Star Trek: The Motion Picture DVD In Nov

CliffSpradlin writes "The Motion Picture will be released as a two-DVD set. More info can be found here on TrekToday about what is on the DVDs. At the bottom of the page, there is a form to ask the developers of the DVDs questions about the release. This rerelease is totally revamped, with a new sound mix, better effects, and a better feeling of continuity. For more info what has been changed technically, go here for information from the official website, StarTrek.com"

Comments

Don't Buy It!!!!

[sconeu]

Or, do you really want to support one of the seven major members of the MPAA?

Lost, lamented aliens

[fm6]

To tell the truth, it would have been better to have a revisit from Harry Mudd, or something.

The guys I miss are the Iotians. The closing line from that episode begs for a sequel. Alas, the official party line is that Sigma Iotia II is under permanent quarantine. Mustn't give the Federation any real competition.

Re:Why 2 DVDs?

[camusflage]

According to the rec.video.dvd FAQ, it is in fact a technical limitation. You're looking at four layers in one disc. Combine that with changers built to play only single sided DVD's, and you won't see many DVD-18's around.

Re:Why 2 DVDs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Gladiator was DUAL LAYER, not DOUBLE SIDED.

I haven't heard of a DVD player which will read both sides of a double sided DVD, nor have I heard of double sided DVD's being used for a single version of a movie... I've only seen double sided used for widescreen/regular view versions of a movie so you don't have to flip it. But I won't deny the possibility those exist.

DUAL LAYER means that the laser focuses deeper into the DVD to read multiple layers. I believe they actually did some tests with up to 4 layers, or maybe it was 10 layers. Of course your DVD player must support the number of layers to be able to read them and older DVD players only supported one layer. Newer ones support two. That means you can't even use the dual layer CD on an older DVD player at all. It's not as simple as getting up to flip it over.

Also, Dual Layer DVD's have a little bug in them. Many DVD players will pause for a second when they switch to read the next layer. Apparently the DVD player manufacturers have never heard of anti-skip technology where you buffer the data so that it doesn't skip when something like that happens. Or maybe they just didn't want to increase the costs of the DVD player.

Gladiator has this problem near the end. I thought the DVD was messed up at the time because I'd never heard of this issue before then. I don't know why they didn't disguise it by makign the swap when the screen was dark and there wasn't anything on the screen. Maybe they wanted more room for extras.

I think the newest DVD players don't have this problem anymore, but I'm not sure about that, and I'm not upgarding my DVD player until recordable DVD's come out... I was planning to wait for those before I even bought my first DVD player, but when a couple years went by and there was no recordable DVD in sight, I was kinda forced to buy the regular kind of player. They'd better get those recordable DVD players out soon!

Re:first star trek movie

[jnik]

I wonder how much the new graphics, and special effect enhancements can make up for the weakness of the original story.

Really, it's far, far more than that. The official line is that the DVD is finishing the film. They're doing post on some footage that never got used, re-editing, and overall trying to do the film the way it was meant, rather than under the Christmas deadline. All-in-all, it should be a better, not just prettier, flick.

Re:first star trek movie

[steveha]

The official line is that the DVD is finishing the film.

Oh, I hope so. Specifically, I hope the "Doug Trumbull" ending gets put on!

I read in some SF fan magazine that they had an ending planned where, at the very end when V'Ger makes a bright flash of light and disappears, V'Ger first spit out all the stuff it ate, including a Federation space station and a few Klingon battlecruisers. The Klingons, noticing that they are now right next to Earth and all Earth defenses are at the moment shut down, start attacking things, and a pitched battle (Enterprise vs. 3 Klingon cruisers) ensues. Enterprise wins, but damage is heavy and they have to eject the saucer!

I doubt they can finish it that far because I don't think any of the scenes involving actors were ever filmed. And the whole thing could have just been a rumor. But it would have been cool...

steveha