Rating: 
Summary: Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Directors Edition
Review: 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' is my favorite Star Trek movie. This 'Directors Edition' improves the film a great deal. For any Star Trek fan this is a must have! The new special effects bring Robert Wise's vision of 'The Motion Picture' to life. Finally after 22 years 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' is finished! This DVD needs to be in your DVD library!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent DVD, but could have done with some image clean-up.
Review: This new 'finished' version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, re-edited by Robert Wise, and with additional special effects, corrects many of the flaws of the original rushed cinema release, and makes the film much more watchable.The new CGI footage blends in almost seamlessly with the 1979 original footage, and with the new edit, greatly enhances and clarifies the plot, and also improves the pacing of the film. The extras are pretty good, especially the audio and text commentaries, though the three mini-documentaries could have been edited into one single documentary, and the first two (Lost Enterprise: Star Trek Phase II, and The Making of The Motion Picture) could really do with being a lot longer. The new sound mix is awesome - the improvement between the mix in the movie and in the deleted scenes is very obvious. The musical score is even more stirring than ever, and is much enhanced by the new sound mix. One big missed opportunity is the quality of the transfer. We have for the first time a widescreen anamorphic 2.35:1 picture, with excellent color definition, but the print exhibits many minor flecks and spots and occasionally even some faint scratches. It really could have done with a clean-up. Additionally the matte lines in many of the 1979 effects shots are very noticable (mainly because of the high quality of the transfer), and digitally removing them would have been a major improvement. Overall I would have rated the disk with a 5 if the print had been cleaned up, but this is still an essential addition to anyone's DVD collection, and a must for Trekkers.
Rating: 
Summary: Not great, but only this and Kahn show Kirk as he was
Review: The second film was of course the best, The Wrath of Kahn. But the first film, which is rather slow, at least shows us a thin, robust, and intense Kirk, just like the old days. By Star Trek 3 Kirk was starting to slow down and lose his intensity, and it was his intensity for me, which really made the show.
Rating:
Summary: Where No One Should've Gone Before, But Did Anyway
Review: People tend to forget that this film was a HUGE hit when it came out. Probably because the budget was so high (it included the cost for the abandoned "ST-Phase II" series) the film basically broke even. The plot for Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a combo of "The Changeling" & "The Doomsday Machine". All of our favorite characters are back, but there is little of the banter and warmth from the original series present. Instead, we get a kind of "2001" atmosphere with overlong special effect scenes (particularly the overblown Enterprise in drydock & V'Ger cloud sequences) and underwelming acting. Shatner's plea to Bones that he needs him "BADLY!" is almost too funny for words. Most "Director's Cuts" are vanity pieces that may appeal to hardcore movie buffs, but really don't improve a film. But in this case, a "Director's Cut" was really needed. Star Trek: The Motion Picture suffered from an incomplete script and a truncated post production that prevented completion of several special effect sequences and even a preview which would've helped director Robert Wise to tighten and improve the film. Now, twenty years later he's been given the chance to do just that. The Director's Cut trims bits and pieces from several scenes to improve the pace. Fortunately, they did cut out Shatner's delivery of the line "Oh..My...God..." (from the transporter malfunction scene) which could be the worst in film history. However, you can see all the deleted scenes, as well as three short documentaries, and other tidbits. The commentaries are fairly bland, but informative. As for the film itself, standouts include Leonard Nimoy's return as Spock. In fact, this could be the best story about Spock ever filmed. I also enjoyed the opening attack by the Klingons and any scene with DeForest Kelly. The best part though is Jerry Goldsmith's incredible score, which somehow lost the Oscar to "A Little Romance". In fact, I would heartily recommend the soundtrack over the film. Still, the Director's Cut is an improvement and worth checking into if your a trekker who sorta liked the movie when it first came out.
Rating:
Summary: A Near-Classic Revisited
Review: I love Star Trek, and I love this movie; there, I said it. Now, on to the criticism: "Star Trek--The Motion Picture" is too long, too monochromatic (though the restored color in this new edition goes a long way toward correcting that problem), and too slow to be set alongside the great science-fiction films of the last thirty years. That said, one must acknowledge this film as the last gasp of old-school science-fiction filmmaking. So much so, in fact, it really doesn't meld with the rest of the film series or the old TV show, for that matter. (Keep in mind, much of the story thrust here inspired "The Next Generation," and that series took nearly two years to hit its stride.) Thus, "The Director's Edition" is a mixed blessing. The film restoration, new visual effects, and sound mix are tremendous, clarifying and enhancing a number of sequences. But the basic story is still a bit slow and overblown to be good Trek. Nonetheless, Robert Wise's new edit does make the best use of the original material of any cut I've ever seen, including the original release and the 1983 "Special Longer Version." And if anything, the lack of snappy, in-your-face visual effects (a la "The Phantom Menace" and "The Matrix") offers more pleasure today than in 1979. After twenty-two years of ten-frame pyrotechnic shots, one finds relief in a film that takes its time to scrutinize its incredible otherwordly vistas instead of hammering them at the audience in five-second cuts. And like many fans, I still tear up when Kirk sees the Enterprise again for the first time, especially now with the legendary starship's reflection looking back at him in this new print. So, one might ask, should Paramount have released this to theaters? Probably not, but "The Director's Edition" still belongs in every serious sci-fi fan's DVD library (and of course, that of every Trekker) because it's simply the last gasp of old-time Hollywood sci-fi before the Lucas-Spielberg revolution snuffed it out forever. Furthermore, "The Director's Edition" makes a decent film even better, helping this maiden movie voyage of the Enterpirse stand on its own and not just on the reputation of its sequels.
