TMP Directors Edition Bluray version vs DVD

[Mage]

I tried looking for the TMP 4K Director's Edition topic, but couldn't find it. If the mods feel this needs to be moved, I absolutely understand.

My question is.... I don't have a 4K bluray player, but the TMP Director's Edition comes in a three disc set, with one being a normal bluray.
For those that have seen that version, is it worth getting it in terms of visual quality compared to the DVD version that already had some SFX redone?

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I was curious so I borrowed a couple of images from TrekCore and put them together. The Blu-Ray seems to be bigger and shinier, so it's got my vote. They've got galleries of the DVD version and the Blu-Ray version of the Director's Edition from start to finish so you can compare them for yourself.

> DVD gallery
> Blu-Ray gallery

 

[Mage]

I was curious so I borrowed a couple of images from TrekCore and put them together. The Blu-Ray seems to be bigger and shinier, so it's got my vote. They've got galleries of the DVD version and the Blu-Ray version of the Director's Edition from start to finish so you can compare them for yourself.

> DVD gallery
> Blu-Ray gallery

Oh, that's very helpful! Thank you.

I seem to recall reading that this 4K version again received some new SFX. Is this also true for the new bluray version or is it literally an upscale of the old dvd version?

 

[Tosk]

The Blu-ray contains the newest version. The old remaster was finished in standard def, so it all had to be done again for the HD version. The new remaster is "better" (it's of course got two decades worth of VFX advancement to draw on) than the old one for the most part, but it does introduce some new oddities and artifacts unfortunately.

 

[Mage]

The Blu-ray contains the newest version. The old remaster was finished in standard def, so it all had to be done again for the HD version. The new remaster is "better" (it's of course got two decades worth of VFX advancement to draw on) than the old one for the most part, but it does introduce some new oddities and artifacts unfortunately.

Hm.... Interesting. I think I'll definitely purchase it then. TMP is, with TUC, my favorite Star Trek movie, so it should be watched in its current best form.

 

[Jeyl]

For those that have seen that version, is it worth getting it in terms of visual quality compared to the DVD version that already had some SFX redone?

It's tricky. After combing over both the 4K Director's Edition and the original SD Director's Edition for years now, there are some instances where the 4K fumbles.

1. New continuity errors are introduced in the 4K where they were not present in any previous version of the film (The Starfleet Headquarters elements when Kirk arrives)

2. Some shots that were redone with new visual effects were reverted back to their original effects footage (The wormhole dissipation is now just the viewscreen element instead of a CGI one, the shot of the first orbiting device being fired from V'Ger is now the original effect shot just flipped upside down creating inconsistencies in the subsequent new shots that did not exist in the SD version)

3. Both the opening and closing titles have reduced their opacity levels, making them transparent to the stars behind them and taking away the golden shine they had in the SD rendition.

4. The new CGI shots of the Enterprise inside V'Ger are so dark that some components aren't visible at all. Take the pictures posted by Ray for example. In the 4K rendition, you only see the front part of the Enterprise's nacelles where as in the SD version, you can see the entire nacelle. It's worse in the shot that proceeds it since despite showing the Enterprise in full, the parts are are not lit disappear into nothingness. The V'Ger island arms are also not as prominent

 

[Mage]

It's tricky. After combing over both the 4K Director's Edition and the original SD Director's Edition for years now, there are some instances where the 4K fumbles.

1. New continuity errors are introduced in the 4K where they were not present in any previous version of the film (The Starfleet Headquarters elements when Kirk arrives)

2. Some shots that were redone with new visual effects were reverted back to their original effects footage (The wormhole dissipation is now just the viewscreen element instead of a CGI one, the shot of the first orbiting device being fired from V'Ger is now the original effect shot just flipped upside down creating inconsistencies in the subsequent new shots that did not exist in the SD version)

3. Both the opening and closing titles have reduced their opacity levels, making them transparent to the stars behind them and taking away the golden shine they had in the SD rendition.

4. The new CGI shots of the Enterprise inside V'Ger are so dark that some components aren't visible at all. Take the pictures posted by Ray for example. In the 4K rendition, you only see the front part of the Enterprise's nacelles where as in the SD version, you can see the entire nacelle. It's worse in the shot that proceeds it since despite showing the Enterprise in full, the parts are are not lit disappear into nothingness. The V'Ger island arms are also not as prominent

Well, I wouldn't be watching the 4K version, but the normal bluray version. Which is the same movie but slightly lower video quality, if I understand correctly.
As for the darkness of the image... I often find that when I stream 4K movies I need to up the brightness of my tv a bit compared to movies being streamed in FHD. Maybe it's a 4K thing?

 

[Jeyl]

Well, I wouldn't be watching the 4K version, but the normal bluray version.

All the issues I listed would be present in the Blu-ray version.

 

[Pauln6]

The new version looks incredible, even on bluray (I don't have a 4k TV either). There is just one scene in the officer's lounge where they decided to add a new background and the image clipping looks a bit severe because the original plates could not be found.

I tried to blend the older versions with the new one to mitigate the effect and it was very difficult! But the inferior shots are very brief and the rest of the movie more than makes up for it.

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[Tallguy]

One thing that hasn't been discussed is that the 2021 DE has AMAZING sound. Better than the 2001 and WAY better than 1979. One of the biggest improvements is that they found the dubbing recordings that the cast made in 1979 and were never used. So all of the dialog sounds just a bit more natural than previous versions.

