Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection: 4K UHD Review

The first four films in the original Star Trek series have made their way onto 4K UHD for the very first time in this new collection that also includes a set of region-free Blu-rays. I am thrilled to have this now as part of my collection, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t bummed that Star Trek V & VI were not included. Sure, the Shatner directed fifth instalment is a bad film, but I think The Undiscovered Country is one of the best in the series. On the upside, it is to my understanding that those two films will be given the 4K treatment in-the-near future, along with other Trek upgrades. Paramount Home Entertainment has included The Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home in this impressive set, which is definitely enough to please the Trekkers out there.

Like many, I have always preferred the even numbered films in the series. Parts II, IV and VI are vastly superior to Parts I, III and V.  Having said that, each film does offer something interesting and even with sub-par writing and direction, the cast is always on top of their game.  Basically, we enjoy watching them, even if they don’t have anything interesting to do. Star Trek: The Motion Picture stands apart from the five films that follow in almost every way. It is by far the least enjoyable in the series, but it is also very serious and at times, very dark.  There is a scene in which a failed transportation/beaming results in an extremely painful death of the two involved.  We never get to see what those two unfortunate individuals look like, but my imagination leads me to something out of John Carpenter’s The Thing. Ultimately, it was Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan that made me fall in love with the film series. (I wasn’t very knowledgeable about the original television series).

Each of the four films have been newly remastered and are presented in Dolby Vision and HDR-10 and they are all a noticeable upgrade from the Blu-ray. Some of the best moments in each of the films where the restoration is most striking is in many of the space-set scenes.  In the original film when the Enterprise goes within the alien ship is truly stunning, but the biggest “wow” moment would be our first tour around the outside of the Enterprise with Scottie and Kirk.  With Wrath of Khan, it is the climatic battle between the Enterprise and the film’s villain. Although not one of my personal favorites in the series, The Search for Spock might be one of the best looking for the 4K remasters. I believe a lot of that has to do with it having a larger color palette and spending more time outside on the alien planet (even though the outside scenes are still shot on a set most of the time.). The Voyage Home also looks great, especially when we get to have a look around the San Francisco streets.

With this being the 55^th anniversary of the entire Star Trek universe, the timing was perfect for us to get this release. If you are a fan, I highly recommend picking up the collection.

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)

By: Marc Ferman