# Star Trek The Motion Picture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [September 30, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691 "2021-09-30T21:09:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/21 "2021-09-30T22:04:30Z")
WoK and The Whale Movie The Voyage Homewere really good movies. I think the best two in the entire franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/22 "2021-09-30T22:07:44Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Nice pic I found another pic that was even better, and by that I mean worse, but it wouldn’t link (It’s in the [Memory Alpha page)](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Starfleet_uniform_(mid_2270s)?file=Starfleet_jumpsuits%252C_mid_2270s.jpg) These people need underwear under their long underwear! I think a lot of people in the group shot are “somebodies”, but I’m not sure. David Gerrold? Bjo Trimble? Susan Sackett? More producers’ girlfriends? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/23 "2021-09-30T22:11:22Z")
I remember being terribly disappointed and deeply bored. Quite a letdown at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/24 "2021-09-30T22:15:48Z")
No movie can be all bad that used the Blaster Beam. > **[Blaster beam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_beam)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The blaster beam is a concept electric musical instrument consisting of a 12 to 18-foot (5.5 m) long metal beam strung with numerous tensed wires under which are mounted electric guitar pickups which can be moved to alter the sound produced. The instrument is played by striking or plucking the strings with fingers, sticks, pipes or even large objects such as artillery shell casings. The instrument produces a very distinctive bass tone, the sound o... Before The Motion Sickness came out, I read a quote from…someone behind the scenes. He was very stoked. He said, and I quote, “This movie is going to be a huge mindfuck!” When it came out, my lazy best friend was slow, and we missed the very first showing. Waiting in line for the second showing, we’re watching the people file out from the first show. I looked at them, and commented to my friend “Do they look like their minds have been fucked?” It was obvious they had not been. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/25 "2021-09-30T22:39:07Z")
According to the novel (yeah, I bought it 🤨) everybody wore something called a “perscan” that kept Starfleet Central informed of their whereabouts, vital signs &c. Apparently when you joined Starfleet your ass really did belong to them. Actually, I remember kind of liking the (dress?) uniform Kirk was wearing when he first appeared. Pity it was never seen again. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/26 "2021-09-30T22:50:19Z")
“Actually, it’s my first attempt.” ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/27 "2021-09-30T22:57:22Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > The special effects were horrible, even for the time (I think). The effects were good enough that the shot of the pod doing a flyby inspection of the _Enterprise_ in dock was reused in _Wrath of Khan_. Douglas Trumbull, brought in after the original effects company squandered most of their budget building a poorly detailed model and accomplishing little else, managed to whip that and several other effects in seven months, compared to the over two years for the effects-heavy _Star Wars_ and five years for _2001: A Space Odyssey_ (and without using many of the innovations ILM developed for _Star Wars_). The movie overall is not very effects heavy for the day, and yes the cel overlay animation is not comparable to modern CGI, but I wouldn’t described it as “horrible”. People like to love on _Star Wars_ because the space combat scenes are well-constructed (themselves stolen from films like _Hell’s Angels_) but they’re all motion-control matte shots on a starry background, which looks impressive but are pretty easy to do once it is set up. The forced perspective on the sand crawler and detail on the Death Star model is actually a more impressive practical effect. The story is boring and drawn out, but that is because it was originally written as a fifty minute TV pilot for the aborted _Phase II_ series, and then stretched to theatrical length without much additional content other than awkwardly shoehorning Nimoy (who wanted nothing to do with a TV revival) back in. As slow and pointless as it is, it is _Citizen Kane_ compared to _Star Trek V: The Final Frontier_. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/28 "2021-09-30T23:04:36Z")
> [@OttoDaFe](#): > > Actually, I remember kind of liking the (dress?) uniform Kirk was wearing when he first appeared. I rather liked this iteration of standard officer uniforms, with the longer shirt and self-belt in front (but I did not like Kirk’s short sleeve uniform shirt fabric, on closeup it looked like it came from the bargain bin at Dillard’s). [Here are some drawings](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/502292164661832186/) of the uniform design. They covered but didn’t conceal much of the torso, but they didn’t require constant pulling down like TNG’s, and the longer “tail” in front provided a modicum of decorum for the men. I did not like the radiation suits Scotty and the engineering crew wore sometimes, they looked hopelessly retro. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/29 "2021-09-30T23:24:30Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > The acting was horrible. William Shatner was quite good, actually. Some of the other acting wasn’t great, but some of that dialogue wasn’t easy to say. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/30 "2021-09-30T23:39:33Z")
