Now watching, Star Trek, The Motion Picture Blu Ray

I've seen it several times over the decades, VHS, DVD, even first showing at the theater.

But only viewed the blu ray once.

My impression years back was long, bad fitting costumes. I repeat.... long, long, drawn out. Crude.

I ignored it for many years.

Decided to plug in the blu ray in tonight.

Yes, the clothes are sad, and it's long, well.... it's the full expanded version, there's a few sections that should be trimmed down. But:

WOW....

I've got to readjust my opinion of this flick.

It looks nothing short of gorgeous on blu ray, and the sound is wonderful.

The music is great, the plot is cool, and in the end I'm digging this in a way I've never done before.

It's a mind blower to see the actors so young, and the blu ray presentation is stunning!

Always a treat to rediscover and old friend.

Guess age has mellowed me and my opinion of this.

 

The Blu-ray has the theatrical version; there is also a DVD with the director's cut that many people prefer.

 

Yes, that is even longer, I don't like it. I think the VHS is even longer yet.

 

I saw it on opening day. I even took off from work that day to see the first showing before the reviews hit. My memory may be fading, but I don't remember seeing the long version on the big screen. I do seem to remember seeing the long version on TV.

 

The long version was created especially for ABC airings; it was only issued on VHS and laser disc.

 

Actually Wise's Director's Cur is shorter than the theatrical version. The only longer one s the extended version which has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray which is probably just as well since it always felt clumsy.

 

The extended cut is terrible as they just slapped every unused sequence together, whether the special effects were actually finished for it or not. So you get cut sequences like Kirk leaving the airlock in his space suit and as the camera pulls back all the scaffolding that holds the set together is visible at the bottom and on the sides.

The original theatrical cut or Wise' directors cut is the way to go. I own both versions.

 

I've always had a soft spot for that movie, mainly because, at the time of release, it was a dream come true after much speculation and anticipation over many years (since the TV series ended) by scifi fans.

I recall the sense of excitement seeing all the original crew back together again and I was totally blown away by the beautiful extended fly-by sequence of the Enterprise in dry-dock. Even to this day, that Enterprise design/model is still my favorite - so elegant and graceful.

However, that nostalgic afterglow has been diminished markedly when I re-watched the movie for the first time a few years ago. The Enterprise still looked awesome, but the acting was stilted and dialogue banal with way too much time wasted, particularly during the Vger fly through. The plot was recycled and the audio quality (especially Spock's voice is many places) was shockingly bad.

It has not aged well, IMO, but it was still good to see the old gang together again.

 

I pretty much agree, but considering it's time, it certainly looks pretty good and sounds good too. Not my fav for sure, but I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed viewing it. I used to cringe just looking at the disc. No more.

 

The director's cut is about 4 minutes longer than the theatrical version. (approx. 136 min vs. 132 min)

 

You are right. My mistake. It feels shorter to me.

 

I share these two sentiments exactly. It was an unbelievably emotional experience to see the Enterprise crew back again after so many years. In my youthful exuberance, I didn't care about any faults in the movie because, well, Star Trek was back!

The motion picture Enterprise is also my favorite of all time. The NCC-1701 "refit" was spectacular - take an already iconic design and tweak it just enough to modernize it without ruining it, and then actually improve upon it. That doesn't happen very often with ship re-designs.

As for the movie today, I still watch it from time to time and enjoy it, but the visceral emotion of those initial viewings in my youth is long gone. Still, the movie may have its flaws, but it's Star Trek - and that's good enough for me.

 

I saw it opening day. I remember the build-up to the movie and the shots of how amazing the updated Enterprise looked in Starlog and other magazines of the era.

I do prefer Wise's director's cut on the DVD. Unfortunately, I sold it when I bought the Blu-ray set and it's on my list to re-buy one of these days. I wish they could go back and redo the new effects in high-def.

 

I still have all my old Starlogs in storage. Need to dig them up someday and do some reminiscing...

 

Agree with this. I was 12 when "ST:TMP" hit screens and in the midst of a major "Trek" binge. I liked it at the time but don't think I saw it again until I bought the then-five-film LD boxed set in 1991.

Ugh. Didn't enjoy it at all in 1991 and that opinion hasn't changed over the last 23 years. I think it's the least interesting of all the "Trek" movies...

 

And it includes the best scene in the entire movie: Spock crying for V'ger. If they could re-do the entire effects for both the original series & Next Generation, then someone could damned well finish the effects in the spacewalk & release this far superior version, which actually makes the plot make sense.

 

You can find many of the early Starlogs online at the Internet Archive:

 

I still love this movie, I prefer the more cerebral approach than the later bang-bang-pow direction. The part everyone complains about is the V'ger flyover, but that's one of my favorite parts of the film, visually stunning and reminiscent of 2001.

 

The flyover was spectacular in the theater. It looses quite a bit of its impact at home.

 

The only Trek movie I didn't see in theaters. And I was a huge Trek fan when it came out. Not sure why I didn't see it.

Years ago I saw a book about the planned Phase 2 series that didn't happen that eventually became the film. I need to try to see if I can find a copy of that book for sale.

 

Depends on your home theater

 

I guess I've never figured out what's particularly "cerebral" about "ST:TMP". "Slow and ponderous" doesn't make a movie "cerebral"...

 

I have all the 2 DVD sets...I picked up the theatrical editions that were included in the DVD box set used for a few bucks...so I'm good. Glad to have both in my collection.

 

I saw it at the movies...it was very exciting to see the cast on the big screen...my favorite in the series...also STAR TREK IV-The Voyage Home comes close!