You can only pick one version if you were going to a Special Big Screen Screening of:
STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE
Your choices:
1. Original 1979 Theatrical Release
2. The Version shown on TV with extra footage. (It's mainly just that Alien Crew member with the big head saying a few lines. Did that guy ever work again in the business?)
or
3. Robert Wise's Directors Cut that was released on DVD.
Again you can pick only one for this Special Screening!
As for me,
I'd like to see the Wise Director's Cut on the Big Screen even though I think I like the Original Theatrical Cut better for some reason. But if I had to pick for this Special Big Screen Screening it'd be THE DIRECTOR'S CUT.
Without question, Original 1979 Theatrical Release. The directors cut added needless SFX and some stupid scenes that should have stayed on the cutting room floor. For the record I loved the whole film.
Most certainly the Director's Cut. It's probably the best version of the film we are ever going to have.
I did see the original version in a theater on opening day December 7, 1979 and was quite disappointed by it.
You know, if you cut out all the scenes with the silly Ilia Probe (the worst part of the film IMO) the film would be shorter and we could call it the Adam B Cut.
Well, I'd be up for seeing the DC if it's a bona fide theater showing. I'd already assumed it would theoretically be a proper print according to Zoob's question.
I wouldn't mind seeing the longer TV cut on a big screen, either (except for the goofy scaffolding blooper).
I guess it's because out of the three choices, I already know what the original theatrical cut looked like up there. Am I remembering correctly that the DC had improved audio as well?
I saw the original theatrical presentation back in 79' at Orpington with my father, which was sort of a local cinema then. There is no cinema there now and hasn't been one for quite some time. The movie had been 'milked' for all it was worth on Wheetabix cereal packets in the run up to general release. That's how I remember it. So I'd like to see the original theatrical version once again - with dad, for an added margin of 'thumb sucking' comfort
The ideal version of STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE would be a melding of the original theatrical cut wth the sound-mix of The Director's Cut. A version none of us will ever see unless David Fein eventually gets permission to do an amalgamated Master Cut ala CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND.
Tough call. The original cut got some things right (l love those spare main title credits). But The Director's Cut gave us some essential images (Vejur's plasma energy bolt "winking out", Vejur's naked entrance into Earth orbit).
Damned if I do, damned if I don't: I go with the Original Theatrical Cut.
Last time I saw the original cut was during the five film marathon building up to Undiscovered Country. I remember it being surprisingly enjoyable. And it really does belong on a big screen. Would love to see a big ol' 70 mm print of it...
I just got the Box Set of the first 6 Original Cast Films and now watching ST TMP. The film actually holds my interest up to about 52 minutes into the movie. Once they get to "The Cloud", then it goes bad.
I had thought that in the Original Theatrical cut I always remembered or thought that I remembered seeing ALL 3 Klingon ships get destroyed, but now watching this Theatrical Cut, it only shows 2 Klingon Ships get it. like in the Director's Cut. I guess I just must have fantasized seeing what I thought I saw. Anyway, the Theatrical Cut is a tad tighter for me than the Director's Cut. The extra stuff on Vulcan, like the Statues and the extra S.F. Federation shots in the DC are nice but the TC works okay without them.
The first 30 minutes of this movie are awesome and then once they leave the Dock and go into the Worm Hole it all just goes to crap real fast.
I hear ya. I enjoy the film right up to where the Ilia Probe shows up. From that point the film goes into the toilet and never crawls out. It's there where I start reading a book with the film in the background.
2. The Version shown on TV with extra footage. (It's mainly just that Alien Crew member with the big head saying a few lines. Did that guy ever work again in the business?)
The only other time I recall noticing him in anything was as one of the teenagers in "Jaws 2."
I don't think I'd remember him at all if I didn't love Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams so much, frankly.
Speaking of which, I'd like to experience the cut that Jerry actually scored, on the big screen -- the original theatrical cut for me. I never got to see a Trek movie on the big screen until III, though I remember ST:TMP was very popular at the mall for demonstrating laserdisc players and elaborate stereo home theater set-ups.
I love the TV version and would love to have it on blu-ray. Just fix the space walk scene (digitally) and the walk on the Enterprise's hull. I like the extra dialogue scenes.
The original theatrical cut would be (by far) my second choice.
Sorry, I can't pick any of them. If there was a ST movie that I do not want to see on the big screen, TMP and Final Frontier would be on my avoid list.
Sorry, I can't pick any of them. If there was a ST movie that I do not want to see on the big screen, TMP and Final Frontier would be on my avoid list.
There would be no film franchise without the very large scale and successful production of TMP, it was a huge picture with an immense amount of work, and a legendary director. The impact of TMP on Star Trek cannot be overestimated. Also, it is a pretty underrated picture in my opinion.
Final Frontier, we all know it is flawed, but buried in that mess is a story about these three central characters that has a heart, so I can forgive it.
Sorry, I can't pick any of them. If there was a ST movie that I do not want to see on the big screen, TMP and Final Frontier would be on my avoid list.
There would be no film franchise without the very large scale and successful production of TMP, it was a huge picture with an immense amount of work, and a legendary director. The impact of TMP on Star Trek cannot be overestimated. Also, it is a pretty underrated picture in my opinion.
Final Frontier, we all know it is flawed, but buried in that mess is a story about these three central characters that has a heart, so I can forgive it.
Yep, love it or hate it. TMP rejuvenated the franchise. Also agree on V. It is the "most human" of all the films.
