The first Star Trek movie turns 45 later this year, to mark the occasion Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing a limited edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, on November 19.
This new Steelbook is for the original theatrical cut of the film, likely the same version which was part of the 4K UHD Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection from 2021 (see TrekMovie review). The new limited edition Steelbook will be the first time the theatrical version of The Motion Picture was released individually in 4K UHD. Also included is a standard HD Blu-ray copy, for those that haven’t made the move to 4K yet, as well as a digital copy.
As a bonus, inside the Steelbook you also get an exclusive booklet containing original marketing materials and behind the scenes images from the Paramount Archives. The booklet includes a reproduction of the original 1979 “Handbook of Production Information” that was used for marketing, and a group of production stills.
An excerpt of the 1979 marketing material
Pre-order available now
The limited edition Steelbook release for the theatrical cut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is available now for pre-order from Amazon for $30.99.
And as a reminder, in 2022 Paramount released the 4K UHD “Director’s Edition” of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (see TrekMovie review), which is available now at Amazon for $23.55.
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While I do like to triple and quadruple dip, I shall pass on this one. I already have the uber TMP release with 20 versions of the movie (plus the DVD releases and the Blu-Ray releases, VHS, etc etc).
Looks good though.
Are any of those 20 versions palatable?
Yeah, the Director’s Edition.😁 It’s a complete movie (unlike the Theatric Edition), plus there’s that first scene with the Refit Enterprise (which is in all editions and on YouTube, but that’s not my point; I just really really love that scene and I really really love that ship (got $700 you wanna donate to me so I can buy that Tomy+ Enterprise 🤪)).
I do rather enjoy the Director’s Edition, despite (as others have said below) the needless computer noise changes.
The Atmos mix is great though, and i was disappointed that they didn’t want to do Khan as well and decided to stick with the awful 7.1 mixes from 2009 for 2-6. I would have been happy with the old 2.0 mixes finally in HD but they didn’t do that either.
That font on the back though :(
100%
yeah, that’s pretty damned ugly!
So no DE in this copy?
Nope. I remember reading something about the special box set they did and how the DE and the longer version of the film wouldn’t be released again – so spend your hard earned cash NOW!
I already purchased the DE ( the only version I really need) on Apple TV 4k. Was planning to wait for a good deal on the 4K discs especially since I don’t yet have a 4k player ( waiting on a deal for that aswell.) But if it’s true the DE discs will soon be out of print, I may pull the trigger sooner.
I don’t think the DE will go out of print. But Paramount said the SLV would only ever be released on that box set thing they did for TMP
Any new deleted scenes? That would make it a must buy.
None.
I wish they’d issue replacement discs for the UHD Director’s Edition with the San Francisco tram station matte fixed.
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10162181943613470
Is this is part of the new “Lipstick on a Pig” release schedule? A hard pass on this effort to squeeze every last penny out of the public from a terrible movie…
it’s a terrible movie on a home screen (especially an old CRT if that’s the last way you saw it). Went to see the re-release they did a couple years ago on the big screen and it was captivating. Much like 2001, some films really do just work better w/ the imersion
A richer and more interesting film than recent ST films, no ‘pew pew’ and actual exploration
Yes, absolutely. And it’s already aged better than the Kelvin films, imo.
‘Stop competing with me, decker”
Hardly a “terrible movie”. It’s the only Trek movie that actually felt grand and cinematic and which captured the core essence of Star Trek. I’d watch it over any of the others. Plus it looks and sounds stunningly beautiful.
I’m a tmp devotee but there is lots that look awful in it, especially the costume pallette and the blah bridge. And the bridge probe has always looked awful owing to the processes required to salvage the scene. It’s almost like you’re suddenly watching the movie at a drive in before sundown it is so washed oùt
I am, too. Its the first movie I saw where it was an experience for sure. Packed 1000 single screen theater. Enthusiastic audience! Overture! Curtain opening and closing between the Empire Strikes Back trailer (which was awesome at the time esp the ATAT scene). Being in elementary school, at the time, and accustomed to watching movies on an old 20″ Motorola tv in mono to experience something an event in multichannel stereo and wide screen even though it wasn’t 70mm projection, will forever be in my mind.
Sure, there are some not so great things about it. The Vger maw sequence stands out. You know the last time I saw the original, albeit scratched up print, in the latter 00s in a PA theater, I could have sworn they excised the 2nd flyover sequence. There was the original first sequence, which was cool in its first person VFX and reaction shots. Then it went to the part just before the probe. After Ilia was taken and the tractor beam pulls the Enterprise in that lasted a few seconds before they reach the inner chamber and that aperature orifice. Pacing wise it helped. However, when I’ve read TPTB wanted to show as much FX to justify that $$$$ I get that. Maybe they should have sped up the film to last the length of the music for the first sequence.
My pain runs deep. I want the Extended TV Cut that was available in the box set.
Paramount….share it with me.
I regret not buying that box set. But, it was that or the entire tos films on 4K. I chose the latter.
I promised myself after buying the movie box sets of the golden 6 and TNG 4 on 4K, I would never buy another Star Trek movie again. I’m tempted to get this steelbook though. I’m a big fan of TMP and the artwork of that time period.
