Mods feel free to delete this post, but it's easier to link to the review wot I wrote, rather than cut and paste it in its entirety...
It's here by the way
It's here by the way
I've reviewed the original series Blu-ray.
- Thread starter The Laughing Vulcan
- Start date
Very thoughtful review.
I will also add (much to everyone's consternation, I'm sure
) that when I watch TOS and TNG on blu ray, I like to turn on my 16:9 HD TV's zoom feature so that the top and bottom of the image are chopped off and it fills the whole screen. As you can imagine, doing this with blu ray looks MUCH better than doing the same thing with DVDs.
Regarding the new effects, on one of the extra features, Robert Justman says that they are exactly what were originally intended. Shouldn't we believe him?
Personally, I like some of the new effects, such as the added Romulan bird of prey in "The Enterprise Incident," and Klingon cruisers appearing in episodes before it had actually been designed. Others are fanboyish as you say.
Kor
I will also add (much to everyone's consternation, I'm sure
) that when I watch TOS and TNG on blu ray, I like to turn on my 16:9 HD TV's zoom feature so that the top and bottom of the image are chopped off and it fills the whole screen. As you can imagine, doing this with blu ray looks MUCH better than doing the same thing with DVDs.Regarding the new effects, on one of the extra features, Robert Justman says that they are exactly what were originally intended. Shouldn't we believe him?
Personally, I like some of the new effects, such as the added Romulan bird of prey in "The Enterprise Incident," and Klingon cruisers appearing in episodes before it had actually been designed. Others are fanboyish as you say.
Kor
Mods feel free to delete this post, but it's easier to link to the review wot I wrote, rather than cut and paste it in its entirety...
It's here by the way
Very good review and mostly on point, but I have to disagree with you here:
When I sampled an episode from season 2 to check the mono audio however, it was back to how it should be, with silent spaceships,
Amok Time is right and if that's the episode you checked, then fair enough. But please pop on another episode. Any other episode. The Doomsday Machine. Obsession. You'll hear the engine rumble in the second and third seasons. It's been my major bone of contention since these came out (probably to eye-rolling effect around these parts by now). The sound mix is the single most disappointing part of this release for me. I watch my laserdiscs for that reason. I'd rather have accurate sound...
Also, some of the earlier first season episodes are still wrong. The engine rumble in Miri and Dagger of the mind, for example, is WAY too loud. It drowns out the captain's log.
Also...
“Goodnight Sweetheart” to The City on the Edge of Forever, a song that was omitted due to rights issues from the VHS and the original DVD release.
The original DVD releases restored the song. It was only missing on the VHS/Laserdiscs.
Other than that, and some differences of opinion on episodes and their order (which is always fair game), really spot on. Thanks for reviewing and posting the link.
Last edited:
According to wikipedia (I know, I know) "Goodnight Sweetheart" was actually included on the first release of COTEOF on VHS and Betamax. Later, when the complete series was released together on VHS, the song was was omitted (the rights must have changed).
It was *accidentally* included on the first DVD release even though the cover had the "some music has been changed" disclaimer, so Paramount had to pay royalties, and then it was free and clear for future releases.
Kor
It was *accidentally* included on the first DVD release even though the cover had the "some music has been changed" disclaimer, so Paramount had to pay royalties, and then it was free and clear for future releases.
Kor
An enjoyable yet very thorough review, thanks! I've been on the fence about TOS on bluray for years (I don't yet own a bluray player) and unless an unmissable offer comes along I don't think I will be taking the plunge yet. DVDs are good enough (although i would love love to get a watch of that original city of WNMHGB)
^ I say it depends on what kind of TV you have. Personally, I can't stand the way upscaled DVD looks on a 1080p HD TV. Blu ray matches that format.
Basic blu ray players are quite affordable now. And if you look around, you can find the TOS blu rays used for around $30 per season.
Kor
Basic blu ray players are quite affordable now. And if you look around, you can find the TOS blu rays used for around $30 per season.
Kor
Last edited:
Same here. I'm in no rush to buy a BluRay machine and find the original look of Star Trek to be just perfect as it is!
JB
JB
Mods feel free to delete this post, but it's easier to link to the review wot I wrote, rather than cut and paste it in its entirety...
