Original Star Trek's getting a facelift - Page 2

keg in kc · 08-31-2006, 12:15 PM

Remastering Star Trek: TOS FX, Music Enhanced

startrek.com
08.31.2006

Star Trek journeys to the 21st century as the Original Series returns to broadcast syndication for the first time in 16 years with brand-new digitally remastered episodes to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

CBS Paramount Domestic Television has officially announced that they are releasing digitally remastered episodes of Star Trek, with all new special effects and music, to celebrate the groundbreaking series' 40th anniversary, according to John Nogawski, president of CBS Paramount Domestic Television.

The Star Trek episodes will begin airing on the more than 200 stations that own the rights to the weekend broadcast syndication window starting September 16. (As always, please check your local listings for station and dates.) The plan is for all 79 episodes of the Original Series to be remastered, with the first batch of episodes chosen from a list of Star Trek fans' favorite shows. With the running order to be determined, it's unlikely to follow the classic air-date order or production order format familiar to fans.

"Star Trek redefined science-fiction and constantly pushed the envelope with concepts that were ahead of their time," Nogawski said. "By giving the series a digital upgrade using the best technology available today, it will continue to be a leader in cutting-edge television programming as we introduce the series to a new generation of viewers."

The most noticeable change will be redoing many of the special effects, created with 1960s technology, with 21st century computer-generated imagery (CGI). Upgrades include:

Space ship exteriors – The Enterprise, as well as other starships, will be replaced with state of the art CGI-created ships. The new computer-generated Enterprise is based on the exact measurements of the original model, which now rests in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Show opening – The Enterprise and planets seen in the main title sequence will be redone, giving them depth and dimension for the first time.

Galaxy shots – All the graphics of the galaxy, so frequently seen through the viewscreen on the Enterprise's bridge, will be redone.

Exteriors – The battle scenes, planets and ships from other cultures (notably the Romulan Bird of Prey and Klingon Battle Cruisers) will be updated.

Background scenes – Some of the iconic, yet flat, matte paintings used as backdrops for the strange, new worlds explored by the Enterprise crew will get a CGI face-lift, adding atmosphere and lighting.

The refurbished episodes also feature higher quality sound for the famous opening theme. The original score by Emmy Award-winning composer Alexander Courage, has been re-recorded in state-of-the-art digital stereo audio with an orchestra and a female singer belting out the famous vocals. A digitally remastered version of William Shatner's classic original recording of the 38-word "Space, the final frontier..." monologue continues to open each episode.

The remastered episodes have been converted from the original film into a High-Definition format, which gives viewers a clearer, crisper, more vibrant picture than before, even when viewed in standard definition. Once stations upgrade and start broadcasting HD signals, the episodes will be all ready for viewers to enjoy in HD.

Deberg_1990 · 09-12-2006, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

You should at least check out some of trailers at the official Star Trek site before passing judgment sight unseen. The changes don't look all that drastic (no completely redesigned ships, no altering of dialogue or story line).

Oh ill probably check it out for the curiosity factor alone. I just hope they dont go overboard and pull a George Lucas. All sorts of alien crap flying aimlessy around in the background of every shot.

Frazod · 09-12-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Oh ill probably check it out for the curiosity factor alone. I just hope they dont go overboard and pull a George Lucas. All sorts of alien crap flying aimlessy around in the background of every shot.

I'm fairly sure there will be none of that. For starters, they don't have Darth Lucas's bottomless pockets to work with. That fact alone should ease your concerns somewhat.

**007** · 09-12-2006, 11:26 PM

The ship hits the fans.

**007** · 09-17-2006, 10:56 PM

Impressed with the upgrades.

Hammock Parties · 09-17-2006, 11:02 PM

Anyone got a torrent?

Frazod · 09-25-2006, 10:35 PM

I've seen three of these episodes so far. The changes are minimal. For most of the episodes, you hardly notice anything - keep in mind that the exterior shots of the ship are minimal in the original series. The original, cheesy 60s sets are still just as cheesy as ever - there wasn't a new, blob-like CG horta in Devil in the Dark; the monster still looks like a guy crawling around under a blanket with plastic stapled to it.

New new ship exteriors are pretty cool, though. I was especially impressed with the facelift the Romulan warbird got in Balance of Terror.

Bottom line, if you liked it before, you'll still like it.

Hammock Parties · 09-25-2006, 10:38 PM

There's a torrent out there. It was OK.

Frazod · 08-28-2008, 12:36 AM

Old thread bump.

I picked up TOS Remastered Season 2 today. Never did buy the higher-priced Season 1, although I probably will eventually.

