Poll Do you prefer the digitally remastered Enterprise?

[Kemaiku]

I'm not sure I'd like the 11 footer risked for it. But how hard could it be to build a new one out of better materials today with 3D/laser printing for construction and details?

I'm not expecting it for a full fledged production, but even a one-off reel or special with a model for demonstrative purposes would be fun to see.

You could even tour it around, make a little cash off of it.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I can appreciate either version. My DVD set is the Remaster, and so far I'm not springing for the Blu-rays. For one thing, I'm a little concerned when I hear that the Blu-ray nags you with a "switch over" icon during every original fx scene. And also, the DVD transfer is very good, much better-looking than the 16mm syndy re-runs on CRT that I grew up with, so the urgency for true HD isn't there. But I haven't ruled it out, either.

I wish the 11-footer restoration team had taken some HD video of the model in front of a blue screen before they encased it in glass, but what are you gonna do?

 

[Metryq]

I wish the 11-footer restoration team had taken some HD video of the model in front of a blue screen before they encased it in glass, but what are you gonna do?

Maybe someone did, using spockboy's office chair dolly technique. However, releasing such footage might violate museum rules, or flirt with copyright in some way.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

For one thing, I'm a little concerned when I hear that the Blu-ray nags you with a "switch over" icon during every original fx scene.

That's the player that's doing that, not the disc itself. Any decent Blu-Ray player will let you disable notifications.

 

[spockboy]

Maybe someone did, using spockboy's office chair dolly technique. However, releasing such footage might violate museum rules, or flirt with copyright in some way.

I think they'd be okay with it. I made 2 videos already with new shots of the restored Big E.
Andrew Probert kindly sent me a thank you note.
I think they appreciate the positive feedback for the fantastic job they did restoring her.

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Spockboy

 

[CorporalClegg]

I think, in this day-in-age, the remasters are the better experience overall, but I agree that a lot of the model work leave something to be desired. Though, my biggest gripe isn't with the Enterprise but the Tholian ship.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I voted "Nope."

As was said upthread, there are instances, such as new or updated planet-scapes, when the new TOS-R VFX shots are pretty good. Some new Enterprise shots are good too, but most are horrible for a variety of reasons.

The TOS-R Klingon model was piss-poor.

 

[CrazyMatt]

Thanks spockboy for the "Space Seed" re-run broadcast! I'm astounded that one of the original sponsors was Geritol, seeing as conventional wisdom was that older people wouldn't watch Star Trek as sci-fi was to 'far out' (pun intended for them).

 

[johnnybear]

Star Trek was the future that most people would have liked and accepted though surely?
JB

 

[Warped9]

TOS was meant to buck the conventional notion that "sci-fi" was just for kids.

 

[FrankT]

An archivist I know puts it like this: "You'd have to, ultimately, build completely accurate CG versions of the practical models, and light them as well as the practicals were lit. It's possible." Which basically means I can't really get along with these CGI models.

 

[Warped9]

The original models of TOS were not lighted for optimum effect given the conditions in which they were filmed. Given feature film time and resources of the day they could have looked better.

Even so a physical model, particularly large, conveys something distinctly missing with mediocre cgi. To achieve the same effect requires a truly skilled cgi artist.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Someone said recently that the trick is to scale your CGI model to 11 feet long, not 947, if you want to create TOS-like fx shots.

 

[Warped9]

Someone said recently that the trick is to scale your CGI model to 11 feet long, not 947, if you want to create TOS-like fx shots.

That was Doug Drexler.

 

[Jedman67]

An archivist I know puts it like this: "You'd have to, ultimately, build completely accurate CG versions of the practical models, and light them as well as the practicals were lit. It's possible." Which basically means I can't really get along with these CGI models.

It's possible to build CGI models to the same scale as the practicals, and to match the lighting rigs and all.
The "best" option would be to dig out the O-Negs of the 'ship external scene' library and remaster and recomp those digitally. From what I recall, those negs are in a sorry state for an HD transfer.
And the handful of shots I've seen of Doug's STC Enterprise is that he was matching the look and feel of the original series digitally, and did a great job too.

That was Doug Drexler.

 

[seigezunt]

Depends on the context. When I watch the bluray I usually select the remaster. Except when I feel nostalgic and want to remember what I saw on TV. But truth be told, some of those shots in the original were terrible.

I'm frankly more bugged by other things that got changed in the CG, like the fighting arena in Amok Time being put at the top of a mountain.

 

[spockboy]

That was Doug Drexler.

Yes but the picture I posted of the Big E and the CGI model WAS by Doug Drexler. (technically the model was created by Petri Bloomqvist)
Doug is a talented guy without doubt, and the idea sounds good, but for me that CGI Enterprise looks awful compared to the 11 foot original.

Spockboy

 

[Warped9]

I meant that is was Doug Drexler that scaled his model to 11ft. rather than 947.

 

[drt]

However, I'd change -SS-'s comment about "modern." I think CBS Digital was either rushed, or tried not to overwhelm the show with CGI shots that looked "too good." The flaw with that approach is that legacy 3D tends to look more plasticky and "fake." Today's rendering engines have radiosity, blur, depth of field and many other tools—provided the artist knows how to use them. If CGI looks bad (these days) it is not the fault of the technology, it is the failure of the artist.

I think more it was done somewhat on the cheap, and to CBS Digital's defense, the effects are over 10 years old, and at the time they were released large HDTV's were still uncommon, so the project may have been started with the thought that most people would be watching it on DVD or SD TV's, so the rendering doesn't really hold up to viewing on 40"-plus HDTVs.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I'm frankly more bugged by other things that got changed in the CG, like the fighting arena in Amok Time being put at the top of a mountain.

Huh...that was probably my favorite change that they did. Nicely tied in the set details with what we saw of Vulcan in later installments.