TMP-DE fully restored in 4K…it’s about time!

[Kaelef]

With all the care they took on some things, it was odd they did not bother to fix the old blue-screen outlines on the Klingon ships.

This is the kind of thing I had in mind when I wrote my "wish they'd just redo the whole thing in modern CGI" reply earlier here. I also wonder why they chose to fix some things and not others. Was it a simple matter of cost or scheduling? (Seems like the Klingon ship outlines would've been cheap and quick to fix?)

At any rate, my fantasy version is one that duplicates the original intent while looking perfect (à la Dochterman's Enterprise recreation).

And, yeah, the opening titles are weird to me, too. They could've taken exactly what they did and just filtered it a bit to make it look a bit more aged and have it stand out less.

The V’Ger dissolve is jarringly bad. I wish they had kept the orientation of the ship sideways rather than head-on. But more importantly, it looks very cartoonish.

One of the issues with it as presented is that it sort of blends in with the animated "tactical view sent by Starfleet" that we see a few minutes before this. So for a second you're wondering if you're looking at that tactical view again before realizing this is "the real thing".

It's definitely all nit-picking, though. I'm infinitely grateful that they went ahead and created this version.

 

[Supervisor 194]

I just got back from seeing it. Overall, it is a vast improvement over the theatrical version and the special longer version that was televised originally. For the most part, the pacing worked and the focus remained on the characters rather than the effects, and the effects worked in better support of the movie. The uniform colors popped a lot more, and the overall aesthetic was better served. The lounge scene was pretty bad as already discussed. I liked the editing choices. In particular, Ilia's "oath of celibacy" comment played as a rejoinder to Kirk's reputation as a ladies' man and got a good laugh from the audience. The movie is much tighter and engaging, and I'm glad to see it on the big screen.

On a personal note, this movie is a sentimental favorite: I saw it with my late and much-missed Mom. We saw it opening day, and she bought me a Star Trek Happy Meal from McDonald's before our showing. Mom wasn't really a Trek fan, but she took me because I loved it. She wasn't that impressed with the movie, but she loved that it had an overture "like movies used to have." I was eight years old and seeing the Enterprise and crew on the big screen was just amazing to me, and I am grateful that she encouraged my imagination.

 

[USS Belmont]

My friend (who watched the TMP 4K with me) has an interesting observation: No wonder Decker wants to join with Vger! He keeps getting shafted by Kirk! First, (temporarily) demoted to Commander, being the last one to know he has lost his command. Being told to stay behind as First Officer only because he knows the ship better. Then, forced to take over as Science Officer as well by Kirk. Being questioned by Kirk for countermanding his phaser order in front of another officer. Lost his former lover because of Kirk’s “unwarranted” risk taking. Nobody can work for a boss like that! No wonder he jumped ship to join with Vger!

In light of the good feelings I got from this viewing, I am seriously debating going to the 40th anniversary screening of Wrath of Khan in Sept!

 

[XCV330]

My friend (who watched the TMP 4K with me) has an interesting observation: No wonder Decker wants to join with Vger! He keeps getting shafted by Kirk! First, (temporarily) demoted to Commander, being the last one to know he has lost his command. Being told to stay behind as First Officer only because he knows the ship better. Then, forced to take over as Science Officer as well by Kirk. Being questioned by Kirk for countermanding his phaser order in front of another officer. Lost his former lover because of Kirk’s “unwarranted” risk taking. Nobody can work for a boss like that! No wonder he jumped ship to join with Vger!

In light of the good feelings I got from this viewing, I am seriously debating going to the 40th anniversary screening of Wrath of Khan in Sept!

Kirk was a definite jerk in TMP. It seemed like he would have been much better in an advisory role to Captain Decker, who might have actually listened to Kirk's better suggestions, like adopting a passive posture on approach. It also seemed like he was so used to having an XO who was in lockstep with him, he forgot part of their duty was to offer alternatives. At least he admitted he was wrong on that one. But he starts adding extra digs into Decker while Sonak and coworker are still being squeegee'd off a transporter pod back in San Francisco.

I don't think Kirk caused or hastened Ilia's assimilation. V'Ger was getting a carbon unit to study no matter what. But if you're Decker, who hasn't even had time to adjust to being around the ex-gf he'd ghosted on, you're going to feel conflicted.

McCoy gets the best lines in the movie, and one of his best came out much better in the audio this time around "Jim, you're pushing. These people know their jobs."

 

[Kaelef]

McCoy gets the best lines in the movie, and one of his best came out much better in the audio this time around "Jim, you're pushing. These people know their jobs."

It always struck me as odd that Kirk doesn't seem to do anything with that advice from McCoy. It's almost like there's a line or reaction of some kind missing from the script there.

 

[XCV330]

It always struck me as odd that Kirk doesn't seem to do anything with that advice from McCoy. It's almost like there's a line or reaction of some kind missing from the script there.

The closest we got to any kind of admission that he was being unreasonable was when he admitted that Decker's job as XO was to provide alternatives.. after he'd just chewed him out for it. I'm suprised they didn't take XO away from him and give it to Spock and bust him down to yeoman, but Kirk didn't have enough time.

