So, I've finally made my way through my new Blu-Ray copy of TNG S1, and enjoyed it immensely, far more than I thought I would. The look of it is impressive, and I'm looking forward to S2 that much more, since I feel that it's the best looking season.
Anyway, I have been impressed by the majority of the cleaned up film and recomposited f/x. We've known since TNG debuted that they were doing near-feature quality work on the show, and now that we can see what they actually filmed, it shows. The space exteriors always had that look, but one f/x sequence in particular really impressed me in a way that it never had before.
I'm talking about Remmick's death in "Conspiracy". It's not that it holds up all that well today, and I'm not here to debate the merits of Trek going that graphic with the gore. In fact, I'd just watched an episode of The Walking Dead prior to "Conspiracy" which was far more graphic than anything Trek ever even hinted at. What impressed me was the sheer number of f/x techniques that was used to make that scene happen.
It had stop motion (the parasite critter crawling across the floor and up Remmick's leg). It had puppetry (the mother creature). It had make-up effects (the expanding neck). It had practical effects (the exploding head). It had composites. It had animation (the phasers, the disintegrating chest, and the skin on the face being burned away). I mean, none of it was "cutting-edge", but the fact that they did what had to be a huge amount of work for a 30 second sequence for an episode of a TV show in 1988 is really impressive. The visuals wouldn't have been out of place in a sci-fi/horror movie of the time.
Sure all of it could be done easier today and with better results, but the fact that they used so many different techniques is really impressive.
So what do you think?
Anyway, I have been impressed by the majority of the cleaned up film and recomposited f/x. We've known since TNG debuted that they were doing near-feature quality work on the show, and now that we can see what they actually filmed, it shows. The space exteriors always had that look, but one f/x sequence in particular really impressed me in a way that it never had before.
I'm talking about Remmick's death in "Conspiracy". It's not that it holds up all that well today, and I'm not here to debate the merits of Trek going that graphic with the gore. In fact, I'd just watched an episode of The Walking Dead prior to "Conspiracy" which was far more graphic than anything Trek ever even hinted at. What impressed me was the sheer number of f/x techniques that was used to make that scene happen.
It had stop motion (the parasite critter crawling across the floor and up Remmick's leg). It had puppetry (the mother creature). It had make-up effects (the expanding neck). It had practical effects (the exploding head). It had composites. It had animation (the phasers, the disintegrating chest, and the skin on the face being burned away). I mean, none of it was "cutting-edge", but the fact that they did what had to be a huge amount of work for a 30 second sequence for an episode of a TV show in 1988 is really impressive. The visuals wouldn't have been out of place in a sci-fi/horror movie of the time.
Sure all of it could be done easier today and with better results, but the fact that they used so many different techniques is really impressive.
So what do you think?
