The Original Star Trek gets an Upgrade
"Space the Final Frontier . . ."
I think all Star Trek fans still get a little thrill of excitement from the opening lines spoken by Captain Kirk. Another thrill comes when we see the starship Enterprise race her way across the screen. Now, both those things have gotten a high tech upgrade. The new release of the Original Star Trek in combo HD and DVD format, features enhanced CGI special effects and a newly recorded soundtrack.
Season One HD DVD is now available, released November 20, 2007. Season Two is planned for release sometime in late 2008.
About the Visual Enhancements
CGI and HD Quality breath new life into the classic series
To reach HD quality, Paramount went back to the original films, and digitally remastered them. All dust and scratches were removed frame by frame. The colors are vibrant and the episodes have amazing sharpness and clarity.The special effects were replaced with new CGI. This was done with obvious respect for the original. The effects are not over the top, but believable, and stay true to the original designs. The CGI Enterprise was created with measurements taken from the original model used for filming. They added some new camera angles, and beautiful planets to improve the space scenes. CGI effects replace all space scenes and battles, places where matte paintings were used for planet back drops, and windows and viewports showing space or outside scenes.
Some other subtle changes appear in some episodes. For example, in Kirk's famous battle with the Gorn, the Gorn now blinks. This is a prime example of where Paramount used restraint in adding visual enhancements. They could have replaced the whole Gorn, which you can tell is definitely a man in a suit, but that would have damaged he integrity of the original, and, I am sure, angered fans. Instead they added this small change which gives a new sense of reality and enhances the show. Another example of this kind of change is that the ship chronometers are replaced by digital counters, rather than the old style rolling numbers.
See some video clips, and read more about the release at Star Trek.com
About the Audio Enhancements
As it's never been heard before
The music and audio for this release has been completely remastered for Dolby 5.1 surround sound. Alexander Courage's original score was done with a full orchestra and opera singer then digitally recorded for the opening sequence. Of course, Kirk's opening dialogue remains the same, with the exception of being enhanced with better sound quality.
Specifications of this release
10 Disk HD/DVD hybrid set.Aspect Ratio: 1:33:1 Full Screen
Run Time: 1460 Minutes
29 Remastered Season One Episodes:
"THE MAN TRAP"
"CHARLIE X"
"WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE"
"THE NAKED TIME"
"THE ENEMY WITHIN"
"MUDD'S WOMEN"
"WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?"
"MIRI"
"DAGGER OF THE MIND"
"THE CORBOMITE MANEUVER"
"THE MENAGERIE" PART I
"THE MENAGERIE" PART II
"THE CONSCIENCE OF THE KING"
"BALANCE OF TERROR"
"SHORE LEAVE"
"THE GALILEO SEVEN"
"THE SQUIRE OF GOTHOS"
"ARENA"
"TOMORROW IS YESTERDAY"
"COURT MARTIAL"
"THE RETURN OF THE ARCHONS"
"SPACE SEED"
"A TASTE OF ARMAGEDDON"
"THIS SIDE OF PARADISE"
"THE DEVIL IN THE DARK"
"ERRAND OF MERCY"
"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR"
"THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER"
"OPERATION -- ANNIHILATE!"
Bonus Features:
HD side includes Starfleet Access on screen graphical interface with picture in picture commentaries, comparisons, and more.
80 Minutes of bonus videos including Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories.
In My Humble Opinion . . .
My thoughts on the Star Trek HD DVD Release
While flipping channels one Sunday afternoon, I stumbled across an episode of Star trek - "The Gamester of Triskellian." I was raised on the original Trek, and I paused to watch, although I have probably seen each episode no less than 20 times. I immediately y noticed something different. Even just broadcast through the plain old cable, the picture was noticeably sharper, the music crisper, and the colors brighter.
When the episode switched to shot of the Enterprise orbiting the planet, my jaw dropped. The ship was gliding smoothly, around a textured and colorful planet surrounded by atmosphere. The shot lasted all of 30 seconds, and I sat in anticipation waiting for the next one. I immediately had to tell my dad about it, since he is a die hard trek fan, and the reason I know it by heart. So, next Sunday, at the same time, I caught another episode, "The Doomsday Machine." The effects were great, the same, but better with more color detail and clarity. The great Enterprise no longer wobbles while soaring through space. Dad saw this one too, and was impressed.
I really feel the changes were made tastefully, and in now way detract from the series or its classic stories. Rather, they add to the viewing experience. I heard someone associated with this release say he though this is the way Gene Roddenberry would have wanted it in the beginning, had he had the funding and technology. I think he's right.
My one and only complaint, is that the singer who rerecorded the opening music sequence has a slightly different tone to her voice. It's not bad, just not the original sound. Other than that, I would highly recommend this release to any Trek fan.
When the episode switched to shot of the Enterprise orbiting the planet, my jaw dropped. The ship was gliding smoothly, around a textured and colorful planet surrounded by atmosphere. The shot lasted all of 30 seconds, and I sat in anticipation waiting for the next one. I immediately had to tell my dad about it, since he is a die hard trek fan, and the reason I know it by heart. So, next Sunday, at the same time, I caught another episode, "The Doomsday Machine." The effects were great, the same, but better with more color detail and clarity. The great Enterprise no longer wobbles while soaring through space. Dad saw this one too, and was impressed.
I really feel the changes were made tastefully, and in now way detract from the series or its classic stories. Rather, they add to the viewing experience. I heard someone associated with this release say he though this is the way Gene Roddenberry would have wanted it in the beginning, had he had the funding and technology. I think he's right.
My one and only complaint, is that the singer who rerecorded the opening music sequence has a slightly different tone to her voice. It's not bad, just not the original sound. Other than that, I would highly recommend this release to any Trek fan.
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