I'll admit to not seeing this for a very long time. Perhaps I should give it another go. I'll never forget Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers dubbing TFF "Windbags at Warp Speed." But assuming people are serious about preferring TFF to other 80's Trek films what is behind that?
Does the humor hit the mark for you or is it unintentionally funny? I remember the shifting from shore leave to the rescue mission effective. So some sense of adventure.
Sybok's insight that people have a core psychological and emotional wound seemed at least like something people could relate to. Kirk observed that God was better pursued in improving the contents of the human heart rather than crossing space or even metaphysical barriers to find Him (Her, It).
I recall that the presence of the Klingons was weak. Here would have been a great place with a better script to have Commander Kor back. Also the story added a previously unknown Spock sibling from an earlier Sarek marriage. Is that something people like? A willingness to mess up what looked like settled story.
TFF is a flawed film. I would never argue that point, ever. But, that said...I think my unwavering love for it is based on a number of things that are most certainly based on my own personal preferences and values:
1. It is, without a doubt, the film that feels most like an expanded and more epic version of a TOS episode. It has all the hallmarks, good and bad. And, since TOS is far-and-away my favorite version of Star Trek, that plays well for me.
2. The character stuff for Kirk, Spock and McCoy is pure gold...all of it. TSFS did a great job exploring the bonds of friendship with the crew, but it wasn't ideal because Spock wasn't there. Now that the crew is fully reunited, TFF soars in the area of expanding on and exploring the bond between "The Big Three."
3. I actually really enjoy the basic plot. As much as I love the "Trek Trilogy" of II-IV, it's TMP and TFF that feel most like classic "Star Trek missions," and the idea of the ship getting assigned to negotiate a hostage situation, and they end up getting hijacked to go find "God" at the center of the galaxy is, for me at least, a fascinating premise for a film. It's not a guy looking for revenge or a time travel story....it's off-beat and unique an it's something I appreciated about the film.
4. This is one of the only Trek films that went and visited strange, new worlds. There was a sense of wonder and mystery tied with a sense of adventure and fun...and these are the most important hallmarks of Trek for me. I know a lot of people like the political intrigue of TUC and DS9...but my favorite thing about Star Trek is that feeling of wonder mixed with a sense of adventure. I rank TFF over TUC for that reason (and others)...which is definitely an unpopular opinion.
5. This is a gritty, dynamic movie in terms of its style and cinematography. As much as I love the clean, sleek look of TMP, TFF just has the feel of an Indiana Jones movie. Where the other films were fairly static and contained, TFF feels expansive and dynamic. I love that in Trek.
6. Most Importantly: This film has
HEART. It's not great. It's not tight. It's not a lot of things...but it has a massive amount of heart and love for the characters and the universe. It oozes out of every scene. I love how it gets in and rolls up its sleeves with the characters and their relationships. And even though it's flawed...everything it does it does with earnestness and heart. For me, that's Star Trek.
Anyway, I'll get back on track with my feelings in TMP DE in my next post (spoilers: I LOVED it)
