'Star Trek: The Next Generation' coming in 2012!

[Bane]

They are indeed "that bad".

Just an example - during the show opening scene when the Enterprise does a fly-by then goes to warp, as it does the fly-by, on the laserdisc version you see someone walking from left to right across the bridge of the ship, on the dvd there is no such thing.

Wow, incredible.

Slightly off topic, does anyone know the name of the episode where Picard goes to his brother's vineyard? I know it's after his assimilation because he breaks down talking about it. Loved that one and would like to find it on netflix.

Youtube video with more comparisons. The space shots look fantastic now but apparently some of them were so bad looking that they just outright replaced them with full CG.

[rm082e]

I think that episode is called "Family" in season 4.

[Bane]

I think that episode is called "Family" in season 4.

Yep, checked and that's it. Thanks, man.

[Onslaught X]

Pics look very nice.

[Maxx_75]

Another thing is that in VI they figured out that the cloaked ships still gave off plasma, so they made the "plasma seeking torpedo" in like 5 minutes on the fly. You would think that 80+ years later they would have those on board since there are always so many cloaked ship around. Then again, they brought a cloaked ship back to earth in 4 so they easily could have made their own cloaks...but 80+ years later....only the enemy has cloaked ships!

That would be a direct violation of The Treaty of Algeron.

[Super-VHS]

Out of interest, were the later ST series made the same was as TNG (filmed on 35mm then converted to video for editing and FX)? I'm wondering if we will see Voyager, Deep Space 9 and Enterprize a few years down the line (I think there were only those 3?)

Like "The Next Generation", both "Voyager" and "Deep Space Nine" used 35mm for principal photography and were edited on SD video in postproduction. Technically, a remaster is possible. However...

Unlike "TNG", which used practical models throughout its entire run, those two later Star Trek series transitioned to CGI (rendered in SD) towards the end of the 90s, and would require not just re-editing from the original film elements, but also all new effects in most scenes. It'd be, very likely, an undertaking more massive than "TOS: Remastered" (which was, relatively speaking, easy) and "TNG: Next Level" combined.

"TOS" is a beloved, classic series that's always done well on video and in TV syndication. It also only had three seasons, a total of 79 episodes, to redo. It was mastered on film; there was no need for re-editing from the original elements, just new scans, and although the CG "enhancements" were done, they didn't necessarily need to be. It was more for consistency's sake and the added wow-factor to make the show appealing in the era of HDTV. But the original effects were scanned into HD on blu-ray too. They look like crap, but whatever; it was really as simple as scanning the material in to make it HD-ready. And the cost was easily recouped with syndication and DVD and blu-ray sales.

Comparatively speaking "TNG: Next Level" is a huge project--the Titanic, to a simple luxury yacht. It requires not just the scanning in the film elements, but also a re-editing of the series from scratch to create a new source from which they can remaster the series. But, because the show used models and other photographic effects, except in certain circumstances, it doesn't look like they're messing with the effects as heavy-handedly as they did with "TOS". But, "TNG" also has an astronomical 178 episodes over 7 seasons that need to be redone. The work is being done because "TNG" is special. It has serious syndication value, and is perhaps even more admired than the original series by the layman. This means money making deals for TV (both cable and broadcast syndication) and online steaming. And don't forget, "TNG" also has the same diehard superfanbase as "TOS", if not more so, and those fans are willing to shell out money for an expensive boxset. "TNG: Next Level" will take time and cost bucketloads, but CBS will get their money back.

"Voyager" and "DS9" need just as much work as "TNG"--in fact more because of the low-res CG effects that MUST be redone (it isn't a choice like "TOS", or a select necessity like "TNG")--but neither series is as popular. Not to say it won't happen--I honestly never thought we'd reach a point where TNG-HD would be possible, and I was wrong--but I doubt that the additional work needed to make "Voyager" and "DS9" HD-ready will happen. It's simply a money issue. I honestly don't think there's enough interest to make either project profitable.

Enterprise was the firs to be shot in HD sometime in the 3rd season I think. The previous were all shot like Next Generation, I THINK.

"Enterprise" was shot on 35mm and, later, HD video. However, its effects--done entirely in CG--were rendered in, while not SD 480i, some sub-HD resolution early on. But the quality improved with each season and, although not 1080p, they were at least within the >720p HD ballpark by the finale. "Enterprise" aired in HD on UPN from day one. Widescreen HD masters have always existed. But like "Firefly" on blu-ray, anytime a CG element appears in frame, the show drops to sub-HD levels in the first few seasons.