Rating:
Summary: The First and Only Epic Big-Screen Trek
Review: For twenty years, many Star Trek fans have complained miserably about the starship Enterprise's first foray onto the silver screen. Criticized for being overly long, lacking the proper character chemistry seen on the TV series and emphasizing special effects over plot, Star Trek: The Motion Picture certainly was a mixed blessing for fans when it arrived in theatres in December 1979. It was the last of the truly visually spectacular science fiction films that captivated audiences in the late 70s (Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman: The Movie and Alien being the others). In hindsight, however, ST:TMP has been unfairly criticized. Considering the lack of compelling storytelling in most of the latter films and TV spinoffs, ST:TMP is the only Star Trek film that attempts to tell an epic-style story. Because of an insane filming schedule to accomodate theatre owners, director Robert Wise was never able to properly edit a satisfying cut of the film; the new director's edition rightfully cuts out a lot of extraneous material--unnecessary technobabble, crewmembers staring at the viewscreen for interminable periods of time, trying to look mesmerized--but doesn't lose the epic tone originally established in the 1979 release. The original character chemistries are intentionally lacking because these characters are facing awkward, internal conflicts: Spock's attempts to purge his human side and reconcile with it; Kirk's need to regain command of a starship he knows very little about. These characters' conflicts are part of the reason Shatner, Nimoy et al appear restrained in their performances. While the attempt to reach 2001-level profundity misses the mark, ST:TMP nevertheless resists a simple, action-oriented solution to the V'Ger threat, preferring a slower, cerebral approach. The newly added special effects don't distract from the film itself and improve several scenes (the wormhole explosion, the V'Ger site bridge) that weren't fully completed for the original release. The Enterprise has never been shown as majestic as in this film and the beautiful Jerry Goldsmith score has also never been topped by another composer in another Trek film. Fans tend to appreciate the more episodic, formulaic entries in the Star Trek film series, but ST:TMP remains the cinematic marvel that established the desire for further films and TV series.
Rating:
Summary: A new version of a classic science fiction film.
Review: When Academy Award winning director Robert Wise released the first Star Trek film back in 1979 he, like George Lucas, wasn't content with the final cut or special effects, which were imperfect mainly due to timing constraints. 22 years later and Wise has reworked the film in every respect. There are a few versions of Star Trek the motion picture, but this isn't the culmination of all the footage available combined into one long version. In fact, in total it's only 5 minutes longer than the original theatrical version. The (5) scenes that are taken out / deleted from the original version are on the second disc thankfully plus 11 scenes missing from all previous versions. It's more replacement and enhancement. For example, Spock's ceremony on Vulcan, the visuals of the landscape are brand new (huge statues everywhere). New special effects from Foundation Imaging are also present, including a new computer generated Enterprise plus other sequences have been tweaked. It's digitally remastered, the sound mix is new, there are new special effects, new scenes (and trimmed old scenes). In short, it's 70% of the original movie. However, it's not perfect, it feels very different. Some of the re-editing has really helped it. There were 2 really dodgy scenes involving Ilya and Decker in the original where he sets a new course after the wormhole and she crassly responds with "Science officer's computation's confirmed sir" then they both smile at each other. While this line has been removed, the smile is inserted earlier in the film when the ship is leaving the solar system. A good decision. Secondly, Chekov's hand injury is nicely underscored with some music. I feel that too many of the scenes have been shortened or deleted. While Wise has corrected the pacing in the earlier part of the film, it seems like everything is resolved too quickly. The sound also loses some atmosphere. The restoration team have obviously thought "we can put a new sound effect in here, here and here" - it's really over the top especially when you hear computer noises from the Enterprise-D (Next Generation) in there. While the sound mix of music and effects are impressive the vocals are as muffled and quiet as they always were. As for the picture quality, it's not been cleaned up at all. Special Visual effects are neatly inserted, a couple of shots of the Enterprise here and there but nowhere near as many as I was expecting. The new scene with V'Ger launching orbiting devices looks excellent. As for the film itself, it's not the best Star Trek film if you compare to the Wrath of Khan or First Contact but it's huge in scope; although slow and cerebral it's still a feast for the senses after all these years. The only problem is that this isn't the "right" director's cut. It's half the way there, better pacing, better editing but there's too much missing. You can't help wondering that the scenes that were removed could have been inserted in a clever way with new effects to improve the movie further.
