Stealing the Enterprise | Star Trek: The Search for Spock [MYVFX] 

Hey everyone! Even though I initially announced there wouldn’t be any new animations until late November, I ended up creating another one. This project came with its fair share of challenges-lots of reanimation and re-rendering-and there are still a few details I’m not entirely happy with. That said, I think it’s good enough to share! Some issues, like the glitching lights in the second space scene, remain unresolved, as I couldn’t figure out the cause. Still, I hope you enjoy it! Additionally, I’d like to announce that 4K versions of my still renders are now available for purchase through my Patreon shop (www.patreon.com/vortexcgi/shop). Please note that these are priced higher than what my Patrons pay. If you’d like to support me through a Patreon membership, you can do so here: www.patreon.com/vortexcgi/membership.

The Enterprise refit Connie has got to be the most BEAUTIFUL space ship model ever created. Absolutely gorgeous from all angles. Love this ship with all my heart. And James Horner's music is just the icing on the proverbial cake.

I'm kind of amazed that 25 year old Lightwave mesh is still being used. Great work. Congratulations!

Always love a new take on "Stealing the Enterprise"

My favorite scene in all the movies with TOS cast (closely followed by TWOK Mutara nebula scenes, I think). So nice to see it this way.

I always liked that the Excelsior losing power sounded like my 81 Impala when it ran out of gas.

Cant say no to this video. The Score of this scene gets me every time.

Two of the finest looking starships Starfleet has ever made. Great work!

In fact, Kirk WOULD sit in the Captain’s chair again…💜

2:35 may I remind you captain regulations require thrusters ONLY while in space dock....

I remember when I saw it in the theaters and I was amazed how great this seen was and the music was the icing 🧁 on the cake

Excellent work! Especially the slight difference in hue of the ships against the background, reminds me of the original practical effects. 🙏

Best music at the best time when the Enterprise does the 3 point turn out of Spacedock, with the most amazing level of emotion as Kirk sits in the chair and hears the words "Kirk, you do this you'll never sit in the Captain's Chair again!" And for a second he thinks about it and his love for Spock just overrides all that and he thinks "I'm coming, Spock" and simply says "Warp speed!"

RIP James Doohan (Scotty), Jackson DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy), James B. Sikking (Captain Styles) and Miguel Ferrer (Excelsior Helmsman). May we never forget them in the 40th anniversary year of the 3rd Star Trek original series movie.

I love how many fans re create this sequence! ❤

I love how the lighting, textures, and pacing really hammer in how these ships are behemoths, just as majestic and lumbering as today's largest aircraft carriers and cruise ships. The last time I felt that in official Trek was the 2009 movie. My only nitpick is that I feel that going to warp should be a few shades brighter, but other than that, this whole scene is just *muah* 🧑🏻‍🍳😗🤌🏻

It ships have weight, beauty and looks in some places like there is a matte line. Absolutely stunning. The light that catches the nacelles when it reverses out the doors. The interior fog and glow are delicious and film quality. Brilliant

Always good to see Enterprise and her crew.

Terrific! I had to restart it because I didn't immediately catch what was going on... and I mean that in a good way, because the new stuff blends so well. Films from this era were cut very differently than today, with considerably broader cut pacing than the "don't blink or you'll miss" visual chaos of today where even scenes of simple dialogue feature unnecessarily busy cuts. That the original shots in these early-gen Trek films are all the more impressive because we get to enjoy so much time before the next cut to take it all in, testament to the detailed work of those model makers. The work here seems to build upon what the original footage did so well, adding a new layer of cleanliness and detail that simply wasn't available in the world of 80s optical effects, and blending in well with the original kept footage. Great job. Subscribed.

I didn't think Kirk and crew thwarting Starfleet and sabotaging the Excelsior could be any funnier. Along with it sputtering to a dead stop, it goes dark like it's got a dead battery! Well done! 😂

I originally saw this film back in the theater when it came out. Little did I know that this would've been the last time I see the old gal. Enterprise A just wasn't the same. Kudos to James Horner (RIP) for a fantastic score.

