Star Trek Part 2: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Movie Review

[GoongalaGoongala]

I agree that this film's pacing is pretty bad, but it's got an interesting story and the special effects are pretty fantastic, especially for the late 70's. Its an okay start to the film series and definitely could of benefited from some pacing cuts. Its, IMO, a Hard Sci-Fi film, especially compared to the follwing 5 sequels.

[42Cleve]

I have to agree with much of the assessment of this movie. It wasn't a movie for a person that craved action. This movie was cerebral.

[julbailey96]

My problem of this movie is that it's way to much like 2001 without the compelling story and ideas.

[shstrang98]

Hey I loved that star field shot at the beginning with Ilia's theme. Originally the actual theatrical release had a black screen. The music was beautiful. In fact the entire movie's score was beautiful. I thought the imagery and the over all seriousness of the movie and score went well together.

The re-release on DVD of Wise's version was far better as far as pacing is concerned.

[RCINFORMER]

Dude, you have the best reviews.... they are dead on! You are very accurate and pay close attention to detail. In addition, you have the best.... shall we say.... more colorful metaphors!

[jeapiat]

My favorite star trek movie

[davincent98]

It's interesting that you mention "2001: A Space Odyssey" and the "acid trip" of Visual effects, for the effects in both movies were done by Douglas Trumbull. I enjoy this movie only for the music. There is little dialogue and less action, but it's not utterly horrible. Save that opinion for the other movies with bad writing.

[TheSilverPhoenix100]

anyone who goes into a star trek movie expecting an action movie will be disapointed, star trek has action but its more about exploration and the meeting of new cultures and civilizations as the intro says, the action is much more tactial and based on more realistic ship to ship combat over say star wars but its one of the things i like the most about it casue when the ship get hit you feel that hit and see the damage where as in most sci fi shows when a ship gets hit it goes boom and thats it

[liketheuniverse11]

My review: I think it's a wonderful Star Trek movie because it is really beautiful to watch from beginning to end! I love the soundtrack, the special effects are awesome! It has a lovely, adorable romantic touch to it all, it's very original, very exciting to wait for what is going to happen next during the movie...I love that, the suspense all the time!! Wonderful space scenes... Just missed more of the other usual Star Trek characters. My rate: 9.9 :D <3

[TheDEATHSTARIII]

i think its wrong to judge jar jar binks from this film

[joeylodes]

still the ONLY film to actually put me to sleep in the movie theatre

people can try to justify this film all they want

it was simply terrible

and saying this film had Roddenberry mostly involved doesn't make this great, That would be like stating The Phantom Menace was great because Lucas was mostly involved.

Bad Films are bad films, period.

It took a Kershner to create Empire

and it took a Meyer to create Khan

[GoongalaGoongala]

@joeylodes In the end, the fact the the film is terrible is your opinion. Other people don't have to justify the film, because its their opinion.

The story is definitely good, the film's biggest problem is pacing, which makes it come off as boring. Had the film recieved cuts for pacing reasons I think the film would be viewed in a much more positive light.

Its hardly a bad film. The Final Frontier was a bad film, the Motion Picture, no matter how much you don't like it, isn't a bad film.

[amaxamon]

This is the best ST movie: cerebral, mature, epic in scope & deeply mythological.

[DaveM599]

I think this is a fair minded review. The movie may be slow and seem cold and abstract, but it's makers were trying to create a genuine sense of wonder. It does work better on TV or DVD, becuase the pacing problems were really exacerbated when watching it in the cinema. Definitely not a dud, but not wholly successful either. Worth seeing if you're imagination was always stirred by thoughts of space.

[JackJeckel81]

it was a decent film but it just felt to much like the series

[NonstopRam]

Star Wars really caused this film to have high expetations. Really high.

[MSB3000]

I agree entirely with you about everything you said about The Motion Picture. Awesome!

Also, everyone arguing about the Star Wars prequels should watch RedLetterMedia's (Mr. Plinkett's) review of them. It's hilarious and awesome.

[gideonblackman]

My main problem with this film has never been the plot but the fact that it takes nearly an hour into the film before we get there...

Before that it's shots of the ship, more shots of the ship, then just when you think they're finished they chuck in even more shots of the ship. Oh and they get stuck in a wormhole too...

But once the V'ger story starts its actually brilliant stuff, sadly though the plot was more suited to a 45 minuted episode (As it was originally intended) than 2 hour film.

[gideonblackman]

My main problem with this film has never been the plot but the fact that it takes nearly an hour into the film before we get there...

Before that it's shots of the ship, more shots of the ship, then just when you think they're finished they chuck in even more shots of the ship. Oh and they get stuck in a wormhole too...

But once the V'ger story starts its actually brilliant stuff, sadly though the plot was more suited to a 45 minuted episode (As it was originally intended) than 2 hour film.

[BlueChipNinja]

I always saw it as more inspired by 2001 then Star Wars.

[MissMael]

My absolute favorite sci-fi film together with Lynch's Dune and 2001:Space odyssey, that's how I like my sci-fi. If people want action why not just watch something starring Schwarzenegger and his likes?

[DOMuricu]

Yes, the film was heavily advertised and promoted around the world and there was genuine interest by general cinema goers and not just the regular fans. The music score and the special effects footage were the main elements to be promoted. Merchandising wasn't as heavy as with Star Wars though. I think a lot of non-fan filmgoers were put off ST movies by the slow pace, lack of focus on the characters and the technically impressive but unexciting effects which gave the film a dull, cold feel.

[DOMuricu]

A good and fair review of ST - TMP. I still have a soft spot for this movie despite being absolutely bored rigid when I saw it in the cinema in 1980, depiste the effects and music. It works better on TV and DVD as the pacing isn't as big a problem. This film and Disney's The Black Hole were the last two big budget movies to use a musical overture before the film beings. Everything that could have gone wrong during production did go wrong and the budget of $15m finished up at $44m.

