Customer Reviews

Star Trek: Motion Picture 20th Anniv Collectors Ed

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jerry Goldsmith is one of the most well-known and accomplished musicians in the field of modern classical film scores. Always pushing the envelope, blending styles and instruments, with this, his score to the 1979 film "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," he creates one of the most memorable themes in sci-fi film history, and some of the most eerie music ques ever heard. In several interviews, Goldsmith states his difficulty with making film scores because of his initial lack of a theme...but when he finally comes upon a theme, it's something to behold. The fanfare theme is as recognizable as the original Alexander Courage theme for the TV show...so much so, it was even used on "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," and even "Star Trek: The Next Generation." The theme for the planet Vulcan in "Total Logic" recalls the atmosphere created by the original TV series, as well as gives a sense of a culture that has as much in common with ancient Oriental mysticism as it does with scientific logic. The true gems are the V'Ger themes, first showcased in the "Klingon Battle," and further explored with "The Cloud," "V'Ger Flyover," and "Force Field." The use of the blaster beam is very powerful and very alien (I don't think it's ever been used on another film score, at least not to the degree to which it was used here). That sounds instantly grabs the listener's ears and induces everything from dread and fear to curiosity and awe. It's a beautifully menacing sound. Despite the fact that several cues are still missing from this CD, it is still a must-have for soundtrack enthusiasts, Trekkers and Trekkies alike, and fans of neo-classical music. It is without a doubt a triumph for Jerry Goldsmith, and is certainly an underappreciated gem of a soundtrack.

Ranking up there with Bernard Herrmann's score for "Vertigo" and John Williams's original "Star Wars" as the best of all music for film is Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The film which launched the movie series was mediocre, at best, but the superlative music made the movie better than it actually was. The hauntingly melodic "Illya's Theme" is one of the most beautiful compositions ever done for film, equal to "Laura" and "As Time Goes By," earlier classics from Hollywood's "Golden Age." The dynamic theme, later adapted for the Next Generation television series, is here in all its thunderous glory. This disc features cues omitted from the original release, a welcome addition to an already magnificent score. If there had been justice, the 1980 Academy Award for best score would have gone to this monumental recording. A "gotta-have" for Goldsmith fans and others who appreciate the fine art of film scoring.

A movie's soundtrack can have a big impact on how good a movie is. Not only does the music itself have to be good, it also has to fit the movie. It wouldn't make much sense to have Fur Elise playing over a fight scene, or to play Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries at a Vulcan wedding.

Goldsmith's music captures the sense of adventure and awe perfectly. I've listened to this album over and over again, and I'm still not tired of it. Despite it's age it's still as good as (if not better than) most of the scores composed today. Many of today's movies have soundtracks that are dull and uninspired.

So far I've only addressed the first disc (the soundtrack itself) in this two disc set. The second is the expanded version of an album released in 1976 of interviews with the cast, crew and others. While to me the first disc is worth the price alone, the second disc is a very nice bonus. Its a nostalgic trip down memory lane (even though I wasn't alive in 1976).

Whether you are a Jerry Goldsmith fan, a Star Trek fan, or just a general fan of good movie soundtracks, I would reccomend the purchase of this set.

although Trekkers and Trekkies have aired their fair share of gripes and complaints about the overall plot of 1979's STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE, any fussing and nit-picking about the movie's various weaknesses is silenced when the discussion turns to Jerry Goldsmith's amazingly beautiful orchestral score.

"Ilia's Theme", which opens the 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition soundtrack, is beautiful and haunting, much like the character of the Deltan navigator who followed her heart to be with the man she loved. Every time I hear this song I get teary-eyed; it's lilting, gentle and marvelous.

And then ... we move from the lyrical and lovely to the rousing opening credits theme, which was adopted by "The Next Generation" (at Gene Roddenberry's insistance), and from there, it's on to an unpleasant enounter with V'Ger in "Klingon Battle". I'd never heard a "blaster beam" before, and after I heard it in this song... another flock of goosebumps settled on my arms.

Goldsmith's theme for the starship "Enterprise" is majestic, awe-inspiring and gives me a flock of goosebumps. When we see the Enterprise as Adm, Kirk sees her for the first time, the rich brass and well-tempered strings lend just the right touch of awed amazement to the moment.

That sense of awe and wonder continues in the cues which tell the story of the Enterprise's enounter with V'Ger, the living machine which is in search of its creator, and once again, Goldsmith's music gives us a sense of fear, awe and wonder, especially in "V'Ger Flyover" and "The Cloud".

