STAR TREK (STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE)

US, 1979, 136 minutes, Colour.
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest? Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Persis Khambatta, Stephen Collins.
Directed by Robert Wise.

The title rightly indicates the kind of science fiction: not Star Wars, but a trek, a dazzling technological journey through space with the characters familiar from the popular TV series. The basic plot (Isaac Asimov receives a credit as adviser) is a mixture of familiar material (mystery vehicle threatens Earth) and a rather cerebral treatment of theme - a data-collecting satellite becomes so powerful, it lives and seeks its maker, a union of emotional man and logical machine. Critics were almost unanimously unfavourable on the film. However, time will probably vindicate it. Direction is by Robert Wise, Oscar-winner for West Side Story and Sound of Music. Previous science fiction films include The Day the Earth Stood Still (1950) and The Andromeda Strain (1972).

1. Interesting and satisfying entertainment? Expectations from the television series, the build up for the expensive film? The hostile reviews of the critics?

2. The impact of television and spin-offs? The time of popularity of the television series, its influence on science fiction and space exploration fiction? The TV spin-off and the presuppositions in the screenplay that audiences would be familiar with characters, the trek itself, the Enterprise etc.?

3. The picture of the future world, San Francisco of the future as space centre? The attack of alien forces and ships? The technology of the future., its complication and jargon? Its smoothness of operation? Starships and the variety of people in the crew? Their knowledge and abilities? The variety of people. the oddities of type? The interaction of the various planets e.g. in Doctor Spock? The aftermath of NASA and the repercussions of present space exploration and technology for the future? How credible the screenplay?

4. The importance of the visuals - Panavision and colour? Sets, decor, space vehicles, machinery and technology? Special effects? The presentation of space, the galaxies. time and space patterns and colours. shapes? The incidental special effects - e.g. travel and instant change of place, individuals moving against gravity etc.? The musical score and theme?

5. The impact of the initial attack, the alert to Earth? The alien creatures and their attack, their capacity for devastation?

6. The crisis and the way that it was being handled on Earth? The preparation of the Enterprise? Kirk and his being recalled? Decker and his command., relationship with Kirk, the inevitable clash? The strict orders and authoritarian method of Kirk's taking over? Kirk and the long sequences of his arrival at the Enterprise, the long close-ups in detail of the Enterprise itself? The audience seeing the ship through Kirk's eyes and with his feelings? His love for the vessel, his past experiences? Yet his not knowing the new technology and his making mistakes? The importance of the tour to familiarise the audience with the space ship, with the staff especially Scotty? The briefing sequence and the presentation of the variety of people working, their appearance, costumes and uniforms etc?

7. The crisis and Kirk's taking command, Decker and his subsidiary roles? The initial accident, decisions and Decker's wise advice? The arrival of Ilia and her appearance. baldness, planetary origins? Decker and his knowing her? The love between the two, memories of the past? Her vow of celibacy? Her presence during the crises. response to Decker?

8. The presentation of Dr. Spock - his quest, religious experience the presentation of his planet and its landscapes, decor, language? His inability to be fully dedicated to his mission? His rejection? The clash between reason and emotion? His sensitivity towards the Enterprise's crisis? His sudden arrival, his stern manner, his decision to help and the crew's acceptance of him?

9. The arrival of the doctor, his past work on the Enterprise, the human touch, his fears, his advice to Kirk?

10. The focus of the film's title on the trek as distinct from wars etc.? The language and jargon of trek, technology and surveillance, communications, television? The procedures when the collision course was inevitable, moving through time, warps etc.? The emphasis on techniques during the trek?

11. The emphasis on information, data-gathering? The time limit for destruction? The size of the ship and technological knowledge of it? The visual impact of how much had to be known? The moving towards Vger? The approach, being drawn into its orbit, the decision to go in, to be trapped? The consequent decisions and the amount of information available?

12. The presentation of the crew and their ways of interaction? The importance of the time limit and therefore Kirk's taking over from Decker? The doctor's interviews and advice for Kirk in his treatment of Decker? Ilia and her contribution? The international membership of the subordinate officers?

13. Spock's expertise and the way this was communicated? His decisions to go out by himself, his discovery, its almost taking his life, his recuperation?

14. The dramatic impact of the raid and the capture of Ilia? Decker's grief? Her return and her having been taken over? Her appearance, the jewel in her neck? Her voice? The devices used to try to reactivate her memory, her resistance? The clash between logic and information-seeking and layers of memory and emotion? The importance of the questions about the carbon units?

15. The menace of Vger and the build up towards it, its power and the absorption of information, its size, its cosmic impact, the visuals to represent this? Its questions and the inabilities of the humans to provide the answers? Ilia and her continual seeking? Kirk and his quick thinking, his delays? The decision of the group to go and confront Vger? The build up to their approach, the confrontation?

16. Audience response to the discovery of Vger's identity? NASA and the 20th. century? The mission of the satellite and its fulfilling its mission, its becoming saturated, its seeking its creator? The importance of reaching its creator and finding the answer? Decker and his insight into emotional unity with the intellectual Vger? The possibility of a union between himself and the robotised Ilia? The importance of the combination of emotion and technology?

17. The philosophy behind this solution? Possible, impossible? The philosophical type language, the dealing with the physical, the metaphysical?

18. The beginning of the human adventure as the film said at the end? Optimism about man's future and his role in the universe? Powers greater than man in the universe? The cerebral aspects of the star trek compared with the visual and sensual, the technological? A convincing star trek?