Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in FC?

Discussion in 'Star Trek Movies I-X' started by Aldo, Mar 11, 2012.

  1. Aldo

    Aldo Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2003
    Location:
    Hyrule Castle
    This also applies to the later movies and DS9, but I was always curious why they decided to change to those dull gray uniforms with the colors only showing up on their collars and their sleeves.
     
  2. JRoss

    JRoss Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2010
    Location:
    Stain'd-by-the-Sea
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    Because they don't look like like funky exercise clothes. The new costumes are fantastic.
     
  3. JWD75

    JWD75 Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2010
    Location:
    jovian system
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    The FC uniforms are a big improvement over the other 24th century uniforms.
     
  4. Aldo

    Aldo Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2003
    Location:
    Hyrule Castle
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    Maybe an improvement over the ones used on TNG. But the ones that were used on DS9 and Voyager looked just fine.
     
  5. Kelso

    Kelso Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 3, 2001
    Location:
    On the destruct button until the last minute!
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    Because they were awesome.
     
  6. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2000
    Location:
    QC, IL, USA
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    I don't think they're dull at all. I think they're fantastic.
     
  7. MasuPu'a

    MasuPu'a Lieutenant Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2011
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    I liked the uniforms of FC. They look more professional; much more of a space military look to them.
     
  8. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Location:
    New Therin Park, Andor (via Australia)
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    "First Contact" had a very dark theme, so the costumes had to reflect that mood. Also, the toy licensees apply an amount of pressure; there is an expectation that the costumes will change, or at least have cool variations and accessories, in order to sell more toys. Otherwise, collectors only cherrypick and get the all-new villains and aliens, not the main cast.

    The main reason they started being used on DS9 was that the expensive, motion-picture quality uniforms were available, and the old DS9 jumpsuits would have been starting to show some wear.
     
  9. Frontier

    Frontier Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2002
    Location:
    Fifth Circle of Hell, IE: Pennsylvania
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    The FC uniforms are my favorite modern ones by far. Frankly, I never understood why Voyager never got them as well, even if only post "Message in a Bottle" and contact with SF. I mean Voyager got the new phasers and tricorders when DS9 and FC did. So why not the uniforms?

    Some have tried the in-show argument of 'resources' but that's BS; uniforms are recycled in and out of the replicator to be cleaned, or so we've been lead to believe. How hard would it have been on their resources to update the patterns, hrm?

    Real world, they certainly would have added in and taken out new and old stock now and then, so...

    *Shrug*

    Always bugged me, cause the FC uniforms looked like UNIFORMS.
     
  10. Kronos

    Kronos Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2001
    Location:
    Running with the Badgers
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    I always thought the FC uniforms had the same problem as the TOS movie red uniforms, they look so heavy and hot, how cold do they keep it on a starship?
     
  11. Maurice

    Maurice Snagglepussed Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2005
    Location:
    Real Gone
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    They're bland. No interesting color or silhouette.
     
  12. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    It was done to give the TNG movies a different look from the TV series, IMO. New uniforms were designed for Generations, but they were rejected at very much the last minute.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2012
  13. BDJ

    BDJ Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2010
    Location:
    Lovely little shire known as Cave City
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    The uniforms also kept changing so they could make new action figures as well!
     
  14. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Location:
    A type 13 planet in it's final stage
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    I thought they grey-topped unforms looked good in FC, but pretty soon after they were introduced in DS9, I realized how visually uninteresing they were. And, they looked really uncomfortably hot. Tank top, coloured shirt, waistcoat then uniform jacket? Maybe on Delta Vega or Andoria, but not a climate controlled starship!
     
  15. Shazam!

    Shazam! Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2006
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    This is the correct answer. The old ones looked fine on DS9 because of the environment but they were hideous on Voyager.
     
  16. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    I believe only captains wore the waistcoat.
     
  17. danellis

    danellis Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2010
    Location:
    UK
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    No. We saw Dax wearing one in the episode where she and Worf went on that mission in the jungle.

    dJE
     
  18. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2001
    Location:
    Ferguson, Missouri, USA
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    You're mistaken. We've only seen captains wear the waistcoat.

    You saw Dax with her uniform unzipped, but no waistcoat.
    http://ds9.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/6x16/changeofheart_536.jpg
     
  19. Shazam!

    Shazam! Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2006
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    Least flattering Jadzia image ever.
     
  20. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2001
    Re: Why did they ever make the change to the gray topped uniforms in F

    Probably the same reason Generations used dimmer lighting than TNG, and the same reason the TOS movie uniforms used more subdued colors than the TV uniforms. TV shows are made to be watched on relatively small screens in people's living rooms with other sources of light around, whereas movies are made to be shown on huge screens in enclosed chambers that are otherwise extremely dark. The kind of bright colors that work well on TV would be too garish for movie screens, so feature-film cinematographers, costume designers, set designers, and the like tend to favor more subdued color and lighting. Or at least, that was the case back when the movies in question were made, before giant flatscreen TVs were common and before movie theaters began using digital projectors. The difference is probably a lot less now than it was back then.