I mainly bought this for my favorite episode, The Doomsday Machine (the episode featuring the wrecked USS Constellation, the tormented Commodore Decker and the Planet Killer). I'd seen a handful of the season one episodes on TV before I stopped remembering to watch them, but this particular episode is more FX intensive than most episodes, and they did a fantastic job with it.

If you really like the original series, you'll probably want to pick these up.

08-31-2006, 12:15 PM
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $9556299	Original Star Trek's getting a facelift Remastering Star Trek: TOS FX, Music Enhanced startrek.com 08.31.2006 Star Trek journeys to the 21st century as the Original Series returns to broadcast syndication for the first time in 16 years with brand-new digitally remastered episodes to celebrate its 40th anniversary. CBS Paramount Domestic Television has officially announced that they are releasing digitally remastered episodes of Star Trek, with all new special effects and music, to celebrate the groundbreaking series' 40th anniversary, according to John Nogawski, president of CBS Paramount Domestic Television. The Star Trek episodes will begin airing on the more than 200 stations that own the rights to the weekend broadcast syndication window starting September 16. (As always, please check your local listings for station and dates.) The plan is for all 79 episodes of the Original Series to be remastered, with the first batch of episodes chosen from a list of Star Trek fans' favorite shows. With the running order to be determined, it's unlikely to follow the classic air-date order or production order format familiar to fans. "Star Trek redefined science-fiction and constantly pushed the envelope with concepts that were ahead of their time," Nogawski said. "By giving the series a digital upgrade using the best technology available today, it will continue to be a leader in cutting-edge television programming as we introduce the series to a new generation of viewers." The most noticeable change will be redoing many of the special effects, created with 1960s technology, with 21st century computer-generated imagery (CGI). Upgrades include: Space ship exteriors – The Enterprise, as well as other starships, will be replaced with state of the art CGI-created ships. The new computer-generated Enterprise is based on the exact measurements of the original model, which now rests in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Show opening – The Enterprise and planets seen in the main title sequence will be redone, giving them depth and dimension for the first time. Galaxy shots – All the graphics of the galaxy, so frequently seen through the viewscreen on the Enterprise's bridge, will be redone. Exteriors – The battle scenes, planets and ships from other cultures (notably the Romulan Bird of Prey and Klingon Battle Cruisers) will be updated. Background scenes – Some of the iconic, yet flat, matte paintings used as backdrops for the strange, new worlds explored by the Enterprise crew will get a CGI face-lift, adding atmosphere and lighting. The refurbished episodes also feature higher quality sound for the famous opening theme. The original score by Emmy Award-winning composer Alexander Courage, has been re-recorded in state-of-the-art digital stereo audio with an orchestra and a female singer belting out the famous vocals. A digitally remastered version of William Shatner's classic original recording of the 38-word "Space, the final frontier..." monologue continues to open each episode. The remastered episodes have been converted from the original film into a High-Definition format, which gives viewers a clearer, crisper, more vibrant picture than before, even when viewed in standard definition. Once stations upgrade and start broadcasting HD signals, the episodes will be all ready for viewers to enjoy in HD. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 58,682

09-12-2006, 11:26 PM	#18
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $12150126 VARSITY	The ship hits the fans. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,736

09-17-2006, 10:56 PM	#19
007 Shaken. Not stirred. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London Casino cash: $12150126 VARSITY	Impressed with the upgrades. __________________ My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.
Posts: 65,736

09-17-2006, 11:02 PM	#20
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $830478	Anyone got a torrent? __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,372

09-25-2006, 10:35 PM	#21
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-756615	I've seen three of these episodes so far. The changes are minimal. For most of the episodes, you hardly notice anything - keep in mind that the exterior shots of the ship are minimal in the original series. The original, cheesy 60s sets are still just as cheesy as ever - there wasn't a new, blob-like CG horta in Devil in the Dark; the monster still looks like a guy crawling around under a blanket with plastic stapled to it. New new ship exteriors are pretty cool, though. I was especially impressed with the facelift the Romulan warbird got in Balance of Terror. Bottom line, if you liked it before, you'll still like it.
Posts: 121,768

09-25-2006, 10:38 PM	#22
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $830478	There's a torrent out there. It was OK. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 297,372

08-28-2008, 12:36 AM	#23
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-756615	Old thread bump. I picked up TOS Remastered Season 2 today. Never did buy the higher-priced Season 1, although I probably will eventually. I mainly bought this for my favorite episode, The Doomsday Machine (the episode featuring the wrecked USS Constellation, the tormented Commodore Decker and the Planet Killer). I'd seen a handful of the season one episodes on TV before I stopped remembering to watch them, but this particular episode is more FX intensive than most episodes, and they did a fantastic job with it. If you really like the original series, you'll probably want to pick these up.
Posts: 121,768