Star Trek – The Original Series: Season One (1966 – 1967/Paramount Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
B/C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B Episodes: B
Of all
the classic TV series to arrive first in either high definition format, it is
no surprise the classic, original Star
Trek would likely be the first to do so, but not without some
controversy. The importance, greatness,
influence and innovations of the original show are inarguable and you can read
about the first DVD-only wave of releases at this link:
Original
Episodes on DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1680/Star+Trek+-+The+Original+Series
Then
there are the digital upgrades Paramount did that eliminated the color richness
of the show, softened the image throughout and added digital effects that made
the model work and Styrofoam boulders on the show look somehow less phony,
which we covered at this link in a discontinued edition:
Revised
Episodes on HD-DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6215/Star+Trek+%E2%80%93+The+Origin
At 1080p
digital High Definition quality, both editions retain their original 1.33 X 1
aspect ratio, but the original 1960s prints show their superiority
throughout. Yes, there is grain and
there are some moments of slight motion blur or flaws, but when the prints look
good, they are very impressive and if you zoom in with a 16 X 9 set, they frame
well. The so-called remasters are an
abomination and if any more changes had been made, would get a lower letter
grade. Is that haloing I see? There are also other bad digital transfer
issues and the new digital enterprise comes from digital measurements of the
original model now at The Smithsonian Institute. What a mess!
Good thing the original editions look like good film prints at their
best.
The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Mono sound is not bad throughout and sounds better than the strange
new mixes of the old audio from the Dolby True HD 5.1 on the HD sides of the
HD-DVD editions to DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) 7.1 sound. 5.1 anything was pushing it, but the idea of
giving any old monophonic TV series a 7.1 remix is inane and the results are
shockingly weak. Extras include most of
all that was included on the HD-DVD Combo set, plus new BD Live interaction has
been added and additional HD-produced pieces like Spacelift (about “updating” the franchise, et al) and Billy Blackburn’s Treasure Chest of rare home movies.
- Nicholas Sheffo
