Created by Gene Roddenberry
Skip the critical palaver and just tell us what we get.
This time we begin with the disc evaluation, as the Star Trek Faithful likely don’t need too much in the way of this reviewer’s ‘insights’ on a Sci-fi franchise that by now is part of the world’s DNA. I know people that were fully invested in the interstellar Federation’s vision of the future. As the ranks of Boomer Trekkies begin to thin out, are new generations of fans taking up the slack? I thought the original TV show was just peachy, and as a teen built a plastic model. My most profound thought was that the design of the space ship must have been a compromise. It is going to be a tubular rocket or a flying saucer disc? Let’s make both sides happy.
The Star Trek: The Complete Original Series 60th Anniversary set is an excellent and relatively economical way to possess all umpteen voyages of the NCC 1701. It took us a minute to understand exactly what we were reviewing, as Paramount/CBS is also promoting a parallel ‘Star Trek the Original Series’ set for the 60th Anniversary in a fancy yellow package with a number of extras, like a 4″ Tiny vinyl record. This other offering is an Amazon Excusive.
What we have here is the same thing without the frills, all 3 Seasons and 79 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. Even then the name confuses me … most online listings add the word ‘complete’ to both packages, which the disc containers and card sleeves to not reflect.
The disc people are up front in stating that the shows are not new remasters. Back when the Blu-ray format was established, Paramount sprung for a full digital transformation of the entire series in HD, wringing polished pictorial values from original materials.
Star Trek’s cameramen gave the NBC peacock a run for its money. The show is packed with bright primary colors designed to make the color televisions of the day look good. Wide shots on the bridge are evenly lit, but close-ups often throw in dramatic shadows and darker background choices.
Decades later, when HD video arrived, Paramount invested heavily in digital improvements to the series’ original visual effects. Most of the space shots are clean cutaways without human figures, so replacing them editorially is no problem. When possible, alien landscapes are also replaced, as are ray gun blasts, etc.. The Enterprise is the original issue space cruiser, a cross between a flying saucer and a NASA rocket. The ‘improved’ re-fit still looks porcelain white, but with added running lights and engine nacelle effects. The replacement shots mimic the originals without jazzing them up too much; likewise the planetary artwork is done with restraint, and generally cuts in well.
Some grumbling on the web was heard when these revisions were made, but the 2008-2009 Blu-ray sets gave the viewer the option to view the episodes enhanced, or with the original opticals in place. One could switch between versions with the Angle button on one’s remote.
You can still choose between slick 2008 visual effects or the 1966-authentic originals.
Both versions of each episode are included in the 60th anniversary mega-package, which contradicts some text I read saying that only the enhanced versions were present. Not only are they both there, but most of the discs seem to have the same authoring as in the older sets. The menus appear to be the same, the ones that resemble spaceship control dashboards.
The new packaging for this non-exclusive box is a big plastic clamshell of the kind we remember from the DVD days. Most of the twenty (I think I counted right) discs are stacked in twos on the hubs that hold them in place. That choice may get a reaction from collectors, but I didn’t feel I was damaging anything when swapping out discs to play.
How is it that the price of everything in our lives keeps climbing, whereas these complicated releases keep getting cheaper? All twenty discs were there in their proper spot in the clamshell — the government should study the manufacturer’s QC protocols. The price for Star Trek Season One alone was once $129.00, in 2009 dollars that bought a lot more than they do today.
The only good that came out of this show is Leonard Nimoy’s LPs.