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Category:    Home > Reviews > Science Fiction > TV > Adventure > Space Opera > Star Trek – The Original Series: Season One (1966 – 1967/Paramount Blu-ray Set)

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


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