Will TMP DC (& II/VI) ever come to blu ray?

[Khan 2.0]

Have held off from purchasing the movie 1-10 set on blu as figured they will do another set (for the 50th?) containing the DCs for TMP/II/VI (in addition to the theatrical cuts)... but isn't TMP impossible to convert to blu due to the FX only being created in 480? Maybe I should just get the current blu set?

 

[Lance]

Will TMP DC (& II/VI) ever come to blu ray?

The correct and accurate answer to this question is: "Who knows?" We can't predict the future.

isn't TMP impossible to convert to blu due to the FX only being created in 480?

That's what has been said. The accuracy of the statement is still a matter of debate by some people around here, though.

Maybe I should just get the current blu set?

Yes.

 

[Nightowl1701]

With the 50th Anniversary looming and Blu-Ray on the wane, it is truly now or never as far as a proper HD deluxe release of the movies.

Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits did give Paramount an earful concerning the classic films when discussing the STID deluxe edition earlier this year, & they did say it's 'under consideration.' For whatever that's worth.

 

[bbailey861]

Who knows, indeed, but if they do ever come out, I'm in for a set.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Who knows, indeed, but if they do ever come out, I'm in for a set.

Same here. However, why do I have the uncomfortable suspicion any 50th anniversary Blu Ray package will not be anything special?

 

[Nightowl1701]

(post deleted)

 

[Shatinator]

With the 50th Anniversary looming and Blu-Ray on the wane, it is truly now or never as far as a proper HD deluxe release of the movies.

Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits did give Paramount an earful concerning the classic films when discussing the STID deluxe edition earlier this year, & they did say it's 'under consideration.' For whatever that's worth.

Excuse me, for the question. But I may not be up on all the insider "jibber-jabber", but who says the BR is "waning" and of more import - why?

What were the issues Bill Hunt posed?

More to point even Ghostbusters for it's 30th got a limited but official 4K theatrical return and home release. It is unconscionable that TPTB would let the 50th go by with but a whisper.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

I think it is a bit soon to write the epitaph for physical media as well. Hopefully, Paramount will realize and get stuff for the 50th.

 

[Lance]

^ I agree Peach Wookie. I have my own reasons for not quite believing all this hoo-hah about the death of physical media. I think it's something that has been blown up out of all proportion. I don't doubt that it'll happen one day, but everybody seems to have convinced themselves it'll happen tomorrow, and I just don't think that's the case based on what my own eyes tell me.

I am, however, not 100% convinced that Paramount will revisit the Trek movies..... in part because it's now been five years since they were originally released, and they're still finding new ways to just repackage those same old transfers. I'd have thought they might express more of an interest in them than that by now if they were ever going to do it. And as much as I believe physical media's time is not yet over, I also think there will be a time when a studio re-releasing alternative versions of a product that has already been out on disc before will not be a profitable strategy any longer, as 'other avenues' of getting that version of the product will be stronger options than buying yet another disc..... and that time might be close.

 

[bbailey861]

Who knows, indeed, but if they do ever come out, I'm in for a set.

Same here. However, why do I have the uncomfortable suspicion any 50th anniversary Blu Ray package will not be anything special?

I hear ya.

 

[Khan 2.0]

Will TMP DC (& II/VI) ever come to blu ray?

Maybe I should just get the current blu set?

Yes.

done. ordered Legends of The Final Frontier set at a good price(will save it for xmas)

 

[Nightowl1701]

What were the issues Bill Hunt posed?

"I was invited up to Paramount to meet with the studio’s home video team to talk about the [STID Blu-Ray] issue. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. They were honest, acknowledged that they’d made mistakes with the title (with the best of intentions, believe it or not – new people were in charge and they really didn't expect the fan backlash) and wanted my opinion on how they could make it up to Trek fans. And they really did want to make it right.
"First of all, yes... I DID let them know that fans really want better special editions of the classic Trek films, with new, properly-remastered transfers and the director’s cuts. So please know that message was conveyed and the idea is under consideration."
- Bill Hunt, The Digital Bits, June 23, 2014

 

[NewHorizon]

... but isn't TMP impossible to convert to blu due to the FX only being created in 480?

Not impossible. Members of the team behind TMPE have said that all of the new CGI project files still exist. They were created in Lightwave. It would be possible to import them into the latest version of Lightwave and render them at 1080p. No doubt they would have to revisit the lighting setups since the way Lightwave works may have changes, and update the textures on the models. The sooner they do it the better though, because the longer it takes the higher the chance more of the project files might not work.

