Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), PG, 2 hr 12 min

Title: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Year: 1979
Franchise: Star Trek
Franchise #: 1

MPAA Rating / TV Parental Guidelines
MPAA Rating: Originally G, later often rated PG for mild thematic and sci-fi peril
TV Parental Guidelines: TV-PG

Tagline
“The human adventure is just beginning.”

Main Cast
William Shatner — Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy — Commander Spock
DeForest Kelley — Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy
Stephen Collins — Commander Willard Decker
Persis Khambatta — Lieutenant Ilia
James Doohan — Montgomery “Scotty” Scott
George Takei — Hikaru Sulu
Nichelle Nichols — Lieutenant Uhura
Walter Koenig — Ensign Pavel Chekov
Majel Barrett — Dr. Christine Chapel

Reviews
Overview
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is the franchise’s first big-screen adventure, focusing on a mysterious and immensely powerful alien entity named V’Ger hurtling toward Earth. Admiral Kirk returns to command the Enterprise to investigate this threat. Unlike later Star Trek films, this one takes a slower, more philosophical approach, with stunning visuals and a memorable score. It’s a cerebral experience exploring themes of identity, creation, and purpose, perfect for fans who appreciate thoughtful sci-fi but less for those expecting action-packed thrills.

Family Friendliness
The film is very clean—no bad language beyond a single mild “hell,” no sexual content, and only minimal, non-graphic violence. The pacing and abstract sci-fi visuals might be challenging for younger kids, but it’s suitable for older children and teens who enjoy intellectual storytelling. Good for family viewing if you’re ready to discuss some deeper ideas.

Christian Perspective
The story’s central theme—a machine seeking its creator—reflects humanity’s built-in longing for God (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Yet the film stops short of biblical truth, portraying a secular, humanist worldview where purpose comes from technology and evolution rather than divine grace. No mention is made of sin or salvation, but it opens doors for reflection on what it means to be created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and how only God gives true meaning (Colossians 1:16–17). This makes it a good conversation starter on faith and purpose.

Critics Ratings
IMDb: 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 51% Critic Score, 42% Audience Score
Metacritic: 50/100 Metascore, 6.6/10 User Score
Dove Foundation: No official review, but generally considered family-safe
My Rating: 6.5/10 — Visually stunning and intellectually ambitious but slow and emotionally distant.

Notable Scenes
Enterprise Reveal: An awe-inspiring long shot of the newly refurbished USS Enterprise in the space dock.

Klingon Encounter: V’Ger destroys Klingon warships, demonstrating its raw power.

Ilia’s Transformation: Lieutenant Ilia is abducted and returns as a mechanical probe with a human interface.

Spock’s Spacewalk: A tense EVA where Spock explores V’Ger’s interior.

Philosophical Debate: Kirk, Spock, and McCoy debate logic versus emotion.

Voyager 6 Revelation: The twist that V’Ger is actually a lost Earth probe seeking its creator.

Decker and Ilia Merge: Fusion with V’Ger, symbolizing the birth of new life.

Spock’s Emotional Moment: Spock reconnects with his humanity.

V’Ger’s New Form: Transformation into a new lifeform.

Closing Scene: Enterprise sets course for new adventures, ending with “Out there… thataway.”


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