The original show was a masterpiece, for the 60’s. Can you really imagine today a Star Trek episode that has a starship fire its phasers, then the beams look like giant orange crayons with dots for the impact blasts? I didn’t think so.

Now by no means do i dis-credit the original effects staff. They deck a heck of a job for what the technology could produce for the 60’s. There is an occasional episode that makes me think, wow, that shot looked real! But then the phasers or torpedos come in…

But the remastered “Doomsday Machine” is a masterpiece for the 2008. The effects are an extension on what the originals might have been if the effects staff had the access to technology like we do.

The reviewer makes a comment that one Enterprise shot is used too much. Well its refreshing to see a new clip used over and over. Not the same bland shot of the Enterprise approaching from an odd angle. Not to mention the confusing shot of the pilot Enterprise passing the camera, and then the other shot where it moves away from the camera. By confusing I mean, I’m sure many first time viewers are confused by constant change in the configuration of the Enterprise.

The reviewer is obviously an intelegent person who many people admire, but he is flat out wrong when it comes to the remaster. The original effects are good for a nostalgia trip, but not much else. A new version was badly needed. The new version is great and does nothing but inhance the acting, drama, and suspense of the original.

Just my 2 cents

And the scene where Sulu tries to break the ship free of the tractor beam; when combined with the new effects, the desperation on his face makes for palpable tension.

The remastered editions are a wonderful addition to the Star Trek canon. I much prefer the updated effects. How could more realism be a bad thing? Forget the old, in with the new.

(Didn’t NBC have some success showing BSG in primetime?)

..still I think ultimately my pleasure watching the episode was spoiled by the syndication cuts, not any disappointment in the fx.

ABSOLUTELY, I do. The original DM on the show was a fantastically proportioned and coloured creation as it was, and I feel it would have been tremendous if it had beem more closely followed by the CBS Digital team using the technology at their disposal.

I completely agree. I’m a little worried that nothing will be done. Which is too bad b/c the original Companion effect was aweful.

There is an actual on-set interview with Shatner and Nimoy filmed at the time of What are Little Girls Made Of which I’ve seen floating around the net. I first saw it on a local Creature Features Star Trek Special hosted by Bob Wilkins in the mid 70’s.

These things are rare and I think they are about it which is why we haven’t seen much on past DVDs. The only other things that are cool to see is perhaps NBC promos that Shatner did where he says to Watch Star Trek on NBC Fridays at….

I am dubious of lost footage, if it exists, bring it on! Then there’s the footage shot on set by the extra whose on the BBC special; Star Trek After They Were Famous. Those were a revelation.

News stories of the protesters at NBC when the series was in danger of cancellation would be interesting.

I like your ideas for extras. Personally I would also like to see a feature on how they did the Remastering project as well.
Current interviews with the cast would not be something I would need to see, but I like your idea of any interviews they could unearth from the original time period.
Without extras, I really have no need for the product, even if it is in high-def. I really have enough versions of the episodes in my collection that without new and interesting extras (and lots of them) i can do without.