 

[Khan 2.0]

wonder if the S Collins scandal could scupper any potential plans?

 

[Peach Wookiee]

^ I agree Peach Wookie. I have my own reasons for not quite believing all this hoo-hah about the death of physical media. I think it's something that has been blown up out of all proportion. I don't doubt that it'll happen one day, but everybody seems to have convinced themselves it'll happen tomorrow, and I just don't think that's the case based on what my own eyes tell me.

I am, however, not 100% convinced that Paramount will revisit the Trek movies..... in part because it's now been five years since they were originally released, and they're still finding new ways to just repackage those same old transfers. I'd have thought they might express more of an interest in them than that by now if they were ever going to do it. And as much as I believe physical media's time is not yet over, I also think there will be a time when a studio re-releasing alternative versions of a product that has already been out on disc before will not be a profitable strategy any longer, as 'other avenues' of getting that version of the product will be stronger options than buying yet another disc..... and that time might be close.

I think the death of physical media will only happen when all films are available in all forms and will not be removed on a company's or service's whim.

 

[urbandefault]

My opinion, but the only sure way to preserve these things is through physical media. If, heaven forbid, there was catastrophic event that heavily damaged or destroyed the infrastructure of the internet, all of the "purchased" online digital media would be unavailable or just gone.

"That can't happen!" you say? Maybe, but better safe than sorry.

 

[Warped9]

Of all the Trek films the TMP DE is the one I hope to see on Blu-Ray. I really hope it happens.

For me TMP represents so much potential and promise for what could have followed. At the time it was a sign that Star Trek was being taken seriously and that new adventures would arise.

Alas...that isn't what happened as TPTB turned their backs on the final frontier. By the time they actually made an effort to go "out there" again in TFF the cast was a decade older and the resulting film was sloppy.

 

[Lance]

My opinion, but the only sure way to preserve these things is through physical media. If, heaven forbid, there was catastrophic event that heavily damaged or destroyed the infrastructure of the internet, all of the "purchased" online digital media would be unavailable or just gone.

"That can't happen!" you say? Maybe, but better safe than sorry.

Re: that last point, I'd say "not at all". In fact, it has happened before.

There is no perfect medium for digital storage, because of the potential for failure.

For example, file corruption. USB flash drives, external hard-drives, these things all have the potential for corruption. It only takes a power failure in the middle of a file transfer and something like that can be made completely useless, everything on it gone forever.

Not to mention the sheer failure of a server meaning the potential loss of access to everything.

This is why I'm dubious about online streaming and the likes of 'cloud' services. Give me multiple back-ups on optical media any day over having to rely solely upon digital distribution.

I know I've said this before, but it speaks volumes to me that when Microsoft announced XbOne, they declared that it would be the world's first digital-only games console, without retail on optical media. This was quickly (and quietly) dropped from the package, presumably because someone in the technical boffins department made a phone call to the sales branch and said "Um, guys, actually there's no way we can possibly assure the compliance of that sales strategy". So there we have an example where it was realised that optical media isn't dead yet.

Maybe in the future it'll happen. Maybe there will be a time when physical media is extinct. But I'd wager that time is not RIGHT NOW, despite what all the chicken little's on the internet screaming their heads off about it.

 

[Karzak]

... but isn't TMP impossible to convert to blu due to the FX only being created in 480?

Not impossible. Members of the team behind TMPE have said that all of the new CGI project files still exist. They were created in Lightwave. It would be possible to import them into the latest version of Lightwave and render them at 1080p. No doubt they would have to revisit the lighting setups since the way Lightwave works may have changes, and update the textures on the models. The sooner they do it the better though, because the longer it takes the higher the chance more of the project files might not work.

There is a Facebook group/petition currently active to garner support for just such an effort. One hopes that Fein, Mattesino, Dochterman, et al will be afforded the opportunity to bring the film to Blu-Ray soon.

wonder if the S Collins scandal could scupper any potential plans?

Why on earth would that have any impact on this?

 

[Lance]

wonder if the S Collins scandal could scupper any potential plans?

Why on earth would that have any impact on this?

We'd all like to think studios are above letting this kind of thing affect them, but it has been known to happen. An old Doctor Who release got recently reissued without a specific extra feature after somebody involved in it was revealed to have committed similar crimes.

That said, I doubt it would in the case of TMP. The movie is too big and I think most of us would be capable of separating Collins from the work. But the potential is there for such a project to be 'delayed' until such time as the scandal is past...