Im soooo happy you made Excelsior's lights go out at the end of her malfunction!!! As a child, i could've sworn that was what really happened in the film! Or at least thats what should've happened 😊. Very nice job. My trekie itch has been scratched 😊

Looks great, well done!. One of my only regrets about this scene is I think it would have been even better if while Enterprise was moving towards the closed doors, Uhura was racing through space dock to the control room and opened the doors at the last minute.

One of my all-time favorites ST lines…0:45 ”Gentlemen, may the wind be at our backs.” Nice work on the SFX. Love the bright lighting and ship detail inside Spacedock. And the 1:57 wide angle shot of Enterprise backing out.

Looks great. Excellent work.

Shatner does this great job with his reaction when he gets warned about not sitting in the captain’s chair. Just a quick pause and then he orders warp speed. Very subtle and nicely underplayed.

"Sir, sir, Kirk is stealing the Enterprise!" Well at least he didn't just boost the hubcaps !"

Beautifully done! I loved the shot from inside the dock when you see the Enterprise turning outside the doors

"Engage auto systems?" "Aye... Engaged!" "Clear all moorings." "Cleared, sir!" "One Quarter Impulse Power..." "One Quarter Impulse, sir."

Absolutely superb.

First off this is the best recreation of this scene I have seen to date. My only criticisum is that it is just a little too bright and needs a little more contrast. The models were great, the ship movements were great. I did notice the slight quick movement just before exiting the space doors but that is an easy fix. The lights were actually not too noticable unless you were looking for it. Awesome all together.

Awesomely done! (as always) :)

Honestly feels like this is the most recreated scene in all fan remake art....but you'd still did the best job with it 😉

Excellent job, guys!

Amazing work!

Love this, one day someone will do a version where they show the 'quarter impulse' speed correctly inside space dock, as the ship would slam into the side at 1/16th the speed of light lol

Just seen this magnificent video,I wish they could add it to the original film. I was 10 yrs old ,it broke my heart ,cried for a week after the ship was destroyed. THANK GOD THEY GOT THE "A"! But it wasn't the same . A brilliant video.

Wow so cool! I wish they would release the rough footage of the Memory Wall from Star Trek the Motion Picture. I bet you could do something really groovy with this level of skill.

The model work in this movie was top notch and nothing can improve on it. Not saying that it was a bad job, just does not have the weight and physical presence that the models carry with them.

Pretty great, Mr. Vortex. My only criticism is those glowing warp engines. TMP era ships don't do that in the movies. The warp grilles only light up when they jump to warp. (It's one of those details I really love about those ships, which is why it sticks out to me so much.) Other than that, you capture the compositions and editing of the original effects incredibly well. Excellent job.

vortex i like how you think differently and what you felt what happened i would have never thought that it could also be possible for the ship to have a ship wide power lost like that

Your fine work I'm sure gives joy to all Star Trek fans. It does for me. Thankyou.

Nice little touches.

Great job

Well done. She’s the most beautiful Enterprise

Omg !!!!! My favorite sequence in trek 3

gorgeous work

I enjoyed this, very nicely done! I liked the Excelsior going dark there at the last bit. Very nuanced ship motions, too.

Gotta love the original Excelsior warp drive sound effects, after Scotty got done with her....!!!!

Excellent, well done.

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!👏🏿👏🏽👏🏼👏🏻👏

In vacuum, everything is razor sharp. Adding "smoke" is hack Kurtzman's thing to make it grittier. I don't know why you did that here. It was perfect as was.

LUDICROUS SPEED....GO!

Yeah- a bunch 0f great improvements here, including the battle damage apparent on Enterprise as she leaves the space dock. Lights going dark on Excelsior is a nice touch, too!

"Gentlemen, may the wind be at our backs."

Damn impressive

Looks like the Excelsior was built by British Leyland. 😅

Love it! Keep working on them.

BEAUTIFUL WORK!

Everytime I see this part ,I thinking about Robocop too😅😂

Holy god this is good!

3:45 when the USS EXCELSIOR starts moving it sounds like a ship pushing back water on the ocean

Hello. Nice. Although, _Excelsor's_ call sign was originally "NX-2000," but was changed in _Undiscovered_ to "NCC-2000."

You did an incredible job on this.

