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Monday, December 07, 2009

Out There Thataway

30 years ago today Star Trek began its cinematic journey exploring the final frontier with the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture--10 years after the cancellation of The Original Series...Ironically the film franchise might not have ever left space dock were it not for the blockbuster release of Star Wars in 1977.



A mysterious and immensely powerful alien cloud called approaches Earth, destroying everything in its path, Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) assumes command of his old starship—the USS Enterprise—and his former crew on a mission to save the planet.



Star Trek: TMP received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom noted the film lacked action and relied too much on special effects. The final production cost ballooned to approximately $46 million. The film earned $139 million worldwide, falling short of studio expectations but enough warranting Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan to be made...

TMP may not be the best film in the series But it will always have a special place in my heart as the first piece of Trek I saw and making me a fan thus--The Human Adventure began for me in January 1980 ... After leaving the theater with my sister Karen--I started seeking out the classic episodes and the rest as they say is history...

Director Robert Wise may have been hampered by a weak script without a clear ending until well into production but it didn't show back then--Thanks to the great original cast, a cool starship and production design by the late Harold Michelson and of course composer Jerry Goldsmith's best film score...I was hooked. and will always be grateful to TMP and Trek for giving me a lifetime of memories







Wise was able to improve the film by enhancing the effects and tweaking the pace with the release of Star Trek - The Motion Picture: The Director's Cut....

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