It's a shame. I'll always want my favourite movies in physical media format. Streaming has it's place sure, but in 2017 my broadband connection struggles to stream BBC iplayer on it's lowest quality setting. 4K? Not a chance, I'd be sat waiting for it to buffer as long as the programme itself.
My ideal, likely-never-come-to-pass release of TMP would be a 2 disc affair on bluray. I would organize the set thusly: Disc 1 The Theatrical Version, with a brand-spanking-new 4K scan, directly from the OCN's 2009 Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and Daren Dochterman Isolated soundtrack, featuring Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-nominated score The Director's Edition, with a 1080p transfer of the redone special effects, possibly presented via seamless branching with the main feature, or as its own separate file on the disc 2001 Commentary by Robert Wise, Jerry Goldsmith, Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, and Stephen Collins 2007 Commentary by Michael Matessino, Daren Dochterman, and David C. Fein Subtitle Fact Track Disc 2 The "Special Longer Version," in HD Possible commentary track? Special Features The Human Adventure Is Just Beginning - A new, feature-length documentary covering the long road in making The Motion Picture a reality and the reaction to the film, using new and archival interviews with cast and crew, footage shot during the 1978-79 production by a crew hired to film behind-the-scenes developments, and possibly interviews with notable fans of TMP. I'm thinking a documentary of the same kind of scope as those done by Charles de Lauzirika for Ridley Scott's films, particularly the docs for Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven. New and Previously-Released Featurettes The Script's The Thing: TMP Files at the Margaret Herrick Library - a new, separate featurette covering the tumultuous writing process of the movie, told through the copious drafts and revisions held at the MHL in Los Angeles, and possibly the Robert Wise Papers held at USC. This would look at the process less in terms of Harold Livingston and Gene Roddenberry fighting with each other, but more as a history of how the script and story evolved. Star Trek: Phase II Redirecting the Future A Bold New Enterprise The Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture Special Star Trek Reunion Starfleet Academy: The Mystery Behind V'Ger Advertising Trailers and TV Promos Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes and Outtakes (probably the biggest "if..." of the set, depending on if any of the footage and audio still exists) "Never look a gift Vulcan in the ears, Jim." The Security Guard Gets Zapped The Memory Wall Also featuring V'Ger Trench set test footage Decker and Ilia in Engineering Security Guard Counted Among Missing Crew Storyboard and Production Art Galleries
Dear God...I would love this 2 disc set but would add all test footage and photos taken during the Phase II series. Some have been seen but I suspect many more images are in existence though most likely scattered throughout many individual's private collections. BTW, I picked up a TMP script from eBay last year that had quite a few scenes not in the movie like Ilia in Engineering as well as alternate dialogue in other scenes. It's been awhile since I've read through it but it was fascinating to examine a somewhat alternate version of TMP.
They really must think it wouldn't sell. The SLV should be branched with the theatrical NOT the DC. Way too many differences I think. I don't think they should bother with the DC without including the SLV. If they want to make sure of decent sales they really need to include all three. I'd watch the SLV occasionally for the 1983 TV experience nostalgia even though I prefer the DC.
I would love to have all TMP-related materials on bluray, however, I guess it won't happen. They already had a LOT of good opportunities to do such package but they missed them all, so I won't hold my breath on this one. With streaming becoming more and more popular these days, the only thing I see coming is a presentation of this material on Netflix or similar streaming channels. And that's it. Paramount has a LOT of money, they don't need a few bucks from us, oldschool Trek fans.
I'm afraid you may be right, with the way things are going. I'm the only person I know who likes to purchase physical copies of DVDs and Blurays.
I think I'll buy physical media for movies as long as I'm able to. Streaming to me is to watch stuff I'm not bothered about owning. Discs are for my cherished films that I'll watch over and over again. I hate this move to streaming at the expense of owning when they should exist side by side.
Streaming still isn't up to par with physical media. I don't mind purchased digital downloads, if they can be played without some company's proprietary software or whatever that might go away at some point, thereby rendering playback impossible. Kor
It just simply doesn't suit my needs for my favourite films when I'm only packing a 3MB broadband connection. Even then could you honestly say you'd rather have your say, trek blu ray box set or be at the mercy of the cloud? Box set all day every day for me.
My heart would beat a lot more happily too if I'd drop 25 pounds. Oh... wait... you meant 25£s. Yea, me too.
I get all my movies from iTunes - downloaded directly to the computer - so I don't have to rely on the cloud or streaming. And iTunes is never going away, so I'm set.
I'd really prefer to have an entire library of movies stored on a little hard drive in my living room. Kor
It sure would save space (and my sagging shelves would truly appreciate it). I'm of mixed mind about this. I have a relatively fast Internet (for the US), so streaming doesn't bother me, though I'd prefer to have the data here at home. At the same time, while my shelves, yes, are sagging from the weight of so many DVDs and Blu-rays, there is something to be said for taking that little plastic package off the wall, snapping it open, and tugging on that silver disk to release it from its home to finally put it into the player's tray and pressing Play. I'm all about creature comforts, though, so if I can avoid all of that, I guess I will.
That's exactly what you get when you buy your shows and movies from iTunes. Everything you buy is downloaded straight to you. You don't ever have to stream anything - your data really is at home. iTunes does offer an option where you can stream from the cloud, but you don't have to use it.