The first STAR TREK movie is the best. It had the best budget ($46 million), best special effects, and best director by far, Robert Wise. The movie withstands repeated viewings best, the cast members from the original series are still relatively young, and it is the most faithful to the TV show. It is a Science Fiction masterpiece.
Rear Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) takes control of the new, improved Enterprise to combat a deadly force headed directly for Earth. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) fails his Kolinahr initiation on Vulcan, senses the threat to Earth, then joins the rest of the crew on the Enterprise. Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) is drafted and also is reluctantly reunited. Captain Willard Decker (Stephen Collins) is temporarily demoted and an over-sexed Deltan, Lieutenant Ilea (Persis Khambatta), beams aboard to join the crew as navigator.
Ilia: "I would never take advantage of a sexually immature species. You can assure him that's the truth, can't you? My oath of celibacy is on record, Captain."
Kirk: "Well, Bones. Do the new medical facilities meet with your approval?"
McCoy: "They do not. It's like working in a damn computer center."
Kirk: "Evaluation, Mr. Spock."
Spock: "Fascinating. It's life, Captain, but not life as we know it."
McCoy: "Spock, you haven't changed a bit. You're just as warm and sociable as ever."
Spock: "Nor have you, doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates."
The threat is called "V'ger", a gigantic space craft. When I first saw this movie in theatres I instantly recognized that "V'ger" was re-cycled from "Nomad", a machine probe in Episode 37 ("The Changeling") from the original TV series. This is the only thing I've ever disliked about this great movie.
Spock: "V'ger must evolve. Its knowledge has reached the limits of this universe and it must evolve. What it requires of its god, doctor, is the answer to its question: Is there nothing more?"
McCoy: "What more is there than the universe, Spock?"
Decker: "Other dimensions. Higher levels of being."
Spock: "The existence of which cannot be proven logically. Therefore, V'ger is incapable of believing in them."
Kirk: "What it needs in order to evolve... is a human quality. Our capacity to leap beyond logic."
Decker: "And joining with its creator might accomplish that."
McCoy: "You mean this machine wants to physically join with a human? Is that possible?"
Decker: "Let's find out."
(last lines)
DiFalco: "Heading, sir?"
Kirk: "Out there... thataway."
The cast also includes: James Doohan (Cmdr. Montgomery "Scotty" Scott), George Takei (Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu), Majel Barrett (Dr. Christine Chapel), Walter Koenig (Lt. Pavel Chekov), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Cmdr. Uhura), Grace Lee Whitney (CPO Janice Rand), Mark Lenard (Klingon Captain), Billy Van Zandt (Alien boy), Roger Aaron Brown (Epsilon technician), Jon Rashad Kamal (Cmdr. Sonak), Marcy Lafferty (Chief DiFalco), Terrence O'Connor (Cheif Ross), Michael Rougas (Lt. Cleary), Susan O'Sullivan (Vice-Adm. Lori Ciana), and many others. Writing credits are Gene Roddenberry, Alan Dean Foster, Harold Livingston, and Leonard Nimoy. Music was composed by Jerry Goldsmith. Robert Wise directed.
Critics and some Trekkies do not like this film. Why? Just read reviews about why 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is considered a magnificent, flawless masterpiece. Take these same superlatives about 2001's brilliance, turn them into negative criticisms, then dump them on STAR TREK--THE MOTION PICTURE. That's what is "wrong" with this film, it's similar to 2001 but superior. 2001 is boring, vacuous, unresolved, and pretentious in comparison. A good example of the idiocy of some reviewers is a complaint that the STAR TREK movie is too long at 132 minutes. The same review later claims that the 143 minute version is "an improvement". Can you believe it?
This film is not about action, it's an exploration of the philosophical relationship between logic and emotion. It has an excellent simple plot, suspense, good character development, terrific special effects, superb music, great cinematography, correct science, and a believable conflict. The wonderful production details cannot be appreciated in one viewing. Plus, the Enterprise environment is clean! Most modern sci-fi films have space ships that are dirty, grimy, unsanitary, gloomy, and depressing. I have to take a bath after watching over-rated filthy crap such as ALIEN (1979).
Theme music by Jerry Goldsmith was later appropriated by the Star Trek TNG TV series as its theme music. A little bit of Alexander Courage's theme music from the original TV series can be heard in the movie during Kirk's log entry.
The male actors hated the uniforms, which look good, but were very uncomfortable in the crotch area. Kirk and Spock both originally took the "Space Walk" to V'ger. James Doohan (Scotty) invented the Vulcan words uttered at the Kolinahr ceremony. Uhuru's communication earpiece is the only prop from the original TV series. This is the only STAR TREK movie where phasers are not fired.
Orson Welles narrates the trailer for the film and rightfully says, "It will startle your senses. Challenge your intellect. And change your perception of the future..by taking you there."
Yes, the movie is slow, plodding and talky with too many special effects, but that's what I like about it. This would definitely be my "desert island" movie, something I could watch every night and not tire of, because most of the time not much happens so I don't remember much the next time I watch it.
