STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY [1991 / 2016] [Limited Edition 50th Anniversary SteelBook] [Blu-ray] The Battle For Peace Has Begun! A Bird of Prey Cannot Fire When She’s Cloaked!
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first television broadcast of a STAR TREK episode in 1966, this SteelBook features art based of the Original Theatrical poster, plus commemorative 50th Anniversary logo. After a lunar cataclysm brings the Klingon Empire to its knees, the foreign concept of peace with the Federation may be finally within reach. Ironically, it is Admiral James T. Kirk who is the first emissary to broker that peace. Yet all hope is virtually lost when the U.S.S. Enterprise and crew are implicated in the brutal assassination of a Klingon diplomat, bringing both worlds to the brink of full-scale war.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1991 Awards Circuit Community Awards: Nominated: Best Visual Effects for Bill George, Craig Barron, Scott Farrar and Terry D. Frazee. Nominated: Best Make-up and Hairstyling for Ed French, Michael Mills and Richard Snell. 1992 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Effects and Sound Effects Editing for F. Hudson Miller and George Watters II. Nominated: Best Make-up for Ed French, Michael Mills and Richard Snell. 1992 Hugo Awards: Nominated: Best Dramatic Presentation for Denny Martin Flinn (screenplay), Lawrence Konner (story), Leonard Nimoy (story), Mark Rosenthal (story) and Nicholas Meyer (screenplay/director). 1993 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Win: Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for Kim Cattrall. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Writing for Denny Martin Flinn and Nicholas Meyer. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Costumes for Dodie Shepard. Nominated: Saturn Award for Best Make-Up for Ed French and Michael Mills.
FILM FACT No.2: The majority of the visual effects were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) under the supervision of Scott Farrar who served as visual effects cameraman on the first three STAR TREK films and animator Wes Takahashi. After receiving the script, ILM created storyboards for the effects sequences before meeting Nicholas Meyer and producers Ralph Winter and Steven-Charles Jaffe to discuss the planned scenes. These discussions began before the film was greenlit. ILM's initial cost estimates were over Paramount Pictures budget, so to save money the filmmakers redesigned some shots and outsourced some to other companies. ILM's computer graphics division was responsible for creating three sequences, including the explosion of Praxis. Nicholas Meyer's idea for the effect was influenced by ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ and Scott Farrar used imagery of an immense wave hitting the Poseidon to inform the scale of their shock wave. The department built on a lens flare simulation to create a plasma burst composed of two expanding disc shapes with swirling detail texture mapped to the surface.
Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Kim Cattrall, Mark Lenard, Grace Lee Whitney, Brock Peters, Leon Russom, Kurtwood Smith, Christopher Plummer, Rosanna DeSoto, David Warner, John Schuck, Michael Dorn, Paul Rossilli, Robert Easton, Clifford Shegog, William Morgan Sheppard, Brett Porter, Jeremy Roberts, Michael Bofshever, Angelo Tiffe, Boris Lee Krutonog, Christian Slater, Iman Abdulmajid, Tom Morga, Todd Bryant, John Bloom, Jim Boeke, Carlos Cestero, Edward Clements, Katie Johnston, Doug Engalla, Matthias Hues, Darryl Henriques, David Orange, Judy Levitt, Shakti Chen, Michael Snyder, Rene Auberjonois (uncredited), Lena Banks (uncredited), John Beck (uncredited), Barron Christian (uncredited), Robert Cohen (uncredited), BJ Davis (uncredited), Douglas Dunning (uncredited), Trent Christopher Ganino James Mapes (uncredited), Alan Marcus (uncredited), Douglas Price (uncredited), Richard Sarstedt (uncredited), Eric A. Stillwell (uncredited) and J.D. Walters (uncredited)
Director: Nicholas Meyer
Producers: Brooke Breton, Leonard Nimoy, Marty Hornstein, Ralph Winter and Steven-Charles Jaffe
Screenplay: Gene Roddenberry (television series STAR TREK), Denny Martin Flinn Lawrence Konner (story), Leonard Nimoy Mark (story), Rosenthal (story), Denny Martin Flinn (screenplay) and Nicholas Meyer (screenplay)
Composer: Cliff Eidelman
Cinematography: Hiro Narita (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Panavision)
Audio: English: 7.1 Dolby TrueHD
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
German: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Spanish: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
French: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: Arabic, Danish, German, English, Spanish, French, Croatian, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Português, Finnish, Swedish and English SDH
Running Time: 110 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures UK
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: "Captain's Log, Stardate 9529.1: This is the final cruise of the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man . . . where no one has gone before."