The models looked so much better than cg

One of the best scenes. Great job with it. The Excelsior bridge is the worst set ever.

I like how at the very end all the power goes out on the Excelsior! I'm not sure if getting some whales and saving the Earth will be enough to get Scotty out of a murder charge.

Gorgeous

at 3:34 the enterprise suddely slows down with a jolt just after the engines come into view

Very nice, however i liked most the previous version where the enterprise cast a shadow over the edge of the space dock when she was diving away

The *only* minor error i see is Excelsior's registration- at this point she's the *NX-2000*, won't be NCC-2000 until VI, but otherwise, EXCELLENT work

Competent, inspiring, respectful. Pride is supposed to be a sin, but I'd forgive it here.

Its a hell of an upgrade. only noticed one little hitch, as they get to space doors opening, you see the nacelle speed in to shot then slow down at the door. But I love this

Cool video...but I am still waiting to see this scene redone with in canon only damage to the Enterprise taken from St II (well, roughly patched up, because Kirk said they did in the meantime between movies). Or maybe scraping the warp nacelles with some sparks as it almost fails to clear the space doors...and of course, an outtake where the doors don't open, and the entire starbase explodes. 💀 I always liked how captain whatshisface just assumed and knew it was Kirk stealing the ship...like, "yup...i knew he would try to". "Kirk, if you do this, you'll never sit in the Captain's chair again" was full of irony, because that act is actually what PUT Kirk back in the chair, after being demoted from Admiral, at the end of ST IV.

wow

Well done! The Spacedock reminds me of a Douglas Trumbull creation.

Looks phenomenal. The only thing I’d say is that the damage on the ventral saucer near the neck looks too uniform? I feel like that’s nitpicking, though - the whole recreation is beautiful!

The more they over think the plumbing the easier it is to stuff up the drain.

Love this remake of a great t scene. Only one mistake I can see. The registry on the Excelsior, says NCC-2000, when it's suppose to be NX-2000 at this point.

Love that scene. It was so much fun to watch in the theatre. Btw, does James Sikking's looks and acting there remind anyone of Rene Auberjonois?

Only nit pick I have is why are the warp nacelles lit up while in space dock? Those only come on when the ship is at warp. the rest is pretty cool.

Great effort but the original model work still looks better. Except for the matte lines the actual models are fantastic and the pace is slower for more tension.

3:33 Sulu must have tapped the brakes a little too hard.

Great stuff. I could never do this kind of CGI work. Just a thought, have you tried an 80s grain so the transition between the film and CGI might be smoother? I was just thinking about how BSG 2003 had that grain.

Quarter impulse. More like quarter thrusters.

Fantastic....but can we fix Chekovs wardrobe choice? 😂

I like it. I also like the previous one of this scene. A mixture of the two is not unreasonable (especially the previous one where you see the Enterprise warp away on Excelsior's view screen)?

Should have ended it with the scene of Scotty and McCoy trading barbs

Scotty didn't hack the space doors; the Dock Commander was ordered to open them to prevent damage to Space Dock, the Enterprise and other vessels. Scotty just took credit for it.

Oops...Excelsior was NX-2000 at this time. With multiple cgi-redo's of this scene, I'd like to see the Enterprise spin around inside Spacedock for once.

Great work my friend. Must have burned your gpu multiple times with the lights lol.

Some One Call AAA Oh Its Just Next Door 😁😁😁😁😁

I still wonder why they show the Enterprise with all her interior lights on when there was nobody on board except for the bridge crew and full automation.

I always wondered, why didn't the spacedock or excelsior engage any tractor beams before exiting spacedock? Surely with both Spacedock and Excelsiors tractorbeams or even just the excelsiors tractor beams could have stopped the partially crippled enterprise.

Why didn't Scotty close the bloody space doors after they were out?

Full impulse power… oh.

Right as the nacelles are passing through the door, the speed changes. Was that a cut or a glitch?

Mola mucho 🐾🐾🐾🐾✨✨✨✨

How were you able to acomplish this, before "patreon," just curious? Were you working a regular job, like I am?

For your information. in England "wessel" is a butcher's name for a bull's...er...John Thomas! It's considered a delicacy in Northern England.