August 31, 2006
The Continuing Voyages Of The Starship Lucas Enterprise
Cranky brings word that the original Star Trek television series is going to be re-released into syndication for the first time since 1990. There's an ugly catch, tho:
All 79 episodes are being digitally remastered with computer-generated effects not possible when Gene Roddenberry created the show 40 years ago.
The upgraded episodes — to be shown out of order and one per week — will kick off with "Balance of Terror," a big fan favorite "that gives us a chance to really show off the ‘new' Enterprise," says Okuda. "The exterior of the ship now has depth and detail, and it will fly more dynamically." Painted backdrops will also be brought to life: Once-empty star bases will have CGI people milling about, while static alien landscapes have been given slow-moving clouds and shimmering water. Okuda notes that a view of Earth in the 1966 episode "Miri" has been "replaced with a more accurate image, now that we've gone into deep space and looked back at ourselves."
Cranky is pleased with the idea of the new look. Not me. My friends, I tell you truly that CGI wizardry is capable of producing some wonderful things. But this temptation to use it in order to go back and muck about like this is pure evil.
Don't believe me? Just ask Han.
Heresy! Get the pitchforks and torches. Someone get the stakes and piles of wood, these people need to be burned at the stake. What's next, CGI in Plan 9 from Outer Space?
Seriously, part of the charm of the original series was that the episodes were sort of like one hour off broadway productions.
Listen to you purists. You don't need no flyin' machine, trains work just as good.
Poor Star Trek was an unloved series back in the day. No network wanted it and when it was finally picked up, they had no budget to speak of. I read that Dr. McCoy's medical equipment was actually exotic salt shakers.
All that said to say it was cheesy because it had to be.
I know what your concern is, Hollwood nitwits will see it as license to muck with it. Point taken.
But I remember being awestruck by the Enterprise in ST-TMP on the big screen.
Won't it be nice to see the Galileo move across the screen without cut-and-paste squares around it?
Posted by: Gordon at August 31, 2006 01:47 PMNot if it's got flame decals and an alien para-sailing off the stern, it won't.
Yes, Trek started out cheesy because it had to be, but that cheese is part of the flavah now.
Posted by: Robbo the LB at August 31, 2006 02:00 PMI recently saw a bit of the "enhanced" Trek. Most of the upgrades are very subtle. You're not going to see light sabres and cheshire tribbles.
Posted by: Ted at August 31, 2006 02:42 PMThey moved the link to a permanent location.
www.tvguide-dot-com/News/Insider/default.htm?cmsRedir=true&rmDate=08312006&cmsGuid={FFD672A7-68D2-4EE3-A18C-781FC2972A5B}
ps did you know your decency filter blocked out "d e . com"?
Posted by: Gordon at September 1, 2006 06:54 AM
Image courtesy of the lovely and talented 