Star Trek & Star Trek Into Darkness Look GLORIOUS in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray [Review]
Keven Skinner
From Paramount Home Media Distribution and director J.J. Abrams comes the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Re-Release of global blockbusters STAR TREK and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. The two titles are available to own now in 4K UHD Blu-ray Combo Pack!
Review
Paramount Home Media has chosen both Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness as their first-ever Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray releases for a reason. They look GLORIOUS. Each set is three discs, one for the UHD Blu-ray, one regular Blu-ray and one Blu-ray loaded with special features. Star Trek is packed with three hours of behind-the-scenes greatness while Into Darkness is also stacked with over two hours. These are must-buy home releases and if you own a 4K TV with the fancy-ass Blu-ray player capable of running these things – do yourself a favour and buy both.
The packaging is slick and looks damn nice with the black edging and the picture/sound quality is astounding. This is as close to a theatre experience that one is going to get from your own home. Make no mistake these releases will shake your walls and make you love it while picture frames crash to the ground. It was a lot of fun going back to revisit these two movies and although I had reservations about the upcoming third one in this new series of films, just watching how good these two were, made me excited all over again about the possibilities of further exploring this new universe of Star Trek.
Star Trek – Rating: [star rating=”5″]
Star Trek Into Darkness – Rating: [star rating=”4.5″]
Star Trek Special Features
• To Boldly Go — Taking on the world’s most beloved science fiction franchise was no small mission. Director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof, and executive producer Bryan Burk talk about the many challenges they faced and their strategy for success.
• Casting — The producers knew their greatest task was finding the right cast to reprise these epic roles. The cast, for their part, talk about the experience of trying to capture the essence of these mythic characters. The piece concludes with a moving tribute to Leonard Nimoy.
• A New Vision — J.J. Abrams’ vision was not only to create a Star Trek that was a bigger, more action-packed spectacle, but also to make the spectacle feel real. Every aspect of production—from unique locations to the use of classic Hollywood camera tricks—was guided by this overall objective.
• Starships — Abrams and production designer Scott Chambliss were careful to pay tribute to the design of the original Enterprise, but they also wanted to make it futuristic and cool for a modern audience. This chapter focuses on the unique stories behind the creation of the film’s starships.
• Aliens — Designers Neville Page and Joel Harlow talk about the hurdles they faced creating new alien species, recreating the Romulans and Vulcans, and designing the terrifying creatures on Delta Vega for the new Star Trek.
• Planets — From the frozen landscape of Delta Vega to the desert plains of Vulcan, Scott Chambliss and the art department had a number of radically different planets to create. Abrams’ desire to shoot on real locations whenever possible led the production team to a number of strange and surprising locations.
• Props and Costumes — Property master Russell Bobbitt had the unique challenge of designing props that were both true to the original series and pertinent to today’s technology. Likewise, costume designer Michael Kaplan talks about how he designed costumes that paid homage to what came before yet were relevant and timeless.
• Ben Burtt and the Sounds of Star Trek — When famed sound designer Ben Burtt was hired to create sounds for the first Star Wars film, he took his inspiration from the original “Star Trek” series. Burtt jumped at the opportunity to pay tribute to the sounds that sparked his career with the sounds he created for the new Star Trek.
• Score — As a fan of the original series, composer Michael Giacchino embraced the challenge of creating new music for Star Trek while preserving the spirit of Alexander Courage’s celebrated theme.
•Gene Roddenberry’s Vision — J.J. Abrams, Leonard Nimoy, previous Star Trek writers and producers, and scientific consultant Carolyn Porco describe and commend the optimistic and enduring vision of Gene Roddenberry.
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
• Starfleet Vessel Simulator — Explore extensive data on the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Romulan ship, the Narada. Submerse yourself in breathtaking 360° views and close-ups and review detailed tech information.
• Gag Reel
• Trailers
Star Trek Into Darkness Special Features
• The Voyage Begins…Again – Go behind-the-scenes as filming begins on the next Star Trek adventure.
• Creating the Red Planet – Experience the creation of a never-before-seen alien world, as featured in the action-packed opening sequence of the film.
• Introducing the Villain
• Rebuilding the Enterprise – See the design and construction of a bigger, interconnected Enterprise set.
• National Ignition Facility: Home of the Core – Location shooting at the National Ignition Facility.
• Attack on Starfleet – Go behind the scenes with the cast and filmmakers and witness the creation of the shocking attack on Starfleet Headquarters.
• Aliens Encountered – The design and application of alien makeup.
• The Klingon Home World – Discover the stunning world of Kronos, and see how the filmmakers reinvented the Klingons for a new generation.
• The Enemy of My Enemy – Find out how, and why, the identity of the film’s true villain was kept a mystery to the very end.
• Vengeance is Coming – A comprehensive look at the design and production surrounding the black ship.
• Ship to Ship – An in-depth and thrilling look at the filming of the iconic space jump sequence, which both defied the laws of physics and pushed the limits of visual effects.
• Mr. Spock and Mr. Spock – Leonard Nimoy makes a cameo appearance and reflects on his history with Trek.
• Down with the Ship – Discover the stunt & VFX work involved to make the Enterprise roll over.
• Kirk and Spock – Explore the dynamic relationship between the film’s heroes.
• Brawl by the Bay – Sit in with Zachary Quinto and Benedict Cumberbatch as they revisit their intense preparation for the film’s breathtaking climax.
• Fitting the Future – A look at the film’s out-of-this-world costumes.
• Property of Starfleet – Sourcing and tracking the film’s myriad props.
• Unlocking the Cut – A discussion with the film editors about their monumental task.
• Visual Affection – A comprehensive look at the creation and implementation of visual effects.
• The Sounds of Music (and FX) – A discussion with film composer Michael Giacchino and sound designer Ben Burtt.
• Safety First – A prank pulled on the cast.
• Continuing the Mission – An inspiring look at the partnership between the film’s crew and the organization that assists returning veterans to find meaningful ways to contribute on the home front.
