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What’s cool here is that we get the new digital visual
effect which compliment the series in my opinion but update
it in such a way that makes this vintage series more “contemporary”
without losing the charm of the era it was made in. We also
get the original visual effect using seamlessly branching
software. You can switch between the original visual effects
and the digital ones by using the angle button on your remote
while watching the episode and even the visual effects themselves.
It’s quite cool. ***
All of the previous special features from the most
recent boxed set are here as well. Quoting from my earlier
review: (FROM The HD/DVD review) “Interactive Enterprise
Inspection” is the biggest difference between the HD & DVD
versions. It’s a clever premise that doesn’t always take
flight. You can take a shuttlecraft out and inspect the
exterior of the Enterprise. The interactive menu has some
problems to it that should have been fixed before this being
issued but it’s likely they didn’t have the time or the
money. It’s a nice feature that you might use one or two
times. ***
Another big extra that is new to this set is “Starfleet
Access” and that is available ONLY in the HD portion of
the disc. There are seven episodes that receive this treatment
where you can watch the episode while also watching behind-the-scenes
footage and interviews related to the episodes. It’s a nice
extra and is almost as illuminating as a commentary track.
I’d rather have commentary tracks, however, on the episodes
myself but it operates very much like the video commentary
tracks on the film “Hellboy: Special Edition” and the second
series of “Dr. Who” featuring David Tennant. They also could
have done the same for the DVD portion of the discs but
it would have eaten up a lot of disc space and made more
discs necessary (for example “Dr. Who” often has only three
episodes per disc when it has a video commentary). The result
would have been more digital artifacts on the DVD side of
the disc. I didn’t have time to watch all of these and,
in fact, only watched them for “Where No Man Has Gone Before”
and “Space Seed”. The former does feature actors Gary Lockwood
and Sally Kellerman briefly discussing their role on the
pivotal pilot episode of the series while the later features
“Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan” scribe and producer Harve
Bennett discussing the episode that provided the basis for
his film sequel. Writer/producer Gene L. Coon who wrote
the final teleplay is given recognition on this one as well
which is nice. ***
“Billy Blackburn’s Treasure Chest: Rarely Seen Home
Movies” is drawn from extra/actor Billy Blackburn’s 8mm
home movies taken on the set during production. This is
a gem. Blackburn was the helmsman that always stepped in
Sulu wasn’t available or would often be beside Sulu. He
was a consistent presence during the show’s run. Blackburn
often played other characters as well in costume for the
show. This is a really cool behind-the-scenes treat for
fans of the series much like the home movies that were on
the “Hogan’s Heroes” first two season box sets. ***
“Spacelift: Transporting Trek into the 21st Century
features interviews with the Okudas, Rossi and others who
executed the facelift for the show. We also see and hear
about the remastering including the re-recording of the
show’s theme and the digital clean up. ***
“Reflections on Spock” is new to this set. It features
an interview with Nimoy discussing the character of Spock
and the issues that surrounded the publication of his book
I AM NOT SPOCK which started the rumors that he didn’t care
for the character (which isn’t true). ***
“Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner” let’s us see Shatner’s
other love besides acting, his wife and kids—riding horses.
Shatner has been a companion breeder and competitor for
some time. Some of this has been recycled from the previous
set. ***
“To Boldly Go” is largely a recycled featurette on
the series with interviews of Roddenberry conducted during
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” run in the 80’s and interviews
conducted with production crew such as Bob Justman for the
original DVD Season One sets in 2004. ***
“Sci-Fi Visionaries” is also a recycled extra where
producer Justman and story editor/writer Fontana discuss
the science fiction writers that they hired to give the
show the credibility it needed with a science fiction audience
but, more importantly, distinguish “Star Trek” via its better
writing, depth of characterization and imagination of the
future. ***
“Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier” is a documentary
that runs 90 minutes about the show hosted by Leonard Nimoy.
Originally aired on the History Channel to help promote
the Christie’s Auction of Trek memorabilia (from models
to costumes), it’s a good documentary and one of the best
new additions here. ***
“Kiss and Tell- Romance in the 23rd Century” is a brief
featurette that looks at what Dr. McCoy complained about
in “Star Trek VI”—Kirk’s never ending quest for the alien
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