Star Trek The Motion Picture

Launched after the double-whammy success of sci-fi hits Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture must have looked a little creaky in comparison.

Slow, serious and surprisingly intelligent, the first movie voyage of the USS Enterprise might never quite hit warp speed but it's still a Trek worth taking.

Overseen by Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and released in 1979 – a decade after the TV show was unceremoniously canned – it sees James T. Kirk (Shatner), now an Admiral, lured away from his desk-jockey job by the chance to once again command the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

Called back into service because a hugely destructive alien lifeforce is heading for Earth, it's up to Kirk and the reassembled Enterprise crew - including dour medic Bones (Kelley) and intrepid engineer Scotty (James Doohan) - to travel to the far reaches of space and find a way to stop it.

Picking up Vulcan science officer Spock (Nimoy) along the way, it's just like old times, apart from the fact that the Enterprise has had a complete revamp that leaves Kirk slightly baffled, much to the consternation of Captain William Decker (Collins), who was originally set to command the mission.  

As tensions rise on the bridge, a situation not helped by the arrival of Decker's old flame – bald-as-an-egg Deltan navigator Lieutenant Ilia (Khambatta) – the old crew must wrestle with new technology and in-fighting as they journey ever-closer to the deadly extraterrestrial entity.

There's something spine-tinglingly stirring about watching the cast reunite, not to mention the joy of seeing Kirk take charge of the Enterprise after a decade in the wilderness.

Unfortunately, director Wise spends so much time building up his return and visually fawning over shots of the iconic ship waiting in dock, you might begin to wonder if the mission is ever going to get underway.

While such scenes might be akin to Trekkie porn, as the mission finally gets underway it becomes clear there's an unusual amount of substance to this slow-burning adventure.

The unbeatable chemistry between the original cast throws sparks as might be expected, but it's new addition Khambatta as the tragic lieutenant first exposed to the mysterious otherworldly intelligence, who becomes the most memorable aspect of the movie, both for her striking look and engaging presence.

Showcasing some superb special effects that recall the outer space psychedelia of 2001: A Space Odyssey, this first Trek is most effective in its latter stages, weaving stunning visuals with a poignant finale that revolves around Ilia and Decker's lost love, all topped off with a truly great twist.

Those who can put up with the languid pace will find it pays off with an unexpected amount of heart and soul. As such, it may not be the auspicious start the franchise deserved, but it lays down the necessary groundwork for the less laborious episodes to come.

Chris Prince