Star Trek The Motion Picture Director's Edition 4K UHD/DLX (1979)

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Jeyl

In celebration of the Director's Edition announcement, I took it upon myself to recreate the Director's Edition opening titles. Purchased the 'Galaxy BT' font, learned Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, VLC Player and finally putting the finishing touches in Final Cut Pro.

ST:TMPE Title Recreation - YouTube

Phew! It sure was fun. I love this film's title so much.

Obviously it's not a 100% recreation. I did make some deliberate artistic choices in how the title was presented. For instance, the way 'Star Trek' is shaped caused some inconsistencies with the text's weight. For example, look at the top portion of the 'S' and compare how thick that is to the 'T' immediately next to it. I found out that it was just a case of increasing both the S and the K's scale, which causes their weight to be different. I chose not to alter this change completely since it does make the titles a bit bolder, so I elected to alter the top portions of the 'S' and 'K' and have the weight get larger the lower the letter goes. Consistency on the top, bold at the bottom.

[Lava_Lander]

First preview clip of the new VFX:

Star Trek Universe | Star Trek: The Motion Picture Remastering | Paramount+ - YouTube

[starmike]

At least the DC will get rid of that ridiculous ™ in the main titles.

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by Lava_Lander

First preview clip of the new VFX:

Star Trek Universe | Star Trek: The Motion Picture Remastering | Paramount+ - YouTube

[Lord Method Man]

Guess I'll be quintuple dipping with this.

[Jeyl]

Originally Posted by Bolty

I'm certain the people in charge of the director's Edition are following the discussions about this theatrical version release on 4K. Pretty sure they're passionate enough about the project to make sure to fix as many of those deficiencies as they possibly can.
It would be crazy if they created pristine high definition effects for all the additional director's edition special effects and then those were matched up with the horrible FX shots from the version that just got released.
I have high hopes for the upcoming release I only wish it was coming to physical disc sooner.

Even though the physical disc is ways away, I take as a good opportunity to have two moments of hindsight instead of just one. As you've mentioned, there are probably a lot of folks on the team who will no doubt be taking notes on what to do with the transfer now that it's out in the wild. Plus releasing the DE on Paramount + first might give them the opportunity to correct anything that might have slipped passed them.

There are PLENTY of opportunities to get this edition right.

[Brian81]

So this is a George Lucas type effects redo and just not a different cut? Just watched the video. I guess it's more like the Star Trek The Original Series where you had the redid effects version of the show on HD DVD and BD but the BD gave you the original effects version as well.

[starmike]

Not sure I would classify it as a Lucas-type effects redo. They're not redoing the already properly established effects, but expanding them. For example - the shot of them walking on the Enterprise had some awful scaling problems in the theatrical release. The DC fixed that. But, all the well-made effects will stay intact so far as I know. Unless the Enterprise suddenly hides behind a rock, I think it's safe to say that this is in good hands.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by Brian81

So this is a George Lucas type effects redo and just not a different cut? Just watched the video. I guess it's more like the Star Trek The Original Series where you had the redid effects version of the show on HD DVD and BD but the BD gave you the original effects version as well.

There are additional FX, but also trims and re-cuts of the existing FX and live action footage along with a few "new" (re-inserted) scenes.

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Brian81

So this is a George Lucas type effects redo and just not a different cut? Just watched the video. I guess it's more like the Star Trek The Original Series where you had the redid effects version of the show on HD DVD and BD but the BD gave you the original effects version as well.

It's well, well, well documented that Robert Wise had the film taken from him and released before it was done. The DVD of the Director's Edition was finished by him before his passing. The 4K restoration will continue to honor his wishes. And if you don't approve of it, the almost-theatrical version is still available.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Brian81

So this is a George Lucas type effects redo and just not a different cut? Just watched the video. I guess it's more like the Star Trek The Original Series where you had the redid effects version of the show on HD DVD and BD but the BD gave you the original effects version as well.

Not a Trek fan, I take it? Not being snarky, it's just that, yes, the DE is exactly what you describe but they did it like 20 years ago, literally, so this upcoming version is not a new revision to the film in itself. But as they only finished it in SD people have been clamouring for years to get that restoration upgraded to HD or even 4K, and Par are finally obliging us.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by starmike

Not sure I would classify it as a Lucas-type effects redo. They're not redoing the already properly established effects, but expanding them. For example - the shot of them walking on the Enterprise had some awful scaling problems in the theatrical release. The DC fixed that. But, all the well-made effects will stay intact so far as I know. Unless the Enterprise suddenly hides behind a rock, I think it's safe to say that this is in good hands.

Here's a still of that scene as photographed in the live action life-size Enterprise set they built over and around the recreation deck scene set for the UltraScope HipraPanavision Suprascan 120fps 32perf IMAX 5K version, that sadly, was ultimately junked cus they didn't have time.

