Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

The critic argues the film is better than its initial reputation as a plodding sci-fi suggests, calling it possibly the most satisfying in the franchise. They single out the classier existential denouement involving V'ger and the lavishly shot heavy material for praise.

The film is a solid, well-made piece of work with an interesting premise about an alien entity seeking its origins, though familiarity with the TV characters somewhat undermines the sense of wonder. It lacks the brilliance of 2001 but delivers an enjoyable ride thanks to strong special effects that improve as the story progresses.

The critic finds the 4K restoration of the 1979 film watchable and enjoyable for its over-the-top acting and unhurried visionary sequences. They single out the theatrical resonance of the Kirk-Spock-McCoy dialogue scenes and Shatner's distinctive delivery for praise.

The critic calls the film a big, spectacular epic with strong entertainment values and professional craftsmanship throughout. He praises the visual effects, score, photography and production design while noting some pacing issues and overly talky scenes.

It is a medium-range, medium-boring vehicle that is not as inventive as Star Wars or as beautiful as 2001, but there is room for it; the special effects and score create puzzling and awesome travelogues that make the trip enjoyable despite some deficiencies and familiar sci-fi tropes.

Producer Roddenberry and director Wise deliver state-of-the-art screen magic with impressive effects under Trumbull and a brassy Goldsmith score that justify the budget; the film makes good use of TV familiarity in a search-and-destroy thriller with philosophical elements, romance, and a twist ending.

The critic finds the film overly long and lacking the charm of the original series, criticizing its tedious pacing and weak character work. He notes some effective visuals and ideas but concludes it fails to be fun or engaging.

It is less a conventional film than a cultural phenomenon and fan reunion that audiences willed into being, with spectacular effects and polish from director Robert Wise, but it is sluggish and falls short of its aspirations despite the visual splendors and Goldsmith score.

The critic calls this the worst Star Trek film, failing to capture the TV series' tone with a dull, stretched plot and unconvincing effects that look tacky next to Star Wars.

The critic argues the film is riveting and exciting when seen as a serious, mature sci-fi drama continuing the TV series, praising its vast visual scale, effects, and exploration of consciousness and existence.

The critic praises the Director’s Edition’s upgraded visual effects for finally realizing the film’s original vision as a grand space epic. They highlight how it celebrates the story’s exploration of human emotion versus logic and its role as the franchise’s big-screen origin.

The critic appreciates the film's epic scope and visuals, especially the V’Ger sequences and Jerry Goldsmith's score, but criticizes the languid pacing, lack of urgency, and editing issues. Overall, it's a fascinating but flawed attempt at something more ambitious than typical Star Trek.

The critic views the film positively in retrospect as a philosophical work about connection, humanity, and the search for meaning, noting it gains emotional resonance with age despite its initial slow reputation and mixed reception.

The critic argues the restored film is the best entry for non-fans, praising its patient, meditative sci-fi approach, Jerry Goldsmith score, and naturalistic performances as a thoughtful 1970s space odyssey focused on humanity’s search for meaning. They note its contrast to the more action-oriented sequels and its critical and commercial success upon release.