I bought the 4 film set and V and VI separately. and the Directors cut. I hesitated to get the boxed set of TMP because you can still find stock, but it is a hundred dollars. And i recently watched the SLV on laserdisc which cost me very little in comparison, so I guess I’m fine with what I do have.
But I do need to watch VI in 4K Directors Cut. and maybe I will get the 4K for TMP DE, and maybe not.
Got milk?
Id get this if it wasn’t just available on 4K only
The article clearly states, “Also included is a standard HD Blu-ray copy, for those that haven’t made the move to 4K yet, as well as a digital copy.” Not “4K only” as you feared.
Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Thats what I get for speed reading. 😉
I will say I’m SURPRISED Paramount is offering 4K and Blu-ray, considering separate releases seems to be the go-to for physical media releases lately.
TMP was the only recent 4K standalone release to not include an HD Blu-Ray disc. TWOK, TSFS, TVH, TFF, and TUC 4k-standalones all include an HD Blu-Ray copy.
I’ve actually been surprised by how many 4k disks also include a blu-ray (of my recent purchases, the only one that didn’t was THE WARRIORS, whereas LEON, THE THING, ATOMIC BLONDE, SHADOW OF A DOUBTMARNIE and THE BIRDS all included both discs.)
Considering the number of disks I’ve gotten with glitches or later saw them develop, having something to switch to in midfilm is useful (have probably had to re-buy 30 regular blu-rays owing to them developing problems, and that even includes the Criterion MEDIUM COOL, which I simply can’t live without.)
I’m also reluctantly starting to buy some stuff on digital when it comes to films that don’t seem to ever get upgrades (like everything from Fox now on hold ever since Disney bought it, plus old Touchstone, like QUIZ SHOW.)
VI directors cut is only in 4K, same with Special Longer cut of TMP. You want a Blu-Ray well they did not provide one.
One of my fav Trek movies. Still feels the most “futuristic” in spite of being anachronistic in many ways. Years ago I did an interview for Star Trek Communicator with Persis Khambatta that turned out to be her last before she died. It was the only time I e ever been star struck my an actor even after having been on the filming sets for all of the Berman-era trek series forward from
Generations. Having seen TMP as a 6 year-old had that “bald space lady” talking with me was strangely one of the biggest personal Trek moments for me. I even own one of the red prop rocks that’s next to Spock as he is refused the Kolinahr rite. Love this film! (And I hate that in the latest cut of the film released recently that the robotic silly computer voice of the ship is missing!)
That’s great that you had that experience 😀
I also miss the klaxon alert.
I too seriously miss the odd computer voice, but especially the alert sound during the wormhole, which is now boring as hell. That they messed up the sound on the revised cut is one of the reasons that I have reluctantly chosen to stay with the theatrical version, despite its lack of the Spock tear scene and the omission of the vger evasive action in midfilm.
I wholeheartedly agree with the bad decision to the sound changes above and also Vger’s plasma energy weapons. The original track was just more dramatic that set up Vger’s strength and to quote Orson Welle’s trailer narrative..’divine power.’ The current DE one is so strange with its radio-dial tweaking component sound as the weapon hurls by you. That and the warp engine sound ruins those scenes for me. I think the great bird of the galaxy would have objected if he were alive. And besides, in Susan Sackett’s Making of TMP book, there was the memo from Roddenberry ABOUT the original computer voice alarm! I can’t believe Wise would have seized the opportunity to change it given Roddenberry was long dead doing the DE in 2000.
Alamo Draft House has it back in theaters (I believe this updated Directors version) this month too, going to see it next weekend!
My local theater already showed it. lol. There’s the 17th although the venue is 1/2 booked and it looks like a smaller theater. :(
I wonder how much it costs.. $50K maybe to do a 70mm or IMAX version of the TMP DE. The IMAX version alone would totally be Trektacular given the film’s first person VFX. The opening Klingon flyover from my memory being closer to the screen made you feel you were really there coming up and going over. Then there was the warp drive in its ORIGINAL version sound fx. The visuals and original sound fx made me (and others) push back in the seats when it does that photo streak jump!
I’d pay $20-22 for the experience. :)
It’s a pass for me. I had the VHS, I have the DVD, I have the Director’s Cut DVD and I have the blu-ray. I understand 4K is often visually better, and this film certainly qualifies for a 4K treatment, but for me, it’s a money vs value thing; I’m good.
it is worth it Doug Trumbull did the effects at 65mm and they scanned those at I believe 8k resolution, and the Atmos mix is phenomenal. I’m of course solely taking about the director’s cut. There are drawbacks though I welcomed the warmer color palette, but not all of the new effects fit the 1979 esthetic, and they applied digital video noise reduction to remove film grain, dirt and scratches making it look like a modern digital production. I have the blu-ray of course the 4k was streaming. I’m sure it is even better on disc.
I have a 4K TV but I’m behind the times. Does it mean I have to get a ULTRA 4K to appreciate the clarity of the new print?
The Blu-Ray is quite spectacular on its own, the 4K has the HDR though that the Blu-Ray lacks. Both have Atmos sound. the 4K disc does need a HDR capable television and a 4K UHD disc player.
Am still digging through the acres of bonus features on the blu ray, some from past discs and some new