit they did add back into the DC.

She is just such a terrible actress---the faces she makes when healing Chevov and looking over at Chapel are cringe-worthy. Total over-acting even when not talking is a rare 'talent'
Look at the wormhole scene........everyone had got the point of how much shaking to do during that scene---except Ilia. She is doing this ridiculous 'over' shaking totally out of sync with the rest of the crew. For a scene that took weeks to shoot she couldn't get the timing down with all the other actors? I can't dance a lick, but if i see ten people tapping their feet--I can get the timing down.


The SLV is a great example how many fair or average movies could be REALLY bad if they hadn't have edited them down.
Same with the cut scenes from TFF---they would have made a weak movie far worse.

 

[Anticitizen]

A LONGER cut!? What, one that instead of making you yawn, renders you comatose?

 

[ScatmanRescueMe]

^^Yes and then add in 36 minutes of commercials that the 1983 TV airing had !!!!

That's right!! Watch TMP with extra minutes of bad footage AND 36 minutes of commercials and you can be done in just 3 hours !!!
And when I say done I mean done!


And it includes over 42 lines repeated for extra measure because every order on a starship should be repeated---

"Thrusters at station keeping, Mr Sulu"
"Thrusters at station keeping"
Thrusters ahead, Mr Sulu".........dramatic pause...."Take us out."
"Thrusters ahead."

Every line is gold---don't remove one of them!!


What! It's a drama and that's preposterous?

Blasphemer !!

Seriously, Takei repeats Shatners orders at least 20 times in TMP and they cut out the one line where he showed ANY personality---where he says "he wanted her back....."

How can anyone prefer the SLV or theatrical to the DC is beyond me. it's like you just get comfortable with one version and therefore it must be the best.

Be flexible, if your wife/girlfriend gained two inches on her chest and lost two on her waist---you adjust!
That's the DE, it cuts out a little fat and adds a little substance.

The SLV isn't best because it's longest.
the thearical isn't best because it was first. It was never a classic. In fact, the first time anybody saw it after the theatrical run was in an altered version (SLV) which most of us considered better because it had some character development.

 

[RandyS]

Ick. Cause it sucks.

Silence... I will not have someone speak ill of the SLC of TMP. :P


Really though, This was the version which I grew up on and the DE just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want my SLC version back!

TMP has never been my favorite of the Star Trek films, but I agree with this. I was bitterly disapointed when I replaced my old VHS copy with the DE DVD and found that all the character scenes (in other words, the important stuff) was relegated to "deleted scenes". The last hour of this film with it's endless special effects scenes and crew reaction shots destroyed what could have been a good film, and it was moronic that what few character moments there were were cut.

 

[Maurice]

Ick. Cause it sucks.

Silence... I will not have someone speak ill of the SLC of TMP. :P


Really though, This was the version which I grew up on and the DE just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want my SLC version back!

TMP has never been my favorite of the Star Trek films, but I agree with this. I was bitterly disapointed when I replaced my old VHS copy with the DE DVD and found that all the character scenes (in other words, the important stuff) was relegated to "deleted scenes". The last hour of this film with it's endless special effects scenes and crew reaction shots destroyed what could have been a good film, and it was moronic that what few character moments there were were cut.

What character stuff? Sulu falling over Ilia in embarassing mode? a line about "ten miles tall"? Specifics, please.

 

[Praetor]

Until I saw the theatrical cut on television (once) when I was like 15, I had only ever seen the SLV. Then I saw the Director's Cut. I don't really remember the theatrical version well, but I can only imagine that it was an improvement. (This coming from one who generally likes the movie.)

 

[Joker]

Silence... I will not have someone speak ill of the SLC of TMP. :P


Really though, This was the version which I grew up on and the DE just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want my SLC version back!

TMP has never been my favorite of the Star Trek films, but I agree with this. I was bitterly disapointed when I replaced my old VHS copy with the DE DVD and found that all the character scenes (in other words, the important stuff) was relegated to "deleted scenes". The last hour of this film with it's endless special effects scenes and crew reaction shots destroyed what could have been a good film, and it was moronic that what few character moments there were were cut.

What character stuff? Sulu falling over Ilia in embarassing mode? a line about "ten miles tall"? Specifics, please.

People usually refer to Spock's tear scene, Scotty's engine room scene, Bones' "command fitness" scene.

 

[Anticitizen]

Elton, that's the best avatar I ever did see.

 

[Joker]

One person disagrees. They whined to the moderators about it being offensive.

 

[RandyS]

Silence... I will not have someone speak ill of the SLC of TMP. :P


Really though, This was the version which I grew up on and the DE just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want my SLC version back!

TMP has never been my favorite of the Star Trek films, but I agree with this. I was bitterly disapointed when I replaced my old VHS copy with the DE DVD and found that all the character scenes (in other words, the important stuff) was relegated to "deleted scenes". The last hour of this film with it's endless special effects scenes and crew reaction shots destroyed what could have been a good film, and it was moronic that what few character moments there were were cut.

What character stuff? Sulu falling over Ilia in embarassing mode? a line about "ten miles tall"? Specifics, please.

Any scene where characters talk to each other. Not endless, mindless special effects scenes. The writers refer to it as exposition. George Lucas and others refer to it derisvely. But, the facts are, dialog and exposition are what makes a story. Special effects are tools, NOT the whole movie. How embarrasing the lines are are irrelevent. And, the fault of the writer.

 

[Gary Sebben]

I do like the SLV better. Yes there is so tripe in it, but a lot of it was good. The Spock crying scene being the most important. I would take that good stuff with a little bad rather than loose it all together.

 

[Data Holmes]

Also I hate with a passion how the DE tramples on the great sound work from the movie, to replace it all with cues lifted right out of a "sounds of TOS" CD, instead of using and restoring the full bank of sound effects created for the movie which were reused in TWOK, TSFS, and TFF.

 

[trevanian]

One person disagrees. They whined to the moderators about it being offensive.

Compared to Spock flipping us all off, it ain't nothin' ...

plus you can always rationalize the image. Given Jesus' mouth is open, it might mean, 'no forcing the Messiah to give blowjobs' and for some close-minded types, that kind of STOP sign would be a good thing.