TMP... what's the difference?
- Thread starter captain-brad
- Start date
It has been so long since I have seen the theatrical version that the DE is the only version I am familiar with.
I remember Sulu clumsily showing Ilia the navigation console and that scene has been cut. But other than that I haven't seen the theatrical version in about 15 years. I own the DE and watch it at least 3 times a year. It is one of my favorite Trek films.
I remember Sulu clumsily showing Ilia the navigation console and that scene has been cut. But other than that I haven't seen the theatrical version in about 15 years. I own the DE and watch it at least 3 times a year. It is one of my favorite Trek films.
I personally find it difficult to reconcile the "new humans" and the Starfleet brain implants of the novelization with any onscreen version of Trek.
Still, I'll credit GR for thinking ahead because a lot of stuff in TMP wouldn't make readers of SF novels bat an eye today. GR embraced the genuine SF aspects of his creation.
All stories are essentially derivative. It all comes down to execution. Candidly I suspect you'd have a hard time making a film like TMP today, particularly within a property like Star Trek, even with dramatic missteps corrected. It's not exciting enough for many in today's audience.
But if it were done and done right, or if it were similar but as non Trek SF, then I could see many SF fans being pleased.
But if it were done and done right, or if it were similar but as non Trek SF, then I could see many SF fans being pleased.
number6
Vice Admiral
I really liked a lot of the DE. I miss some of the original Sound FX (and yes I do realise that was a "rough" mix) and there were some lines of dialog I wish they hadn't cut, but it looked great and recaptured the sense of wonder of the original film.
That said I never thought of this as a great film. It bummed me out then and it bums me out today.
That said I never thought of this as a great film. It bummed me out then and it bums me out today.
I went to see TMP with only random episodes of TAS (in b/w) and about five episodes of TOS under my belt. So I was a fan but, to me, it was a giant reunion movie - and I even read the novelization waiting to get the chance to go and see the movie. And absolutely loved it. I'd never seen "The Changeling", so I had no idea it was derivative of an old plot.
number6
Vice Admiral
Which TMP really didn't do for me as a fan.
Loved the film, but I don't think it's earned the stature the GR apologists always elevate it to.
^^ That may be harsh. I love the film, too, but I can acknowledge its missteps.
People can often project their own feelings onto someone else's work that can colour their view of it.
I don't know all the ins-and-outs of the making of TMP (I know there was a book once, but I never got to see it), but it seems few could see the forest for the tress so to speak. They struggled to come up with a story and they were under pressure to get it done. At some point someone should have stood up and said, "Hold it! It's not bad, but it really needs something more. We need more character drama and tension." Robert Wise should certainly have picked up on it. I think Wise should also have allowed for a little more colour: either make the sets muted and the uniforms more colourful or make the sets more colourful with muted costumes. That said I still love the look of the film and I think it has aged better than any of the other films. There are some anachronisms, sure, but overall I still think it looks more credibly futuristic than any of the others.
Paramount wanted a December opening when what should have happened was them relenting to allowing a another few weeks to get the thing right.
People can often project their own feelings onto someone else's work that can colour their view of it.
I don't know all the ins-and-outs of the making of TMP (I know there was a book once, but I never got to see it), but it seems few could see the forest for the tress so to speak. They struggled to come up with a story and they were under pressure to get it done. At some point someone should have stood up and said, "Hold it! It's not bad, but it really needs something more. We need more character drama and tension." Robert Wise should certainly have picked up on it. I think Wise should also have allowed for a little more colour: either make the sets muted and the uniforms more colourful or make the sets more colourful with muted costumes. That said I still love the look of the film and I think it has aged better than any of the other films. There are some anachronisms, sure, but overall I still think it looks more credibly futuristic than any of the others.
Paramount wanted a December opening when what should have happened was them relenting to allowing a another few weeks to get the thing right.
I thought Let It Be... Naked had it's issues, too, but things worked out pretty well for "Tom's Diner."
I'm certainly not a "GR apologist" as I really had no concept of who he was at the time, and Chapel and Rand's different hairstyles in the movie made me very confused as to which actress was which. But, to a 21-year old just stepping out into the world at large, ST:TMP spoke to me, immersed me, in an entertainment experience I've never been able to duplicate since. The concepts, the costumes, the music, the sets, the message... Sure, I can see some faults, but that movie is still my all-time favourite movie - of any genre - so if that's "elevating" a film, so be it.
For all the general fan acceptance of ST II, it still didn't hold a candle to TMP, in sooo many ways.
Susan Sackett's "Making of...", which I loved, plus her monthly movie updates in "Starlog" magazine. I got then-current-issue #30 and had to work my way through second hand back issues.
I'd also recommend the hilarious "Chekov's Enterprise", Walter Koenig's pithy diary on the making of the movie.
I lost count of how many times I watched it when Spike used to show it constantly. I kind of liked how it sort of took you along on the journey.
I think I prefer the theatrical version because I liked how it didn't sound like all the other versions. The new changes make it more consistent but I think things like the male computer voice helped the colder nature of TMP.
