Star Trek: The Motion Picture
A film review by Joel B. Kirk
SYNOPSIS:
A possible dangerous alien life-form approaches Earth. Admiral Kirk
takes charge of the Enterprise in order to intercept it, after
discovering the life-form absorbed an Earth space station, and Klingon
war****ps.
MY TAKE:
Is this movie Star Trek? Surely. The original idea was exploration
into the unknown, and this film, directed by Robert Wise (THE DAY THE
EARTH STOOD STILL, THE WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC) does just
that. Where this movie fails is the action area.
This film has much in common with Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE
ODYSSEY. Although, it does not take it's time, like Kubrick's picture,
many who were introduced to the Star Trek universe through this film,
have believed the series to be slow. However, this film would spawn a
new series of films and television spin-offs, some which have more or
less recaptured the original Star Trek experience.
POSITIVE/NEGATIVE NITPICKS:
David Gautreaux, who ****trays the commander of Epsilon 9 station in
the film, Commander Branch, was to be the new Vulcan science
officer--Commander Xon--for the new television series, Star Trek Phase
II (filling in for Leonard Nimoy, who wanted to move away from the
character Spock). Stephen Collins--Will Decker--was to ****tray the
first officer, as was Persis Khambatta as Lieutenant Ilia (as new
additions to the regular crew). However, after STAR WARS boosted the
science fiction genre, it was decided to bring back Star Trek by way
of the big screen. Leonard Nimoy was coaxed to return as Spock, and
the character Xon was nixed as the series was reworked for the
theatres.
It is interesting to note, the Decker/Ilia relation****p foreshadows
the Deanna Troi/William Riker relation****p of the Star Trek: The Next
Generation television series.
Moreover, the now majestic, and legendary Jerry Goldsmith score that
opens and closes the film was also the theme for the aforementioned
spin-off.
Mark Lenard who ****trays the ‘Klingon Captain' is well-known as Sarek,
Spock's father from the 1960s television series. His first appearance
in Star Trek would be as an alien Romulan in the original series
episode, 'Balance of Terror.'
FINAL COMMENTS:
This would be the beginning of a profitable franchise, and the
reuniting of the original Star Trek crew. The current 'Director's Cut'
DVD adds certain scenes, or expanding the scope of landscapes (for
example, Kirk's introduction is expanded visual and lengthwise, and
the V'Ger space probe is given more scope).
A great nostalgic film when science fiction re-emerged in the 1970s.
MY RATING:
***1/2 out of *****
DIRECTOR:
Robert Wise
WRITER(S):
Alan Dean Foster (story)
Harold Livingston (screenplay)
Gene Roddenberry (story)uncredited
CAST:
William Shatner-Adm. James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy-Cmdr. Spock
DeForest Kelley-Dr. McCoy
James Doohan-Scotty
George Takei-Sulu
Nichelle Nichols-Uhura
Walter Koenig-Chekov
Majel Barrett-Dr. Christine Chapel
Persis Khambatta-Ilia
Stephen Collins-Capt. William Decker
Grace Lee Whitney-Janice Rand
Mark Lenard-Klingon Captain
David Gautreaux-Cmdr. Branch
Jon Rashad Kamal-Lt. Cmdr. So****
GENRE:
Sci-fi/Drama/Adventure
RUNNING TIME:
132 minutes (Extended version: 143 minutes)
YEAR OF RELEASE:
1979 by Paramount Pictures
EMAIL:
joelkirk@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
2004 Joel B. Kirk
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X-RAMR-ID: 37096
X-Language: en
X-RT-ReviewID: 1253030
X-RT-TitleID: 1019861
X-RT-AuthorID: 9404
X-RT-RatingText: 3.5/5
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