[Show spoiler]Nah I just did it for mhy own image

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Not a Trek fan, I take it? Not being snarky, it's just that, yes, the DE is exactly what you describe but they did it like 20 years ago, literally, so this upcoming version is not a new revision to the film in itself. But as they only finished it in SD people have been clamouring for years to get that restoration upgraded to HD or even 4K, and Par are finally obliging us.

Very casual. I have probably seen these movies three times in total. Once on TV, once on BD, and once on remastered BD.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by WorkShed

It's well, well, well documented that Robert Wise had the film taken from him and released before it was done. The DVD of the Director's Edition was finished by him before his passing. The 4K restoration will continue to honor his wishes. And if you don't approve of it, the almost-theatrical version is still available.

The clip I saw was very modern looking as far as effects go. I wouldnt compare it to a ZSJL (not that you mentioned it). The effects dont match the period of the film, that’s all. Looks like modern visual effects.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Here's a still of that scene as photographed in the live action life-size Enterprise set they built over and around the recreation deck scene set for the UltraScope HipraPanavision Suprascan 120fps 32perf IMAX 5K version, that sadly, was ultimately junked cus they didn't have time.

[Show spoiler]Nah I just did it for mhy own image

#restoretheUltraScopeHipraPanavisionSuprascan120fp s32perfIMAX5Kcut

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Brian81

The clip I saw was very modern looking as far as effects go. I wouldnt compare it to a ZSJL (not that you mentioned it). The effects dont match the period of the film, that’s all. Looks like modern visual effects.

The goal of the Director's Edition, as it was back on DVD, was to do high quality scans of the original models and replicate shots from storyboards and concept art to enhance the previously existing optical shots. This isn't like TOS-R where everything is tossed and replaced or like the Star Wars SE where it's the only version that exists. It's different.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by WorkShed

The goal of the Director's Edition, as it was back on DVD, was to do high quality scans of the original models and replicate shots from storyboards and concept art to enhance the previously existing optical shots. This isn't like TOS-R where everything is tossed and replaced or like the Star Wars SE where it's the only version that exists. It's different.

Yeah...except there's also quite a bit of then-new CG for this and that and it never quite gels with the original stuff IMO. It looks like it was rendered on a toaster, though I admit that's not the same thing as it not gelling artistically with the OG footage. In that respect it'll be interesting to see how the new 4K updates to the VFX mesh with the existing stuff.

[starmike]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Here's a still of that scene as photographed in the live action life-size Enterprise set they built over and around the recreation deck scene set for the UltraScope HipraPanavision Suprascan 120fps 32perf IMAX 5K version, that sadly, was ultimately junked cus they didn't have time.

[Show spoiler]Nah I just did it for mhy own image

Booo, release the Uberversion!

[AdmiralNoodles]

Movie-Censorship link for the differences regarding Theatrical versus The Director's Edition.
STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - THE DIRECTOR'S EDITION (DVD)
This isn't a George Lucas where he's constantly tinkering with STAR WARS. This is a Ridley Scott similar to BLADE RUNNER where he never quite got to release the film fully as intended and wanted in cinemas. Albiet the DVD insert above gives a far superior statement regarding what happened and why Robert Wise wanted to do this. This is extensively detailed in the bonus feature Redirecting the Future on disc two of the 2 DVD The Director's Edition.
The Special Longer Version could have been seamlessly branched with the Remastered Theatrical Cut 4K UHD disc and BD. That version exists in the deleted scenes, again on disc two of the aforementioned DVD release, in the 1983 TV, which is TMP SLV, Deleted Scenes bonus content. This Special Longer Version was released in its entirety in Pan & Scan on Laserdisc in 1983, and in Pan and Scan on VHS in 1991.
Bring on the updated 4K UHD release!

[trevanian]

Originally Posted by WorkShed

It's well, well, well documented that Robert Wise had the film taken from him and released before it was done. The DVD of the Director's Edition was finished by him before his passing. The 4K restoration will continue to honor his wishes. And if you don't approve of it, the almost-theatrical version is still available.

It certainly wasn't taken from him, that statement is utterly misleading. He rammed that thing through post and accompanied the reels to the premiere. It was released before he could preview the film or finesse it, and it was finalized before the last approved vfx shots could be cut into it.

The director's edition does not seem to reflect many of his comments at and shortly after the film's theatrical release, which suggests that while he approved it and actively sought certain aspects (like the shot with Ilia crossing to Chekov after he gets zapped), it reflects the efforts of the team involved. Their stated views -- which include the claim that animation in the 70s was done 'on twos' and that is why their animation in the hex bridge reflects that -- do not necessarily reflect what would have been produced with extra time in 79. Look at TMP's animation, supervised by Swarthe, and tell me that was done 'on twos.'