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Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray? - Page 2

post #31 of 48
5/10/08 at 5:57am
Thread Starter 

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

The Digital Bits had a note in the Rumor Mill that Paramount was at work scrubbing the prints and mastering them. I guess it will be for another DVD release and possible Blu Ray?
I'm thinking it will be a 2009 release though. Especially since the JJ Abrahms movie has moved to a May 2009 release.

From the Bits website:

The Digital Bits Rumor Mill - Current Posts


3/5/08

So... interested in a little Star Trek news? We have it today from a couple of angles that Paramount is currently working on another release of the Star Trek feature films, presumably to take advantage of next year's debut (in theaters and eventually on DVD and Blu-ray) of the new J.J. Abrams big screen reboot of the franchise. Our own industry sources have recently hinted that several of the previous feature films are currently receiving brand new high-def transfers and a good digital scrubbing to prepare them for future Blu-ray release. Meanwhile, over on his own website, long-time Trek scribe David Gerrold (also writer of the excellent Martian Child) had this to say yesterday (scroll down to the "And Finally..." part):

"Tim King Productions invited me down to the Paramount lot to be interviewed for a documentary. Paramount is planning to rerelease all ten Star Trek movies on DVD with a bonus disc of extra material, including an interview with folks who were in the crowd scene in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Most of those folks were Star Trek fans especially recruited for the privilege, so they gathered a few of us together and let us reminisce for awhile in front of a couple cameras. Among the attendees were Bjo Trimble (she and her husband John created the letter campaign that got the original series renewed in 68) and Chris Doohan, Jimmy Doohan's son. It was a fun couple of hours."

David goes on to talk about the group's visit to the set of the new film as well, and he sounds pretty enthusiastic about what he saw. So no word yet on The Original Series in high-def, but it looks as if the films might be finding their way to DVD (again) and Blu-ray soon enough.

Stay tuned...
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post #32 of 48
5/10/08 at 2:13pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Haxton
The Digital Bits had a note in the Rumor Mill that Paramount was at work scrubbing the prints and mastering them.

Let's just hope that they're not 'scrubbing' them with DNR.
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post #33 of 48
5/12/08 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

In looking at the collectors and special edition 2 disc versions of the films, many need a lot of work. The first few films have very dirty prints.

I hope they do a decent job on them for Blu Ray.

I'm guessing these will be 2009 releases along with the new DVD box set.
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post #34 of 48
5/12/08 at 10:32pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

using the term "scrubbing" seems very telling to me. These things may already be too late to save from the wax job Paramount has already given other films (to the delight of many grain haters). OTOH, at least the series looked decent. Almost like it came from a different studio.
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post #35 of 48
5/13/08 at 11:15am

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

The word 'scrubbing' was just an offhand remark by bill Hunt at Digitalbits

I don't see the point in taking a statement about the Trek movies being prepared for HD transfer and using it as an excuse for negativism.

If you've looked at the prints used for the 2 disc sets--they definately need to be scrubbed for dirt and other imperfections having nothing to do with film grain.
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post #36 of 48
5/13/08 at 11:25am

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Camper
I don't see the point in taking a statement about the Trek movies being prepared for HD transfer and using it as an excuse for negativism.

Quite true. However, I take Paramount's past actions where HD and DNR is concerned as an excuse for negativism as action speak louder than words.
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post #37 of 48
5/14/08 at 10:38am

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
Quite true. However, I take Paramount's past actions where HD and DNR is concerned as an excuse for negativism as action speak louder than words.


Yes but they have also released films like Sleepy Hollow and Transformers where it seem that no attempt was made to reduce grain with DNR. Both films exhibit quite a bit of natural looking film grain.

Doug
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post #38 of 48
5/14/08 at 11:08am

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

And U2: RATTLE AND HUM is nothing less than The Revenge of the Grain...
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post #39 of 48
5/14/08 at 11:33am

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
Yes but they have also released films like Sleepy Hollow and Transformers where it seem that no attempt was made to reduce grain with DNR. Both films exhibit quite a bit of natural looking film grain.

Doug

So where does that leave us then, exactly? I never indicated that I was 'certain' they would go overboard with DNR, but I think their uneven handling of grain on their titles up to this point on HDM should qualify as 'concerned' or at least 'wary' of what they may do in the future.

Truth be told, New Line is (was) far more guilty than Paramount (from a consistency standpoint) on the DNR issue. However, I think some people like to paint all 'negatism' here with the broad brush of 'non-constructive bitching'. I think my 'bitching' here on this forum and others like it at least has a chance to be seen by someone in a position to do something positive about it in the future. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother being 'negative' in the first place. Afterall, I think we're facing an uphill climb on the DNR issue from those that want everything to look like Discovery HD to those that don't know any better and everyone in between.
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post #40 of 48
5/14/08 at 12:48pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
Yes but they have also released films like Sleepy Hollow and Transformers where it seem that no attempt was made to reduce grain with DNR. Both films exhibit quite a bit of natural looking film grain.

Doug
I haven't seen Transformers, either theatrically or on disc, but over on AVS, Amir commented that the powers that be at Paramount were shown both AVC and VC-1 samples of the film- with the VC-1 (he claimed) being the most faifthful and preserving even more apparant grain. They went with the softer, less grainy, less faithful of the two. This is of course only valid if you take Amir at his word which many don't.
For what it's worth, I thought that Hunts original post contained scrubbing in quotes- as if that was exactly the term the studio used with him.
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post #41 of 48
5/15/08 at 2:40pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_Scott
I haven't seen Transformers, either theatrically or on disc, but over on AVS, Amir commented that the powers that be at Paramount were shown both AVC and VC-1 samples of the film- with the VC-1 (he claimed) being the most faifthful and preserving even more apparant grain. They went with the softer, less grainy, less faithful of the two. This is of course only valid if you take Amir at his word which many don't.
For what it's worth, I thought that Hunts original post contained scrubbing in quotes- as if that was exactly the term the studio used with him.