Curiously, of all the shows "Enterprise" requires the least amount of work. The entire series could've been out on blu-ray ages ago. Although, like "Firefly", they'd be upconverted shots all over the place in the earlier seasons.

"Star Trek: The Animated Series" is also HD-ready. It was remastered in 1080p (and looks great; check out the "TOS: Season Two" blu-ray supplements for the episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles") and could easily be on blu-ray. I really don't know why it isn't.

[Bane]

That would be a direct violation of The Treaty of Algeron.

Couldn't the Defiant cloack though?

[rm082e]

Couldn't the Defiant cloack though?

I think so, but it was also a controversial piece of equipment. I remember that being a sore spot politically that they had that technology. Wasn't it"on loan" from someone else (Cardasians maybe?) which was how they skirted around the law? Never was a DS9 fan so I don't remember the details.


Also, there was that episode "The Pegasus" where Riker's old captain directed a mission to find the ship that was testing experimental cloaking technology that allowed the ship to somehow phase out of existence, so it could fly through solid matter. There was that great scene where they beamed inside an asteroid and the ship was half-in-half-out of the center of the asteroid. I don't have the Technical Manual so maybe it mentions something about it, but I would imagine such a disastrous round of testing on their own cloaking tech could have put the federation off developing any cloaking tech in the future.





Oh God, I'm now one of those people...

[CorruptedDragon]

That would be a direct violation of The Treaty of Algeron.

What a stupid treaty (plot device) lol.

Ok, so every one can use cloaks...except us? where do i sign?!

[Krawk]

Wow, incredible.

Youtube video with more comparisons. The space shots look fantastic now but apparently some of them were so bad looking that they just outright replaced them with full CG.

Why are they not using the same frames to do the comparisons. People's faces, hands, etc are always off between the two versions? We get the point but it's still a valid point/question. I don't have an issue with some of the new looking effects, the transporter, the creatures on the farpoint scenes.

Couldn't the Defiant cloack though?

You must have missed DS9 - the cloak for the defiant was on-loan from the Romulans. There was an episode also where they sabotaged a Romulan ambassador shuttle and made it look like a Dominion attack, thus "suggesting" the Romulans join the alliance to fight the Dominion.

[Spader]

Super VHS: many thanks for taking the time to post that, very interesting. Very strange if the animated series is good to go they haven't released it. You'd think it would be a good thing to do the same day as TNG, piggy back the interest in one boxset offering another as well.

[hwalker84]

DS9 was so good and probably the best Star Trek ever made. I hope it receives the Next Generation treatment.

[OneManShow]

DS9 was so good and probably the best Star Trek ever made. I hope it receives the Next Generation treatment.

As a Star Trek fan, I'm embarassed to admit I barely watched DS9 when it aired. Good thing netflix added it to streaming. I have my doubts about ever seeing it on blu-ray.

[Boston007]

As a Star Trek fan, I'm embarassed to admit I barely watched DS9 when it aired. Good thing netflix added it to streaming. I have my doubts about ever seeing it on blu-ray.

You should be embarassed. It was by far the best written Star Trek show. The overarching story was EXCELLENT. Definitely watch it if you can!

If it comes to blu ray I will own it. I almost want it on blu ray MORE than TNG and I'm a HUGE TNG fan!

[Josh Z]

"Star Trek: The Animated Series" is also HD-ready. It was remastered in 1080p (and looks great; check out the "TOS: Season Two" blu-ray supplements for the episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles") and could easily be on blu-ray. I really don't know why it isn't.

That episode in the TOS Season 2 set demonstrates all the video problems that The Animated Series has and why it hasn't been released on Blu-ray. The show was very cheaply and shoddily produced. A tremendous amount of dirt, hair and debris was trapped between the cel layers and permanently burned into the original composite. A straight 1080p scan (which is what that Tribbles episode got) shows off all those issues in disturbing clarity.

Ideally, the show needs a full-blown reconstruction like TNG is getting. They'd have to go back to the original animation cels, clean them off layer by layer, and recomposite them all. This is very unlikely to happen for TAS, if those elements even still exist. The next best option would be to do a frame-by-frame digital dirt and scratch removal. Given the simplicity of the artwork and animation in the show, this is reasonably feasible to accomplish. However, the sheer volume of dirt on every single frame of the show would (will?) make this a very slow and difficult process.