The beloved television series got reinvented for the big screen with this noticeably ambitious production. Paramount obviously sunk a fair amount of money into this, and it shows, in a story of a mysterious energy field that quickly makes its way towards Earth, and could spell doom for all on the planet, unless the Enterprise intercepts it first. Kirk (William Shatner reclaims his most iconic role in style), aggressively obtaining command from a man named Decker (Stephen Collins), takes control of a brand spanking new Enterprise, and is reunited with many of his old hands.
This initial feature film is admittedly imperfect; for one thing, the pace is so sedate that less patient viewers may be squirming in their seats. Some viewers may also feel that the enigmatic alien intelligence (eventually to be identified as "V'ger") really isn't enough of a presence in the film. As it is, it relays information and requests through the body of a crew member, Ilia (the striking Indian beauty Persis Khambatta).
To its credit, "The Motion Picture" explores intelligent and provocative ideas (Harold Livingston scripted, based on a screen story by noted genre author Alan Dean Foster) and does create a genuine sense of awe and wonder. The sets are re-imagined on a truly grand scale, and the picture can boast some real eye-catching visual effects.
The veteran cast members (Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett, Grace Lee Whitney) settle right back into their old roles quite comfortably. Kelley's "Bones" has always been a favorite for this viewer; I love the way he can always come up with a humorous assessment of a plot point. (When the creator of "V'ger" is likened by Spock to that of a child, Bones quips, "What should we do? Spank it?")
Excellent Jerry Goldsmith music is a perfect accompaniment to "The Motion Picture", which proved that despite the cancellation of the original series, that Gene Roddenberry's concepts have continued to carry a great deal of weight over the decades.
"The Motion Picture" may have gotten eclipsed in overall quality by some of its sequels, but there's no denying that it certainly has its place in the scheme of the franchise.
Seven out of 10.