One of the advantages of the 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition soundtrack is that many of the cuse which weren't included in the original printing of the soundtrack album are included, and these additional cues, including "Total Logic", which takes us on a musical journey to Vulcan, add to the overall enjoyment of the album.

The second CD, which is chock-full of interviews with many members of the Original Series cast, is interesting to listen to for the various insights on why STAR TREK has managed to keep its appeal for so many years, but the principal reason to get this set is for the expanded soundtrack.

I think I can safely say that Goldsmith's score for ST: TMP will become a classic soundtrack, because it's wonderful soundtrack which tells a story of fear, awe, faith and hope.

It is truly one of Jerry Goldsmith's masterworks.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture- This cd (only reviewing disc 1, never listened to disc 2) is nearly the best of the series and any other films for that matter. It ranks just barely behind Star Trek V (with all the action and Sha-Ka-Ree music) and Star Trek VI (the dark one). Sometimes I'm sure it ties for first place even.

Goldsmith seems a lot more adventurous in this score, unlike First Contact, etc. He throws in a bunch of sound effects, especially in 'Klingon Battle'. Those strange ones at 4:30, for example, are a lot of fun. The strangest one is at about 4:15 in 'The Force-Field'. I can't quite figure it out, but it adds a beautiful, almost saddish quality to the sequence.

The main theme of course is probably, thanks to TNG, the most recognizable theme in history. Probably even more than the Star Wars theme or the Imperial March. (!) It's performance in the Main Title here is great. It feels so fresh and new compared to the rehash of the fanfare and samey arrangement of Goldsmith's next three Star Trek efforts. It is used quite a bit throughout the film, unlike in the newer ones. The best performance is in 'The Enterprise' especially from 3:20 when the ship comes into view. The piano accompaniment is beautiful and inventive. Then, this track has the best finale on the cd as the space-pod docks. Simply beautiful! Other great uses are in 'Leaving Dry-dock' and 'Total Logic'. Ilia's theme is touching, especially from 1:20 on 'Ilia's Theme' when the theme comes out strong on a new key after a minor chord. The theme is not used too much in the score, but it is used well, which is just as good. It appears in a lush version in 'Games' and, interestingly, appears in a somewhat menacing minor version in 'V'ger Flyover' to signify Ilia's special link with V'Ger. The Klingon theme is great fun but only appears once. It would have been neat if it appeared in 'Spock Walk' when all the space stations and the machine planet appear (if the Klingon ships were in there). The theme is probably best near the end of the track 'The Klingon Battle' when the ship is going into evasive maneuvers. There are many sub-themes for V'Ger in the movie. Of course, the 'blaster beam' always appears in the V'Ger tracks, providing an otherworldly sound. The most common V'Ger motif is the first one you hear in 'Klingon Battle'. Another is the moody arpeggios first heard in 'The Cloud'. It's neat how this sub-theme is reworked in 'Spock Walk' at a faster speed. There is a "space station/ship" motif which is basically flutes and bells. Quite nice and appearing mainly in 'Floatin Office', but quite other times when Federation ships are around. These sub-themes are great and it's always fun to discover new ones woven into the score.

Highlights of the score include the sequence where Spock mind-melds with Ilia/V'Ger in 'Spock Walk; The finale to 'The Enterprise'; 'The Cloud'; And, the most beautiful section, the little sequence near the end of 'The Enterprise' with the strings over a horn background at 4:36.

This is definitely an epic soundtrack and is definitely worth the rather inflated price. The 20th Anniversary edition is definitely worth buying even if you already have the 1979 LP or 1986 cd. This version adds 50% more music, and it definitely sounds better than the LP. This one is definitely worth getting. Best Tracks: Main Title / Klingon Battle* The Enterprise*********** The Cloud** Spock Walk (despite the title)** The Force Field (from ~3:00 - ~4:30)** A Good Start (although it's basically a quieter remix of 'The Enterprise)*

