Review of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) by Luke P — 09 Jun 2009

Despite the overwhelming popularity of the original Star Trek TV series, it was cancelled after only 3 series. This left the trekkies clamouring for more, which finally came in 1979 courtesy of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Shatner, Nimoy and the all the original crew members returned, versatile director Robert Wise (Sound of Music, Day the Earth Stood Still) was hired to direct, and sci-fi cinema was flying high with the release of Star Wars 2 years previously.

So why then is Star Trek: The Motion Picture such a big dull dud? Moving so slowly that it makes Dimitar Berbatov look energetic, there is no action, no excitement and, for me anyway, no interest. It attempts to be profound and philosphically deep, a la 2001: A Space Oddysey, but just comes across as boring.

There were things I appreciated about this film (Jerry Goldsmith's brilliant music, impressive effects from the maestros behind Kubrick's 2001) but very little I enjoyed. Even the title is pretentious.

It's not Star Trek The Movie, it's Star Trek: The Motion Picture! Ohh la la.