It's here by the way
Very good review and mostly on point, but I have to disagree with you here:
When I sampled an episode from season 2 to check the mono audio however, it was back to how it should be, with silent spaceships,
Amok Time is right and if that's the episode you checked, then fair enough. But please pop on another episode. Any other episode. The Doomsday Machine. Obsession. You'll hear the engine rumble in the second and third seasons. It's been my major bone of contention since these came out (probably to eye-rolling effect around these parts by now). The sound mix is the single most disappointing part of this release for me. I watch my laserdiscs for that reason. I'd rather have accurate sound...
... ...
Also...
“Goodnight Sweetheart” to The City on the Edge of Forever, a song that was omitted due to rights issues from the VHS and the original DVD release.
The original DVD releases restored the song. It was only missing on the VHS/Laserdiscs.
It was Amok Time that I sampled. A 1 in 50 odd chance... I've amended the review accordingly, and thanks for the Goodnight Sweetheart tip (I just read somewhere that it had been restored for the TOS-R DVD release, not the original).
My biggest peeve is the latter season 1 episodes with a downmix of the remastered audio, effects for remastered visuals heard for things that aren't on screen. I can grit my teeth and bear starship rumble. It's still wrong though.
The Star Trek Blu-rays are about worth what I paid for them. Although I did wait until one of those Amazon crash sales that they have around midsummer, and occasionally during the year. I had the whole shebang for £50, the collection, postage, and customs, which around then would have been about $84. The set itself was on sale for $59.99
Awesome, thanks. I had a feeling it was Amok Time. I remember popping that on and being thrilled that the second season sound mix was correct. And then I watched Adonias...
And I totally agree about the new FX. Now that the thrill has worn off, they kind of stand out more and I rarely watch those versions.
Another disappointment with the Blu-Ray release is that they don't have the original "electric violin" theme for any episode except WNMHGB, nor do they include the "created by Gene Roddenberry" credit which was on the opening credits of The Man Trap and Charlie X. Those were restored for the DVD release. However, the end themes were never restored properly on DVD, with Fred Steiner's later "cello theme" instead used on all end credits. Also, the DVDs just slapped the original Alexander Courage arrangement on all episodes up to The Menagerie. In actuality, it was only used in the first 9 aired episodes. The Corbomite Maneuver and Balance of Terror never had that version of the theme.
What bugs me (and I'm probably in a very picky minority) is that Star Trek didn't get the royal treatment it deserves. The Twilight Zone and even the upcoming Lost in Space were/are being restored to original "night of broadcast" state: all music intact, network and sponsor bumpers, samplings of original commercials, original company logos, previews for next week in the right place, not to mention an option for the actual correct sound mix. I shake my head at how Star Trek didn't get the same consideration. That's something I would dearly love to see corrected.
I actually find myself gravitating toward the DVDs and Lasers because HD reveals too many things previously hidden. Spock's ear seam, Shatner's toupee line and other imperfections obscured by lower resolution. It's one thing to know the magician is tricking you, it's another to see exactly how it's done. HD is a slippery slope when it comes to older TV shows. For straight, non special effects programs like The Fugitive or Dick Van Dyke, it's great. For Star Trek and other sci-fi shows, it's dicey. I'm looking forward to the restored Lost in Space on Blu-Ray this September, but I'm not gonna be thrilled to see the wires holding up the Jupiter 2 and the Space Pod. Once you see 'em, you can't unsee 'em. Space:1999 on Blu-Ray was an illusion breaker. Believe it or not, I still held onto the muddier DVDs. I see fewer wires on the Eagles.
And I totally agree about the new FX. Now that the thrill has worn off, they kind of stand out more and I rarely watch those versions.
Another disappointment with the Blu-Ray release is that they don't have the original "electric violin" theme for any episode except WNMHGB, nor do they include the "created by Gene Roddenberry" credit which was on the opening credits of The Man Trap and Charlie X. Those were restored for the DVD release. However, the end themes were never restored properly on DVD, with Fred Steiner's later "cello theme" instead used on all end credits. Also, the DVDs just slapped the original Alexander Courage arrangement on all episodes up to The Menagerie. In actuality, it was only used in the first 9 aired episodes. The Corbomite Maneuver and Balance of Terror never had that version of the theme.
What bugs me (and I'm probably in a very picky minority) is that Star Trek didn't get the royal treatment it deserves. The Twilight Zone and even the upcoming Lost in Space were/are being restored to original "night of broadcast" state: all music intact, network and sponsor bumpers, samplings of original commercials, original company logos, previews for next week in the right place, not to mention an option for the actual correct sound mix. I shake my head at how Star Trek didn't get the same consideration. That's something I would dearly love to see corrected.
