TMP- director's cut or HD?

[Captain_Koloth]

What's the definitive way to watch TMP- especially visually- the director's cut (in SD of course) with the new vfx and editing or the theatrical cut on Blu-Ray in HD?

Discuss!

Of course director's cut in HD is best but that doesn't exist yet...

 

[BeatleJWOL]

The Special Longer Version, of course.

 

[martok2112]

I doubt Director's Cut in HD will happen because the CG effects were shot in SD.
But, one can dream.

I still prefer the Director's Cut.

 

[Kor]

I like the Director's Cut as far as story and pacing go, but I would say that overall the blu ray of the theatrical edition is the better visual experience. I've always considered TMP to be an artistic film along the lines of 2001, demanding as sharp and large of a visual presentation as possible.

Kor

 

[Amaris]

The Director's Cut, of course.

 

[martok2112]

Oh, I love the blu-Ray theatrical cut of TMP. Watching it on a 120hz Samsung HDTV, the movie looks like it was made in the last decade.

 

[BillJ]

Oh, I love the blu-Ray theatrical cut of TMP. Watching it on a 120hz Samsung HDTV, the movie looks like it was made in the last decade.

It is the version I prefer, out of the available options. I'd love the Special Longer Version on Blu-ray, but don't ever see it happening.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Theatrical. No cut is perfect, it's just a choice of the best available.

 

[Lance]

I can't pick one. They're both viable options. In my view the theatrical cut isn't anywhere near as bad as its reputation, so the HD copy is okay, whereas the DE simply provides an alternative experience of the movie. Depends on my mood.

 

[DonIago]

When I tossed the question to two friends who were new to it they opted for the Director's Cut. Which doesn't necessarily mean anything, but there it is. They still found it boring, though ironically earlier in the film one of them was praising the deliberate pace giving room for character development and such. Go figure. That said, these guys both tend to use their phones while watching movies (don't get me started...) so insert an appropriate number of grains of salt.

That they didn't create the new effects to stand up to HD seems incredibly shortsighted at this point, but perhaps there were issues of which I'm unaware?

 

[Lance]

I've always felt like a bit of an iconoclast for not preferencing one over the other. To me, they're just alternate versions of the same movie. One doesn't strike me as being intrinsically 'better' than the other one, though I can understand how others might subjectively feel that way.

 

[Kor]

That they didn't create the new effects to stand up to HD seems incredibly shortsighted at this point, but perhaps there were issues of which I'm unaware?

Good question. I can't remember what the prospects for HD TV were like back in 2001. The blu ray vs. HD DVD format war was still about five years away.

Notwithstanding the question of home viewing, the Director's cut was supposed to be THE definitive version of the movie, so it's rather irksome that they didn't create it in a higher-quality format (whether digital or film "master") on that basis alone.

And how did they do the special theatrical showing of the Director's cut at the Paramount Theatre of the Arts? They projected the DVD onto a big screen!

Kor

 

[Galileo7]

Oh, I love the blu-Ray theatrical cut of TMP. Watching it on a 120hz Samsung HDTV, the movie looks like it was made in the last decade.

It is the version I prefer, out of the available options. I'd love the Special Longer Version on Blu-ray, but don't ever see it happening.

Agree.

 

[BillJ]

That they didn't create the new effects to stand up to HD seems incredibly shortsighted at this point, but perhaps there were issues of which I'm unaware?

Good question. I can't remember what the prospects for HD TV were like back in 2001. The blu ray vs. HD DVD format war was still about five years away.

I don't even think anyone agreed yet on what resolution "HD" was even going to be. Which is why we have some stations that broadcast 720p and some that broadcast 1080i.

Most of the special effects for Enterprise were also done in 480p.

 

[Kor]

^ Yeah, the sudden shifts in picture quality make for odd viewing of the Enterprise blu rays.

Kor

 

[Pauln6]

I'd probably go for SLV although I'd love to test a hybrid with the Directors' cut reducing the duration of reaction shots but leaving in all the extra scenes and dialogue.

 

[drt]

I like the Director's Cut as far as story and pacing go, but I would say that overall the blu ray of the theatrical edition is the better visual experience. I've always considered TMP to be an artistic film along the lines of 2001, demanding as sharp and large of a visual presentation as possible.

Kor

I concur, and would add that the great score is also a huge factor.


My ideal cut of TMP would be simply the theatrical, with only the "Spock's tears for V'ger" scene reinserted, as I think that bit helps complete Spock's character arc in the film.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Fortunately, all which is needed to produce the director's cut in HD would be to re-render the existing files, which I am fairly sure still exist.

Meaning, they don't have to start all over and make completely new effects (as would be necessary for something like Babylon 5), just re-render the existing ones. If I'm wrong about this somebody please tell me, but this is how I understand it.

As for the multiple versions of TMP, I'd also go with the DE of course, with the exception of one scene: the argument between Kirk and McCoy in Kirk's quarters. The SLV is the only one with the complete version of this scene (it begins with McCoy saying "And another thing..." and Kirk replies "Get out of here, Bones."). I always wondered why the other versions mangled that scene so badly - it's obviously overdubbed, and not done very well. Why did they do that?

I mean, it's a short scene, wouldn't have added much to the pacing of the film, and contains absolutely no effects. So why chop it up? And why wouldn't the DE put it back, since it's obviously the way the scene was meant to be shown?

 

[Maurice]

^^^According to De Kelley they asked him to loop some of his lines because it was felt Bones was too harsh in places. That's why.

 

[Kor]

Fortunately, all which is needed to produce the director's cut in HD would be to re-render the existing files, which I am fairly sure still exist.

Meaning, they don't have to start all over and make completely new effects (as would be necessary for something like Babylon 5), just re-render the existing ones. If I'm wrong about this somebody please tell me, but this is how I understand it.

I vaguely recall some discussion of this a while back. It seemed like the digital files were missing in action, since the companies involved in producing the DE don't exist any more. Maybe someone else has more details.

Kor