There is an old adage amongst the Star Trek community which is tantamount to scripture.
A fiction which has festered into fact, that states any odd numbered entries in this revered sci-fi cannon are best avoided. A tradition which was kickstarted over forty years ago with the much maligned motherload of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Now remastered, reinstated and gloriously retro in all its revisionist reintroduction – audiences best prepare themselves to re-evaluate. Directed by double Oscar winner Robert Wise (West Side Story / The Sound of Music), who demonstrates a mastery of his craft in this re-invention, there is much here to enjoy for those willing to put aside their preconceptions.
Written by Harold Livingston, who cut his teeth on the original Mission Impossible television show amongst others, this particular Star Trek concerns itself with philosophical matters. James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and James Doohan (Scotty) maybe present and correct alongside other regulars, but this first foray combines world building depth over dazzling set pieces.
With Oscar winning composer Jerry Goldsmith (The Omen) on orchestration duties, not only does this shiny new 4K restoration gleam, but every note of the exquisite score audibly elevates everything around it. Originally penned by Alexander Courage, it dominates the opening ten minutes of this newly polished piece of science fiction, while meticulous miniatures combine with cutting edge visual effects circa 1979.
Effects which were envisioned, executed and refined by double Oscar winner John Dykstra, who was responsible for defining blockbuster cinema through his involvement in Star Wars. That this first Star Trek film also has Douglas Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey) onboard as well, goes some way to explaining why these first footsteps onto silver screens for Kirk and his crew looks simply sumptuous. A fact which could not have gone unnoticed by audiences in the late 70s, when this sweeping space opera hit cinemas.
Released in the wake of Ridley Scott’s Alien, which would push sci-fi into uncharted territory through its introduction of that iconic xenomorph – Star Trek: The Motion Picture probably felt tame in comparison. Even with a creative team who could build barricades from their Oscar winning statuettes, the story which glued all those disparate elements together also lacked edge.
From the perspective of 2022, where audiences have numerous incarnations of Star Trek to underpin their obsessive behaviour, both animated and otherwise, this franchise feels like a safe bet. However, back in the late 70s with Alien just released and Silent Running a not too distant memory, no amount of silverware could save this resurgence from feeling pedestrian.
Beyond the presence of Sulu (George Takei), Uhuru (Nichelle Nichols) and Chekov (Walter Koenig) alongside Kirk, it suffered and still suffers from a wafer thin story. One that simply lacks substance in the action stakes and only manages to deliver elsewhere due to outstanding visual effects. However, in this stunning 4K version everything has been turned up to eleven.
Those effects are awe-inspiring, that score is unbelievably rousing and this cast are on top form. Performances from William Shatner and his Star Trek regulars might feel familiar, but on the big screen it is evident how much each actor revelled in their opportunity. This might not raise the expectations of the current generation, who are used to long form stories and cinematic visuals, but in context Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a revelation.
In this iteration Kirk and his crew feel almost ahead of their time, as glimpses of Star Trek: The Next Generation can be felt in the sheer ambition etched on screen. For all its adherence to genre convention which makes this universe feel vast and unfathomable, nostalgia also makes this 4K restoration feel like a homecoming.
Character moments between Kirk and Spock gain extra poignancy, as audiences get to subconsciously appreciate how different actors have shaped them going forward. Similarly, there is a lack of cynicism and self-awareness from Star Trek circa 1979, which means any narrative sub-text need not assume its audience knows everything. That lack of assumed omnipotence gives this franchise first a genuine sense of innocence, which is unfortunately missing from any incarnations post internet.
Those observations aside, there is no denying how much fun this newly remastered Star Trek brings to the table. For any fans who might be hesitating over whether a 4K purchase of a forty-year-old film is worth it, put those doubts to one side. This should be a mandatory purchase for anyone who claims to be passionate about science fiction.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition is available on 4K UHD + Blu-ray now
