wisebob: These movies are all perennially available in cheap bin for both rental and purchase at Blockbuster, Hollywood, and other rental shops. They’re readily available via Netflix as well. And if you’d like to own 'em, you can own the top-of-the-line version complete with the badass Michael Okuda text commentary (and much more) for $10 a disc in singles or less in groups of TOS and/or TNG. 
I just have to say, and I know this might be the understatement of the last 2 centuries, but Kirk - and Shatner - are just so badass, on so many levels, concurrently.
My favorite Kirk moment of IV: selling his timepeice - “is that good?” And, the mind meld with Spock was possibly the best Trek moment for me when I saw it the first time in the theater. That moment has since been surpassed by Jean Luc Picard in First Contact, “the line, is drawn, her-ah! No Farther!” closely followed by the TNG tribbles episode where Worf was asked about the Klingon discrepancy in appearance, “we do not like to talk about it.”
I could go on forever. TMP has a special place in my heart because my dad let me skip school to go see it in the theater with him when it came out. I was 8 1/2 and it was a big deal. He also always let me stay home from school whenever there was a Beatles movie on TV. He once also had an argument with me about whether warp 10 was actually possible. My defense (I was 11) was, hey it’s on the show and hey, it’s science fiction. His argument, something astrophysics-like. He was a chemist and a lot smarter than me.
Damn, you’re good.
Loved the podcast. Made me laugh hard a few times. You guys are great.
When I first saw this in the theatres, way back, I loved the banter and the in-jokes,
but thought the whale aspect was cutesy and really silly.
10yrs later watching it, I didn’t mind so much the whale aspect.
Now watching, I was surprised how I really enjoyed the whole thing.
What is it about Star Trek that is eternal?
I took this picture of the model when I was at the Smithsonian.
I have to admit that it does look different in real life. I must be on the side that isn’t painted…
USS Enterprise CVN-65???
sweet!!
Well I’ve been told that, IYKWIM. Actually I like tribbles…I like them a lot… so I’ve always been able to remember that episode. 
Maybe the big ship was the Battle-Aquarium Galactica? Full of whales from a bombed out 12 Colonies. They came to earth and found no one there (of note) and got all grumpy.
Great Podcast, guys! I was driving and you had me laughing hard several times in this episode. And I’m with Audra - I cannot believe you guys didn’t notice the free flying assets the entire film. I know they’re small but yikes!
Anywho, this film is my favorite Trek movie so far. I loved the way Nimoy brought the humor back after three intense films in a row. It was a real breath of fresh air at the time and a complete shock to the entertainment industry at the time. They just could not believe that “general” audiences were being drawn to a Trek movie along with the Trekkies. They couldn’t find much to mock in this film and actually gave it positive reviews which was quite shocking for the times. This film was a great achievement for the franchise in general and may have played a role in Paramount deciding to fund so many TV sequels. I don’t remember the total timing so please forgive me if TNG had be on for years before this film!
And now I’m going to say something most people won’t agree with but I can’t help myself. As a kid who grew up ignoring prime Summer play hours with my friends in favor of watching Trek re-reruns, it’s really pained me to watch the legacy of the show being centered around one actor and character: Kirk. Yes, he’s the captain and yes he played a pivotal role. I get all of that. However, I didn’t spend all those hours in front of the TV as a kid fascinated by Kirk. Spock was my favorite character. And I doubt I’d still be a Trek fan today if he hadn’t been a main character.
For me, Spock embodied all of my feelings of being an outsider. His dad had dis-owned him, there was no one like him on the ship to share his problems with, he had dedicated his life to living up to an impossible standard and he had chosen to do it on a ship where everyone else believed the opposite. Spock had to make his own way on the path he’d chosen with no help and no complaints. I really identified with the courage it took for him to do that and loved watching him become part of an amazing team with Kirk and McCoy and the rest of the crew. That’s what really hooked me on he show. It’s really a shame to see all of that depth lost in descriptions of the original Trek today.
/rant.
I really appreciate how you guys really seem to “get it” about the original show. You reconginze the amazing rapport between Spock, Kirk and Bones that made the show special. Thanks so much for bringing all of these good memories back for me.
Spock is also my favorite TOS character. Spock fans unite! 
Even though I didn’t watch TOS (OK to be fair I am still watching it) until recently (hey 'talos! TFG! trek Tuesday peeps!), I find Kirk’s character kind of… grating. Yeah, he’s the captain, but it’s about so much more than one ship or one man on the ship. The relationships between people make Trek for me (of all varieties.).
That enterprise I saw looked like that one too and was sitting pretty on the launching pad at NASA.
Its so cool for me to hear people are taking the time to watch TOS for the first time. And its even better to hear they’re becoming new Spock fans. I’m ready to join you at the Spock march anytime!
Grating is the perfect word to describe Kirk. I know it’s not fair to judge his attitudes by today’s standards but I can honestly say his treatment of women annoyed me in 1975!
Please clue me in - what happens on Trek Tuesday?
I’m an old Trek fan myself. I haven’t thought about this for a long time, but I remember having huge respect for Spock. I didn’t fully understand what I was watching, but I could recognize Spock’s inner strength and found it inspirational, especially as a kid. “I’m not going to cry about this…I’m Spock”.
Also, I too would like to give a shout out to the cast for “getting it”.
I love the end of the many episodes when Spock belittles McCoy’s passionate “humanness”, McCoy insults Spock’s Vulcan logic, and Kirk sits there with his “cat that ate the canary” grin on his face.
Great cast, once again guys! I love this movie.
FWIW, I understand what your issue was, Audra & I agree.
Now I am in trouble. Do you know that one form or another of Star Trek is on at all times. I caught some Original Trek last night. It is still great stuff. Even as aggravating as Spock and McCoy are to each other they will never leave one in danger. Great friends who just love to pester each other. Chuck and Sean like.
I haven’t listened to this podcast yet, but I plan to today.
But, I’m getting the impression that I need to watch Voyage Home all over again to watch Gillean’s boobs?
Okay, if you say so, I’ll do it.
How cool! My college roommate’s father was also aboard the Enterprise at some point in his naval career – a weapons officer, I think.
Thank you for your service!
FWIW, in Vonda McIntyre’s novelization of ST 4, she goes the extra step to have Scotty establish that Dr. Nichols did, in fact, invent transparent aluminum, which led to a discussion of “Does that mean we can know for sure that we succeeded in our mission?”
It’s interesting, but doesn’t jibe with the tone of the film. I love how McIntyre deepened the textures of ST 2 and 3, but her treatment of ST 4 is a disappointment because she can’t “roll with it” more. Oh, well.
Re: Kirk and no money. I like Chuck’s defense of Kirk’s response – in character and it makes sense.
Of course, we know they have some sort of money in the 23rd century. All talk of “credits” aside, in ST 3 alone, we hear Kirk say, “Then I’ll find a ship, I’ll hire a ship.” And McCoy, of course, says, “Place you name, money I got.” Oh, well. Speaking of just rolling with it…
I had never wondered about that external ladder on the Bird of Prey! LOL. Good point. Of course, it could be argued that, unlike the Enterprise, the Bird of Prey is capable of atmospheric flight, so you might very well want a ladder for emergeny egress, or if the transporter is broken, or whatever.
And, besides, those pointy-hatted Vulcan engineers did one frakkin’ major refit on that ship in three months. The bridge looks nothing like it did under Kruge’s command, proving once again that the best tool in a Star Trek engineer’s toolbox is the willing suspension of disbelief.