TMP on the big screen

[Carnilmo]

Hey everybody! I'm a fairly regular lurker around here, but have never posted. Last night I got to see TMP at a local theater in my college town of Morgantown, WV.

Since I'm 22, my first Trek in the theater was GEN, so I was pretty excited to see the TOS cast on the big screen for the first time. TMP has historically not been one of my favorites, but it's been growing on me a little lately. This showing seemed to be the theatrical version, which I had never seen before - like most of you I'm nitpicky enough to notice the differences lol. In fact, judging by the occasional spots with color fading or scratches/grain it was probably an original print from 1979.

It's playing this week at the Warner Theatre in Morgantown, which is a historic Art Deco-style movie house that now shows second-run blockbusters, "art/indie" films, and brings in special events. In a couple weeks they will run TWOK (my personal favorite, so I'm excited!), and in April TSFS, each with a weeklong run. If any of you are in the Northern WV/Western PA/Western MD area, here's a good chance to get a big-screen Trek fix.

If you want to go, you can get showtimes at www.thewarnertheatre.com

 

[Indysolo]

It's always a pleasure to see these back in the theater. I saw both "The Director's Edition" of TMP last year and a 35mm print of TWOK theatrically and both were a real treat.

Neil

 

[dogsowar]

It was great back when it came out.
Saw it about 6 times.

 

[Profhig]

I live in Huntington so it would take 4-5 hours to get to Morgantown. Would it be worth the trip? I've always wanted to see TMP and Wrath of Khan on the big screen but I don't wanna drive all that way to see them on some little screen. How big is it?

 

[Carnilmo]

Profhig, it's a normal 35mm print. The screen might be a little smaller than your local modern cineplex screen, but it sure beats my TV!

Is it worth it? Well, that's up to you. The print seems to be an ORIGINAL from 1979, and so is a little rough around the edges due to its age. There are a few places in the film where the colors are faded slightly, or there is some grain/dirt/scratches, especially during the first 30 minutes. IIRC, there were one or two obvious splices (where a few seconds were missing). However, things had cleaned up noticeably by the time they encountered Vejur. Also the soundtrack is stereo, not the glorious surround we've become accustomed to. One or two places in the soundtrack contained an audible hum in the background.

If you're wanting a "pristine" experience, with sharp picture and surround sound, then just stay home and pop in the DE DVD - especially considering your drive. However if you're really excited about the prospect of seeing the (now somewhat rare) original theatrical cut, or just want to see some TOS Trek on a 30-foot screen rather than 30-inch, those are the main pluses.

I'm not trying to dissuade you - I just want you to know what to expect. Even though it's an aged print in a theatre that's less than modern (the Warner is a lot like what the Keith-Albee was a few years ago before it was remodeled and the partitions torn down), I still had an absolute blast seeing the TOS cast on the big screen for the first time, and the first Trek at all in over 5 years!

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Lucky...

 

[Profhig]

Thanks! I dread that drive but I just don't think I can pass it up!!! I probably can't make TMP due to conflicts but I have too see Wrath of Khan! thanks for posting this by the way!!

 

[Carnilmo]

No problem! I just knew there was someone else out there like me who couldn't pass this up! TWOK is the one I'm most excited for (though you'll definitely see me at TSFS too!)

 

[Cyrus]

I saw TMP on big screen when it first came out. It was a grand experience, still the best time I've had watching a Trek movie.

 

[CaptainJon]

I'd love to see all the Trek films on the big screen again (even the bad ones). The first Trek film I saw in the theater was Star Trek V, and I was 5-years-old. I remember loving it! I've seen every movie on the big screen ever since and I'd love to be able to see all ten of them on the big screen, even if the weaker ones just to be able to watch them as they were originally intended again.

 

[Philo]

The first one I saw in theatres was Generations. I think my opinion of both it and Insurrection are skewed more favourably due to the experience.

I'm really jealous of you being able to see TMP on the big screen. Of all the first six movies I missed seeing on the big screen, that's the one that really deserves it. It was made for it.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

GEN was my first in the theaters, too... Very fun!

 

[Timby]

A local six-screen theater went out of business about a year ago, and a group of five film fanatics leased it out, repaired it and turned it into a theater much like the one in the OP (this is called Mindframe Theaters), and the owners have assured me that they are on the list for reels of Ghostbusters and The Wrath of Khan. I can't wait.

 

[Therin of Andor]

GEN was my first in the theaters, too... Very fun!

