WAMG Boldly Goes To The STAR TREK Films At American Cinematheque

Photo: LA Times

We Are Movie Geeks were on hand last night as American Cinematheque kicked of their STAR TREK…TO BOLDLY GO film series at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The evening began with my favorite of all the TREK films, STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. Seeing it on the big screen after 32 years was definitely a treat and most of the people in attendance agreed. It was not only fun and sentimental, but really paid homage to all the work that went into a production of that scale in a time before CGI and digital effects.

Surprisingly, the film held up very well for its 1979 release date. The music by Jerry Goldsmith was moving and evoked more than one round of applause during the opening and closing credits from the sentimental audience, who also applauded when names such as Roddenberry, Shatner, Nimoy and Doohan came up.

Following the screening was a special presentation on the art direction and visual effects of the film. Visuals not seen in more than 30 years and a discussion with Robert Abel & Co, art director Richard Taylor, Director’s Edition VFX Supervisor Darren Dochterman and Gene Kozicki of the Visual Effects Society rounded out the presentation. They had such fascinating stories about what went into making this film, the audience stayed well beyond 11:00 with questions and comments

To celebrate the STAR TREK films, American Cinematheque chose six of the eight films in the franchise, plumbing deep for gems in the Trek universe that haven’t necessarily received the tribute they deserve. From series creator Gene Roddenberry, all of these films embody the ideals of sci-fi’s first franchise that have endured for more than 40 years. May they continue to live long and prosper for many more. The series began last night, Thursday, March 24, and will run through Sunday, March 27.

Click HERE to read Jay West’s fascinating article from this January on the legacy of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in the LA Times.

The STAR TREK tribute at the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028), will include 35mm screenings of THE WRATH OF KHAN and THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, plus THE VOYAGE HOME, THE FINAL FRONTIER and THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY in 70mm.

Here’s the lineup of guest to appear at the Star Trek films series at the Egyptian Theatre:

• George Takei will be at Friday night’s (3/25) screenings of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.”
• Walter Koenig will be the Saturday night program (3/26), which features “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” and “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.”
• Director Nicholas Meyer Q & A Sunday night (3/27) after the screening of “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.”

Friday night is a double feature of STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN and STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK. Discussion between films with actor George Takei moderated by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times and HeroComplex.com.

STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, 1982, Paramount, 116 min. Dir. Nicholas Meyer. Part one of the three-part story arc. The genetically engineered Khan, played with ferocious energy by Ricardo Montalban, escapes from a 15-year exile to exact revenge on James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols and the rest of the Enterprise crew must stop him from obtaining Project Genesis and using its power as a doomsday device.

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, 1984, Paramount, 105 min. At the end of THE WRATH OF KHAN, Spock’s dead … or is he? Leonard Nimoy portrays the lovable, logical Vulcan and makes his directorial debut with the film that answers that question.

Buy Tickets: http://www.fandango.com/egyptiantheatre_aaofx/theaterpage

General Admission
$11.00
(unless otherwise noted)

Cinematheque Members
$7.00

Seniors 65+ and Students with valid ID
$9.00

Visit American Cinematheque’s official site HERE, on Facebook: Egyptian Theatre HERE Aero Theatre HERE, and on Twitter HERE (@SidGrauman)