[GodzillaVsBobaFett]

I LOVE STAR TREK but this movie was really not that good and it never will be.The rest are great though.

[GodzillaVsBobaFett]

I LOVE STAR TREK but this movie was really not that good and it never will be.

[desotowrong]

This is a very good movie, I think it really is more for lovers of cerebral science fiction and it is very offbeat, but that's one of its strengths. Whether people like it or not, it's still a great start to the Star Trek film saga.

[MaxSpender]

A fair review of a very underrated film. The effects in this movie still impress & the story typifies everything that was good about Star Trek.

[ArmagideonTime]

I see nothing wrong with a movie that makes you think over a popcorn movie. Sure it didn't have the bang-zoom of some of the later movies but that didn't make it bad. I liked your thoughts on this movie. The allusions to the Borg were also interesting to note even way back then. Looking forward to more great reviews!

[sserpent21]

I love those model ships that the Klingon's had in this. especially when it zooms in on them and you see those divets and ridges you can tell that someone built them and they were models and not crappy CGI. Models are always better.

As long as this movie is, it IS a GOOD movie, just not a fun one and getting back to the subject above, I would watch in a HEARTBEAT this before Attack of the Clones.

[NecroVMX]

@sserpent21 dude I'd even watch ST5 over Ep2, if only for the good performance from deforest kelley

[sserpent21]

@NecroVMX When I heard what Shatner wanted to do with V, I gained some appreciation for it but because of a killed budget, insistence from Paramount that it have more humor put in (cause it worked so well in IV) and no major effects houses to work on the movie, it gained a soft spot in my heart, but no matter how many times I see it, it isn't that great, though faster paced then TMP. I can't think of a more colossal turn off to anything then Ep2.

[reviewreviewer1]

@sserpent21 Attack ofthe Clones had aa very complex and interesting story, deep caracters, outstandinf performances, awesome sets, great caracters, great action great efects and CGI, a wonderfull love story, awesome planets and aliens, and mastergully written dialogue, it wa a true masterpiece, the awesome homages and paralels were great too. Please respond???

[sserpent21]

@reviewreviewer1 AOTC was painfully long and padded out by a whininng prissy JERK who has the most unbeliveable romance ever that no one cares about. Characters are unlikable, action scenes taken from other, better movies. I just read your comment again and you are either being REALLY Sarcastic or you still need to grow up a bit and appreciate a GOOD Star Wars movie like Empire Strikes Back. I hope you grow out of liking that piece of junk.

[reviewreviewer1]

@sserpent21 Oke you don` need to insult me, also Anakin whined less than Luke and his whining was justisfied, also we need to see his frustration, the romance was great, at least better than Han and Leia, who alsoo bitched more, why were the caracters unlikable, they were better peope than the OT ones, oke from with movies i the action taken??? I love Empire, but the PT is great too, and stop insulting me, also I like the PT more beause Lucas had full control over them.

[sserpent21]

@reviewreviewer1 I'm not insulting you, I said I hope you grow up and appreciate a better movie. Luke may have whined but at least people CARED about Luke and the audience sympathized with his problems unlike Anakin who's an asshole and even Obi Wan talks smack about behind his back.

OT had characters that we grew to like. We're TOLD to like the PT ones and they are flat and colorless.

I don't want to keep filling up this video with talk over a movie.

[reviewreviewer1]

@sserpent21 Oke, but I am grown up and also love the OT. Yes Luke whined just as much, aand I actualy cared more for Anakin, a lot of people do. Also we aren`t told to like the PT caracters. They are better and nicer people, we gwet to know nore about their lifes. Oh and Obi Wan was being an ashol, and he was just concerned for Anakin.

[reviewreviewer1]

@NecroVMX I just saw your Search For Spock review and plain, LOVED it, I am looking forward to now watching this one.

[reviewreviewer1]

@NecroVMX Hey Attack of the Clones was great, tell me what`s so bad about it??

[NecroVMX]

@reviewreviewer1 It sucked. hard

[reviewreviewer1]

@NecroVMX Oke, why??????????????????

[NecroVMX]

@reviewreviewer1 wtf, it's a horrible movie, there's almost nothing good about it.

[oortichi1]

@NecroVMX i totally agree. i hate it because of the love

[oortichi1]

@NecroVMX i totaly agree. mainly because theres too much love and romance and VERY cheezy effects!

[reviewreviewer1]

@NecroVMX I respect your views, but I thought there were many great elements, like Jackson, Morrison, Portman, Macgrecor, Lee, Daniels, and Macdermid, it had a dark intwense dramatic romantic and excing score, it had amazing designs and effects and had multiple complex deep themes and caracters, and set up the OT.

[TheSilverPhoenix100]

@reviewreviewer1 really bad acting on the part of anakin, a weak story which was obviously george lucas trying to throw his opinion on the run up to the iraq war (at least i saw it that way) and honestly the action wasnt anything special save for yoda at the end but 2 hours of crap for a 5 min fight scene isnt worth it (see spiderman 3 for a better example) episode 2 was by far the weakest in the series and the other 2 prequels were thats saying somthing

[reviewreviewer1]

@TheSilverPhoenix100 How was the storry weak ot was incredibily complex. How was ther action not amazing there were so many moies and acyions and they wrere so rich, also Lucas tries too comment on the Viertnsm war thuisw scriopt was wriutten back thgenm, byut more importantrly irt was to mirror world war II and the Roman tinmes, hiow was Hasyden weak hw conveyes the caracters caring, anger fruatration, love etdc

[FishfilmInc]

@NecroVMX The music in the opening of the movie is called an "Overture" like in movies like Ben Hur.