Following last yearâs 4K boxed set of the six Star Trek films with the original cast comes the inevitable upgrade for the Next Generation movies. Similarly, each of these films feature impressive new scans for a picture that is an overall improvement on the previously released Blu-rays, with sound quality thatâs more-or-less on par with what weâve heard before (meaning they still sound pretty great).
This set doesnât include any new supplementary material, but in true Star Trek fashion, each accompanying Blu-ray is loaded with a comprehensive selection of fan-friendly features carried over from other releases. At this point, itâs hard to imagine thereâs much left to discover about these films that hasnât already been well-documented. Adding anything more would probably be superfluous.
As for the movies themselves, they run the gamut in terms of qualityâŠ
The first, Star Trek: Generations, is a narratively shaky but still entertaining transition to the big screen for the TNG cast. While the story itself doesnât bear a whole lot of scrutiny and the much-ballyhooed union of Captains Kirk and Picard is fairly gratuitous (as is the formerâs underwhelming sendoff), the film does continue the growing tradition of destroying the Enterprise in spectacular fashion. Despite some dated special effects - exacerbated by the 4K transfer - it remains the best sequence in the entire film. Dataâs newly-installed emotion chip is also good for some genuine laughs.
Star Trek: First Contact is not only the best TNG film, it arguably ranks among the best entries in the entire Trek franchise. More focused, action-oriented and undeniably darker (though still sometimes quite funny), this one features the seriesâ most creatively malevolent antagonists - the Borg - marvelously personified by Alice Krige, who brings a weird touch of sexuality to the Borg queen. Like The Wrath of Khan, it tells a compelling story that draws inspiration from past episodes from the series.
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"Maybe you should try turning it off and then on again." |
Godawful wedding sequence notwithstanding, Star Trek: Nemesis is a wonderful return-to-form and much better than its maligned reputation suggests. The plot features a coup within the Romulan government led by Shinzon (a very young Tom Hardy), whose tragic history reveals a surprising connection (and obsession) with Picard, fueling his desire to annihilate the Federation with a deadly new super-weapon. This one also features the best action and special effects since First Contact, with the Enterprise once-again being gloriously sacrificed. Unfortunately, Nemesis severely underperformed at the box office, ringing the death knell for the TNG franchise.
Nicely packaged in a sturdy case and box with decent artwork, this 8-disc set is a solid technical upgrade for Trek fans, especially those who want to grab all the films in 4K at one time. Though this fan canât imagine being compelled to revisit Insurrection again, at least itâs here should I ever change my mind.
EXTRA KIBBLES
4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES (all movies)
LIBRARY COMPUTER MODE (all movies) - Option to watch first film while accessing various bits of trivia, facts and glossary.
STAR TREK: GENERATIONS
PRODUCTION FEATURETTES - âUniting Two Legendsâ; âStellar Cartography: Creating the Illusionâ; âStrange New Worlds: The Valley of Fireâ; âScoring Trek.â
FX FEATURETTES - âInside ILM: Models & Miniaturesâ; âCrashing the Enterprise.â
SCENE DECONSTRUCTION FEATURETTES - âMain Title Sequenceâ; âThe Nexus Ribbonâ; âSaucer Crash Sequence.â
âTHE STAR TREK UNIVERSEâ - âA Tribute to Matt Jeffriesâ; âThe Enterprise Lineageâ; âCaptain Picardâs Family Albumâ; âCreating 24th Century Weaponsâ; âStellar Cartography on Earthâ; âBrent Spiner: Data and Beyond Part Oneâ; âRoundtable: Generationsâ; âStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 007: Trilithium.â
3 COMMENTARIES - 1) Audio commentary by director David Carson & Manny Coto; 2) audio commentary by Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore; 3) Text commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda.
DELETED SCENES & ALTERNATE ENDING
STORYBOARDS & PRODUCTION GALLERY
2 TRAILERS
STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT
PRODUCTION FEATURETTES - âMaking First Contactâ; âThe Art of First Contactâ; âThe Storyâ; âThe Missile Siloâ; The Deflector Dishâ; âFrom âAâ to âEââ.
SCENE DECONSTRUCTION FEATURETTES - âBorg Queen Assemblyâ; âBorg Queen Demiseâ; âEscape Pod Launch.â
âTHE BORG COLLECTIVEâ - âUnimatrix Oneâ; âThe Queenâ; âDesign Matrix.â
âTHE STAR TREK UNIVERSEâ - âJerry Goldsmith: A Tributeâ; âThe Legacy of Zefram Cochraneâ; âFirst Contact: The Possibilitiesâ; âIndustrial Light & Magic: The Next Generationâ; âGreetings from the International Space Stationâ; âSpaceShipOneâs Historic Flightâ; âBrent Spiner: Data and Beyond Part Twoââ; âTrek Roundtable: First Contactâ; âStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 008: Temporal Vortex.â
4 COMMENTARIES - 1) Audio commentary by director Jonathan Frakes; 2) audio commentary by Brannon Braga & Ronald D. Moore; 3) Audio commentary by Damon Lindelof & Anthony Pascale; 4) Text commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda.
STORYBOARDS & PHOTO GALLERY
EASTER EGGS
3 TRAILERS
STAR TREK: INSURRECTION
PRODUCTION FEATURETTES - âIt Takes a Villageâ; âLocation, Location, Locationâ; âThe Art of Insurrectionâ; âAnatomy of a Stuntâ; âThe Storyâ; âMaking Star Trek: Insurrectionâ; âDirectorâs Notebook.â
âTHE STAR TREK UNIVERSEâ - âWestmoreâs Aliensâ; âWestmoreâs Legacyâ; âStar Trekâs Beautiful Alien Womanâ; âMirina Sirtis: The Counselor Is Inâ; âBrent Spiner: Data and Beyond Part Threeââ; âTrek Roundtable: Insurrectionâ; âStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 008: The Origins of the BakâU and SonâA Conflict.â
âCREATING THE ILLUSIONâ - âShuttle Chaseâ; âDronesâ; âDuck Blind.â
2 COMMENTARIES - 1) Audio commentary by director Jonathan Frakes & Mirina Sirtis; 2) Text commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda.
PROMOTIONAL FEATURETTE
DELETED SCENES & ALTERNATE ENDING
STORYBOARDS & PHOTO GALLERY
EASTER EGGS
3 TRAILERS
STAR TREK: NEMESIS
PRODUCTION FEATURETTES - âNemesis Revisitedâ; âNew Frontiers: Stuart Baird on Directing Nemesisâ; âStoryboarding the Actionâ; âRed Alert! Shooting the Action of Nemesisâ; âBuild and Rebuildâ; âFour-Wheeling in the Final Frontierâ; âScreen Test: Shinzon.â
âTHE STAR TREK UNIVERSEâ - âA Star Trek Familyâs Final Journeyâ; âABold vision of the Final Frontierâ; âThe Enterprise-Eâ; âReunion with the Rikersâ; âTodayâs Tech Tomorrowâs Dataâ; âRobot Hall of Fameâ; âBrent Spiner: Data and Beyond Part Fourââ; âTrek Roundtable: Menesisâ; âStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 008: Thalaron Radiation.â
âTHE ROMULAN EMPIREâ - âRomulan Loreâ; âShinzon and the Viceroyâ; âRomulan Designâ; âThe Romulan Senateâ; âThe Scimitar.â
4 COMMENTARIES - 1) Audio commentary by director Stewart Baird; 2) audio commentary by producer Rick Berman; 3) Audio commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda; 4) Text commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda.
DELETED SCENES
STORYBOARD & GALLERIES
EASTER EGGS
3 TRAILERS
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