Star Trek: The Motion Picture Director’s Edition 4K
review by Bobby Blakey
There are few sci-fi franchises that have had the staying power and impact of Star Trek. The original short run series has spawned numerous films and TV series. Now with Star Trek day approaching Paramount is bringing more of the classic film series to 4K including the film that started it all with an all-new Star Trek: The Motion Picture Director’s Edition.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture follows a massive alien spacecraft of enormous power that destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers as it makes its way towards Federation space. Admiral James T. Kirk is ordered to take command of the USS Enterprise for the first time since her historic five-year mission. The Epsilon IX space station alerts the Federation, but they are also destroyed by the alien spacecraft. The only starship in range is the Enterprise, after undergoing a major overhaul in drydock orbiting Earth. Kirk rounds up the rest of his crew, and acquires some new members, and sets off to intercept the alien spacecraft. However, it has been three years since Kirk last went into deep space - is he up to the task of saving Earth?
Although I am more of a Star Wars fan, I have always embraced the Trek franchise. I enjoyed most of it, but have to admit that this original film was the one that I always struggled with. Watching it again for the first time in years I still find it a hard sell. I appreciate what they were trying to do with the film and rebuilding the series to something more epic and serious. It does offer up that vintage sci-fi style I will always love and works better for me now than I remember, but is no doubt one that is an acquired taste.
The 4K restoration really enhances the look of the film and makes it a visual treat. With any film of this time it does showcase some of the effects and their dated look, but that is also part of the charm of it all and makes it all the more impressive to what they were able to do back then. The enhancements that the director’s edition brings to this film does in fact make it a better film, but still a struggle for me to fully invest. It isn’t a bad movie, just a slow pace that I just never been able to fully commit to.
This new release offers up old and new bonus content including commentaries, deleted scenes, effects tests, costume tests, an all-new 8 part documentary and so much more. Grab your copy of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture The Director’s Edition and The Complete Adventure when it hits 4K on September 6th from Paramount Home Entertainment.
In addition to this release they are also bringing Star Trek: V The Final Frontier, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and the Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture 6-Film Collection to 4K on the same day.
