Home Cinema

RSS

NEWS: Star Trek, Jim, but not as we know it

Clare Newsome 26 July 2007 16:40

It's an announcement that could divide Trekkies as George Lucas's special editions of Star Wars have long split fans of The Force. The forthcoming HD DVD version of Star Trek: The Original Series is to have its 1960s visual effects replaced with 21st Century CGI.

CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment will release the 10-disc HD DVD/DVD hybrid boxset on 20th November. Each episode has been remastered from the original camera negative for the high-definition release.

The episodes will keep their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, but gain a True HD audio soundtrack on the HD DVD version and Dolby Digital 5.1 on the DVD presentation.

On the subject of the special effects, Paramount says the new CGI will: "give new depth and atmosphere to various elements, including the main title sequence, the galaxy shots frequently seen from the Enterprise's bridge, the battle scenes, planets and alien ships, some of the matte paintings used as backdrops for new worlds, as well as the Enterprise and other Starships."

In an attempt to pacify potential protest, it stresses that "the new computer-generated Enterprise is based on the exact measurements of the original model, which now rests in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C."

And the tinkering doesn't stop there.... The famous theme tune has been re-recorded in digital audio, and William Shatner's "Space, the final frontier..." monologue has been digitally remastered. Presumably he was too busy extolling the virtues of All Bran to re-record it.

Extras include exclusive HD DVD interactive features produced by New Wave Entertainment. Interactive menus and a “Starfleet Access” interface will allow viewers to activate icons that provide such features as Picture in Picture video commentaries and an interactive tour of the Enterprise.

Both the standard definition and high definition presentations also include rare on-set home movie footage, an inside perspective on what it took to transport Trek into the 21st century and much more.

And the price? A mere $217.99.

Technorati Tags: HD DVD, Star Trek

Comments

Oliver_T July 27, 2007 14:02

I cant imagine how bad / odd this will look. Redoing the sound is one thing, but I think CBS / Paramount have completely lost the plot on redoing all these scenes with CGI. Such cult classics are accepted for what they are - old but classic. They will completely loose their charm and appeal if they mess with them. Perhaps Mr Shatner simply refused to do a new voice recording!

Andrew Everard July 27, 2007 18:26

Yes, it's kind of on a par with those 'colorized' Laurel and Hardy or Chaplin classics, isn't it?

egcarter August 2, 2007 23:00

These HD-remastered "Trek Classic" episodes have been airing on stations all across the U.S. for several months now, and they're actually quite terrific. Nice improvements in the visuals (it's only occasional new EFX shots). The opening theme song has been reworked as well.

Anonymous comments are disabled

About Clare Newsome

Clare Newsome has been a technology journalist for 17 years, the past 9 years as a consumer electronics specialist. As well as being editor-in-chief of What Hi-fi? Sound and Vision, whathifi.com and the Ultimate Guides series, Clare is a regular contributor to The Guardian and other national newspapers and magazines, and often comments on all aspects of home entertainment technology and trends on TV, radio and online.