The Questor Tapes (1974) Gene Roddenberry Pilot from KLSC

[mjjckc]

Yesterday I received this release from Kino Lorber. The description indicates it's a 2K remaster from the interpositive. All things considered the PQ is excellent for what it is, complete with healthy grain throughout. Only drawbacks are some vertical lines present during two scenes, and extra grainy stock footage. Audio wise it has 2 channel DTS Master Audio. Extras are an audio commentary from a film historian and two promos. Subtitles included as well.

This is well worth a blind buy if you're a Star Trek fan. The titular character is a proto-Data, although this is set in the 1970's. Wouldn't want to spoil some of the more exact parallels.

Warner Archives put out two other 1970's Gene Roddenberry pilots a few years ago (Genesis II and Planet Earth) on BD. The one now remaining, Spectre, was with 20th Century Fox, and it doesn't look like that one even has a legitimate DVD release.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by mjjckc

Yesterday I received this release from Kino Lorber. The description indicates it's a 2K remaster from the interpositive. All things considered the PQ is excellent for what it is, complete with healthy grain throughout. Only drawbacks are some vertical lines present during two scenes, and extra grainy stock footage. Audio wise it has 2 channel DTS Master Audio. Extras are an audio commentary from a film historian and two promos. Subtitles included as well.

This is well worth a blind buy if you're a Star Trek fan. The titular character is a proto-Data, although this is set in the 1970's. Wouldn't want to spoil some of the more exact parallels.

Warner Archives put out two other 1970's Gene Roddenberry pilots a few years ago (Genesis II and Planet Earth) on BD. The one now remaining, Spectre, was with 20th Century Fox, and it doesn't look like that one even has a legitimate DVD release.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm looking forward to getting and seeing this. I don't remember seeing it before but I might have ages ago. I ordered from Amazon and it's been delayed. Should have gone directly through Kino.

[mjjckc]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

Thanks for the heads up. I'm looking forward to getting and seeing this. I don't remember seeing it before but I might have ages ago. I ordered from Amazon and it's been delayed. Should have gone directly through Kino.

I ordered from Movies Unlimited (sister company to Deep Discount) when their 25% off promo code applied to pre-orders. Mine was sent media mail, and made it from Kentucky to the West Coast before I could even run the tracking!

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by mjjckc

I ordered from Movies Unlimited (sister company to Deep Discount) when their 25% off promo code applied to pre-orders. Mine was sent media mail, and made it from Kentucky to the West Coast before I could even run the tracking!

I'll have try them sometime. I've used them for figurines but never for movies.

[Pat Gleeson]

My order from amazon.com to Ireland has been delayed also - the new date quoted for me is December 20th. KL don't ship outside the US.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Cancelled an Amazon order for this that was initially listed as not available until January 29th. It was still on backorder after I saw it was guaranteed to be delivered before Christmas on the order page now! WTF?
I reordered it immediately and got it two days later.

[Wtdk]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

Cancelled an Amazon order for this that was initially listed as not available until January 29th. It was still on backorder after I saw it was guaranteed to be delivered before Christmas on the order page now! WTF?
I reordered it immediately and got it two days later.

They’ve been doing that a lot lately. I wish they wouldn’t take preorders if they can’t fulfill them.

[Wtdk]

I found the dialogue a bit low in volume in some parts. Color and detail could have been a bit stronger (likely because a 2k inter positive as the source rather the ocn) but without a higher source material, the 2k does a solid job.

I really didn’t see any vertical lines except in the sequence where we see a TV recording of him and that was due to video play back.

[Wtdk]

So after watching this, the writing and direction largely holds up along with the performances all these years later. I suspect that the OCN doesn’t exist anymore which is why we got a 2K scan of the inter positive.

[Pat Gleeson]

The picture quality is excellent - especially if the interpositive was used in place of the OCN. Grain is present but natural, giving a pleasing basis for excellent detail, nice deep contrast levels and colour saturation. It holds up even with the later effects shots, which can be problematic in 70's sci-fi. As others have stated, the dialogue audio is quiet in parts, but is generally clear. Well worth the upgrade, especially given the original price point has dropped quite a bit recently.

[Wtdk]

Enjoyed the commentary track. Some. Nice tidbits. Was impressive that the matte painting by Albert Whitlock holds up remarkable well.

[Latheofheaven]

Originally Posted by mjjckc

Yesterday I received this release from Kino Lorber. The description indicates it's a 2K remaster from the interpositive. All things considered the PQ is excellent for what it is, complete with healthy grain throughout. Only drawbacks are some vertical lines present during two scenes, and extra grainy stock footage. Audio wise it has 2 channel DTS Master Audio. Extras are an audio commentary from a film historian and two promos. Subtitles included as well.

This is well worth a blind buy if you're a Star Trek fan. The titular character is a proto-Data, although this is set in the 1970's. Wouldn't want to spoil some of the more exact parallels.

Warner Archives put out two other 1970's Gene Roddenberry pilots a few years ago (Genesis II and Planet Earth) on BD. The one now remaining, Spectre, was with 20th Century Fox, and it doesn't look like that one even has a legitimate DVD release.

Thanks Bro for the fast comments about the Blu-ray. Love this film, had it on Beta from television years ago 'SPECTRE' is frigg'n awesome! I believe I have a nice television print of that from long ago. Sure is nice to have these once VERY obscure titles available on Blu-ray!

[bryantburnette]

I've got this on DVD and have never watched it; might as well blindly upgrade it, I guess!