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Posted: |
Jun 23, 2014 - 7:06 PM
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By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
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Paramount is finally making good on the Star Trek Into Darkness Blu-ray debacle with the 9/9 release of the 4-disc Star Trek: The Compendium Blu-ray box set (SRP $39.99)
You can see what it looks like there on the left (and below).
A little bit of background before we continue… many of you will no doubt recall that, back when Star Trek Into Darkness was first released on Blu-ray, we here at The Bits were critical of the way all of the special features content was split up and given away as exclusives to different retail partners (see our column here and our review of the Blu-ray here), making it nearly impossible for fans to get all of the extras. A few weeks after our posts, I was invited up to Paramount to meet with the studio’s home video team to talk about the issue. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. They were honest, acknowledged that they’d made mistakes with the title (with the best of intentions, believe it or not – new people were in charge and they really didn't expect the fan backlash) and wanted my opinion on how they could make it up to Trek fans. And they really did want to make it right.
First of all, yes... I DID let them know that fans really want better special editions of the classic Trek films, with new, properly-remastered transfers and the director’s cuts. So please know that message was conveyed and the idea is under consideration.
Meanwhile, as relates to Star Trek Into Darkness, I suggested that the studio finally put together the true special edition that should have been delivered from the start, with all of the extras that got scattered around to different retailers, including the enhanced audio commentary, plus all-new content just for this release. I suggested that they might want to consider offering the IMAX version of the film (much like Warner’s The Dark Knight Blu-ray), as many fans have asked for it. And most importantly, I suggested that they offer fans who purchased the previous Blu-ray editions a discount of some kind.
I’m pleased to report today that this is exactly what Paramount has done.
The 4-disc Star Trek: The Compendium Blu-ray box set will include the original 2-disc Star Trek (2009) Blu-ray, with all of the great special edition extras that were on that original release, along with a new 2-disc Star Trek Into Darkness Blu-ray special edition. The first disc of the Star Trek Into Darkness SE includes the IMAX version of the film (in 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with select IMAX scenes included in 1.78:1), plus the “enhanced” audio commentary (with director J.J. Abrams, VFX supervisor Roger Guyett, co-producer Tommy Harper, composer Michael Giacchino, editors Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey, D.P. Dan Mindel and second unit D.P. Bruce McCleary, producer Bryan Burk and writer/producer Damon Lindelof) that was previously available only via iTunes. Then you get an entire Blu-ray of extras, including all 7 featurettes that were on regular SKUs of the Blu-ray (including Creating the Red Planet, Attack on Starfleet, The Klingon Home World, The Enemy of My Enemy, Ship to Ship, Brawl by the Bay, and Continuing the Mission), all 6 of the Target-exclusive featurettes (including The Voyage Begins... Again, Rebuilding the Enterprise, Vengeance Is Coming, Mr. Spock and Mr. Spock, Kirk and Spock, and Visual Affection) and the film’s trailers, plus all 6 Best Buy/Cinema Now-exclusive featurettes (including Down with the Ship, National Ignition Facility: Home of the Core, Safety First, Unlocking the Cut, The Sound of Music and FX, and Aliens Encountered). So that’s everything that was available previously but scattered around to different retailers. On top of that, you also get all-new deleted scenes, an all-new Gag Reel, and 2 completely new featurettes (Fitting the Future, which looks at the film’s costumes, and Property of Starfleet, which examines the film’s props). You also get UltraViolet digital copies of both films. Note that Paramount is working to set up a rebate offer for those who purchased the original Star Trek Into Darkness Blu-ray, the details of which will follow soon.
For the record, the standard 2.35:1 theatrical edition and 3D versions of Star Trek Into Darkness are not included in this set, but many of you probably already have those and they’re still available on Blu-ray separately at a significantly reduced price (the BD3D Combo is just $14 on Amazon right now, while the 2D Blu-ray is just $12). A few of you are probably thinking: “Well… I already own Star Trek (2009) on Blu-ray and I don’t want to buy it again.” Which we certainly appreciate. The Compendium may not be the perfect solution for every single fan, but then no solution is likely to be perfect for every single fan. It wouldn’t surprise us if – in a year or so – Paramount doesn’t break up this set and sell the new Star Trek Into Darkness discs separately. We don’t know that for certain, so don’t swear by it, but that’s usually how this kind of thing works.
At any rate, for those of you who want true special editions of both films in a single affordable package, this is it. Keep in mind, Amazon will probably have it for 30% off at least and there will almost certainly be great sales on The Compendium over Black Friday and through the holidays. Here’s a closer look at the packaging (Amazon pre-order links will be added as soon as they’re available)…
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/062314_0600
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I'll consider buying the Compendium release if it goes on sale at some point before Christmas, but I already own the 2-disc of Trek '09, resent being asked to pay for the same two discs again, and didn't enjoy STID enough to think it worth the full price of this set.
First of all, yes... I DID let them know that fans really want better special editions of the classic Trek films, with new, properly-remastered transfers and the director’s cuts. So please know that message was conveyed and the idea is under consideration.
This is what I really want; not only remastered but with the effects recomposited and whatnot à la CBS Digital's work on the television series. The basic, restored remasters and digitally enhanced versions can be offered on the disc in the same way they were for the TOS Blu-Rays. But as I mentioned in another thread, I have no faith in Paramount to do it. Their entire focus is on JJ's version of Trek.
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