With those words, the baton has been passed. The old generation of STAR TREK, reduced to a pale shadow of their former selves by age and weak scripts, have finally opted out of Starfleet, turning over the mantle to Patrick Stewart and his crew. Presumably, the members of ‘The Next Generation’ will take the helm for ‘STAR TREK VII: GENERATIONS’ when that Sci-Fi film is released and the television show is still going strong.
With the return of director Nicholas Meyer, ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ had once again restored the Sci-Fi Film Franchise series to its classic blend of space opera, intelligent plotting and engaging interaction of stalwart heroes and menacing villains. Borrowing its subtitle and several lines of dialogue from William Shakespeare, the Sci-Fi Film finds Admiral James T. Kirk [William Shatner] and his fellow Starship U.S.S. Enterprise crew members on a diplomatic mission to negotiate peace with the revered Klingon Chancellor Gorkon [David Warner]. When the high-ranking Klingon and several officers are ruthlessly murdered, blame is placed on Admiral James T. Kirk and crew. The subsequent investigation, which sees Spock taking on the mantle of Sherlock Holmes and even quoting some of the great detective's lines, uncovers an assassination plot masterminded by the nefarious Klingon General Chang [Christopher Plummer] in an effort to disrupt a historic peace summit.
As this political plot unfolds ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ [1991] takes on a sharp-edged tone with Kirk and Spock confronting their opposing views of diplomacy and testing their bonds of loyalty when a Vulcan officer Lt. Valeris [Kim Cattrall] is revealed to be a traitor. With a dramatic depth befitting what was to be the final Sci-Fi film mission of the original Starship U.S.S. Enterprise crew, this film took the veteran cast out in respectably high style, with the torch being passed to the crew of ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ in the following Sci-Fi film, ‘STAR TREK VII: GENERATIONS’ [1994].
The premise of ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ is a timely one and perhaps too timely, where the undisguised parallels to events in the real world occasionally seem contrived and forced - witness the Federation President's statement that "This President is not above the law." The Klingon Empire, on the verge of disaster, is suing for peace. The Chancellor Gorkon is severely injured, when Admiral James T. Kirk and Doctor McCoy [DeForest Kelley] beam over to discover what has happened, they are arrested. Meanwhile, Spock [Leonard Nimoy], now in command of the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise, can do little more than sit and wait, for any decisive action would surely ruin all chances at galactic peace.
For a Sci-Fi film that begins with such promise, ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ ends not as we were hoping. Most of the sixth big screen STAR TREK Sci-Fi adventure is well-plotted and tightly- paced, but it all unravels in the last twenty minutes, with too many trite resolutions to plot elements and a climax that fizzles when it should ultimately explode. Unfortunately, there is not one situation for which ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ sadly does not quite have the final resolution.
The film's climax is skilfully executed as a “Ticking Clock Crescendo” and crosscutting between the speeches at the conference and the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise's battle with Chang's invisible Bird of Prey. Chang, the best STAR TREK villain after Khan and Dukat, has an engaging flamboyance, quoting lines of William Shakespeare to Admiral James T. Kirk in between torpedo volleys and his eventual destruction is one of the great STAR TREK death scenes and staged larger than life in its moment of realisation and yet still acted with the right amount of restraint, and is so satisfying. Reverberating here and all throughout the film is Cliff Eidelman's dark and atmospheric score, which for Trek qualifies as avant-garde. It's one of the best STAR TREK music film scores, and the most memorable in terms of confidently staging the mood.
Admiral James T. Kirk begins ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ with his own deep prejudices; he couldn't see past the death of his son at the hands of Klingons. He ends it by helping to realize a Klingon's vision. The film is high on optimism and sentiment and messages of making a difference. If that sounds like a STAR TREK cliché, then so be it. We should be so lucky that our own sagas end this way.
Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Pictures UK has done a brilliant job in presenting this Blu-ray in a stunning 1080p encoded image and of course an equally stunning 2.35:1 Panavision aspect ratio that shows off the image in a magnificent way. The transfer is nice and sharp and detailed, with also nice depth and dimensionality, and exceptional vivid colours, especially the blue-skinned alien in the mining camp really pops out off the TV screen. A few scenes in the STAR TREK Sci-Fi film have subtitled alien dialogue and the subtitles are all contained within the Panavision CinemaScope 2.35:1 aspect ratio film image.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures UK has done a brilliant job in presenting this Blu-ray in a stunning 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio experience. The opening explosion of the Praxis moon really sets the scene with its brilliant soundstage with thunderous bass, but instead is only a fair rumble. Likewise, the shockwave barraging Excelsior is reasonably aggressive in surround activity. Cliff Eidelman's brilliant film music score is reproduced with totally satisfying fidelity. Sound effects are crisp and suitably loud. Phaser blasts and photon torpedoes deliver the desired impact. The surround channels are pretty active overall most of the time when needed. This is a very solid soundtrack that is definitely an exceptional one.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary by Director Nicholas Myer and Screenwriter Denny Martin Flinn: Nicholas Myer introduces himself and says that he is the Co-Screenwriter and Director, and Denny Martin Flinn introduces himself as well and also informs us that he co-wrote the screenplay with Nicholas, and now welcome us to viewing ‘STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN’ with them both and is suitably packed with anecdotes on the production process and illuminations of the film's themes. Nicholas Meyer is the author of three Sherlock Holmes pastiche novels, including the bestselling “Seven Percent Solution,” so he gives us respectful references to the literary sagas of Arthur Conan Doyle as well as Gilbert & Sullivan, Tolkien, and others. Nicholas Meyer reflects on how writing for STAR TREK is like writing music for a Catholic mass provides an interesting look at how the director's mind works. Nicholas Meyer gives ample credit to Leonard Nimoy, who also served as Executive Producer, touting the actor's dramatic instincts and production savvy, but also informs us that he invented the STAR TREK film title and explains in detail how it came about. Nicholas also informs us that the china cup that falls to the floor was manufactured by the same Company that makes the same china for The White House. Nicholas Meyer also informs us that Chancellor Gorkon [David Warner] is meant to be a representation of President Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which also relates to the time when there was a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev, which is basically a subtle hint to the plot of the film. The film is a sort of analogy that relates to the Chinese and Russian Governments that when a disaster happens, they deny anything seriously wrong in their country. Nicholas also informs us of something that I did not realise, and that is the when Kirk and Spock are on trial, you see the Klingon black, red and white logo, which was loosely based and inspired by the Nazi Swastika emblem, which is another deviant element nature of the Klingon culture and empire. Denny Martin Flinn informs us that when they have the conference meeting, it is in fact a church that is just up the road from the Paramount Studios, and that they put black drapes on the outside of the building to stop the light coming through the windows. When you see them searching the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise for the clues to who were the assassins, when they search the kitchen where they were preparing food, it is pointed out in the other STAR TREK TV series, all food was replicated. Nicholas informs us of a famous quote by George Stevens [Film Director] where he said, “that the CinemaScope screen image was ideal for photographing a man laying down.” One curious fact about the film STAR TREK VI is the fact you get a cameo scene appearance with Christian Slater who is talking Captain Sulu [George Takei] in his room, well this was due to the fact the casting director was his mother Mary Jo Slater and the other reason he is in the film is that Christian Slater is a massive fan of STAR TREK and a good addition to his Curriculum Vitae or Résumé, but to me Christian Slater is one of many actors I hate, as he is a terrible actor. When we see Spock forcibly mind-melds with Valeris [Kim Cattrall] in order to extract from her incriminating information and on the audio commentary Denny Martin Flinn says, “I find this to be a very erotic scene,” and Nicholas Meyer says, “It was meant to be erotic, and is also supposed to be sexy stuff and acknowledge that it was put there as one of those aforementioned easy plot conveniences and they state that the act reveals a heretofore never before seen "dark side" of Spock, and they say there comments as the camera looms in for the big close-up. As we get near to the end of the film, Denny martin Flinn says, “If you look at the film’s like STAR TREK I and STAR TREK II side by side, you will see that Paramount owes the entire franchise to two men, Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer, who saved the films of STAR TREK, because there is no way after STAR TREK, the same format would not have successfully been followed, and Nicholas brought to it an outsiders view and sensibility for feature film, whereas stuck in the TV episode mould would not of gone very far and Nicholas and Harve brought feature film sensitivity to STAR TREK II, which put it back on track, and Nicholas and Leonard have great pace, so sometimes the outsider view can be a big help.” Perhaps unexpectedly, this audio commentary track does not quite flow as the audio track for the film ‘STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN,’ but it is very welcome, lively, and often thoughtful right up to and through the closing credits.
