Star Trek Movie Alternate Versions

[MattJ1991]

I'm interested in picking up the Star Trek films, but I've noticed that some of the blu-ray releases are missing alternate versions of the films. What I'm looking to own is basically all 13 movies, with any alternate cuts, and I would like to have the IMAX version of Into Darkness. If someone more knowledgeable could please look this over and let me know if I made a mistake or if I've covered all my bases, I'd really appreciate it. If I understand correctly, purchasing these 4 sets should be enough.

Stardate Collection


First 10 movies. Missing Director's Cuts of the first two films.

The Motion Picture: Director's Edition


Only available on DVD.

Wrath of Khan: Director's Cut


Available on blu-ray, need to look out for the corrected disc due to initial error.

The Kelvin Timeline


The Kelvin Timeline trilogy. Includes the shifting aspect ratio from Into Darkness.

[Bolty]

Star Trek the motion picture has three versions
The theatrical -- the theatrical version has been released on DVD and Blu-ray
the special longer Edition which was originally the ABC television version. That has been released in VHS and LaserDisc and
The director's cut which has been released only on DVD.

The Wrath of Khan has 4 versions.....
The theatrical which has been released on almost all formats including Blu-ray.

The original version of the director's cut which is only available on DVD.

The modified version of the director's cut which mutes out two lines of dialogue although the corresponding visual footage remains which is available on Blu-ray

And the ABC television version which contains a few bits not contained in the director's cut and an alternate version of the turbolift scene which has never been officially released on any format.


Star Trek 6 has three versions.
The theatrical which is available on Blu-ray

The home video version which was the only version available from 1992 till 2001 with 3 and 1/2 minutes of additional footage which is available on many formats including non anamorphic DVD -- not available on Blu-ray.

And the modified home video version which is available on DVD since 2001 but is not available yet on Blu-ray. Also The two so-called home video versions which are for all intents and purposes directors cuts have a different aspect ratio maybe closer to 1:90 to 1.

[albertbj]

Originally Posted by Bolty

...the special longer Edition which was originally the ABC television version. That has been released in VHS and LaserDisc...

Also Beta...people always leave that one out.

Also, I believe all the scenes from the TV cut that were removed for the Director's Cut are included on the DVD as deleted scenes.

Originally Posted by Bolty

And the modified home video version which is available on DVD since 2001 but is not available yet on Blu-ray.

This version was actually released in 2004, not 2001 (the 2-disc Special Collector's Edition), and is the only release with this version. The subsequent DVD release(s) has the theatrical cut.

[albertbj]

Oh, and if you want Into Darkness without the shifting aspect ratios as well, you'll need to get the standalone BD.

[jceperley]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Star Trek 6 has three versions.
The theatrical which is available on Blu-ray

The home video version which was the only version available from 1992 till 2001 with 3 and 1/2 minutes of additional footage which is available on many formats including non anamorphic DVD -- not available on Blu-ray.

And the modified home video version which is available on DVD since 2001 but is not available yet on Blu-ray. Also The two so-called home video versions which are for all intents and purposes directors cuts have a different aspect ratio maybe closer to 1:90 to 1.

Should be noted the differences between the two home video is there’s a few alternate or added shots in a couple of scenes. The second version has also been labelled as the “directors cut” on the digital release (it’s included in the extras for the theatrical version on iTunes)

Also, the letterboxing is different on those two where the original non-anamorphic widescreen version (VHS, LaserDisc, single disc DVD) has a bigger bar at the bottom than at the top while the second version (two-disc DVD and digital) features even sized bars in a 2:1 aspect ratio. But that’s probably just be for the anamorphic feature to work and not any difference in actual framing.

[hanshotfirst1138]

I’ve more or less resigned myself that the DC of VI is never going to HD, let alone Blu.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by jceperley

Should be noted the differences between the two home video is there’s a few alternate or added shots in a couple of scenes. The second version has also been labelled as the “directors cut” on the digital release (it’s included in the extras for the theatrical version on iTunes)

Also, the letterboxing is different on those two where the original non-anamorphic widescreen version (VHS, LaserDisc, single disc DVD) has a bigger bar at the bottom than at the top while the second version (two-disc DVD and digital) features even sized bars in a 2:1 aspect ratio. But that’s probably just be for the anamorphic feature to work and not any difference in actual framing.

It was partially to fit the subtitles for Klingon in the black bars... It has nothing to do with anamorphic anything... Everyone was more baffled at the opening of the mattes, Star Trek VI was shot super 35, and there were 70mm theatrical prints framed at 2.20.

Fox did something similar with Return of the Jedi on the original WS LD, it was 2.35, but the image was not centered, it was shifted upwards, for the Huttese translations.

fitprod

[captainsolo]

Generally when the image was shifted up on LD back in the day it was because they were reusing a Japanese video master where the lower bar is made larger to accommodate the hardcoded subtitles. This is why Star Wars was this way on the first Fox widescreen release as they reused the Japanese special collection master.

I don’t know if this is the case with VI but I have a handful of random LDs that have this random shift upwards.

Why there are so many cuts of II and VI with minor differences I have no idea.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by captainsolo

Why there are so many cuts of II and VI with minor differences I have no idea.