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek 1
Review: Well, after watching the Director's Cut version of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" I slightly had a better understanding behind the film, despite the slow pace and average acting. Released in 1979, 10 years after the original series of Star Trek ended, Kirk and crew face a new alien menace while cammanding the recently out-fitted and improved Enterprise. The first part of the movie where the Klingon ships get vaporized by some sort of alien energy storm was an awesome sight to behold. I have heard people say that they hate this movie for it's boring pace and lack of action. Well, I have to admit that it took some determination to get through the movie in one sitting but I did ,in a way, enjoy it. The bad points of the movie is of course the slow pacing, the bland and dull looking new uniforms, the occational bad acting and the scence of that this is going nowhere. However, the good points is the excellent score by Jerry Goldsmith, the cleaned up special effects by the new Director's Edition and the bonus material, which include deleted scenes, trailers, interviews and much more. My point is, watch this movie staright through beginning to end and see what you think. It's not that bad.
Rating:
Summary: The Human Adventure is Just Beginning
Review: Let me say this... "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was what got me into Star Trek. It was the first Star Trek anything that I had ever sat down and watched. And I loved it, every minute of it. Now I have this DVD, I've watched it again, and it's elevated itself to it's position as my number one favorite movie of all time. This film has great special effects, it's true. In fact several of them are especially impressive, especially in this day and age where movies are over-run with fakish-looking CGI crap. However it's not a "Special Effects" fest as some have claimed. Indeed, there are long moments in the film that go without showing anything extraordinary, and there's just as much, if not more, time devoted to character development and fleshing out the plot as there is Special Effects. Speaking of which, I personally found little or nothing wrong with the interaction between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. After having seen the original series, I thought their interaction was pretty spot-on. After all, Spock and McCoy don't have to bicker in EVERY scene. Finally, there is the plot and it's progression, which is the perfect audio-visual experience. I wouldn't describe the scenes as being "Dragged-out" but in some cases, suspenseful. In others, relaxing. The long instances work perfectly to convey the emotions and general tone and feeling of each individual scene. Many say these scenes are too long, but those people are just impatient. The plot advances at a rather steady pace and rewards the patient. However, the winning grace of this film is it's themes and message. It has one quality that many films, including other Trek films, totally lack: It actually makes you think with it's messages about humanity and existence, and makes us realize that there's always going to be something out there we do not know or understand. Captain Kirk and co. live in a world which is virtually perfect in every way, where mankind seems to have pretty much reached it's peak, yet in this movie they find out there's still many things they haven't seen, heard, felt, been, and probably will never be able to experience, and that humanity and all living things have just scratched the surface of their full potential. The human adventure, quite literally, is just beginning. All in all, Star Trek: The Motion Picture is aimed at those with an open and thoughtful mind. There's other Trek films for those who prefer action, but because of their different direction (which is not necessarily worse), they can't be judged by the same standards. But if you want something that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, this DVD is for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Near-Classic Revisited
Review: I love Star Trek, and I love this movie; there, I said it. Now, on to the criticism: "Star Trek--The Motion Picture" is too long, too monochromatic (though the restored color in this new edition goes a long way toward correcting that problem), and too slow to be set alongside the great science-fiction films of the last thirty years. That said, one must acknowledge this film as the last gasp of old-school science-fiction filmmaking. So much so, in fact, it really doesn't meld with the rest of the film series or the old TV show, for that matter. (Keep in mind, much of the story thrust here inspired "The Next Generation," and that series took nearly two years to hit its stride.) Thus, "The Director's Edition" is a mixed blessing. The film restoration, new visual effects, and sound mix are tremendous, clarifying and enhancing a number of sequences. But the basic story is still a bit slow and overblown to be good Trek. Nonetheless, Robert Wise's new edit does make the best use of the original material of any cut I've ever seen, including the original release and the 1983 "Special Longer Version." And if anything, the lack of snappy, in-your-face visual effects (a la "The Phantom Menace" and "The Matrix") offers more pleasure today than in 1979. After twenty-two years of ten-frame pyrotechnic shots, one finds relief in a film that takes its time to scrutinize its incredible otherwordly vistas instead of hammering them at the audience in five-second cuts. And like many fans, I still tear up when Kirk sees the Enterprise again for the first time, especially now with the legendary starship's reflection looking back at him in this new print. So, one might ask, should Paramount have released this to theaters? Probably not, but "The Director's Edition" still belongs in every serious sci-fi fan's DVD library (and of course, that of every Trekker) because it's simply the last gasp of old-time Hollywood sci-fi before the Lucas-Spielberg revolution snuffed it out forever. Furthermore, "The Director's Edition" makes a decent film even better, helping this maiden movie voyage of the Enterpirse stand on its own and not just on the reputation of its sequels.
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