Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 7, 1979

6.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

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DukeJonOct 8, 2015

I give this film a solid 7. It has a great opening and great ending but like a badly made pie it sags very badly in the middle. The klingon attack at the beginning, Spock on Vulcan, Kirk at starfleet, the enterprise leaving drydock, so farI give this film a solid 7. It has a great opening and great ending but like a badly made pie it sags very badly in the middle. The klingon attack at the beginning, Spock on Vulcan, Kirk at starfleet, the enterprise leaving drydock, so far the film is really exciting. However once into deep space everything becomes very slow and boring. Even Spock's arrival doesn't save it and we have to suffer an hour of cast members looking at the viewfinder commenting on how big v'ger is. The ending is good but by this time most people will have fallen asleep. Such as shame as parts of the film, in particular the special effects and stunning score by Jerry Goldsmith, really are the best of Trek. The follow up, Wrath of Khan, is easily a better film overall but I still have a soft spot for the first Trek film.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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HPFANBOY1237Mar 10, 2018

Not a great way to introduce Star Trek to the silver screen. Is Star Trek: The Motion Picture a bad movie? No. Is it a great movie? No. This film has the bad reputation of being bad because it's boring. While, yes it is boring, it is not bad.Not a great way to introduce Star Trek to the silver screen. Is Star Trek: The Motion Picture a bad movie? No. Is it a great movie? No. This film has the bad reputation of being bad because it's boring. While, yes it is boring, it is not bad. It has an intriguing plot and gorgeous visuals. Yes, the movie would have been a lot better if more happened, but it is in no way bad. It's an intriguing and visually gorgeous, boring movie. C… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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Kai82Mar 6, 2020

It has an awesome start and a great final act but nearly everything in between feels stretched out. I recently discovered that it was planned for a never produced TV series Star Trek Phase Two before the decisions was made to use this asIt has an awesome start and a great final act but nearly everything in between feels stretched out. I recently discovered that it was planned for a never produced TV series Star Trek Phase Two before the decisions was made to use this as groundwork / plot for this movie. This explains a lot. Also some shots are far too extended. Someone made the comment that they want to capture the feeling from 2001 A Space Odyssey. This is accredited by the fact that Douglas Trumbull and Richard Yuricich did the visual effects here and in the past for 2001. While no failure it does not work as good here as it does in 2001. I might sound to negative but I enjoyed this movie. It is more that I used fast forward to skip parts of it. What should I say about the cast? You have a team of pop culture legends. Kirk, Spock, Mc Coy, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty and Uhura are know by people that have never even watched Star Trek. I like the crew and characters so there is no way that I complain in the slightest way. We got 2 new characters with Ilia and Willard Decker. Ilia has not much time to shine but delivers a really good performance. Willard Deckers character is someone who was interesting enough that I want to see more of him. Story: The set up for the story is great and could easily lead to a 10/10 movie. The revelation and the conclusion of the story is brilliant and had potential. I will admit that this is a hit or miss case. It can also be viewed as failure by some. Overall it was an enjoyable movie with some lengths that started the movie franchise. Bonus knowledge. A German comedian had made a good joke about Scotty. Kirk: Scotty how long does it take? Scotty: 4 weeks captain. Kirk: You have 2 hours. Scotty: I will do it in 1 ;-).… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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KingofdanerdsDec 5, 2016

This movie brought back the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise since the Animated Series ended. The movie was great by all standards. A true science fiction movie to watch. 10/10.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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GarethBNov 11, 2018

This movie gets flack as being dull and while I can understand this point of view this more sci fi than over the top action. It reunites the crew and has great visuals and while there is no antagonist the reveal of what VGER is, I find reallyThis movie gets flack as being dull and while I can understand this point of view this more sci fi than over the top action. It reunites the crew and has great visuals and while there is no antagonist the reveal of what VGER is, I find really interesting.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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tkarabetJan 13, 2015

Although Robert Wise's experience saved the film from being nothing, it does suffer from a general lack of well-established character development. However, the grand science fiction setting allows those characters to become part of aAlthough Robert Wise's experience saved the film from being nothing, it does suffer from a general lack of well-established character development. However, the grand science fiction setting allows those characters to become part of a consistent universe that hypnotizes the viewer through its slow pace, costume and set design, and especially the soundtrack. An overall worthy and solid experience that manufactures its own "final frontier" derivative from the Star Trek franchise.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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IAmTechJun 18, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. To think this this film came out when I was just one year old, just like Star Wars which came out a year before I was born, makes me think...my God Jim...I'm old!

I've never been a huge Star Trek fan and never will be in all honesty. I did always enjoy the films with the original classic crew but never got into any of the TV series, especially the new stuff. I always preferred the Star Wars franchise for many reasons but mainly because it always looked so superior in virtually every department. This first Trek movie really does show the difference between the two franchises which both appeared in the same era, not taking anything away from Star Trek but it always did look more fake and plastic looking.