Cherchez le Meyer

[albertbj]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

I’ve more or less resigned myself that the DC of VI is never going to HD, let alone Blu.

It's already available digitally, so I wouldn't rule out a BD release completely.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by hanshotfirst1138

I’ve more or less resigned myself that the DC of VI is never going to HD, let alone Blu.

The DC of VI is available digitally in HD, but it seems like it's the same master (picture-wise, at least) that was used on the 2003 DVD.

The audio is missing the "bongs" of the added flashbacks during the interrogation scene, but I don't think that was intentional (although knowing Meyer, I guess it could have been).

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Cherchez le Meyer

You know I actually read his memoir which was great but admittedly had hoped he might explain the DC versions in it...

[MattJ1991]

Thank you all very much for your help. At this point I'll aim to get all the versions that are available on disc.

Originally Posted by Bolty

The Wrath of Khan has 4 versions.....
The theatrical which has been released on almost all formats including Blu-ray.

The original version of the director's cut which is only available on DVD.

The modified version of the director's cut which mutes out two lines of dialogue although the corresponding visual footage remains which is available on Blu-ray

Originally Posted by Bolty

Star Trek 6 has three versions.

The home video version which was the only version available from 1992 till 2001 with 3 and 1/2 minutes of additional footage which is available on many formats including non anamorphic DVD -- not available on Blu-ray.

Originally Posted by Bolty

And the modified home video version which is available on DVD since 2001 but is not available yet on Blu-ray. Also The two so-called home video versions which are for all intents and purposes directors cuts have a different aspect ratio maybe closer to 1:90 to 1.

Are the releases I've highlighted here the correct ones?


One thing I'm confused about: The VI blu-ray lists the runtime as 113min, so is it not the same as one of the two above? I see that the theatrical is 110min but I cannot find a release with that.

[Bolty]

Not Quite sure of your placement of the image.
The Wrath of Khan image shown in your post is for the original DVD director's cut.
The the Bluray of the "modified" director's cut has the Mondo black white and red cover.
Also somebody else posted a correction to my original post in that the modified director's cut of the Undiscovered Country came out in 2002 -- not in 2001 as I originally indicated.
If your post meant to show that that is the original DVD version of the director's cut then yes you are correct

[MattJ1991]

Originally Posted by Bolty

Not Quite sure of your placement of the image.
The Wrath of Khan image shown in your post is for the original DVD director's cut.
The the Bluray of the "modified" director's cut has the Mondo black white and red cover.
Also somebody else posted a correction to my original post in that the modified director's cut of the Undiscovered Country came out in 2002 -- not in 2001 as I originally indicated.
If your post meant to show that that is the original DVD version of the director's cut then yes you are correct

I was asking if the DVD I posted for Khan was the one you were referring too when you said "The original version of the director's cut which is only available on DVD."



I'm still confused about VI though. The blu-ray included in the Stardate collection lists itself as 113 min. So which DVD/Blu-ray do I need to get to get the theatrical?

[albertbj]

Originally Posted by MattJ1991

I'm still confused about VI though. The blu-ray included in the Stardate collection lists itself as 113 min. So which DVD/Blu-ray do I need to get to get the theatrical?

Despite the listed running time, only the theatrical cut of VI has ever been released on BD, so it doesn't matter which one you get. They're all the same disc.

[Bolty]

Aha! Good catch Matt. The stardate collection erroneously indicates that it includes the hundred and thirteen minute version of Star Trek 6. But it does not!

That is a typographical error that goes all the way back I believe to 2009 that they have never corrected. Neither of the two 113 minute cuts of Star Trek 6 has ever been released on Blu-ray.
And yes I see you have correctly identified the DVD of the original origin of the director's cut

EDIT: I see somebody types faster than I do and probably with less spelling errors!

[MattJ1991]

Originally Posted by albertbj

Despite the listed running time, only the theatrical cut of VI has ever been released on BD, so it doesn't matter which one you get. They're all the same disc.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Bolty

Aha! Good catch Matt. The stardate collection erroneously indicates that it includes the hundred and thirteen minute version of Star Trek 6. But it does not!

That is a typographical error that goes all the way back I believe to 2009 that they have never corrected. Neither of the two 113 minute cuts of Star Trek 6 has ever been released on Blu-ray.
And yes I see you have correctly identified the DVD of the original origin of the director's cut

EDIT: I see somebody types faster than I do and probably with less spelling errors!

Thank you very much for all your help.

[oddbox83]

Also Star Trek 4 - The European version had a prologue at the start with Shatner voice-over and clips from the previous 2 movies. The UK VHS, laserdisc and DVD had it, the Blu-ray doesn't. Given it's the version I grew up with, the Blu-ray seems incomplete not to have it as an option.

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home - Blu-ray vs. DVD - YouTube

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Also Star Trek 4 - The European version had a prologue at the start with Shatner voice-over and clips from the previous 2 movies. The UK VHS, laserdisc and DVD had it, the Blu-ray doesn't. Given it's the version I grew up with, the Blu-ray seems incomplete not to have it as an option.

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home - Blu-ray vs. DVD - YouTube

How old is that DVD version of Star Trek IV? I worked on the versions from 2009, and there was nothing at the head of the film in any territory.

fitprod