This music for 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' to my mind completely fits the images on screen as envisioned by Robert Wise and all of the people who created the style, art and special effects of this movie. It all just fits the picture perfectly. There are, I think, mainly three kinds of music on this soundtrack.
First of all, and most original to my taste, there is the music that underscores (the threat of) V'ger and its inner workings. These are mysterious, eerie and dark soundscapes, with organ-like pedal-notes to give size and weight to the enormity of V'ger, and with lots of electronic sounds to underscore the strangeness and the 'barren and cold', machine-like but unimaginably vast intelect of V'ger. The most recognizable symbol for V'ger is of course the so called 'blaster beam'; a truly marvelous invention that truly hammers down the agressiveness of V'ger.
Secondly, there is the music for Spock, who in this movie is on a quest for total logic, but is deviated from it by the haunting 'call' of V'ger, causing him to join the Enterprise, so as to be able to seek out V'ger for himself to go try and find his answers there. Spock's music is often closely entwined with the music for V'ger, necessarily, as these two characters are in mind-contact the whole of the time. But generally, Spock's music is a characterization of the strangeness of his planet, his culture and his way of life and the search for total logic. We hear a lot of (rumbling) percussion (soft ceremonial drums) in this 'Spock music', used to accentuate the otherworldly character of his culture and ways of life. The music for Spock and the music for V'ger are coming to a complete meld in the magnificent 'Spock Walk' (cue 13).
Thirdly, there is the music that introduces to us our great 'heroine', USS Enterprise, (cue 6: 'The Enterprise') is of course built up around the well-known (understatement!) 'Main Title', slowly growing from sweetly romantic to bold and sweeping ('Main Title' in its full, orchestral glory) when she finaly floats into view for Kirk (and us!) to behold in full glory. As the Enterprise 'and all that go with her' can be seen as being one and the same, the 'Main Theme' also stands for the spirit of Star Trek: To boldly go where no man has gone before.
The bold and inspiring music of 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' is first and foremost to be heard when looking at the film, enhancing the whole artistic experience to the Nth degree (well, that may have been slightly exaggerated ;-). But surely this is a music soundtrack of the very highest invention and artistry that can easily be listened to on its own, and for anyone with even the slightest interest in film music, this is not to be missed.

I can't think of any other movie that I've ever seen where the soundtrack did so much to make the movie special (except perhaps for "Forbidden Planet" with its brilliant electronic score).

Where would Star Trek: The Motion Picture be without this music? About an hour too long maybe? A subject of ridicule on some future revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000? I don't know.

There's a lot to be critical of in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but all the criticism turns to awe when we get to the subject of the music. Really, I think if this soundtrack was released just as a musical composition then someone would have to make a movie just to use the music.

I own a lot of CDs, but there are precious few of them where I can just put them in the player, kick back near one of my two stereo systems, or put on a nice set of heaphones, and be transported away from everything I obsess over and worry about. This is the kind of music that can do that.

If people are still watching this movie 100 years from now on their holographic movie crystals, or whatever, it will likely be thanks to this brilliant soundtrack.

The Goldsmith scores for Star Trek I and Star Trek V have always been superior to those of James Horner (II and III), Cliff Eidelman (VI) or the truly irritating Leonard Rosenmann (who simply regurgitated his music from 1978's Lord of the Rings for the themes of IV). The newly released selections are excellent, and adding "Spock's Arrival" does a great service to fans of this score. The digital remastering greatly enhances the music, and the inclusion of the long-unavailable "Inside Star Trek" is an added bonus. If there was anything to complain about at all (and there is precious little) it is the absence of Goldsmith's use of the Alexander Courage theme from the original series, which can be heard under the "Captain's Log" segments in the movie.

After twenty years, Jerry Goldsmith's music for "Star Trek-The Motion Picture" still soars in grandeur and eloquence. This may not be a complete soundtrack, but it still amazes the film music -or Trek -fan. The main title is truly a Trek landmark after the original Courage leitmotif. No wonder why the producers of the Next Generation series decided to use it as the show's title music.

'Ilia's Theme', 'The Enterprise' and 'Klingon Battle' are definitely outstanding. The inclusion of 'Total Logic' and 'The Force Field' is a very nice touch, combined with the familiar tracks from the original release.

So travel to far away galaxies, "boldly going where no man has gone before", and let Jerry Goldsmith's music for the first Trek film installment take you to a universe of beautiful notes.

Finally issued, the more complete version of Star Trek the motion picture's wonderful score. Having bought this originally in LP form in 1979, then buying a CD version ,I always felt like something was missing. The cues originally missing from the first issue are here and it was worth the wait. As a fan of Jerry Goldsmith, I was pleased to hear the missing cues for the first time without the films dialogue and/or sound effects. The piece entitled Total Logic really does convey the ancient culture of Spock's homeworld of Vulcan and segues nicely into Adm. Kirks arrival at Starfleet HQ.The triumphant sound of the Main Theme transports one into the the utopian like world of the 23rd cenury where our petty differences are but a distant memory. The sound quality is excellent due to modern technology. The second CD is interesting as a period piece of sorts, many of the voices are of people who have departed this phase of existence so in a way it is a permanent reminder of them.Anyone who has the original issue of this CD should purchase this one as it is a fine addition to any collection of film scores. Excellent overall.