September 7, 2021
Review: 'Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection' a Must For Every Trekkie
JC Alvarez READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Television screenwriter Gene Roddenberry couldn't have imagined that 55 years later his legacy would continue to have a profound effect on pop culture, but the final frontier continues to inspire audiences and fans alike. To commemorate the very first episode of "Star Trek," which aired on September 8, 1966, the epic that went from small screen to big is getting a complete refit in this first-time 4K release package.
"Star Trek: The Original 4- Movie Collection" upgrades the theatrical edition of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," "Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn," "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."
Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley), along with the rest of the Enterprise crew, explore the edges of space and confront adversaries old and new.
The cinematic adventures of the Starship Enterprise began with the the ambitious release of 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," directed by the legendary filmmaker Robert Wise, on a special effects extravaganza that also introduced a redesigned ship.
The franchise continued, but was heavily retooled, for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," which brought back one of the mythology's most enigmatic adversaries and is largely considered the best film in the series. The 4K restorations of both the original theatrical release and the Director's Cut (which is director Nicholas Meyer's more comprehensive vision of the film) stand up beautifully. The films are also presented in 7.1 full-digital audio for the most authentic theatrical experience at home.
Fans will also be delighted with the additions of "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," both directed by Spock actor Leonard Nimoy. These two films complete the trilogy begun in "The Wrath of Khan," with the third film following up on the dramatic events of "Star Trek II," while "The Voyage Home" sees the crew travel in time to (then-contemporary) 1986; the brilliant script involves time travel, humor, and the crew's desperate effort to save their future from our own era's folly. "Star Trek IV" proved the most lucrative of the blockbuster film series.
Presented in 4K Ultra HD for the first time, and also fully restored for their Blu-ray formatting (also included with this package), these films will delight fans for centuries to come. The 8-disc package also includes Digital copies to add to your mobile libraries, and include all the legacy special features from each previous release, amounting to hours of behind-the-scenes looks at each movie and detailed "in-world" documentaries that help put the 23rd-century future in context.
It may be turning 55, but "Star Trek" continues to prove one of the science-fiction genre's most spectacular and inspiring franchises, with a global fandom that is easily one of the most loyal and dedicated. Its legacy extends through all media, and continues to flourish in startling new adventures that will endure well into the next generation.
"Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection" is a worthy addition to any film collector's library; now that the films are presented in 4K Ultra HD they jump off the screen and transport you into man's never-ending mission to seek out new life and new civilizations, and go boldly!
All four 4K Remastered movies include commentary from the filmmakers and, for the first time, feature Dolby 2.0 isolations of the original soundtrack score.
Other special features include:
...and much more!
"STAR TREK: The Original 4-Movie Collection" is available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and Digital.
Native New Yorker JC Alvarez is a pop-culture enthusiast and the nightlife chronicler of the club scene and its celebrity denizens from coast-to-coast. He is the on-air host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Out Loud & Live!" and is also on the panel of the local-access talk show "Talking About".