The effects in this first movie are a mixed bag really. The sequences towards the finale inside V'Ger don't look too bad (nice 2001-esque fantasy lighting effects), various spaceship shots look nice throughout and the costumes although drab don't age too badly. For the most part this film has aged badly if we're brutally honest about it, I don't wanna keep comparing it to Star Wars but there is a clear difference in quality which still stands to this day.

What I did always like about Trek was the way it tries to be realistic or at least approach things in a realistic fashion. I'm Not sure if they are merely homaging or copying '2001' but you can clearly see the influences in one sequence as we are treated to a grandiose panorama of the Enterprise as she sits in her docking bay accompanied by a stirring Trek instrumental score. This epic approach is a far cry from the flashbang blaster fire and roaring starcruisers of a certain George Lucas affair. Star Trek is definitely aiming at the grown-ups here, the real sci-fi enthusiasts who name Kubrick's space opus as their holy bible...which Wise clearly did too.

I do like the way Wise gave the film a slow pace. Lots of character and background building alongside plenty of mission dialog and technical problems that might occur in reality for such a scenario. Its all classic Star Trek as you would remember from the original series but on a sexier scale with props that actually do look kinda real. In fact there's even more politically correct...goody two- shoes...prime directive...Federation type babble than you can wave a stick at, and Shatner loves his speeches.

The film was criticised for this slow unadventurous style but personally I like it, its one of the more realistic Trek movies offering exactly what you got with the original TV series...but prettier. I still to this day don't really understand why some folk (even Trek fans) don't like it. The main aspect of this film I like is the plot, yes the plot. Seems straight forward enough as the team are sent to intercept a mysterious alien phenomena heading towards earth, but I liked how the plot has its intriguing twist at the end. Again just like the classic show you get the danger and mystery with a cute little twist to keep you on your toes. Its not groundbreaking but it just makes you think a little, right up to the very end you're unsure what the hell will happen. How Kirk will save the day and what's the deal behind the alien cloud thing, that's good story telling right there methinks.

The continuity from the TV show to the big screen was handled well I thought although I'm no Trek expert. You have all the crew doing what they are best at of course, some new crews members (redshirt fodder perhaps?), plenty of well known typical Trek visuals and sounds, the crew handle most of the action from the ships bridge via the good old big screen on the wall and the Enterprise looks slick with a bit of spit n polish to tart it up for the big screen.

Sure its not an in your face phaser fest with hand to hand fights against large lizard men but I for one thought the serious route was a good way to go. The film is more of an exploration adventure, it takes its time, slowly builds up, lots of space jargon...you don't know what their on about half the time but it just sounds good...I use my realism card again. It feels like a point n click strategic adventure game for your PC...I guess?

One of the oddest things when you think about it was the fact Wise directed this. You tend to remember Robert Wise for the Hollywood epics 'The Sound of Music' and 'West Side Story' which are two of the greatest musicals ever made probably. So its kinda funny to think he directed the first Star Trek movie, then again he did direct 'The Andromeda Strain' and 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' so he did have some good sci-fi experience.

Overall the special effects look fuzzy in places, lots of beige colour schemes going on with the ship and crew, plenty of nasty bluescreen evident I'm afraid...but its still very enjoyable sci-fi. Star Trek has its own little niche of being semi-serious and approaching everything logically but still utilising just enough fantasy to make it a charming pleasant ride.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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SoapNuggetOct 11, 2020

Not a great start, The Motion Picture feels an awful lot like 2001 just worse, the visuals and special effects are great, but the story revolving around a cloud isn't, still an enjoyable film.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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DollisJun 10, 2013

Star Trek The Motion Picture ,had Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 15 nominations ,For me Star Trek The Motion Picture is the best i like strange story's

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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alejandro970Aug 26, 2022

El sueño de todo fanático de la serie, cumplido. No sé si cumplió con sus expectativas pero, es cierto que los efectos especiales son mejores; el problema es que el desarrollo es un poco lento y el giro de tuerca final es bastante tramposo. AEl sueño de todo fanático de la serie, cumplido. No sé si cumplió con sus expectativas pero, es cierto que los efectos especiales son mejores; el problema es que el desarrollo es un poco lento y el giro de tuerca final es bastante tramposo. A ver y juzgar.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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CoreGamer1408Mar 4, 2023

Ok this has all the pacing of 2001 Space Odyssey. Which this story could of been told in one episode of the serialized show. Star Trek is about character development and not long drawn out special effects. This is a tv episode stretched intoOk this has all the pacing of 2001 Space Odyssey. Which this story could of been told in one episode of the serialized show. Star Trek is about character development and not long drawn out special effects. This is a tv episode stretched into a overtly long film. I still like it, but it is the slowest of slow burns.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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