Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Gracias...I kinda prefer production order, too. Just more sensical as the actors develop their characters and stuff.

Did the TNG broadcast in production order I wonder? I still remember how 'stiff' those early season 1 episodes were...and how much improved TNG was into the 2nd season.

TOS was great right out of the gate. Season 1 is chock full of amazing episodes...only season 3 is kinda weak to me.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

No, because they deliberately shot out of order at times ("Unification II" before "Unification I", the episode where Tasha died before the one that aired prior). I believe that the final airing order was more-or-less their intended air order, though (unlike TOS).

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

No TNG did NOT broadcast in production order either.


For TOS production order is so much better--especially considering the pilot was aired 3rd!?! No sense at all at this point! I understand why they did it in 1966, though.

Yes, costumes, characters, nonmeclature, style all evolved over the first 20+ episodes and it's waaay preferable to me to watch them that way.....

But, I choose to watch the episodes within each disc in pro. order to compensate a little. Fewer discs help with that method.

So on disc 1, I watch 'Where No Man..' (EP #2) then 'Enemy Within' (#5) then 'Man Trap' (#6) then 'Naked Time' (#7) as opposed to 6- 5- 2- 7.
Of course, i have the production order memorized which most folks don't.
I don't have the air-date order memorized so that example may be off.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Ah, got it Andrew and Camper, thank you!

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Right ATimson.

You have to watch TNG (and other of the spin-offs) in air-date order because they shot a lot of continued episodes out of order. Even shooting some cliff-hanger season opening episodes out of order.

But if they did it with method to their madness, then it's meant to be, no problem.

Watching Spock/Nimoy jumping back and forth with his take on the character in season 1 TOS is too much for me though---gotta go with production order.

Same with Uhura changing from red to green uniform. Sulu from helmsman to pysicist and back. Women wearing slacks and then not and then back again. Etc. Etc.

Corbomite Manuever which was the first regular production episode after the pilots is aired like 12th !! Wow, is that jarring.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

This is the stuff I'm talking about.

Beyond the first season, it doesn't really matter. Everything is in it's groove by then.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Yeah, after season 1 it's minor stuff like Scotty hair style in season 3 and Chekov's wig in season 2.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

The only TNG season premiere which doesn't line up exactly production number wise with the season finale is the third season. The Ensigns of Command should have been 3.1, but was moved to 3.2 so Evolution could lead off the season.

Two episodes in DS9's six episode 6th season arc are switched, but not the premiere.

The first three years of Voyager are screwed up because Paramount held some S1 episodes to start S2 early and never told the producers. They all got on the same page starting with S4.

Enterprise only flip-flopped the beginning of S2 (Shockwave II and Carbon Creek).

Only the DS9 arc and Enterprise are really issues. Personally, I prefer broadcast order precisely because they were aired in a certain order for a certain reason in most cases. Plus, that's the way I remember watching them on TV and then on VHS.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Great breakdown.


The episode of TNG that stands out the most to me is the episode which follows 'Best of Both...' part 2 'Family' I think was the title. It's a direct follow-up to the Borg episodes and it was filmed two episodes after. So there is no way it could ever be shown in production order and make sense.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Yup, Family, Suddenly Human and Brothers were juggled. IIRC, there was resistance to having a show not take place on the Enterprise AND doing a three parter at the same time. Those four eps (with BoBW II) don't work in any other way besides having Family come directly afterward.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Hmm. We should probably talk somewhat about Trek MOVIES on Blu-ray.


I'm just waiting for the official announcement on the sequel to the latest movie. Can they make a summer 2011 time-frame?

Actors are signed
Writers are set but haven't started i don't think
Is Abrams available to direct?

Seems to me that they'd have to start shooting by Spring 2010 at latest.

So Paramount Home Video you have a tleast two years to get your act together for a 'definative' release of the TOS movies 1-6.

Please note the uproar over DNR and 'theatrical only' versions of the movies.
Shell out a little dough for new FX for Trek 5 (& upgrading the DC FX for Trek 1 of course.)
And please, please dig out the deleted scenes from Treks 2, 3, 4 & 6.

Some of what is known to have been shot........

Trek 2:
Saavik's romulan heritage mentioned by Spock at SF academy.
Chekov & Terrell finding a child on Ceti Alpha before finding Khan
Terrell tricking Kyle & Beach into beaming aboad Khan
Khan mentioning Marla Mcgivers by name and how Kirk let him read all the specs on SF vessels
Kirk & David's fight scene longer first version
David & Saavik flirting in the 'Eden cave'
McCoy operating on Chekov
The original finale where Kirk formally introduces Saavik & David.