I actually find myself gravitating toward the DVDs and Lasers because HD reveals too many things previously hidden. Spock's ear seam, Shatner's toupee line and other imperfections obscured by lower resolution. It's one thing to know the magician is tricking you, it's another to see exactly how it's done. HD is a slippery slope when it comes to older TV shows. For straight, non special effects programs like The Fugitive or Dick Van Dyke, it's great. For Star Trek and other sci-fi shows, it's dicey. I'm looking forward to the restored Lost in Space on Blu-Ray this September, but I'm not gonna be thrilled to see the wires holding up the Jupiter 2 and the Space Pod. Once you see 'em, you can't unsee 'em. Space:1999 on Blu-Ray was an illusion breaker. Believe it or not, I still held onto the muddier DVDs. I see fewer wires on the Eagles.
Last edited:
My suspension of disbelief is a little more robust, ever since I've seen wires during the final quickening in Highlander, or holding up the Spinner in Blade Runner, all on VHS.
I had that initial thrill with The Original Series Blu-rays when I started watching them towards the end of last year, but it began to fade the more I watched, the more I realised that with the new colour timing (bringing out the green in Kirk's command shirt), and the new audio, that the original episodes really weren't there anymore, no matter the alternate angle options, while the new effects...
I think the penny really dropped for me this January, when I started watching the original Battlestar Galactica on Blu-ray alongside the Star Trek episodes. That was what I wanted from Star Trek (and indeed Star Wars), just the original episodes put onto disc, with a smidge of basic clean up, and making sure the image is stable. Galactica looks fantastic, wholly filmic, lush colours, great detail, even with the original stock footage effects shots. The only sticking point might be Galactica 1980, which has had its title card replaced with the Battlestar Galactica titles (in one of the reruns it was all transmitted as one series and that's the version of the sequel that is on the Blu-ray), and it hasn't weathered the years as well when it comes to print damage. But who'd have thought Galactica 1980 would get a Blu-ray!?
I doubt very much that CBS/Paramount's heart is in the original Trek any more. But if they could re-release the original Trek on Blu-ray, just the original episodes as transmitted, the original colour timing, audio, just make sure the episodes are clean and stable on disc. I would buy it again.
I had that initial thrill with The Original Series Blu-rays when I started watching them towards the end of last year, but it began to fade the more I watched, the more I realised that with the new colour timing (bringing out the green in Kirk's command shirt), and the new audio, that the original episodes really weren't there anymore, no matter the alternate angle options, while the new effects...
I think the penny really dropped for me this January, when I started watching the original Battlestar Galactica on Blu-ray alongside the Star Trek episodes. That was what I wanted from Star Trek (and indeed Star Wars), just the original episodes put onto disc, with a smidge of basic clean up, and making sure the image is stable. Galactica looks fantastic, wholly filmic, lush colours, great detail, even with the original stock footage effects shots. The only sticking point might be Galactica 1980, which has had its title card replaced with the Battlestar Galactica titles (in one of the reruns it was all transmitted as one series and that's the version of the sequel that is on the Blu-ray), and it hasn't weathered the years as well when it comes to print damage. But who'd have thought Galactica 1980 would get a Blu-ray!?
I doubt very much that CBS/Paramount's heart is in the original Trek any more. But if they could re-release the original Trek on Blu-ray, just the original episodes as transmitted, the original colour timing, audio, just make sure the episodes are clean and stable on disc. I would buy it again.
A minor nitpick I have about the Blu-Rays is that the original end credits for at least two season 3 shows have been digitally recreated.
Screenshots below. Original versions capped by me from the 2004 DVDs. The remastered screenshots are from Trekcore. Note that the Trek font "G" and "S" are different.
Original "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
Blu-Ray
Original "That Which Survives"
Blu-Ray
Screenshots below. Original versions capped by me from the 2004 DVDs. The remastered screenshots are from Trekcore. Note that the Trek font "G" and "S" are different.
Original "Is There in Truth No Beauty?"
Blu-Ray
Original "That Which Survives"
Blu-Ray
I will also add (much to everyone's consternation, I'm sure
You suffer from incorrect thinking. Perhaps you need the mind scanner to uncover why you use the zoom feature. Of course, you may be rendered little more than a ve-Ge-TAble....
Similar threads
- Poll