Nothing beats ST:TMP in December 1979, in an art deco theatre, where the haunting strains of "Ilia's Theme" is being piped through the foyer and corridors. On your way in and out you pass by marble statues, a fountain and little coloured lights shining from marble alcoves. The candy bar is selling choc top ice creams, boxes of Jaffas, Malteasers and Minties, copies of "Movie 80" with Persis Khambatta on the cover, and beautiful souvenir programs of the movie being shown!

 

[James Bond]

That sounds awesome, and GEN was my first theatre Trek too! I think I was about 10 or 11 at the time. It was an awesome experience.

To my knowledge, I've never seen the theatrical version of TMP, and I've never really understood the differences between it and the Director's Cut. Can anyone give me the jist?

 

[Carnilmo]

James Bond, I think I had just turned 9 when GEN was out lol. Anyways, here are some of the things I can remember. The differences are pretty minor.

-The transporter malfunction scene is a little different - after Rand gets out of the way she says "Oh no, they're forming" or something to that effect.

-When Ilia first arrives on the bridge, the clip where Sulu is flirting/enamored while showing her the controls isn't there.

-When the Enterprise is fired on by V'Ger, Chekov says "Shields and deflectors up FULL, sir!" Instead of just "Shields and deflectors up" (how nitpicky am I to notice that one? haha!)

-After Chekov is burned, there is only a VERY brief shot of Chapel spraying his hands. The bit where Ilia relieves his pain is missing.

-Kirk chasing Spock in the spacesuit is a little shorter. We don't see him in the aborted "Memory Walk" suit in the shot with the scaffolding.

-The discussion about V'Ger being a child is a little longer, and Spock suggests Kirk treat it as such. Kirk then plays "Dad" and refuses to give V'Ger information but doesn't give a reason (this actually might be in the SLV/DE but just slipped my mind).

-The part where Kirk orders self-destruct and Scotty discusses it with one of the engineers ("He thinks... he hopes... that when we go up, we'll take the intruder with us.") is missing.

Like I said, mostly very minor. If I missed something, somebody feel free to chime in! This week is going to be great - it's TWOK's turn! :thumbsup:

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

-After Chekov is burned, there is only a VERY brief shot of Chapel spraying his hands. The bit where Ilia relieves his pain is missing.

-The part where Kirk orders self-destruct and Scotty discusses it with one of the engineers ("He thinks... he hopes... that when we go up, we'll take the intruder with us.") is missing.

Its been a while since I've seen the Theatrical version, but I'm pretty sure I remember these scenes being in both that and the DE. My memory has been known to play tricks on me though...

 

[Carnilmo]

-After Chekov is burned, there is only a VERY brief shot of Chapel spraying his hands. The bit where Ilia relieves his pain is missing.

-The part where Kirk orders self-destruct and Scotty discusses it with one of the engineers ("He thinks... he hopes... that when we go up, we'll take the intruder with us.") is missing.

Its been a while since I've seen the Theatrical version, but I'm pretty sure I remember these scenes being in both that and the DE. My memory has been known to play tricks on me though...

They're in both the DE and the Special Longer Version (the SLV was the one I saw first, so am most familiar with... I probably get things from it confused with the other 2) but I'm pretty sure those bits weren't in the theatrical version as I saw it. Could have missed them though, and I could be wrong (not like it hasn't happened before lol)

 

[Therin of Andor]

They're in both the DE and the Special Longer Version (the SLV was the one I saw first, so am most familiar with... I probably get things from it confused with the other 2) but I'm pretty sure those bits weren't in the theatrical version as I saw it. Could have missed them though, and I could be wrong (not like it hasn't happened before lol)

The scenes you comment upon are from the Special Longer Version. The theatrical version lacks those - and also the Rhaandarite ensign commenting on what will happen to Decker. (Poor Billy Van Zandt worked in that makeup and yellow contact lenses for three months, and then his one line was cut at the last minute. So much for the gala premiere!)

The SLV has the infamous blooper of Kirk in a different space helmet to the one he returns in, and the ceiling rafters of the soundstage (where a matte painting wasn't added). Another interesting addition to the SLV was when Kirk orders the crew to evacuate the bridge at the end, to coerce the ilia Probe to take them to Vejur. In the theatrical version, we only see one elevator return the main crew; the SLV shows the second elevator arrive with everyone else.

For the DVD DE, they removed Kirk's repeated command to Uhura ("Viewer off!" was said twice in the other versions) when Epsilon 9 is destroyed. And lots of crew-entranced-by-Vejur scenes were trimmed. They also replaced the male Enterprise computer voice and changed the bridge sound FX.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

Ahh yes.. I was thinking of the "Special Longer Version," which I had on VHS for years before getting the DE DVD. Which also means I probably haven't seen the actual theatrical version since 1979...

Thanks for clearing that up, guys!:thumbsup: