Bad costume design - Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Discussion

[–] Samclyde2 9 years ago

They were both too extreme -- TMP like pajamas, TWoK were too militaristic. The TOS uniforms were more the middle ground that the uniforms should've looked like.

I did like that white shirt Kirk was wearing at that one point in TMP.

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 9 years ago

TWOK were more like dress like or officer uniforms. TOS uniforms would be the types for crews of explorer ships and other deep space vessels.

Other than TMP uniforms being too like pajamas the colors were too bland.

Never seen any Star Trek since then with short sleeve shirts.

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 9 years ago

Only TMP uniform I liked was Kirk's admiral uniform, would be great with darker colors like navy blue.

The duty uniform would look better with navy blue, a high v neck collar and a zip at front and no built in shoes/boots.
http://www.screenused.com/images/auction_mar14/14694_1sm.jpg

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[–] action_on_deck 8 years ago

The admiral uniform is the only TMP uniform that we ever see again (on Admiral Pike in the new Star Trek films), so it seems that others agree with you.

The bland uniforms and bland looking colors on the set give the whole color palate of the film a bad look. I think that hurts it as much as the pacing.

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[–] RustyShackleworth 9 years ago

I've always liked those "coat" garments (I don't know what else to call them) they wear when they go and see V'ger.

What evil drives the Car?...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFWea3Eu97E

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[–] ltarex 9 years ago

For me the truly ridiculous stuff were those huge wedge heels worn by female crewmembers. Who the hell could think they would actually serve on a starship wearing those?? And what if they go on away missions, they change their footwear or keep those wedges? Imagine Lieutenant XY stepping on a dangerous alien world wearing 5-inch wedge heels. It's fortunate there wasn't any women in the away team in TMP and they changed the uniforms before we could see Kirstie Alley marching on Regula I in those shoes.

"A voice from behind me reminds me. Spread out your wings you are an angel." 

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[–] dominicd 8 years ago

The uniforms look like pajamas ...

Now I'm no fashion-nista, but they did look a bit comfortable. I suppose when it comes to interstellar travel and nearly getting killed while unfortunately warping into a worm hole, comfort, supersedes aesthetics in uniformed clothing?

- DominicD

"They died with their pajamas on, and they were comfortable." - DominicD

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 8 years ago

They're experimenting with skintight suits for space travel now to support you bones in zero gravity.

It would look nice with a high v neck collar and darker colors.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nTwdarwEUt4/UxkgQoyB8MI/AAAAAAAATNk/s-HaShjgRWs/s1600/P497_5.jpg

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[–] dominicd 8 years ago

They're experimenting with skintight suits for space travel now to support you bones in zero gravity ...

Hi. Now I am no physiologist, or even physicist but in conceptualization, why bother when you are gonna spend your time in warp? Meaning to say, to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before, with Einstein's Theory of Relativity in mind ... why bother?

Humans need to be molecularized as long as they continue to espouse war.

- DominicD

"Beam me up, Scotty." - Capt. Kirk.

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 8 years ago

When artificial gravity and faster than light comes about no skintight suits for protection.

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[–] dominicd 8 years ago

When artificial gravity and faster than light comes about no skintight suits for protection.

But wouldn't even the mechanisms that provide artificial gravity, along with carbon units (people), including the ship itself, cease to function, or even exist as well?

In the least, science fiction is entertaining, and fun.

- DominicD

"... What would happen if you could get up to the speed of light? As you get closer and closer to the speed of light, time gets slower and slower compared to stationary observers. So if you really need an answer to the original question, this means that if you actually hit the speed of light for real, time would stop entirely, which means that nothing could happen. But that's okay, because you can't get up to the first place." - Dr. Dave Goldberg, Physicist

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[–] dominicd 8 years ago

...no skintight suits for protection.

Nor pajamas, or for that fact(?) and in terms of physics and becoming 'the stuff of stars' (eg. Sagan) nothing physical or even tangible can 'protect' anything, or anyone from the quantum numbers presented, if not theorize?

I enjoyed this movie, as it is now nostolgic. It was, in the back wash of Star Wars (1977) a refreshing homage to Roddenberry, back in the day.

- DominicD

"Always make the audience suffer as much as possible." - A. Hitchcock

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[–] therealboozysmurf 8 years ago

Not really. By all cast accounts they were horrible for the men.

Visually probably the best example is this poor bastard reaching upward.

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/tmp2/tmphd0406.jpg

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[–] wxray1 8 years ago

OK, Kids. Remember, this was the DISCO era. None of this seemed too strange in 1979. Even the guy Spock gave the pinch to looked like a porn actor with that 'stache. It all fit for 1979.

A lot changed between 1979 and 1982. Massive cultural change in clothing and personal looks occurred in these years. Today, it looks ridiculous. Back then, it seemed, well, kind of edgy. Hard to believe, I know.

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 8 years ago

Agree it was like the hip disco era where everyone was wearing tight clothing and flare jeans.

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[–] dominicd 8 years ago

😁

- DominicD

"Always make the audience suffer as much as possible." - A. Hitchcock

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[–] !!!deleted!!! (9347176) 8 years ago

OK, Kids. Remember, this was the DISCO era.

Yep. McCoy's giant, astral sign medallion was uber-distracting. The footies in the uni pants were just silly, though. I don't recall those being in fashion in the late 70's.

I liked the idea of the bio-monitors along the belt-line but man, were they clunky-looking. Reminded me a bit of the jaunting belts from "Tomorrow People."

-Rod

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[–] mikethemartian (6058) 5 years ago

Just look how Jor-El was costumed in Superman the year before.

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[–] alouette1977 8 years ago

As a kid in 1979, who wasn't a hardcore Trekkie, I liked the movie uniforms in TMP. Thought they were a step up from the look of the 1960's.

The tug of war over Star Trek was always about Roddenberry's version of the future with Starfleet & the Federation as being explorers and scientists, versus the notion of Starfleet as an United Nation style military and peacekeeping organization. After TMP and Roddenberry's excessive control of the project, his role was reduced and they went with a more military look for the uniforms. When Roddenberry got ST: TNG to play with, he brought back the explorers and scientists feel to the uni's.

We pretty much have six different versions of Starfleet uniforms.

(1) TOS
(2) Star Trek: TMP
(3) Star Trek II to VI
(4) Star Trek: TNG & Star Trek: Generations
(5) Star Trek: First Contact, Insurrection & Nemesis
(6) Enterprise

Couldn't say for sure which era is my favourite. TMP uni's were light and flowing, the next five films the characters looked tightly wrapped in those jackets. TNG era gave us the 'Picard maneuver.'

Maybe it's the 10 year old in me, but it's the TMP uni's for me.

Everyone else may be an a**hole, but I'm not! - Harlan Ellison

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[–] alouette1977 8 years ago

Actually, the uniforms in Star Trek Beyond are the best version of the OS uniforms yet. They made subtle lines in perking up the shoulders, and the away team jackets were functional and cool.

Everyone else may be an a**hole, but I'm not! - Harlan Ellison

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[–] ssllaasskk 8 years ago

Well I for one, am looking forward to the age of the belt-less belt-buckle.
It will go great with my pants-less fly.

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