Trek 3:
'Possessed' McCoy frwaking out Kirk in the turbo-lift with odd behavior
Extended Grissom scenes with Saavik & david
Full version of Kirk & Admiral in SF lounge
Kruges devastaion after his crew is blown up
Saavik explaining to kirk how rare the Fal-tor-pan is

Trek 4:
Chapel meeting Sarek at SF
Kirk mentioning to Saavik her 'condition' (pregnancy)

Trek 6:
Full version of briefing
Kirk giving a tour to the Klingons of the ship
much longer version of dinner with klingons
full version of trial---many nice bits were cut
full intro of Martia

Many others from all 6 movies.

If they jam in all those deleted scenes they'll get sales from a lot of folks who even bought this current set.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

At the risk of becoming a pariah around here, I'll go on record as saying that I bought the 'trilogy' on blu and really like the quality of the picture.

I use a PS3 and a 52" sammy...LN52650 I think. Beautiful set. I don't necessarily have the greatest eyes in the world as I had cataracts for most of my life (was born with them, and still legally blind in my right eye AFTER surgery, left 'good' eye is 20/20 after surgery, 20/40 on a 'bad' day). I sit eight feet from the set when I watch, and I watched the trilogy at night.

I was delighted with the punchy contrast and colors, good blacks and picture detail. I just don't see the wax museum thing on the faces, so I'll be thankful for it. I just think all three films looked great! Even IV looked really nice to me. They just stomped my CE DVDs.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

I too, bought the trilogy and I'm happy with the picture for the most part. good color, much cleaner dirt-wise than the DVD versions nice contrast.
I also, don't notice the DNR as much as some folks, but I believe those who say it's there. Hoping they fix it for the next release as i might have a bigger screen someday.

My friend just lent me the other 3 movies (1, 5 & 6) today and i'm going to check those out.

But i'll never buy Trek 1 & 6 without director's cuts or 5 without upgraded FX.

By the way in 2001 paramount put an ad in the old Trek communicator magazine (or possibly the other magazine that started up in 1999) boasting of the new 2-disc collector sets and proclaiming----

'Movies will feature new FX if needed and new cuts of the movies if the director wishes!!'

Then Shatner asked them for a modest budget to create new Fx for 5 and they said NO. Then he asked for an even smaller amount to simply re-cut the movie and they said NO.

Gee, why spend the money on an ad boasting about giving the directors a chance to update the movies and then flat-out deny a very modest amount to actually do so?

Bring on the directors cuts or else i'm done for good with trek movies on home video.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

You don't have a copy of that ad, do you? I've never even heard of it in the last 8 years. It's entirely possibly Paramount was talking only of ST:TMP and not the entire series.

It would be interesting to see.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

I re-watched TMP the directors cut on DVD the other night and I really like those upgraded FX and the editing. I agree this is the version I'll wait for on Blu.

Again...I'd love to see Shat get the chance to fix/finish V, but it sounds like Paramount are being hardasses on not spending cash on this one.

Did it do less business than Generations, Insurrection, or Nemesis at the theater and on video?? Come on, now...

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

No I didn't buy that issue, i just read it at the news-stand.

It was about the time of the release of Trek 2 DC 2-disc so maybe late 2001 or 2002 whenever it was released.

It showed pictures of the Trek 1 & 2 director's sets and boasted of all the new features and made the bogus claim about the future releases having new cuts & FX.

i've always been a nut for Director's cuts---especially the Trek ones and I almost jumped at the thought of getting new versions of 3-6. Or at least deleted scenes from them. I knew nimoy was always happy with Trek 4, but i thought he'd like to ad in the "climb up Mt Selaya/Hall of Anchient Thought segments from the end of trek 3. (He comments on the Trek 3 that he wanted more to the pomp and mystery at the end of trek 3.)

Trek 4 doesn't have many cuts. Trek 5 has a few more than what we got in the 2-disc set but 2, 3 & 6 have loads.

anyway when I read the interview with Shatner where he bitterly bemoaned their cheapness I was doubly upset at that ad !!

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Here are the inflation adjusted earnings of the trek movies.

So yes, Trek 5 did pretty bad compared to 1-4


Motion Picture (1979): $239,115,674
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): $212,328,919
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): $192,290,437
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984): $163,237,856
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): $149,493,266
Star Trek: Generations (1994): $129,980,545
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): $127,720,425
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998): $107,451,468
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989): $93,951,918
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): $53,387,173


Trek (2009) just yesterday passed the Voyage home in adjusted earnings. hope it beats Trek 1 as well, so we get that sequel in progress sooner.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Wow, the new Trek must be really taking names if it passed IV already.

I'm delighted it's such a runaway success!

I guess I didn't realize IV had been THAT popular.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Are those just the domestic numbers? I thought TMP was closer to $400 million adjusted...

