by John Larkin
STAR TREK: The Original 4-Movie Collection is available to purchase in stores and at Amazon.com
The classic Trek movies, especially these first four of the bunch have always been my favorite. I could never get into THE NEXT GENERATION growing up and the original series was way before my time so I first discovered the indelible original cast through these feature films. I was thrilled when I heard Paramount was releasing them in 4K and I'm happy to report that they did a beautiful job with the new transfers and Jerry Goldsmith's outstanding score has never sounded sweeter!
This new boxed set features the theatrical editions of the first four STAR TREK films made with the original TV show cast, they include: THE MOTION PICTURE, THE WRATH OF KHAN, THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, and THE VOYAGE HOME. THE WRATH OF KHAN disc includes both the theatrical cut and the Nicholas Myer director’s cut.
The legendary hollywood director Robert Wise directed the first installment, THE MOTION PICTURE and while he did a fine job, the film lacks the energy of its successors THE WRATH OF KHAN, THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, and THE VOYAGE HOME. Those three have an urgency, sense of humor and heart that make them among the most beloved by trekkies and casual fans alike. Nicholas Myer impressively directed WRATH OF KHAN and the sixth installment THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (not on this set). However the true auteur of the film series is Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.
Nimoy's first directorial effort was the third entry THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, which has always been my personal favorite in the entire series. I've always been fascinated with the idea of resurrection, pair that with Christopher Lloyd's turn as a Klingon and you got a winner.
Nimoy proved he wasn't a fluke with STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, a particularly fun film that really holds it's own as a great standalone sci-fi comedy. Over the years this has been the most ubiquitous one on TV in the years since its theatrical release in 1986. It's the perfect film to introduce non trekkies to the Star Trek universe and win them over.
Overall the picture and sound quality for all four films are superb. There is only one small sequence in the first film that looks quite soft probably due to some wearing on the negative. The 4K resolution combined with High Dynamic Range really add that extra subtle layer of realism that ends up having a big impact on the viewer and leaves an impression on you as if you've just watched it on the big screen.
Thankfully there are plenty of special features on the blu ray disc versions of the films, something a lot of new 4K releases are sadly leaving out these days.
This is a collection to get your hands on and one to cherish for years to come. My only hope is that they release the rest of the films in the series for my own completist reasons.
Below are a complete list of the bonus features on all 4 discs:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 4K Ultra HD
Isolated score in Dolby 2.0—NEW
Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman
Star Trek: The Motion Picture Blu-ray
Isolated score in Dolby 2.0—NEW
Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman
Library Computer (HD)
Production
The Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture (HD)
The Star Trek Universe
Special Star Trek Reunion (HD)
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 001: The Mystery Behind V’ger
Deleted Scenes
Storyboards
Trailers (HD)
TV Spots
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 4K Ultra HD
Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer (Director’s Cut and Theatrical Version)
Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer and Manny Coto (Theatrical Version)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Blu-ray
Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer (Director’s Cut and Theatrical Version)
Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer and Manny Coto (Theatrical Version)
Text Commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda (Director’s Cut)
Library Computer (HD)
Production
Captain’s Log
Designing Khan
Original Interviews with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and Ricardo Montalbán
Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Visual Effects of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
James Horner: Composing Genesis (HD)
The Star Trek Universe
Collecting Star Trek’s Movie Relics (HD)
A Novel Approach
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 002: Mystery Behind Ceti Alpha VI (HD)
Farewell
A Tribute to Ricardo Montalbán (HD)
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer (HD)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 4K Ultra HD
Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin Curtis
Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Blu-ray
Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin Curtis
Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
Library Computer (HD)
Production
Captain’s Log
Terraforming and the Prime Directive
Industry Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek
Spock: The Early Years (HD)
The Star Trek Universe
Space Docks and Birds of Prey
Speaking Klingon
Klingon and Vulcan Costumes
Star Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (HD)
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan Katra Transfer
Photo Gallery
Production
The Movie
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer (HD)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 4K Ultra HD
Commentary by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy
Commentary by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Blu-ray
Commentary by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy
Commentary by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Library Computer (HD)
Production
Future’s Past: A Look Back
On Location
Dailies Deconstruction
Below-the-Line: Sound Design
Pavel Chekov’s Screen Moments (HD)
The Star Trek Universe
Time Travel: The Art of the Possible
The Language of Whales
A Vulcan Primer
Kirk’s Women
The Three-Picture Saga (HD)
Star Trek for a Cause (HD)
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 004: The Whale Probe (HD)
Visual Effects
From Outer Space to the Ocean
The Bird of Prey
Original Interviews
Leonard Nimoy
William Shatner
DeForest Kelley
Tributes
Roddenberry Scrapbook
Featured Artist: Mark Lenard
Production Gallery
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer (HD)
