After last night’s early reveal of J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek coming to Blu-ray Disc and DVD on November 17, Paramount has issued a press release with a top to bottom description of everything packaged into the sets.
As noted last night, the packaging for Star Trek (2009) on Blu-ray and DVD will feature “augmented reality” that allows you to hold the case up to a webcam or PS3 Eye camera and move around a 3D holographic version of the Enterprise with tilts and pans of the case.
J.J. Abrams has already seen the film on Blu-ray and promises fans are in for a treat. “I cannot wait for fans of Star Trek to check out the home entertainment release of the film. The behind-the-scenes features on the DVD — and especially the Blu-ray — give a wonderful look at the crazy hard work and incredible fun that went into making this movie,” said Abrams. “The cast and crew were truly extraordinary to work with — watching these special features, you’ll see why. And for people who didn’t catch Star Trek in the theater, I hope they do now, as Paramount has done an exceptional job with this release; the picture and sound quality are both excellent.”
On Blu-ray, Star Trek will be offered in 1080p video and 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio. Bonus features run over three hours and are offered in “branching pods” allowing for a more interactive experience versus the DVD.
Disc 1:
- Commentary — By director J.J. Abrams, writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Bryan Burk.
- NASA News — This BD-Live feature gives viewers access to the latest NASA news about real space exploration. Learn about new mission developments and check out featured imagery from around the universe. (BD exclusive)
Disc 2:
- To Boldly Go – Taking on the world’s most beloved science fiction franchise was no small mission. Director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof, and executive producer Bryan Burk talk about the many challenges they faced and their strategy for success.
- Branching Pods:
- The Shatner Conundrum
- Red Shirt Guy
- The Green Girl
- Trekker Alert!
- Casting – The producers knew their greatest task was finding the right cast to reprise these epic roles. The cast, for their part, talk about the experience of trying to capture the essence of these mythic characters. The piece concludes with a moving tribute to Leonard Nimoy.
- A New Vision – J.J. Abrams’ vision was not only to create a Star Trek that was a bigger, more action-packed spectacle, but also to make the spectacle feel real. Every aspect of production—from unique locations to the use of classic Hollywood camera tricks—was guided by this overall objective.
- Branching Pods:
- Savage Pressure
- Starships—Abrams and production designer Scott Chambliss were careful to pay tribute to the design of the original Enterprise, but they also wanted to make it futuristic and cool for a modern audience. This chapter focuses on the unique stories behind the creation of the film’s starships.
- Branching Pods:
- Warp Explained
- Paint Job
- Bridge Construction Accelerated
- The Captain’s Chair
- Button Acting 101
- Shuttle Shuffle
- Narada Construction Accelerated
- Aliens – Designers Neville Page and Joel Harlow talk about the hurdles they faced creating new alien species, recreating the Romulans and Vulcans, and designing the terrifying creatures on Delta Vega for the new Star Trek.
- Branching Pods:
- The Alien Paradox
- Big-Eyed Girl
- Big Bro Quinto
- Klingons
- Drakoulias Anatomy 101
- Planets — From the frozen landscape of Delta Vega to the desert plains of Vulcan, Scott Chambliss and the art department had a number of radically different planets to create. Abrams’ desire to shoot on real locations whenever possible led the production team to a number of strange and surprising locations.
- Branching Pods:
- Extra Business
- Confidentiality
- Props and Costumes — Property master Russell Bobbitt had the unique challenge of designing props that were both true to the original series and pertinent to today’s technology. Likewise, costume designer Michael Kaplan talks about how he designed costumes that paid homage to what came before yet were relevant and timeless.
- Branching Pods:
- Klingon Wardrobe
- Ben Burtt and the Sounds of Star Trek — When famed sound designer Ben Burtt was hired to create sounds for the first Star Wars film, he took his inspiration from the original Star Trek series. Burtt jumped at the opportunity to pay tribute to the sounds that sparked his career with the sounds he created for the new Star Trek.
- Score — As a fan of the original series, composer Michael Giacchino embraced the challenge of creating new music for Star Trek while preserving the spirit of Alexander Courage’s celebrated theme.
- Gene Roddenberry’s Vision — J.J. Abrams, Leonard Nimoy, previous Star Trek writers and producers, and scientific consultant Carolyn Porco describe and commend the optimistic and enduring vision of Gene Roddenberry.
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary—See details above.
- Starfleet Vessel Simulator — Explore extensive data on the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Romulan ship, the Narada. Submerse yourself in breathtaking 360° views and close-ups and review detailed tech information. (BD exclusive)
- Gag Reel – Bloopers featuring the entire principal cast
Disc 3:
- Digital Copy
- STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for Xbox 360
- Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PC
- Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PS3 on the PlayStation Network
That’s a lot of Trek! Pricing for each set shakes out as follows: Single DVD $29.99 ($36.99 in Canada); 2-disc DVD $39.99 ($45.99 in Canada); and Blu-ray $39.99 ($49.99 in Canada). I’m on the hunt for the fancy Blu-ray cover art and will share it, along with Amazon pre-order information, as soon as I can.
