Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979 · Directed by Robert Wise
Original language: English
- science fiction
- adventure
- mystery
The story
When an unidentified alien destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain James T. Kirk returns to the newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise to take command.
What it’s like
Slow, reverent camera work dominates this 1979 film: long glides across gleaming white corridors, the Enterprise hull rendered in glossy, blue-tinted model work, and the cool, hushed glow of consoles against deep black space. Its look is that of a late-seventies vision of the future, all sweeping curves, soft lens haze and luminous screens, with a sparse, swelling orchestral score by Jerry Goldsmith that gives every shot a stately, almost liturgical weight. The vibe is contemplative wonder with a steady undercurrent of awe, the feeling of drifting through an enormous, quiet cathedral. Pacing is deliberate, with long stretches of watching ships and machinery move through vacuum, and the emotional arcs follow old colleagues rediscovering their bond and a commander reckoning with his place again. Intensity is low: there is some tension around an approaching cosmic threat and brief peril, but no gore, little violence, and no sexual content. It suits a slow weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch, or a late night when you want big-screen space atmosphere without frantic action. It is for viewers who enjoy patient, visually grand science fiction and the reassuring company of familiar faces.
More films like Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Star Trek: The Motion Pictureand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