Audio Commentary by Author Larry Nemecek and Television Producer Ira Steven Behr: So who are these inept crass idiot boring guys? Apparently, we are informed that one is an author of STAR TREK books, and the other was a producer on 'Deep Space Nine.' Neither has any direct connection to this film, thank goodness, and has to be one of the worst audio commentaries I have ever had to endure, especially foe this ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ film. As the audio commentary kicks in we hear from these two totally childlike pathetic and stupid people, because when Ira Steven Behr says to Larry Nemecek, “So Larry why are we sitting here in these Starfleet uniforms, why do they feel they need to put us in Starfleet uniforms to do this kind of material, I don’t know about it with you as it feels a little stiff, and why are you a senior medical officer and why am I security, why would they make me security, it is so weird, so up against the wall Larry, up against the wall Larry, empty your pockets.” By the way and slightly very strange, I personally do not understand why they never made pockets for these Starfleet uniforms? When you see the shock waves caused by the Praxis moon exploding and eventually hitting the Starship U.S.S. Excelsior, we are told that this was the first time the CGI effects was used in this film and was done by ILM [Industrial Light & Magic]. Because these two crass idiots, are totally boring, and have totally inept vacuous comments that makes you want to yawn, and it got to the point where I just had to go through the different chapters to hopefully find some more interesting comments that were at the start of the first 30 minutes of the film, but these two inept nerds are the worst kind ever to be allowed let loose, especially with this audio commentary, as they are just a 100% waste of space.
Special Feature: Library Computer: A very cool interactive graphic trivia interface, which is loaded with screen-specific information with just about every aspect of the STAR TREK universe. The Library Computer is overflowing with data that pours out at steady amounts of clips. The Library Computer is an interactive experience that allows you to access information about People, Technology, Locations and more, at the moment each item appears in the film. Switch to Index Mode to scan the entire database and jumps directly to the items of interest. All content is divided into the following categories: Culture; Science & Medicine; Starfleet Ops; Miscellaneous; Life Forms; Planets & Location; People; Technology and Ships.
Special Feature: The Perils of Peace-making [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [26:31] Here we have the origin of behind-the-scene story for ‘STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER’ which is well documented in detail here. Here also we have an examination of the political allegory at the heart of this Sci-Fi film, and the many metaphors of the collapse of the U.S.S.R., that relates to the same situation with the Klingons, especially the political construction, especially like Russia with their paranoid and aggressive attitude with anyone outside Russia. Leonard wanted to get into the minds of the Klingons and find out what makes them tick, to also get into their inner thoughts, because all we have found out about the Klingons is their bluster or try to see inside the Klingon’s mind, the Klingons lifestyle, the Klingons philosophy, and find out about why they like being enemies all the time towards the Federation. Anyway what is a STAR TREK film that has a high-minded documentary that attempts to have “Deep Thoughts” to the going boldly into infinity? This time with “The Perils of Peace-making,” which places our real history’s sable-rattling 20th century Earth alongside the world of the Undiscovered Country. Leonard Nimoy felt his story outline would relate to the time when President Nixon went to China to negotiate peace, so this time in the film, Captain James T. Kirk was sent as a peace envoy to negotiate peace with the Klingons. Casting light on the dark regions of the film, are Nicholas Meyer [Director/Co-screenwriter], Leonard Nimoy [Capt. Spock/Executive Producer], Dr. Angela Stent [Georgetown University] and Ambassador Dennis Ross [Washington Institute for Near East Policy].
Special Feature: Stories from STAR TREK VI [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [57:09] Here you have a collection of six separate features, which are as follows: It Started With A Story [9:44]; Prejudice [5:02]; Director Nicholas Meyer [5:57]; Shakespeare & General Chang [5:52]; Bringing it to Life [23:25] and Farewell & Goodbye [7:03]. They are all the usual well-produced and not overly glossy "talking head" type documentaries that are supported by lots of behind-the-scene footage from the ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ film, and as a bonus we also get to view behind-the-scenes and other sources of interesting information. Here as usual you can select each item individually or go the "Play All" option.
Special Feature: The STAR TREK Universe: Here you have a collection of eight different features, which are as follows:
Conversations with Nicholas Meyer [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [9:33] Here the director speaks about his involvement with the STAR TREK Sci-Fi feature films and gives us some thoughts on filmmaking in general, especially when he say, “making movies, is the closest equivalent I can think of to running away and joining the circus,” and feels that in the 19th century this is what young men would do. On imagination, he says art and paintings, you have the image there and that is all you have, music has no image, but when it comes to film, everything sometime is done too much for the viewer and that is why a director can tell you where to look, but being a director he feels he wants to leave things to the imagination. On actors, Nicholas says he would rather work with a smart actor, than a dumb actor, and especially he feels some actors are brilliant with one take, but other actors are much better after several takes.
