The Show
In one of the bigger-deal announcements for modern-classic TV shows on Blu-ray, Paramount revealed last year that they would be releasing the popular series Star Trek: The Next Generation on HD disc. This of course meant that every episode would have to undergo significant restoration, a rare undertaking considering the sheer amount of work needed for a property this large, representing well over one hundred hours of much-scrutinized final product.
To whet fans' appetites in the interim, a bone has been tossed in the form of a single-disc sampler, dubbed The Next Level, providing "a taste of TNG in high definition." Four of the most beloved one-hour episodes (about 45 minutes each without commercials) have been selected for this occasion.
Parts 1 and 2 of the double-length pilot movie, "Encounter at Farpoint," introduced us to the new Enterprise (it separates into two pieces!) and her new crew (a Klingon! an android!), and we knew almost immediately that this was not our parents' Star Trek. Time travel forward to Season Three, as we visit the Klingon homeworld with Lieutenant Worf for the fan-favorite "Sins of the Father," wherein he defends the all-important family honor. And Season Five brought us the very different "The Inner Light," wherein Captain Picard experiences an entire lifetime as a member of a long-dead civilization.
The Picture
One important point to note here is that Paramount is not merely sprucing up the finished broadcast masters we're familiar with, rather they went back and reconstructed the great many special effects shots from the individual film elements: Say, The Enterprise, a barrage of photon torpedoes and the starfield background, or perhaps a planet, too. All are sharper as a result, and even the blue-screen edges seem reduced.
Keep in mind however that the timing of these seven seasons (1987-1994) means that all episodes were framed at old-school-standard 4:3 aspect ratio.
Simple scenes of actors standing around on a set talking about their feelings (the bulk of the series?) are remarkably clean and noticeably "HD." Blacks are a tad crushed, and the sharpness stops just short of really revealing the fine weave of Starfleet uniforms. And when there's footage missing for a particular shot, and therefore a rare moment of upconversion from standard-def video, they say so in the menus, as for 13 seconds of "Sins." The eye forgives it as nothing more than a quick anomaly for a show of this age.
The Sound
Like Next Gen tried to wow viewers visually in contrast to the perpetually budget-constrained original, the newly remastered soundtrack has much the same intent. And this DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1-channel remix succeeds in almost every way. There's a welcome directionality to the zipping starship through three-dimensional space, loud enough that we can't ignore it, followed by a significant, surprising resonance that appears throughout the episodes. Environments are well-rendered in 7.1, and details like crowds grace the rears. And in this newly balanced track, the musical score can also be better appreciated.
The original stereo is also here, in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.
The Extras
Just a bit of fluff for now, although lots of good stuff is promised for the full-season sets. A basic Star Trek: The Next Generation Season One Blu-ray trailer is joined by a more focused (if you'll pardon the pun) HD teaser to highlight the technical improvements. And the recent Star Trek PADD (Personal Access Display Device) app, that turns an iPad into something we'd see in an episode of Next Gen, is advertised here as well.
Final Thoughts
This seems at first like an odd purchase, as it is destined for obsolescence once the full seasons hit. But judging by the eager comments of my friends, and the buzz among total strangers in the fan forums, Paramount likely has another hit on their hands, as folks can't wait to see how good The Next Generation can look and sound in next-gen home theaters. And for a peek all the way up to Season Five, at such a reasonable price, why not?
Product Details
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