That sense of wonder: "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" turns 30

It was only recently that I was able to find time to read again. In particular, a few weeks ago, I was reading The Mammoth Book of Mind-Blowing Science Fiction, edited by Mike Ashley, who tried to choose stories that would convey a "sense of wonder".

Taking each "Star Trek" series and film into consideration, it is clear that the one movie that stands out as conveying (or at least trying really hard to convey) a sense of wonder is "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". December 7, 2009 is its thirtieth anniversary.

SOME SPOILERS FOLLOW:

Sure, it has flaws pointed out by various detractors. It is sometimes referred to as "The Motionless Picture" due to its slow pacing. Compared to the movies of its time, it is at impulse while other movies are at warp. It is sometimes referred to as a ripoff of the "Star Trek" episode "The Changeling" (although, it is like saying that "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" is a ripoff of "Hamlet" since both deal with revenge... the similarities between "The Changeling" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" are superficial).

At the same time, it offers a true sense of wonder in its antagonist: V'ger. V'ger is literally shrouded in layers of mysterious mathematically-generated patterns of energy, which (being 82 astronomical units wide... the distance from the Sun to Neptune!) hides the object at the centre. Even the object at the centre is so huge that the Enterprise never gets to see the entire object at once. Only glimpses of giant alien structures are seen. The viewer is (hopefully) left wondering about what amazing beings could have built this vast object... only to then learn that V'ger is approaching Earth in order to return to its creator. Who (or what) on Earth could have created V'ger?

The Enterprise, refitted into the most modern starship, is marveled at near the start of the film and then is shown to be completely insignificant next to V'ger. Still, V'ger eventually needs a human person to accomplish its ulterior motive.

Finally, V'ger wins. (No, really, if one thinks about it, V'ger does win.) At the same time, everyone else wins. The film ends on a hopeful note.

Seriously, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is the last "Star Trek" film that portrays the universe as a mysterious place where things that are not well understood can still be found. (Honorable mention goes to "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier", where the Enterprise is hijacked and travels to the center of the galaxy to find "God", only for "God" to be killed by a Klingon warship. Finding "God", the climax, and denouement were the letdown, but the build-up in the movie was relatively good, despite its other flaws.)

In the various "Star Trek" series and films, the heroes are shown to be the masters of technology and their corner of the universe, where (generally-speaking) the Federation slowly expands peacefully through diplomacy and exploration (kind of like a more effective United Nations in space).

"Star Trek: The Motion Picture" simply reminds the viewer that the universe, while not being overtly hostile (keeping with a key "Star Trek" theme that the problems in the universe can be solved rationally and peacefully), has more to offer around the corner than just another "nation" in space. It reminds us to keep looking, keep learning, and keep wondering of what may be.

Peace and long life.