Should Paramount let Shatner do his Star Trek V Special Edition?

[DVDave]

This film is pretty much regarded as the weakest in the series (of the original cast anyway) but Paramount almost let Shatner complete the elaborate special effects sequences as he had originally envisioned them before the producers had cut his budget for the Director's Cut DVD release. At the last minute they decided it wasn't worth investing the cost to produce given the projected sales return on the investment compared to the Star Trek: The Motion Picture special edition DVD. Even with some spectacular new effects sequences (ILM was unavailable at the time and a new FX house was hired which produced inferior visual effects) it probably would not make this a better film by any means but somehow some glorious new effects i.e. TOS Remastered might make this a bit more tolerable and it would be interesting to see the scope of Shatner's journey to find God or whatever it was supposed to be at the center of the galaxy. Would you like to see a special edition of Star Trek V with new visual effects produced for the blu-ray release when the Director's Cut double-dippings begin?

[Ator the Invincible]

I think they should, but I doubt they'll bother. As you said, it was easily the weakest of the entire series. And that includes the Next Gen movies (which I liked quite a bit personally).

[Oddiophile]

Polish a turd it's still a turd.

But Yes, I would like to see them update it.

[Beast]

I don't think there could be anything done to it to improve it.

Short of maybe slingshotting around the sun, going back in time, and refilming it.

Or just kicking Shatner in the Jimmy. Doohan or otherwise.

[Anthony P]

I say let him go for it, what is there to lose

[P@t_Mtl]

I would love to see the sky diving scene added to the BD.

[Blu Titan]

I would love to see it. Yes the movie is not great, but it would be a fun watch. At least for me.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by DVDave

That was cut from Generations.

AH! yes you are right! I can only plead the fact I am tired

[Beast]

Originally Posted by DVDave

That was cut from Generations.

What's funny is, they still went ahead with producing the Orbit Diving Kirk Figure.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Beast

What's funny is, they still went ahead with producing the Orbit Diving Kirk Figure.

Yep I had that one from Playmaytes, still have it along with another 400 Star Trek Playmates figurines stack in a box somewhere. I cannot believe I ever tought these figurines were beautiful

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by DVDave

This film is pretty much regarded as the weakest in the series (of the original cast anyway) but Paramount almost let Shatner complete the elaborate special effects sequences as he had originally envisioned them before the producers had cut his budget for the Director's Cut DVD release. At the last minute they decided it wasn't worth investing the cost to produce given the projected sales return on the investment compared to the Star Trek: The Motion Picture special edition DVD. Even with some spectacular new effects sequences (ILM was unavailable at the time and a new FX house was hired which produced inferior visual effects) it probably would not make this a better film by any means but somehow some glorious new effects i.e. TOS Remastered might make this a bit more tolerable and it would be interesting to see the scope of Shatner's journey to find God or whatever it was supposed to be at the center of the galaxy. Would you like to see a special edition of Star Trek V with new visual effects produced for the blu-ray release when the Director's Cut double-dippings begin?

I think it's kinda folish for them not to allow it. there are enough trekkies in the world that they would surely sell enough copies to re-doup the budget for the effects. If they did the effects in-house that would probably save them even more, but is that the movie that ILM did the effects for?
I guess they could see how well the Blu release for the original series is going, a base their choice off of that.

[thunderclap]

I side with pretty much everyone here. While a full fledged "director's cut" won't make it a good film by any means it might improve it a bit. If anything it would be interesting to see what might have been.

[Bolty]

Actually in a rather bitter interview at the time, Shatner said he had asked for a re-cut and a FX upgrade for the 2 disc release. They said no it would cost too much for new FX. Then he asked them if he could simply re-cut the movie and they AGIAN said no. So in other words they had NO intention of making ANY real outlays of money for the release.
You can tell on the rather boring commentary track for 5 that he had little excitment after that point. I think if they had said yes he would have had a lot of enthusiasm for improving his only big scrren directing job.

Have things changed since then and does Shatner still even care?

Personally I would love to see both a re-cut and new FX. I have no intention of buying the Blu-ray of 5 until they do so. I don't need to see those terrible FX in Hidef.

[koontz1973]

I really enjoyed 5. Not the best in the series but still had some great ideas. As for the FX, update or no update Paramount should let Shatner deliver the film as he wants it.