Star Trek The Motion Picture Franchise Exclusively On HD DVD In 2007

[AaronSCH]

Kevin Collins, Director of HD DVD at Microsoft's Consumer Media Technology Group stated during a live chat tonight at Home Theater Forum that the Star Trek Movie franchise was coming exclusively to HD DVD in 2007. That would be a surprise since they are Paramount titles. Even if it does come to Blu-ray as well this is terrific news.

UPDATE! Bill Hunt, Digital Bits:

We've got a bit of follow-up on yesterday's Star Trek news for you this morning. We're still waiting to hear back from CBS Paramount as far as The Original Series (and other Trek TV properties), but Paramount Home Entertainment's Vice President of Publicity, Brenda Ciccone, told me last night in no uncertain terms that when the Star Trek feature films (which Paramount specifically controls) are released on disc in high-def, they will each be released on both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc, in keeping with Paramount's stated commitment to support both formats. The studio is working to evaluate its catalog titles for high-def release now. So you Trekkers on both sides of the HD format war can all live long and prosper... on that score at least.

[MidnightWatcher]

Link or anything? If accurate this would be fantastic news, though "some" would be left feeling a little, uh, blue.

[abr27440]

I can't wait to see star trek in HD

I really could care less if you blu ray freaks get it too (j/k)

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by MidnightWatcher

Link or anything?

This was a live chat but I think The Digital Bits will have a transcript up soon.

[Maxx_75]

This is great news ! I LOVE Trek ! I have both formats because I think that for a few years there will be exclusives on both sides.

[Dave Mack]

Gotta give congrats to you guys but "wtf? Paramount?!?!?!?!"

[Dave Mack]

very true. apathy by the general masses can ruin it for both sides...

[Dr Kain]

Honestly, no big loss for me, as I never liked Star Trek. I bet it will be HD-DVD only in Nov 2007, and the BR versions will be out in Jan 2008.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by dylanneild

Did he say "exclusively to HD-DVD" or "coming to HD-DVD" and in the context of being a Microsoft employee was this taken to mean exclusivity?

Paramount has been neutral with all their titles so far. Hard to imagine they'd ignore the larger market with such a high profile release.

That said, it's getting annoying that a tit for tat battle appears to be forming. BD gains the momentum, so HD-DVD gets an exclusive. BD will then release James Bond movies. Back and forth, back and forth, until the mass market says "forget this" and both formats die.

It was a live chat and I am pretty sure he said exclusive to the format THIS YEAR. Again, I could be wrong but the transcript should be up tomorrow. He never said it wasn't coming to Blu-ray. It could be replication rearing its ugly head for BD...I don't know. We will probably learn more soon. At least we know it is on the way. He also stated rather emphatically that HD DVD fans will be more than pleased with software output this year 600 titles worldwide. He said the list of Universal titles wouldn't disappoint. He also said that he hasn't heard any talk of Jaws this year but added that things can change. I was also surprised that he stated there is no movement on region coding! He just about encouraged us to purchase import HD DVDs!! That surprised the hell out of me.

[nbuubu]

I already have Star Trek 2, 4 and 6 on DVD, and to be honest with their age I can't see a high-def version being too huge an improvement. Most people acknowledge that the even-numbered Star Trek films were the stongest (well, all but the most ardent Trekkie I guess) so I can't see re-buying them again.

If the HD-DVD people are buying limited exclusivity of titles, kind of like game console manufacturers, that's an interesting development.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by nbuubu

...If the HD-DVD people are buying limited exclusivity of titles, kind of like game console manufacturers, that's an interesting development.

I highly doubt that is the case. Lets not start the rumor mill. I wanna be as upfront about what I heard during tonight's chat. Nothing of that sort was ever suggested by Mr. Collins.

[Dave Mack]

Actually, I would LOVE to see TMP in HD but they will have to do something FX wise if they release the "director's edition" as all the new FX were done at 480 res. I believe.

