TOS BluRay set....

[Warped9]

I've been waffling for some time on this given every so often Amazon offers the complete series BluRay set on special.

I'm primarily interested in good picture and sound for the episodes in the original form rather than for the TOS-R versions. I's appreciate some opinions and feedback on that. Also what extras are included in the set?

Beyond picture and sound what changes are there between this and the series when it was released in the DVD clamshell sets which are the ones I have presently?

 

[GSchnitzer]

I've been waffling for some time on this given every so often Amazon offers the complete series BluRay set on special.

I'm primarily interested in good picture and sound for the episodes in the original form rather than for the TOS-R versions. I's appreciate some opinions and feedback on that. Also what extras are included in the set?

Beyond picture and sound what changes are there between this and the series when it was released in the DVD clamshell sets which are the ones I have presently?

Other than the picture and the sound, what could be changed?

 

[Warped9]

^^ I know that on the DVD set there have been some small changes in terms of f/x (a beam added to the phaser in "The Naked Time" and sound added to phaser bursts in "Balance Of Terror"), but I understood there could also have been some small changes in musical cues. Were those changes retained or were they reverted back to original broadcast form?

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

I reviewed the collection last year. I'm not as much of a perfectionist. Never saw the original broadcasts to compare but this might be some help

http://www.myreviewer.com/Blu-ray/1...s-Seasons-1-3/168297/Review-by-Jitendar-Canth

 

[BillJ]

I love my Blu-ray set. With the seamless branching, you can watch with the original effects (they hold up pretty well), but I don't know much about the sound mix.

 

[Jonno1971]

I really love the brand new CGI special effects but silly though it may sound they sort of take me out of the story. The original effects shots feel like the real deal.

 

[GSchnitzer]

^^ I know that on the DVD set there have been some small changes in terms of f/x (a beam added to the phaser in "The Naked Time" and sound added to phaser bursts in "Balance Of Terror"), but I understood there could also have been some small changes in musical cues. Were those changes retained or were they reverted back to original broadcast form?

And, of course, there's the re-do of the chronometers in "The Naked Time." They now have the "time is running backwards!" red light and the "time has resumed its normal direction" green light.

 

[ST-321]

I really love the brand new CGI special effects but silly though it may sound they sort of take me out of the story. The original effects shots feel like the real deal.

I agree completely and, as such, have never upgraded to the BluRay. But after having bought the whole series first on VHS and then on DVD, it always seemed like I've already spent enough on them.

 

[Warped9]

I will say that seeing the episodes anew, when they were previously remastered for DVD, was a treat with the better picture and colour. TOS had never looked so good before. But it does make me wonder what level of detail I might see on BluRay.

 

[Harvey]

I agree completely and, as such, have never upgraded to the BluRay. But after having bought the whole series first on VHS and then on DVD, it always seemed like I've already spent enough on them.

The Blu-Rays have both the original and revised effects on the Blu-Ray set, thankfully, so the viewer can choose which version they'd like to view. In terms of picture, the only thing that is not faithfully represented is the changes in billing that occur during the first few episodes of season one.

Behind-the-scenes records indicate that they were always supposed to revise the credits for subsequent airings, though, so in that regard, this is one change that reflects the producer's original (and contractual) intent -- but it is also not the version that was first broadcast.

As for the audio, this has been revised several times for home video, which has never been 100% faithful to the original broadcasts. Even the laser disc audio, which is likely close, does not completely recreate the original broadcast audio (the version of the main title used for several early season one episodes gives this away). Many of the "original broadcast" audio tracks appear genuine (especially in seasons two and three), but some are clearly down-mixes of the newer, surround tracks.

 

[BillJ]

And, of course, there's the re-do of the chronometers in "The Naked Time." They now have the "time is running backwards!" red light and the "time has resumed its normal direction" green light.

You can never be sure when people will notice time running backwards!

 

[GSchnitzer]

You can never be sure when people will notice time running backwards!

"What's this green indicator light do, sir?"

"Well, Lieutenant, that green light automatically turns red when the ship travels backwards through time. It returns to green when normal time resumes. I'm not sure why the shipbuilders thought it would be a valuable enough or frequently enough used feature to include on the Helm/Navigation panel."

 

[johnnybear]

I agree completely and, as such, have never upgraded to the BluRay. But after having bought the whole series first on VHS and then on DVD, it always seemed like I've already spent enough on them.

Same here! I recorded the soundtracks in the late 70s, videoed them in the 80s, bought the VHS in the 90s and rebought them as DVDs in the 2000s! I have given it some thought as to buying the Blu Rays but my wife says I don't need them so who am I to argue? Would I dare to?
JB

 

[Botany Bay]

The Blu Rays are extraordinary. They are as big a leap up from DVD as DVD was from videotape.

You will notice things you never saw in 100 previous viewings. Go for it!

 

[Warped9]

You will notice things you never saw in 100 previous viewings. Go for it!

I am intrigued as well as unnerved by that prospect. 1960's era television production allowed you to veil a multitude of production sins and shortcomings simply because they wouldn't be visible on small CRT television displays.

Today, well....

 

[BillJ]

I am intrigued as well as unnerved by that prospect. 1960's era television production allowed you to veil a multitude of production sins and shortcomings simply because they wouldn't be visible on small CRT television displays.

Today, well....

Still is totally worth it. Especially if you can get the entire set for what I paid per season!

 

[Kor]

The simple fact that it's in a high-definition format means it looks way better on a contemporary TV than the DVDs do.

And if you want to have the episodes with both the original effects as well as the new effects, you don't have to have two separate sets of discs for each season, since they're both included.

Kor

 

[CrazyMatt]

I was just re-watching WNMHGB on Blu-Ray over the weekend and marveled at how great it looked... and the original effects hold up amazingly well in HD.

I can't see why anyone who could afford them would not want all three seasons on Blu-Ray.

 

[johnnybear]

Money, OCD and other obsessional reasoning I guess!
JB

 

[Indysolo]

The TOS Blu-rays get a lot more right than they get wrong. Having the option to watch in HD with either the original effects or remastered effects is a great feature. I'd be devastated if the only way to watch the shows in this quality would be with the new effects.

As @Harvey stated, occasionally the "original mono track" is derived from new multi-track re-mix, but this doesn't happen often and really doesn't take away from the experience in most cases, as the re-mixes were derived from the original mono stems anyway.

This set is the finest release of the original series. I couldn't imagine not having it in my collection.

Neil