Star Trek related specials/documentaries discussion

The most pertinent Trek news I've followed is that STNG is making it to blu-ray next year. It's been up in the air for some time as to whether Paramount would be able to master NG for BD. Unlike the classic ST, which was all done in 35mm (even though special effects weren't as good and CBS was able to redo via CGI), it was questioned as to whether Paramount would properly master NG for blu-ray. All the elements were filmed on 35mm, but all the post editing was done on video. For all the effects shots, the only composites have been on SD video. It's now confirmed that Paramount has been going in and remastering everything: that they're recompositing all those effects shots in HD and that all the seasons will be in true HD. The first issue is going a be a best of STNG episodes in January. But all seasons will be out in HD: as CBS HDTV syndications and BD releases.

The latest reboot is another topic. I think JJ Abram's version was certainly better then some of the other recent ST movies...but I think it's also overhyped for what it is. The plot is pretty absurd: even though this is supposed to be an alternate timeline...somehow all of the original characters make it there a few years before the original. I'm hearing rumors that the next Star Trek might have Kahn as the villain...as he's ranked as a popular top villain for any series. As long as Abram's has 1/10 the amount of lens flares in the next Star Trek, then it will be a big improvement.

 

Yeah, it was interesting about STTOS: the first time I saw some of it on HD was right when they were remastering it. Back then, they first remastered for HDTV...shortly after it made it to HD DVD and then it made it to blu-ray. When it comes to aspect ratio, that's one of the quirks about HD. Many of the oldest classics are being kept on 4:3 for a BD release: the quality is still unreal since the whole resolution is better and its from a good restoration. However, I've noticed quite a few series that are "remastered" for HD from 35mm from the 80s or 90s are then reframed in 16:9. Seinfeld is a common example. Sony actually rescanned and framed all the episodes to HD and 16:9...it's on Turner all the time (but I have still yet to hear when it's coming out to BD). I was even surprised a few weeks ago to be flipping channels and seeing a TJ Hooker episode on Universal HD. They also completely rescanned it in a 16:9 aspect. I think it's nice that they kept the aspect genuine for the STTOS episodes. One of the special features on the BD sets that I have is pretty informative. The stock film wasn't too bad...but they still did a lot to restore and clean up/color code to look nice in HD. The other interesting thing was that the new CG effects were actually produced in 16:9. On the HDTV presentations, the new effects switch to 16:9. On the BDs, the new CG effects stay with the same 4:3 aspect as the original film scenes.

I'm anxious to see how the STNG HD treatment is. Since "compositing" back in those days was a feat in itself...I do know that Paramount is still investing a lot to rescan/edit all those shots in HD. ILM has always done top notch stuff, so it's great that they will get a better treatment.

RE: reboot. Yeah...being involved with 3D animation, I'm a bit critical about visual effects. I'm not the only one to think Abrams went WAY too overboard with those blasted lens flares! On my BD, I saw one video snippet just on those lens flares. Apparently he got a lot of flack about it (so it's not just me)! His defense at the time was that: *I wanted to show that there's an environment all around and not just from the camera's viewpoint*. Well he's also the guy who goes all over the place and is known for being over the top...so I don't think it's ever in his nature to know how to be sublime. Anyways, from an artistic and photography standpoint...I thought his reasoning was even more *over the top*. Lens flares are only phenomenons from the elements in lenses themselves: for traditional photography, most artists have tried elemenating flares by having hoods and filters...only keeping flares artistic for contrasts with bright sunlight or particular night scenes. When every single scene of ST reboot had at least 3 lens flares...it was screaming cheesy artificial CG renderings for me (the movie was composited digitally...lens flare is an easy "filter", and ST had every setting imaginable)!

 

I might as well give up...

So I have my other post..admitting to be in my mid-forties and knowing way too much about Harry Potter...

And now? I recently watched a documentary called "The Captains" made by William Shatner.

I find Shatner just to be an interesting personality. The documentary is supposedly Shatner interviewing all the "Captains" of the various Star Trek series incarnations. But there is more to it.

I'd give it a C+, some interesting insight to the personal and profesional sacrifice it takes to be a major character in an iconic series.

They make a lot of money...but while the series is in production it takes a lot of personal sacrifice in terms of dedication and time put in...often it seems to the sacrifice of personal and family life.

Anyway, if you are at all a fan of Star Trek...or just William Shatner..or just Tribble Hunters...it's probably worth checking out.

 

I read a blurb today mentioning the next Star Trek movie that J.J. Abrams will direct will have the Khan character in it.
I really hope it is not just a remake of"The Wrath of Khan" I think that would really suck!
Shatner and Montlban really nailed it. Let's move on.
You destroyed Vulcan, and you now have two Spocks (young & old) in the current timeline, I would think some more young character development is in order and let's visit something that has not been seen up to this point!

 

I came across a 50's Soviet space film.

While the cosmonaut gear needed more hoses and prosthetics, the resemblance to an alien Star Trek race from the коллектив is enough for me to listen for the phrase:

"сопротивление бесполезно"

 

Everybody loves Star Trek and TNG too and I hope they release the HD versions of both on Bluray BUT, and it's in capitals as it's an important but, please please please leave them alone. Use the original crappy special affects and not do a 'Star Wars' and try and improve on them. I appreciate the show was filmed in the late 1960's and late 1980's respectively and thus the effects are not to todays standards, but that's part of the charm. Mess about with the originals in any way and I won't buy them. Am I alone here?

I only watched the 'new' Star Wars improved version once and never again. He's ruined it and I appreciate Lucas can do what the heck he wants to it, but equally I can choose never to buy it; which I now won't.