User blog:ARTaylor/40 Years of Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Today is the fortieth anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The film is a continuation of the beloved science fiction series and brings to theaters the cast and crew of the television show. Set years after the events of the original series, the film follows the crew of the Enterprise as they must confront a powerful force heading to Earth that destroys everything in its way, all while dealing with the issue of being apart for so many years.

The film originally began as an attempt to bring a new series to television. The original series had been cancelled due to low ratings but had developed an enormous following. A short-lived animated series and early fan conventions kept interest in the universe alive. Original creator Gene Roddenberry was attempting to produce a series titled Phase II using many, though not all, of the original cast and crew. The films Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind established a renewed interest in science fiction stories on the big screen. Parent company Paramount decided to redevelop the series into a film. A novelization was written by Roddenberry, the only Star Trek book he ever written, that greatly expanded on the characters and time since the series. Marvel Comics also made a comic book adaptation.

The film opened to mixed results. Interest in the film was incredibly high among fans of the series, dubbed Trekkies. It broke the box office record for best opening weekend. However, costs for the film included development for the series and while a box office success it underperformed according to expectations. It received a mix response from critics. It was hailed for the innovative special effects and getting the entire original cast to return. However, it was criticized for its slow pace and underwhelming story. Creative control of the franchise was taken away from Roddenberry. It was successful enough that a sequel was greenlit, which was released to significantly greater reception. It was notable for establishing a new theme song for the series that would became the main score for the subsequent films and series. It did earn three Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects, Art Direction, and Original Score. In retrospect, many fans and critics have noted that while flawed the film was an ambitious beginning of a long-running series.

It features the talents of George Takei as pilot Hikaru Sulu, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as doctor Christine Chapel and the computer's voice, and Nichelle Nichols as communications officer Uhura.