Transformers is quite grainy particularly in the night time scenes. I never saw it in the theater so I don't have any idea how accurate it is.

Having been experimenting now for about 3 months with both AVC and VC-1 on my own material, it would not surprise me that VC-1 seemed to be a more accurate representation of the original footage. Also VC-1 can go to significantly lower bit rates and not exhibit artifacts when compared to AVC

Doug
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post #42 of 48
5/15/08 at 3:11pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

I have not seen Transformers in the theater ether, but if the film had grain then I do not care if the HD transfer has grain. It part of the film and IMHO should not be filtered out if it exists. I am looking foward to Transformers coming out with a lossless audio track, this is going to be sweet.

I hope they keep what ever grain there is in the original Star Trek and release a top notch HD transfer. Instead of filtering out the grain and some of the detail in the process. I did have the first season on HD-DVD but I took it back and exchanged it for something else. I looked very good but I started having problems with discs 3 & 4 so it ended up being returned. For the first time however I would love to own the original Star Trek tv series on home video and HD makes owning it that much better.

Would love to own the following and it is going to be exspensive!

Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Next Gerneration
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Motion Pictures 1-10
Star Trek: Fan Collective - Borg
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post #43 of 48
5/15/08 at 3:51pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
I have not seen Transformers in the theater ether, but if the film had grain then I do not care if the HD transfer has grain. It part of the film and IMHO should not be filtered out if it exists. I am looking foward to Transformers coming out with a lossless audio track, this is going to be sweet.

I hope they keep what ever grain there is in the original Star Trek and release a top notch HD transfer. Instead of filtering out the grain and some of the detail in the process. I did have the first season on HD-DVD but I took it back and exchanged it for something else. I looked very good but I started having problems with discs 3 & 4 so it ended up being returned. For the first time however I would love to own the original Star Trek tv series on home video and HD makes owning it that much better.

Would love to own the following and it is going to be exspensive!

Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Next Gerneration
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Motion Pictures 1-10
Star Trek: Fan Collective - Borg


I just watched Shore Leave on HD DVD a few nights ago and I noticed really nice grain structure. Of course it appeared very fine because this is an academy ratio film with no anamorphic lens stretching out the grain.

Of course you know the problems with bringing TNG, DS9 and Voyager to blu-ray. I seriously doubt it will happen.

Doug
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post #44 of 48
5/15/08 at 4:38pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Of course you know the problems with bringing TNG, DS9 and Voyager to blu-ray. I seriously doubt it will happen.

Not aware of what problem that would be? Unless it was all done in 4:3 ratio video?
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post #45 of 48
5/15/08 at 4:46pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
Not aware of what problem that would be? Unless it was all done in 4:3 ratio video?
I believe it is because, unlike TOS, the other three were shot on video, rather than film, and it cannot be improved in the same manner--particularly the effects shots. I'm sure a more technically knowledgeable member will elaborate.

BTW, I just ordered this from Amazon.CA (not .com) for a touch under 50$ (down from a listed 222$ Canadian MSRP). I almost jumped in at 97$ last month at .com, but something came up. At 50$, it was a no-brainer.
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post #46 of 48
5/15/08 at 6:49pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
Not aware of what problem that would be? Unless it was all done in 4:3 ratio video?

No the ratio isn't a problem, they were shot on film but all post production was done on standard definition video, including the compositing of the model shots and the creation of the phasers and transporter effects.

In order to do blu-ray versions of TNG, DS9 and Voyager, they would have to go back, re-scan all of the original film elements in HD, then re-edit the film to match the final episodes. This of course assumes that the editing notes still exist. If they don't then they would have to try to figure out by eye which takes were use, and in some cases more than one take may have been used to make up a scene.

The effects shots are also a problem. The models were shot on film, but composited into the backgrounds on video. This means that every model shot would have to be re comped again. Things like phasers and transporters were originally created in standard resolution animation software, and would have to be recreated for each episode from scratch in HD

This would have to be done for every single episode. In some cases this may take longer and cost more money than it cost to make the original episodes in the first place.

This is a problem that effects most TV shows made from about 1987 through about 2002 or 2003.

Doug
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post #47 of 48
5/15/08 at 7:52pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Sounds like I might be buying TNG, DS9 and Voyager on SD-DVD. Will have to wait just a little longer to see what happens but I might have to start working these titles into my purchase schedule.
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post #48 of 48
5/16/08 at 7:17pm

Re: Star Trek on HD-DVD / Blu Ray?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
Sounds like I might be buying TNG, DS9 and Voyager on SD-DVD. Will have to wait just a little longer to see what happens but I might have to start working these titles into my purchase schedule.

The SD sets aren't bad, but as I get a larger and larger TV I notice that they are VERY soft. Particularly the first 3 seasons of TNG when they were editing on D1 video I believe. The titles have jaggies and chroma noise. Anything that is red just shimmers like crazy. It's really quite a mess.

I think it was season 4 that they switched to editing on D3 and it starts to look a bit better, but its still not great.

Doug
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