The director’s cut of Star Trek’s first big outing gets a 4K upgrade, to great effect.

Much has been written about The Motion Picture’s last-minute dash to be ready for its premiere in December 1979, with compromises needed to be made at the time by director Robert Wise. In 2001, Wise oversaw a director’s cut of the movie, which fixed many of the incomplete or unsatisfactory visual effects shots, as well as introducing new scenes. That version was only released on DVD and VHS, quite simply because the effects were only rendered in standard definition.

Twenty-one years later, on First Contact Day (5 April), Paramount+ has started streaming a 4K UHD version of The Motion Picture, which is, to all intents and purposes, the same as the 2001 Director’s Edition, but with the SD effects recreated in 4K. You may have already purchased the cinema cut of the movie in this year’s four-movie boxset, but you’ll want this version too (it’s getting a physical release in September) because this is no case of straight double dipping.

What’s apparent from the outset is just how much care has gone into this release. It’s not just a case of restoration – cleaning up the film to remove scratches and artefacts – but using all the best available elements to present the definitive version. For example, SFX supremo Doug Trumbull’s original 65mm model footage has been rescanned in 8K, and it’s beautiful. The detail on the K’t’inga Klingon ships and the Enterprise is stunning, helped by punchy HDR which brings out detail in the dark scenes like the Klingon bridge.

This isn’t fixing for fixing’s sake – the matte lines are still there, with the ultra high definition sometimes exposing a little too much of the FX compositing. It’s a tricky tightrope to tread because at what point do you stop? My feeling is that the producers have made the right decisions, as the movie still feels authentic, while benefitting from some great new effects. And let’s not forget the Dolby ATMOS soundtrack which makes V’Ger more menacing as ethereal sounds bounce round your living room, underscored by Jerry Goldsmith’s Oscar-nominated score.

Verdict: The human adventure is just beginning… and it’s never looked so good. 

10/10 for the new release (8/10 for the movie itself)

Nick Joy