Although it was once famously called, “Star Trek: The Motionless Picture” for its, let’s say, deliberative pace, in context this first Trek movie was probably the most cinematic in scope till J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot. Representing a giant leap forward for the franchise in terms of visual effects, art design, and make-up, The Motion Picture was a bold departure from Trek’s TV origins, and series creator Gene Roddenberry used the occasion to take for a walk some of the ideas he’d fully flesh out when he began developing Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1986. Featuring a highly ambitious story about a mysterious force heading to Earth after travelling from one end of the galaxy to another, the film was literally rushed to its premiere. A 2001 Director’s Cut released on DVD features a much tighter cut of the film and demonstrates what legendary director Robert Wise (The Day the Earth Stood Still and Run Silent, Run Deep) might have done if he had a bit more time to tinker. But despite the flaws, The Motion Picture made enough money for the studio to see the value in a sequel.
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