Star Trek: The Original Motion Picture Collection – 4K
One of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time, Star Trek is legendary – and some of its most iconic and quotable moments came in the original six big-screen adventures. After releasing a 4K boxset of the first four last year, Paramount have finished what they started with this definitive collection that combines all of the discs from that set alongside Star Trek V, Star Trek VI, and most importantly for fans, the fully restored Director’s Edition of the classic first film.
The six films housed within this set – Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – continued the adventures of the cast of the original series, with varied quality. Absolutely a product of their time, the films are often goofy and dated, but even then, the nostalgia is certainly difficult to resist. At their peak, the films offer genuine sci-fi thrills and adventure that will fill viewers of all ages with wonder.
The films also deal with some pretty heavy philosophical themes, often with aplomb – discussions around the concept of God and the purpose of existence are interesting, and certainly not something you ever find in a Star Wars tale. This is most evident in the first film, and especially in its’ newly restored Director’s Edition which offers an alternate cut of the film with new scenes, different dialogue cues, alternate takes, and newer visual effects. Those interested in the so-called Special Longer Version of the film from 1983 will have to pick up the strictly limited release “Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Director’s Edition: The Complete Adventure” (what a mouthful).
The 4K UHD transfers of the films are nothing short of impeccable – while, naturally, limitations of the source in terms of visual effects are certainly brought into the light, the films look stunning. Each have moments that are truly reference quality for the format and offer what will surely be the final, definitive home releases of each entry in the series. Dolby Vision HDR brings a fresh vibrancy to proceedings, while the new complete ground-up restoration of the first film’s Director’s Edition is an absolute work of art. It’s an absolute masterclass in how to restore film.
The wealth of special features is just as generous as the offering of films, packing hours of insightful and must-see featurettes for fans of the series. There’s enough in the supplements alone to keep you busy before you even tuck into the six features.
This is an absolute marvel of a set that packs the entire run of classic cast Star Trek movies into one must-own collection. The films look and sound flawless, the bonus features are fantastic, and the quality of the films themselves needs no review. This boxset proves why Star Trek remains one of the most beloved and influential science fiction series of all time.
