Did you know they were doing this? Have been for a while, but I don't think they are airing where I'm at. I've been reading about them.
Basically, they update the original series episodes' special effects. I've heard they make them awesome.
Here's a commercial for one:
http://www.randomtuesday.com/pictures/trek/wnm.mov
Star Trek: TOS: BluRay thread. - Originally: Original Star Treks, remaste
This is now the Star Trek: TOS: Season 1: BluRay thread.
I bought it.
1. The updated special effects: THEY DID NOT DO A LUCAS with random new dinosaurs and shit running around saying "this was always our original vision for the show." Bad stock shots of the old starship model: updated. Planets that used to just look like a ball of glowing stuff: updated. Times when no special effects were put in at all when there should have been some sort of visual effect: updated. Most of the FX look even better than in the first season of TNG. One of the BD extras was how they went about updating the effects, saying they had the power because the show was shot on film, and the original FX guys were interviewed and just blown away by how respectful the new crew was to the old ideas. And, bonus, if you are a purist, you can watch every episode with the original visual effects, instead. Is there really anything left about which to complain?
2. They re-recorded the original theme song, with the exact scores, with the exact same orchestral arrangements. Sounds great in 5.1.
3. Blu Ray visual quality: Amazing. You can see McCoy's bad skin right from the first episode... and I keep wondering, 8 episodes into the season, when they will fix that popped stitch on the shoulder of Kirk's uniform. They cleaned up the film cell by cell. I've not seen a single imperfection/grain of dirt at all, ever. It really is amazing... what one would call a "reference" disk.... the one you use to show your friends how amazing BD is.
Overall, a good addition to any trek fan's library. Currently about $65 on amazon.
Note: This is the first time I've purchased TOS on anything, so it isn't like I was doubling up. I was waiting for the high def format of these shows... and couldn't be happier.
I bought it.
1. The updated special effects: THEY DID NOT DO A LUCAS with random new dinosaurs and shit running around saying "this was always our original vision for the show." Bad stock shots of the old starship model: updated. Planets that used to just look like a ball of glowing stuff: updated. Times when no special effects were put in at all when there should have been some sort of visual effect: updated. Most of the FX look even better than in the first season of TNG. One of the BD extras was how they went about updating the effects, saying they had the power because the show was shot on film, and the original FX guys were interviewed and just blown away by how respectful the new crew was to the old ideas. And, bonus, if you are a purist, you can watch every episode with the original visual effects, instead. Is there really anything left about which to complain?
2. They re-recorded the original theme song, with the exact scores, with the exact same orchestral arrangements. Sounds great in 5.1.
3. Blu Ray visual quality: Amazing. You can see McCoy's bad skin right from the first episode... and I keep wondering, 8 episodes into the season, when they will fix that popped stitch on the shoulder of Kirk's uniform. They cleaned up the film cell by cell. I've not seen a single imperfection/grain of dirt at all, ever. It really is amazing... what one would call a "reference" disk.... the one you use to show your friends how amazing BD is.
Overall, a good addition to any trek fan's library. Currently about $65 on amazon.
Note: This is the first time I've purchased TOS on anything, so it isn't like I was doubling up. I was waiting for the high def format of these shows... and couldn't be happier.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I'd seen some of the shots and it looked really great. Really subtle even. Like if you were watching on TV and not paying strict attention that it might not even click in your head that anything was amiss.
I think the crew of TOS will always be the "real" Star Trek for me. Kirk and the Enterprise was to the UFP as the United States is to the UN. None of the wishy-washy "I can't send this computer virus into the Borg. cuz that would be genocide" pussy assed shit.
More like, "Shit! If I kill you and your crew then that's the end of your species. Guess you shouldn't have been dick heads, huh?"
I think the crew of TOS will always be the "real" Star Trek for me. Kirk and the Enterprise was to the UFP as the United States is to the UN. None of the wishy-washy "I can't send this computer virus into the Borg. cuz that would be genocide" pussy assed shit.
More like, "Shit! If I kill you and your crew then that's the end of your species. Guess you shouldn't have been dick heads, huh?"
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
"Balance of Terror" is a good episode. The Federation's first encounter with the Romulans in 100 years, and Kirk doesn't back down when they get aggressive, possibly sparking a new galactic war...
Also, Mark Lenard (Spock's pop) as the Romulan commander. That was neat. He was a good actor.