Really? You don’t just mean “compared to usual, for him?” I didn’t get a genuine emotion from anyone, the acting was mannered and stiff. There was also far too much staring in awe and wonder at something off-screen (I blame the director for that). ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/31 "2021-10-01T00:09:56Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > …(I blame the director for that) Having previously directed a couple well-known sci-fi movies, Robert Wise was an obvious yet poor choice to direct; his hand was way too heavy for the silly story and especially the familiar characters. _ST:TMP_ is a laughably terrible film with lots of cool vfx, some godawful dialogue and acting. Nevertheless, it did do a good job of getting rid of the unwelcome Decker and bald chick for sequels. I recall seeing some of an extended version on TV. One scene had Spock crying on the bridge. It was totally embarrassing and played like parody. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/32 "2021-10-01T00:15:53Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > The story is boring and drawn out, but that is because it was originally written as a fifty minute TV pilot for the aborted _Phase II_ series, and then stretched to theatrical length without much additional content That’s why a lot of Trekkies refer to it as “Star Trek: The _Motionless_ Picture”!!! ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/33 "2021-10-01T00:33:44Z")
I saw it the day it opened with a bunch of friends who were all ST fanatics. I remember being very impressed by the jump to warp speed special effect. Other than that it was pretty boring. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/34 "2021-10-01T01:39:57Z")
I do enjoy TMP when I’m in the right mood and it’s probably the closest movie to Roddenberry’s vision. That said, I always think of the last panel of the Mad Magazine parody. Kirk-“Spock, did we just witness the birth of a new live form?” Spock with a tear running down his cheek-“No Captain, we witnessed the birth of a new motion picture art form, where the special effects are 10 times more interesting than the plot, characters and dialog.” ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/35 "2021-10-01T01:40:37Z")
What ST:TMP didn’t rip from that TOS episode, it ripped from the ST:TAS episode “[One of Our Planets is Missing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_of_Our_Planets_Is_Missing).” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/36 "2021-10-01T02:16:54Z")
I recall being baffled and bored when I was 10 but upon viewing it as an adult there’s a lot I like about it. I love the visuals. The uniforms and the color aesthetics have grown on me. I think all the actors look great. And the pajama-like uniform also makes sense to me in terms of practicality. I have never liked any of the post 1979 uniforms, neither the heavy jackets and turtlenecks of the Khan style nor the one-piecers and jumpsuits with contrasting shoulders of the later TV series. The movie is definitely too long for the story as written—that’s its biggest fault. But looking back I love how faithful it is to Star Trek as a concept. The later movies have all tried to be action-adventures, but that’s not the Star Trek ethos. Star Trek is a space opera, heavy on concepts and problem solving and morals and ethics and people talking in rooms with the occasional special effect. It’s not about people running and jumping and explosions and big action-heavy climaxes and resolutions. I don’t ever need to see people jumping over explosions in my Star Trek. Give me talking in rooms. Even the final battle in Khan is more talking than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/37 "2021-10-01T02:22:22Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > Nevertheless, it did do a good job of getting rid of the unwelcome Decker and bald chick for sequels. Of course, Decker and Ilia were eventually brought back in the guise of Riker and Deanna. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/38 "2021-10-01T02:26:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > “no matter how it is described, the uniform of the future always looks like long underwear”? Well, I give you: I love the images from this scene. If I could I’d put it on my wall as a wide poster. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/39 "2021-10-01T03:00:33Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > WoK and The Whale Movie The Voyage Homewere really good movies. I think the best two in the entire franchise. We took some Mr. Bill blotter and went to see a double feature. The Wrath of Khan was absolutely hilarious, for all the logical/scientific absurdities, and I was deeply disappointed by how they killed Spock. Yet, it is still the most engaging of the movies (though First Contact has a lot going for it. The second movie was some noir-ish thing with Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young. That was worth it, just for the Dickishness. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2021, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691/40 "2021-10-01T03:14:40Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Yet, it is still the most engaging of the movies (though First Contact has a lot going for it. I’m forever intrigued by the love for First Contact, a movie that makes about as much sense as garlic scented mouthwash. Is it all the action and violence? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-the-motion-picture/951691.md?page=3)