Originally commissioned as an update of the classic 1960s TV show, which by the mid-70s had been making waves on syndication and other countries on regular re-runs, STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE became a reality after the huge success of STAR WARS in 1977.
With a budget that ballooned to $46 million in total, a big cost back in 1979, STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE was a race to the finish for all concerned with a script that apparently lacked a third and final act, but still managed to become a box-office hit amidst the challenges.
Reaction, particularly from the die-hard fans, was mixed, but over time the film has become a well-loved version of the original three season 1960s series and actually even in its’ original release had an intriguing concept at its’ heart.
It’s the 23rd Century – and the crew of the Enterprise have completed their five year mission, with the ship in drydock and being refitted, being overseen by new Commander Willard Decker (Stephen Collins) and Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (James Doohan).
Admiral Kirk (William Shatner), Head of Operations at Starfleet, learns of a mystery cloud that has destroyed three Klingon Cruisers and is on its’ way to Earth thanks to a deep space observation station, Epsilon Nine. As a result, he gets the main Captain’s seat back on the Enterprise, much to the annoyance of Decker, who knows the new refitted Enterprise better.
The ship leaves drydock to intercept the mystery cloud, but encounters problems, notably with a worm-hole effect when it goes into warp drive initially.
Meanwhile, on Vulcan, old Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is about to take the ‘Kolinahr’, a Vulcan ritual that will purge him of all emotion, but the call of the cloud beckons….
It is easy to see why people didn’t warm to it back in 1979. STAR TREK – THE MOTION PICTURE is unlike any STAR TREK episode previously, with a seriousness and intensity, not to mention a bit of mystery about the cloud. On balance though, this is a well-structured first outing for the original crew, which led to five sequels and several spin-offs involving the crew of THE NEXT GENERATION, led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) (STAR TREK – FIRST CONTACT (1996) is the best of those films!)
The score by Jerry Goldsmith is amongst his best and the effects hold up today.