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Camper - thanks for that list of deleted scenes. I've never heard about any of those, other than the Saavik being pregnant part from IV that was referenced in some of the set's special features. What evidence is there that all of these bits were actually shot and not merely scripted?

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Camper-

I have both the Star Trek Communicator magazine and Star Trek The Magazine issues going back that far. If you can help me pin it down, I can go though those issues and find that ad.

If I can find that ad by Paramount, then I'll scan it and post it here. It could have been an article. There is a cover story issue of Star Trek The Magazine that covers TMP Robert Wise Directors Cut. It's a great issue!

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Hey now that's interesting. I'm dying to know exactly what a recut would involve. (the new effects we can take a pretty good guess at but a recut is more mysterious)

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Then Shatner asked "what if Nimoy handled everything?" and then Paramount said, "sure, okay".

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

To address Camper's comment that he recalled seeing an ad in either of the Star Trek magazines, I dug up one.

The following ad is from Star Trek The Magazine, Volume 2 Issue 8 December 2001.



And the cover:

]

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Excellent Nelson! Thanks!

If that's the ad Camper was talking about, the "exciting new special effects shots" is clearly for TMP, not all the movies, nor is there a mention of a "new cut when needed."

Oh, the memories you've just swirled in me...!

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

ST6 had an elaborate motion control shoot of the Enterprise that ILM did. This was described in detail in the Cinefex which covered it. If you look closely at the theatrical trailer there is part of the shot in that. It was a swooping camera beauty shot which slowly went around the side of the ship then up behind the dovetail and around again all in one shot (which was a big feat for mocon in those days). Probably cost a lot of money as well but Meyer cut it as he wanted a tighter pace in the battle for peace which is where it was edited. AFAIK never ever been seen in public so who knows why this could not have been included this time as no actors to negotiate with.

ST3 also had a couple of spectacular ILM shots like the Genesis planet falling into the sun which were shown in photos and talked about in the CFQ issue which covered the Trek2-4 trilogy in 1987.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Sounds like the Marcus's Genesis Project was just a completely epic fail. LOL

David, you naughty boy for using protomatter! See what cheating got you?!

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Yes, I had some memories come back as I was going through my library of magazines! I have a buddy who had a buddy who lives in Los Angeles and was kind enough to have a copy of Star Trek TMP signed by Robert Wise when he was promoting the DVD.

I'll have another look later tonight or tomorrow in the 2002 section or so and see if there is an ad for Star Trek 2 DE DVD that might have what Camper is referring to.

Paul, that's an interesting story about the ILM shot of the Enterprise for Trek 6. I don't have that Cinefex. I will look at the trailer though for that shot.

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Wow, so much to comment on since yesterday.

I'm pretty sure it was the issue of the Star Trek magazine that highlighted Star trek 2 (I hope you have that one.)

I'm 100% sure it had the "new cuts and new FX on future releases"

Becuase I was hugely excited to read it in such a declaritive statement.

I remember the cover may have been silver. But in any case I'm 90% sure it was the Wrath of Khan director's cut issue.

I really hope you have it.


As for the recut of Trek 5 that Shatner wanted.......
I imagine he took to heart the complaints of the silly 'fuuny' bits and wanted to trim them.
Also he had filmed a lot more action stuff when they assaulted Nimbus & I think he wanted to add back some of that.

Some minor bits that were cut were:
The Fed soldier that was shot in the leg being worked on by McCoy.
Spock explaining Sybok's s 'feel your pain' power as a "anchient Vulcan ritual banned in modern times'
McCoy and Spock discussing god in the observation room at the end before Kirk walks up to them.


As for the proof that those scenes were shot not just scripted........

Well, the famous ShoWest Trek 2 trailer has the Romualn heritage scene and a portion of the 'bridge finale' in it. (It's all over youtube)

The original Kirk Vs david fight where David gets the upper hand was discussed by Meyer back in the day as being forced to be reshot by the studio.
I've seen many stills of McCoy operating on Chekov's ear after they get back to the enterprise and just before they enter the Nebula.
The scenes of the child of Khan's people was filmed both on the planet and aboard the reliant transporter room where he met is fate are well known and i have some photos in my e-mail I've been having trouble posting to this sight. Is there a special method to post photos in a regular post?

Many of the other cuts from Trek 2 were simple extensions of existing scenes and therefore it's extremly likely they were shot because they required no extra set-ups and so forth. Just filming the scene as scripted and then getting cut in the editing process.

Let me try again to post at least the shot of the 'super-kid'

Re: Star Trek films on Blu-Ray... what we know so far

Oh yes, those box office earnings are indeed North America only.