1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The world of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (ST:TMP, or just TMP), is quite different from Star Trek as we last know it. Kirk has been promoted to Admiral, and when a huge destructive alien cloud is detected heading toward Earth, Kirk took his old crew back onboard the rebuilt USS ENTERPRISE, and displaced the current captain, Will Decker. Spock was on Vulcan, attempting to purge himself of his human half, but his mind detected the huge menace heading toward Earth, and he realizes that his answers lies elsewhere...

The uniforms of ST:TMP are very different from the pants and shirt in the Classic Trek. Jokingly referred to as the pajama uniforms by the fandom, the uniforms are quite colorless.

Trekkers are divided into two camps when it comes to this movie. People agreed that it was expensive (for its time), it looks good, it has good music, but some fans liked what was there, while others can't help to notice what was NOT there.

So what was there? The entire crew was there. The idea of huge space monster threatens world is quite familiar, and the theme of exploration and communication with other forms of existence are quite familiar with the fans.

On the other hand, the fans are quite to pick up on the lack of interaction among the triad, Kirk/Spock/McCoy, the special effects overwhelming the movie, and lack of action in the tradition of the action-adventure of Star Trek.

Overall though, the movie did made a lot of money for Paramount, and video sales are still going on even today. It is clear that there will be another Star Trek movie. The question is only how many...

The answer was not one, but THREE movies, forming a trilogy.

 

To learn more

Star Trek Movie Universe, linked in Classic Trek

 

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Star Trek: The Film Series
Shuttle Enterprise and Star Trek: Phase II