[Capek]

Originally Posted by nbuubu

I already have Star Trek 2, 4 and 6 on DVD, and to be honest with their age I can't see a high-def version being too huge an improvement. Most people acknowledge that the even-numbered Star Trek films were the stongest (well, all but the most ardent Trekkie I guess) so I can't see re-buying them again.

If the HD-DVD people are buying limited exclusivity of titles, kind of like game console manufacturers, that's an interesting development.

For niche products like these are that this point, it's all about hat is available now. Nothing surprising about being excited about something like this.

But back on topic, if this is accurate, it will be interesting to learn what the reason is, since Paramount has been the most neutral of neutral studios. And actually, I can't say that I've ever watched a single Star Trek movie all the way through, so it will be beyond awesome to be able to view them for the first time on HD-DVD.

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

Actually, I would LOVE to see TMP in HD but they will have to do something FX wise if they release the "director's edition" as all the new FX were done at 480 res. I believe.

Well, the new, spiffed up versions of the television series are supposed to make their HD DVD appearance this year according to some articles I have read... Maybe the films are having their FX spruced up as well.

[Dave Mack]

I think they will have to at least do TMP, (maybe just rerender the new FX at the higher res...?) but I doubt they will re-do any of the other films FX.

[AaronSCH]

I saw that you sent off the alarm over in the Blu-ray area, Dave. I added a question mark and I am trying to clarify my statements. It is funny how these threads can easily take on a life of their own.

[Dave Mack]

I did but asked the mods to delete it as I misinterpreted the first post here.
My thread was also filling up with those characters who live under the bridge and was rapidly going downhill as so many on AVS now tend to do.


d

[rexdigital]

Originally Posted by Dave Mack

Actually, I would LOVE to see TMP in HD but they will have to do something FX wise if they release the "director's edition" as all the new FX were done at 480 res. I believe.

I read during its dvd release that TMP DE was mastered to D5 at 720P.

All the special f/x are film rez.

The movies will look great in HD as long as proper care is/was taken when the HD master was made.

[paulstachniak]

If this is true - that's huge. 'Could' be a nice push for the format.

[laserguns]

ooohhhhh

how i long to know universals upcoming titles.

[Dave Mack]

pretty sure that the actual NEW FX were rendered at SD 480 though. Check TREK.com. Lotsa info. there.

"... RE: is STTMP: DE HD or Rescreening Ready

It appears that the answer to that is no. That is why I got when I contacted David Fein (producer on the DE). Apparently the team wanted to do the work but Paramount decided to focus on the immediate delivery for the DVD…here is an except from his message to me


“I\’m incredibly proud of the film\’s edit and effects; our team did a remarkable job. However, this job is not complete until we satisfy Bob\’s wish and a film resolution master completed… a step closer would be HD….While I\’ve insured that all of our production materials are available and ready for us to complete the Director\’s Edition in film or hidef resolution, there is no approved master of the Director\’s Edition for HD release.”
- David Fein
Producer, ST: TMP: DE..."


http://trekmovie.com/2006/09/13/dare...trek-enhanced/

so, nope, not at this time.




and one could argue that 720P is not really film rez...

[efralope]

He also mistakingly said that Babel was announced from Universal (which is a Paramount title). It would probably be safe to assume these will be out simultaneously on both formats.

[Tim Glover]

Great news. Whether or not it's exclusive to HD-DVD is not a big issue really. Just can't wait to see The Wrath of Kahn in HD.

[Dave Mack]

hear, hear!





Saavik in HD, the REAL saavik!

[Paul Cordingley]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

(Did I say "Yes!")

I'll be a pig in sh!t rolling around in Star Trek HD DVD's.

[Dave Mack]

but remember fellas, 2007 JUST started!

could be awhile!

[atagert]

this coud get expensive.

Adam

[RAVEN56706]

so is this going to happen or not.... if not then please update the thread title...

[Chris Dugger]

As there was 35mm prints struck of this DE version of STTMP, effects need to be better than 480...

Dugger

[Jon_W]

Link: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/chat/hdvd07.txt