Jerk things Kirk does:
Goes behind Decker's back to take the ship.
Let's everyone else know before Decker, humiliating him.
Busts Decker down a rank instead of simply taking Enterprise as Flagship and letting Decker do his job.
Grabs the transporter controls from Rand like she's doing something wrong or he's suddenly the God of Transporter Controls, then halfheartedly tells her it wasn't her fault.
Refuses to listen to Scotty. Everyone in Engineering is jumpy. A mistake is made leading to the death or two people in a horrific transporter accident (See above)
Is so racist/speciesist about the Science Office seat he apparently just thinks they are slots to be filled by whatever Vulcan is hanging around HQ. When he can't get one and Decker is the bearer of bad news, Kirk puts him on Double-duty.. because clearly there isn't anyone else in the 400something crew that can fill in.
Barks at Uhura in front of the entire crew to turn off the viewer a second time when she's not hustling fast enough. (thankfully they excised this tiny bit from the DE. I appreciated that )
Nearly gets everyone killed in the wormhole because he's not current on the ship he decided to fly a few hours earlier.
Chastised the guy who saved everyone on the ship from his mistake for "Competing with him."
Puts Decker in an emotionally compromising situation with a golem of his ex-gf just to see if it will elicit enough of an emotional response to make it worthwhile. Spoiler. It doesn't.
Wipes his junk on the guest towels in the officer's lounge just to make the ship his. (I was astonished they put this scene back in! ok I made it up. but he probably did it)
Won't list Ilia and Decker as casualties, which they clearly are. The jerk won't even let Decker die or get a proper service with honors, death benefits, whatever.

not a good week for Kirk, no.

forgot to add:
Drafts McCoy back into service because "I need you badly", even though Chapel is the CMO and seems to be doing just fine. She's the one that treats an injured Checkhov

 

[Maurice]

Kirk needs Bones' counsel; it's not about medicine

Spock's acting weird and there are concerns, so Kirk's not gonna make him XO over the one guy who knows the new ship inside out

 

[Nightowl1701]

It always struck me as odd that Kirk doesn't seem to do anything with that advice from McCoy. It's almost like there's a line or reaction of some kind missing from the script there.

The Marvel comic had that reaction: "So do I, Bones." Gene's novelization said much the same, except unspoken in that look he gave McCoy.

 

[Pauln6]

The closest we got to any kind of admission that he was being unreasonable was when he admitted that Decker's job as XO was to provide alternatives.. after he'd just chewed him out for it. I'm suprised they didn't take XO away from him and give it to Spock and bust him down to yeoman, but Kirk didn't have enough time.

Jerk things Kirk does:
Goes behind Decker's back to take the ship.
Let's everyone else know before Decker, humiliating him.
Busts Decker down a rank instead of simply taking Enterprise as Flagship and letting Decker do his job.
Grabs the transporter controls from Rand like she's doing something wrong or he's suddenly the God of Transporter Controls, then halfheartedly tells her it wasn't her fault.
Refuses to listen to Scotty. Everyone in Engineering is jumpy. A mistake is made leading to the death or two people in a horrific transporter accident (See above)
Is so racist/speciesist about the Science Office seat he apparently just thinks they are slots to be filled by whatever Vulcan is hanging around HQ. When he can't get one and Decker is the bearer of bad news, Kirk puts him on Double-duty.. because clearly there isn't anyone else in the 400something crew that can fill in.
Barks at Uhura in front of the entire crew to turn off the viewer a second time when she's not hustling fast enough. (thankfully they excised this tiny bit from the DE. I appreciated that )
Nearly gets everyone killed in the wormhole because he's not current on the ship he decided to fly a few hours earlier.
Chastised the guy who saved everyone on the ship from his mistake for "Competing with him."
Puts Decker in an emotionally compromising situation with a golem of his ex-gf just to see if it will elicit enough of an emotional response to make it worthwhile. Spoiler. It doesn't.
Wipes his junk on the guest towels in the officer's lounge just to make the ship his. (I was astonished they put this scene back in! ok I made it up. but he probably did it)
Won't list Ilia and Decker as casualties, which they clearly are. The jerk won't even let Decker die or get a proper service with honors, death benefits, whatever.

not a good week for Kirk, no.

forgot to add:
Drafts McCoy back into service because "I need you badly", even though Chapel is the CMO and seems to be doing just fine. She's the one that treats an injured Checkhov

And yet he still behaves with 10 times the professionalism of Chris Pine's Kirk in the first two reboot movies! Well, apart from the towels thing.

I kind of enjoy that Kirk struggles to get his groove back and that it's only the triumvirate that works (except for McCoy who was clearly loving life). I do think it's a shame that Chapel and Rand didn't get more to do - Chapel doesn't even speak directly to McCoy in any of her scenes. Rand was a lot of fun in TOS and could have added some levity in conversations on the bridge with Sulu, Uhura, or Chekov.

