Inner Light shimmers on blu-ray

[nnnnnnn]

Just saw Inner Light on blu-ray, the first blu-ray TNG episode I've seen.

It was amazing how great it looked. It's kind of hard to explain in words what a difference it made, but here goes.

The main thing is that you can see Picard/Kamin's expressions a lot more clearly than on other versions. His performance draws you in, his total mastery of his expressions. Even his imperceptible stoop five years in is clearer.

The sets and costumes are great-looking. The shimmery, softly printed clothes that Kamin and Eline wear look really good, reflect the soft-spoken elegance of the Ressikans. You can really see the prints and designs on them clearly. You can, likewise, see designs on the flutes and its case, and a hundred other things, more clearly than before.

Overall the impact was really powerful, one of the most powerful TNG experiences I've ever had, in fact.

Other highlights: the titles and the planets shown in the title sequence looked spectactular, as did the exterior shots of the enterprise. All the bridge crew could be seen with a lot more detail: Data looked far more metallic than usual; Riker looked just sort of more real; Worf looked angrier. Some makeup imperfections visible in CU on Kamin and Worf and Eline; these did not detract from overall effect.

I haven't seen the other episodes on the disk yet, but the Inner Light episode on Blu-Ray was greater than I could have imagined, and I suggest it to anyone who is a fan.

 

[tomswift2002]

Unfortunately that opening CGI shot of the D was a killer (and it looks very flat and nothing like the physical models that appear in the rest of the episode). Hopefully that will be cleaned up or redone by the time Season 5 gets released on Blu-Ray.

 

[nnnnnnn]

Unfortunately that opening CGI shot of the D was a killer (and it looks very flat and nothing like the physical models that appear in the rest of the episode). Hopefully that will be cleaned up or redone by the time Season 5 gets released on Blu-Ray.

I was certainly concerned about the new effects. I find the new Star Wars unwatchable with its demented add-ons and changes. And CGI tends not be nearly as good, in many cases, as its advocates seem to believe: A good model can have a presence that only the best CGI can replicate (but "the best CGI" is not as common as producers think).

That said, the new shots worked for me in this episode. I enjoyed them; they helped recapture the wonder of the first viewings, when the TNG effects actually were impressive for TV.