EDIT: Good grief, I got this backwards. 1979 had better sound than the 2001 edition. 2001 was like a rough draft.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Omitted layers in the composited drydock scene have been corrected.

The colour-correction in the San Francisco air tram station means that the ambassadors’ robes look amazing. You can even see the embroidered golden leopards and silver eagles on the robes of the Chief Betelgeusian ambassador as he swishes them around!

The officers’ lounge scene, after Spock arrives, is now very different in the two DE versions, although there has been criticism (yet again) because of how it had to be compiled with CGI, as the original separate layers could not be found.

The story pacing is greatly improved, and the music has never sounded better.

 

[Tallguy]

The officers’ lounge scene, after Spock arrives, is now very different in the two DE versions, although there has been criticism (yet again) because of how it had to be compiled with CGI, as the original separate layers could not be found.

I don't care that they did it with CG. I care that it looks terrible. Just because of the realities of what is available to be altered, the best looking version of this scene is still the 1979 theatrical.

The story pacing is greatly improved

The one thing that was (not surprisingly) untouched was the edit itself from 2001. Because it was done by Robert Wise himself.

 

[Pauln6]

I don't care that they did it with CG. I care that it looks terrible. Just because of the realities of what is available to be altered, the best looking version of this scene is still the 1979 theatrical.



The one thing that was (not surprisingly) untouched was the edit itself from 2001. Because it was done by Robert Wise himself.

Yeah I was never bothered by the original. I think it rankled some that the window didn't match any on the ship but if they really wanted to address that, they could have made the window a viewscreen, probably by switching from a screensaver when Spock first enters with an accompanying beep, like the one added in the Rec Deck scene.

It doesn't mean this version isn't the best version by far, but it's a tiny blip that falls short of perfection.

 

[Tosk]

...one of several.

 

[Tallguy]

Yeah I was never bothered by the original. I think it rankled some that the window didn't match any on the ship but if they really wanted to address that, they could have made the window a viewscreen, probably by switching from a screensaver when Spock first enters with an accompanying beep, like the one added in the Rec Deck scene.

It doesn't mean this version isn't the best version by far, but it's a tiny blip that falls short of perfection.

I think I've said elsewhere that the 2021 edition is the least imperfect. I'm starting to truly believe that no matter how many swings they take at that ball there will always be something to mess it up. I mean, why does the Starfleet tram station look WORSE now? It's like Garfield putting a cat hair into the food on purpose.

Also of note, there are a few scenes (the "wing walking" scene specifically, where they leave the Enterprise towards the end of the film) that look OK on a TV but are just about mind blowing on a movie screen.

 

[Tosk]

I mean, why does the Starfleet tram station look WORSE now?

There are so many little glitches and oddities in that sequence that I'm mildly convinced it was a WIP that got away from them.

 

[Tomalak]

I suspect they were under pressure to deliver for a certain date and didn’t have enough time or money. A few things did slip through the cracks, but on the whole it’s a triumph.

I agree the sound mix is really stunning. Tracking down the original ADR stems was a revelation.

 

[Firebird]

I think I've said elsewhere that the 2021 edition is the least imperfect. I'm starting to truly believe that no matter how many swings they take at that ball there will always be something to mess it up. I mean, why does the Starfleet tram station look WORSE now? It's like Garfield putting a cat hair into the food on purpose.

Also of note, there are a few scenes (the "wing walking" scene specifically, where they leave the Enterprise towards the end of the film) that look OK on a TV but are just about mind blowing on a movie screen.

The changes to the tram station were pointless, only existing for that distracting TOS shuttle lifting off in the background. It still bothers me you can see the shuttle stop in mid-air before that master shot cuts to the next shot of Kirk and Sonak in the 2022 edition. That was one instance where Robert Wise should've told the team to rein in their fannish tendencies, because that change was added expense for no reason.

What they should've restored instead is that alternate angle matte shot that shows more of the San Francisco shoreline as the tram lands:

 

[Tallguy]

The changes to the tram station were pointless, only existing for that distracting TOS shuttle lifting off in the background. It still bothers me you can see the shuttle stop in mid-air before that master shot cuts to the next shot of Kirk and Sonak in the 2022 edition. That was one instance where Robert Wise should've told the team to rein in their fannish tendencies, because that change was added expense for no reason.

The 2022 version has its issues of execution but it's a variation (including the shuttle) of the 2001 version that Wise signed off on. (And I don't believe the shuttle freezes in that version.)

The shuttle was a fanboy touch but the driving motivation was that Wise wanted the scene opened up and not so enclosed. If it were not for the wall visible behind Kirk's air tram they might have done more. But they had to at least leave that wall in place. I would say "with 2001 technology" but I'll say instead "with current technology and with their time and budget constraints". (Those folk working on Dune could have done whatever they wanted. )

Yes, I wish they had gone with more of the original concepts from 1979 as well.

But I love the original just as it is. It always reminded me of the Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World.

I can see where Wise might have disagreed with the aesthetics. Especially with the response even at the time that the film was too colorless and claustrophobic. (The best version of the film will never exist because it would have been the film that Wise would have put together with an audience test screening and a few months more work. It's sitting on the dream shelf next to Donner's Superman II.)

Heck, I love the original matte painting of the Golden Gate, now relegated to its reuse in Voyager.

One day when I get around to my "Best Parts Version" of all of the cuts of TMP I will keep the original shots as is. (And good for me! Where is my cookie?)

 

[Tosk]

And I don't believe the shuttle freezes in that version

That's what's annoying about the new version of that sequence. It's less accomplished than the previous remaster.