Arena Speckles

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

I was just watching Arena for the umpteenth billionth time and noticed some blinking speckles beside the Metron standing on the rock (right after Kirk blows his wad on the Gorn).

Was this just an optical problem w/ the cinematography or something else?

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I'm no expert by any means, but I've always imagined it was some type of lens flare.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Christopher]

The Metron's shiny costume was reflecting light into the camera lens, creating the sparkling effect.

However, in the remastered version, they added more sparkles to make it look like some kind of energy effect around the Metron. (There seems to be a perception among audiences that the Metrons are Yet Another Species of Energy Beings, even though there's not the slightest indication of such in the episode; I think people just read way too much into those lens sparkles.)

 

[Outpost4]

As opposed to Trekkies reading too much into everything else?

I never noticed that about the remastered version. I'll look for them the next time I watch Arena. It is one of my favorite episodes, top five for sure.

Me, I always liked the sparkles. Nice to know they were a happy accident.

 

[EEE]

As opposed to Trekkies reading too much into everything else?

You get two points for that one (read: my nose got a spurt of soda).

 

[gastrof]

Everyone knows those speckles were the result of Metrons having absurdly low hygiene standards. Those flashing specs were the Metron version of flies.

It's really a shame.

 

[Red Ranger]

I always thought the speckles were a manifestation of the Metrons advanced abilities, and thought the creative folks were showing us they were like otherworldly beings, like angels, possessing auras. Oh well! That's how I choose to interpret the speckles. -- RR

 

[cooleddie74]

Interesting thing to look for when the Metron appears and talks to Kirk...look for the new CGI-inserted "starburst" shimmers along his body. They weren't there in the original 1967 edit.

 

[Kryton]

I thought it was just evidence of the diamond dust on the planet.

 

[A beaker full of death]

wtf? I thought he was supposed to be all sparkly. As in other-worldly.

 

[cooleddie74]

The "sparkles" are original 1967 optical effects or artifacts. The little shimmering starburst glows that appear along the edges of his gown are new.