 

[Vger23]

The entire point of Kirk's arc in the film was that he was obsessed with regaining command of the Enterprise, and that obsession was costing him his effectiveness and his relationships....and was jeopardizing the mission. You can't sell that arc without showing off Kirk's flaws and weaknesses as associated with that obsession.

The idea was that as the mission unfolds, Kirk starts to realize WHY he is obsessed with commanding the Enterprise....it's not about the nature of command or even the mission. It's about the relationships and trusting his crew and his friends.

It's the best part of TMP, in my opinion, and not something to be critical of (either in terms of the writing or the character).

 

[Grant]

But he had a list of Kirk mistakes! A long list!

 

[Ssosmcin]

My problem with the discussion between Kirk and McCoy is it Kirk has this moment where he is suddenly discovering that he intends to keep the Enterprise. That rings false to me. Kirk was usually pretty self-aware about his feelings towards his ship. I would much rather that not have been a question but a statement. Or at the very least, word it a little differently: "you're saying I intend to keep her." Period. That that would be followed by McCoy reminding him that he's potentially ruining the career of a promising officer for the sake of his own obsession. Because it no point is anybody concerned about Decker. He gets the shit end of the stick this entire movie.

 

[Kaelef]

The entire point of Kirk's arc in the film was that he was obsessed with regaining command of the Enterprise, and that obsession was costing him his effectiveness and his relationships....and was jeopardizing the mission.

And, of course, the most obvious arc is Spock's. One of my favorite scenes in all of Trekdom is that of Spock in sickbay after his voyage into V'ger. The way he smiles, holds Kirk's hand, and says "Jim" always brings a tear to my eye.

I've always strongly disagreed with people who say TMP is missing emotion and character interaction.

He gets the shit end of the stick this entire movie.

Except that he gets to transcend human experience itself, of course. I think the movie is extremely sympathetic to Decker.

And yet he still behaves with 10 times the professionalism of Chris Pine's Kirk in the first two reboot movies!

Pine's Kirk is a much younger Kirk at the start of his career. Shatner's TMP Kirk is practically at the opposite end of that. I agree that they went overboard in some spots, but there's no doubt it was an intentional choice to portray Kirk as a young leader.

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

And, of course, the most obvious arc is Spock's. One of my favorite scenes in all of Trekdom is that of Spock in sickbay after his voyage into V'ger. The way he smiles, holds Kirk's hand, and says "Jim" always brings a tear to my eye.

I've always strongly disagreed with people who say TMP is missing emotion and character interaction.

You are absolutely right.

Pine's Kirk is a much younger Kirk at the start of his career. Shatner's TMP Kirk is practically at the opposite end of that. I agree that they went overboard in some spots, but there's no doubt it was an intentional choice to portray Kirk as a young leader.

A young leader who's given his position without earning it, as his counterpart would do. That's one of the problems I had with the film; the character progression just didn't make much sense, him moving from local juvenile delinquent to captain of a starship in a week and a half.

 

[Kaelef]

A young leader who's given his position without earning it, as his counterpart would do. That's one of the problems I had with the film; the character progression just didn't make much sense, him moving from local juvenile delinquent to captain of a starship in a week and a half.

Totally agree. That was one of the things that stood out as a failing in those films.

 

[PC-Tekk]

Meh, It was nothing but fan service as a final final send off the crew yet once again after they did beautifully in The Undiscovered Country ...





I thought Kirk / Shatner was one of the best things about GEN. Without that aspect, it's just another mediocre TNG episode about a time anomaly.[/QUOTE]

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

A final sendoff to a crew, and era, that didn't need another.

And one that undermined the previous, better, sendoff.

 

[shapeshifter]

I missed seeing TMP in theaters in '79 but as of Monday I can now say I have!

Unfortunately it wasn't the best experience but I am not bitter. I was taken as a guest so no out of pocket. There were only 5 people total and 3 of them had never seen it before, at all, so having a party while viewing was out of the question. The film was shown in the smallest theater in the place so the picture wasn't huge and the sound wasn't optimal but hey....

I saw TMP in the theater!!!

 

[Therin of Andor]

It always struck me as odd that Kirk doesn't seem to do anything with that advice from McCoy. It's almost like there's a line or reaction of some kind missing from the script there.

Kirk definitely tempers his style from this point on.

BTW, I have confirmation from Paramount via David C. Fein: Yes indeed, that special featurette (about the creation of the CGI Enterprise needed for scenes of the 4K DE, and including NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN, unused VFX shots and effects elements) being shown by Fathom before the film in US cinemas is actually a preview of the new batch of “Bonus Features” created for the physical media 4K and Blu-Ray DE coming in September! Thanks David!

 

[STEPhon IT]

You are absolutely right.



A young leader who's given his position without earning it, as his counterpart would do. That's one of the problems I had with the film; the character progression just didn't make much sense, him moving from local juvenile delinquent to captain of a starship in a week and a half.

One of the ways I've accepted those JJTreks is how I'm tolerating the Paramount All Access Treks, you can't take anything displayed seriously. It's not the Star Trek I love but I can find some humor to what is produced, the days of telling compelling Star Trek is over. TMP is a relic of what Star Trek embodied and gosh I truly miss this.