Klingons: Conjuring the Legend [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [20:46] Here we trace the evolution and history of Klingons as depicted in the original series, where they first appeared like humans, but with their faces had black make-up, then with the subsequent spin-offs, especially the follow up TV Series after STAR TREK TV series finished, and the follow up STAR TREK feature films. Leonard Nimoy [Captain Spock/Director] talks about when the Klingons were first invented and that was devised by Gene L. Coon who was an American screenwriter and television producer and he is best remembered for his work on the original STAR TREK TV series. We also hear about the evolution of the Klingon written and spoken language.
Federation Operatives [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:52] The following report contains information on actors from STAR TREK franchise, and this is their report, which reads as follows: David Warner [Chancellor Gorkon, St. John Talbot and Gul Madred]; Kurtwood Smith [Federation President, Thrax and Annorax]; Brock Peters [Admiral Cartwright and Joseph Sisko]; Michael Dorn [Colonel Worf, Lt. JG Worf, Lt. Commander Worf and Willie Hawkins]; René Auberjonois [Colonel West, Odo and Douglas Pabst]; Darryl Henriques [Nanclus and Portal]; John Shuck [Klingon Ambassador and Legate Parn]; Morgan Sheppard [Klingon Officer, QATAI and Dr. Ira Graves]; Grace Lee Whitney [Lt. Com. Janice Rand and Yeoman Rand]; Michael Bofshever [Male Alien Romulan and Minister Toran]; Jeremy Roberts [Meso’Clan] and Tom Morga [The Brute, Nausican Soldier, Stunt Player, Soto, Jem’Hadar Soldier, Glinn Corak and Borg]. This now concludes this classified report.
Penny's Toy Box [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [6:06] Here we get to meet Penny Juday who is the Paramount’s STAR TREK Project Archivist takes us on a guided tour through the most secured room on the Paramount plot entitled the Lost Ark warehouse that house the rare props, like models and set pieces that was used in the film ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY.’ First up is Leonard Nimoy’s uniform, from then we get to see the NSS Excelsior NCC-2000 cup and saucer, a Klingon mask, a Klingon canteen, a Miner’s mask, the Assassin weapon, Klingon books, a Klingon gavel, a Klingon disrupter, a Mining tool, the Treaty pen, Uhura’s ear piece. Penny says that Trekkie fans think that all the props that have been shown thinks a lot of money was spent on these particular props, well how gullible and thick can these Trekkie fans be. As Penny closes the door behind the cameraman, says that only a chosen few have seen these rare items, no one is allowed to reveal what is in this secret room, but of course this is just a bit of fun, or is it, you will have to decide for yourself if it is just for fun.
Together Again [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:56] Shot separately, we get Christopher Plummer [General Chang] and William Shatner [Captain James T. Kirk] talk about the reuniting on the film set of ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ many years after working together in radio and theatre during their salad days in Canada. Christopher gives great praise on William Shatner, especially when he used to see this actor on when he appeared in the original TV series of STAR TREK. William Shatner talks about when he first encountered Christopher Plummer as a student at the Montreal University, when they both started doing amateur dramatics, especially as both could speak French and English. Christopher Plummer got a call from Paramount Pictures to be asked to be in the STAR TREK VI film, and they both said it was a great pleasure and also a joy to work together again.
Tom Morga: Alien Stuntman [2009] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:00] The stuntman Tom Morga, who has played many alien characters throughout the STAR TREK franchise, describes the challenges of working in heavy make-up. Thomas "Tom" Alvin Morga is a stuntman, stunt actor, and stunt coordinator who holds the record for being the most seen stuntman in the STAR TREK franchise. Between 1979 and 2005 he appeared in six feature films and all four spin-off television series, doubled main actors and guest actors, and played almost every major alien species, and because he mainly wears a mask, he is able to do as many stunt rolls as possible in lots of Sci-Fi films. Despite this being very short, it was a nice little feature and he seems like a really nice guy.