Also, Mark Lenard (Spock's pop) as the Romulan commander. That was neat. He was a good actor.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Just wanted to throw this in, on the off chance someone else here ever watched these:
I'm about 70% through the first season. Spock... he shows a lot more emotion than I remember. Today in "The Return of the Archons," Spock has to pretend he has been brainwashed. He gives this "Peace, and harmony are gifts from L'Andrew" as he walks past some bad guys... and he gets this smirk and look on his face that made me laugh out loud.
He has had a lot of other smirks through the season.
Nimoy was very artfully subtle, I never appreciated that.
I'm about 70% through the first season. Spock... he shows a lot more emotion than I remember. Today in "The Return of the Archons," Spock has to pretend he has been brainwashed. He gives this "Peace, and harmony are gifts from L'Andrew" as he walks past some bad guys... and he gets this smirk and look on his face that made me laugh out loud.
He has had a lot of other smirks through the season.
Nimoy was very artfully subtle, I never appreciated that.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Ha, "Space Seed."
Khan: (to female Enterprise officer) Go! Or stay! But do it because it is what you want! Now, do you want to stay?
*a pause of one heartbeat*
Khan: Too late. Now you must beg me to stay.
And she does. Awwww yeah.
Really is a good episode, I haven't seen it in 15 or 20 years. Montalban has been one of the top-3 acting performances of season 1, outside the regular bridge crew.
Khan: (to female Enterprise officer) Go! Or stay! But do it because it is what you want! Now, do you want to stay?
*a pause of one heartbeat*
Khan: Too late. Now you must beg me to stay.
And she does. Awwww yeah.
Really is a good episode, I haven't seen it in 15 or 20 years. Montalban has been one of the top-3 acting performances of season 1, outside the regular bridge crew.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Got season 2 BD's for xmas, watched the first episode, "Amok Time."
It's the one where they introduce the concept of Pon Farr, the "burning blood" that means Vulcans need to go back to Vulcan every 7 years to get it on, and in this episode Spock end up fighting Kirk in some ceremonial challenge.
The scene was made famous by Jim Carrey in "The Cable Guy," where they are knight-fighting at Mideivil Times, and JC is "singing" that famous fight music.
What struck me about that episode is that that particular fight music appears earlier in the episode... but it starts slowly and plodding, as the tension builds... it appears under expository dialogue as Spock explains Pon Farr to Kirk... low... subtle... but under the scene. And then it explodes during the actual fight.
It's the first time a musical score under a television show has been good enough to catch my attention.
Visual quality: I actually noticed some grain, but it is still better than TOS Trek has ever looked. Also, I could see a safety pin holding the seam of one of McCoy's shirts. High def and a big screen!
It's the one where they introduce the concept of Pon Farr, the "burning blood" that means Vulcans need to go back to Vulcan every 7 years to get it on, and in this episode Spock end up fighting Kirk in some ceremonial challenge.
The scene was made famous by Jim Carrey in "The Cable Guy," where they are knight-fighting at Mideivil Times, and JC is "singing" that famous fight music.
What struck me about that episode is that that particular fight music appears earlier in the episode... but it starts slowly and plodding, as the tension builds... it appears under expository dialogue as Spock explains Pon Farr to Kirk... low... subtle... but under the scene. And then it explodes during the actual fight.
It's the first time a musical score under a television show has been good enough to catch my attention.
Visual quality: I actually noticed some grain, but it is still better than TOS Trek has ever looked. Also, I could see a safety pin holding the seam of one of McCoy's shirts. High def and a big screen!
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Disk 4 of season 2 has one Original Series episode: The Trouble With Tribbles.
It also has an Animated Series Episode: "More Tribbles, More Troubles."
But then it also has an episode of Deep Space 9, the one where they go back in time and integrate themselves into the original Tribble episode.
So that's neat.
The TOS episode looks better and crisper than the 2 newer episodes(one of which is MUCH newer), with the cleaning/remastering up they did.
My son flipped when he learned there was a Star Trek cartoon...
My verdict of the ST:TOS BDs so far: season 1 was 100% perfect. Season 2 seems to be 90% perfect.
It also has an Animated Series Episode: "More Tribbles, More Troubles."
But then it also has an episode of Deep Space 9, the one where they go back in time and integrate themselves into the original Tribble episode.
So that's neat.
The TOS episode looks better and crisper than the 2 newer episodes(one of which is MUCH newer), with the cleaning/remastering up they did.
My son flipped when he learned there was a Star Trek cartoon...
My verdict of the ST:TOS BDs so far: season 1 was 100% perfect. Season 2 seems to be 90% perfect.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I remember that travesty (referring to that specific ep and DS9 in general).GORDON wrote:But then it also has an episode of Deep Space 9, the one where they go back in time and integrate themselves into the original Tribble episode.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."