To Be or Not To Be: Klingons and Shakespeare [2009] [1080p] [1.78:1] [23:04] This is definitely for obsessed nerdy Trekkie fanatics. Here we are at a theatre group in St. Paul, Minnesota put on a stage production of “Hamlet” entirely in Klingon. Trekkies will no doubt find the whole concept amusing and enthralling, but for me, not being an obsessed Trekkie, I found getting through this item a big challenge in itself, because just a smidgen over 23 minutes was far too long for me. When you see them perform the play, luckily you get supplied English subtitles.
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 006: Praxis [2009] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:00] This is the sixth in a series of plot recaps hosted as though they were Starfleet instructional videos at the Starfleet Academy, Ex Astris, Scientia, San Francisco MMCLXI. In this episode, Starfleet Science Officer [Sarah Backhouse] from the 24th century informs us that in 2293 the energy moon Praxis exploded, and because of the moon’s explosive blast generated a massive sub space shock wave, and with the impact of their atmosphere of the Klingon home world Quo’nos, compromised their ozone layer, and reducing its oxygen supply to 50 years. The explosive shock wave damaged the Starship U.S.S. Excelsior, and offering us first-hand look at the enormous extent of its destructive power. The final images of Praxis, reveal the almost incomprehensible extent of the damage, due to the lethal combination of over mining and deficient safety practices, which cause the Klingon Empire to a state of vulnerability, and had definitely altered the Galactic power.
Special Feature: Farewell: DeForrest Kelly: A Tribute [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] [13:19] The late great actor DeForrest Kelly [1920-1999] as Dr. “Bones” McCoy gets a warm remembrance from all who knew him as friends and also people who came into contact with him throughout his illustrious acting career. Highlights include footage from DeForrest Kelley's early years in a black-and-white film ‘Fear In The Night’ [1947], as the bad guy in the Western ‘Gunfight at the O.K. Corral’ [1957], as Bill Rile in the film ‘WACO’ [1966] to name but a few of the many films he appeared in before STAR TREK. This memorial to DeForrest Kelly who of course was the original cast's best actor in the original STAR TREK TV series, is just about worth the price of this special edition all by itself.
Special Feature: Original Interviews [2003] [480i] [1.37:1] Original Interviews were assembled for promotional interviews shot on-set during the production of ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY.’ Contributors include: William Shatner [5:05]; Leonard Nimoy [6:26]; DeForrest Kelley [5:03]; James Doohan [5:33]; Nichelle Nichols [5:39]; George Takei [5:28]; Walter Koenig [5:31] and Iman Abdulmajid [5:07]. Although clearly shot for promotional purposes, and there are some good personal, affectionate content here towards their involvement with the film STAR TREK VI.
Special Feature: Promotional Material: The following items relate to just before the film ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ was about to be released into the cinemas and consists of three separate items and they are the following:
Teaser Trailer [1991] [1080i] [1.78:1] [1:21] This is the Original Teaser Trailer for the film ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY.’ Even though it is a very grainy print, it is still a very nice dramatic presentation.
Theatrical Trailer [1991] [1080p] [2.35:1] [2:16] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY.’ This time we get to see it in its proper aspect ratio, and is definitely a stunning presentation, and worthy homage to the last we will see of the original STAR TREK crew for the six films.
1991 Convention Presentation by Nicholas Meyer [1991] [480i] [1.33:1] [4:49] The following was a special presentation “sneak peek” look at ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ and was screened for the Trekkie fans attending a STAR TREK convention in 1991. Here we find the director Nicholas Meyer on the set of the Klingon Bird of Prey bridge spaceship, wearing a stunning ensemble including a jean jacket and a very silly tie, and Nicholas Meyer also makes two interesting personal comments, comparison between STAR TREK films and the Catholic Mass, and the other item on when he relates to how he handled William Shatner’s more hammy tendencies on set, which is very nicely revealed. So enjoy.
Special Feature: BD-LIVE: To view the contents via your Blu-ray player, it has to be connected to the internet; otherwise it is not BD-LIVE capable. For possible solutions to resolve this problem, please consult your Blu-ray player manual.
Finally, ‘STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY’ is a welcome return to form after the failure of ‘STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER’ and a worthy swan song for the original Enterprise crew. Too bad the producers couldn't resist bringing Admiral James T. Kirk back for the disappointing STAR TREK: GENERATIONS.' Its pacing is brisk and light, and it's all told with a wink to the audience, as if we're to recognize this is all just in good fun. All in all it's a perfectly good send off for the classic characters and makes way for ‘The Next Generation’ to have its day. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
