Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie Collection (4K UHD Review)
- Review Date: Apr 17, 2023
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
David Carson, Jonathan Frakes, Stuart BairdRelease Date(s)
1994-2002 (April 4, 2023)Studio(s)
Paramount Pictures (Paramount Home Entertainment)- Film/Program Grade: See Below
- Video Grade: See Below
- Audio Grade: See Below
- Extras Grade: B
- Overall Grade: B+
Review
For as long as I’ve been the editor of The Digital Bits, I’ve found myself covering one Star Trek release after another, going all the way back to the LaserDisc format and the DVD release of First Contact in 1998—the very first Star Trek property of any kind to appear on the format. I’ve been to Paramount and CBS many times in the process, consulted with them on Trek releases over the years, and offered advice to studio executives on the subject whenever asked. But it’s no exaggeration to say that I—like many of you—have been waiting for properly-remastered Blu-ray and 4K versions of these films for as long as those formats have existed. So it’s no small thrill for me to see that the final four remastered feature films have now been released on Ultra HD and remastered Blu-ray. And I’m pleased to report that Paramount has delivered an experience that’s worthy of both these films and that lengthy wait.
I reviewed the Star Trek: The Original 4-Movie Collection (which contained the Theatrical Version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) in 4K Ultra HD here at The Bits back in 2021.
A year later, in 2022, I reviewed Paramount’s subsequent 4K UHD releases of the long-awaited Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition: Complete Adventure Limited Edition box set, as well as the wide-release 4K version of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director’s Edition, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
And now, we finally have the new Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie Collection, which includes Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: First Contact on both 4K Ultra HD and remastered Blu-ray.
As you might expect, I’ve reviewed each of these TNG films individually in 4K here at The Bits recently, so here are links to each of those reviews for more detailed reading…
Star Trek: Generations (4K UHD Review)
Star Trek: First Contact (4K UHD Review)
Star Trek: Insurrection (4K UHD Review)
Star Trek: Nemesis (4K UHD Review)
For the record, here are my grades for each title…
Star Trek: Generations (Film/Video/Audio/Extras): B/A-/A-/B
Star Trek: First Contact: B/A/A/B+
Star Trek: Insurrection: C/A/B+/B-
Star Trek: Nemesis: C+/A-/A/A-
Each of the four titles listed above is a 2-disc set that includes the film in 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray. In terms of special features, they each carry over all of the previous Blu-ray and DVD special features, including the original DVD Easter eggs (which are no longer hidden in the menus, but rather listed as a menu selection). This package also includes Digital Copy codes for all four films on a paper insert. And if you purchase this 4-Movie Collection rather than the single-film SKUS, the discs all come packaged in a single multi-disc Amaray case with a cardboard slipcover that features new artwork. (The single-film SKUs use variations of the original poster artwork for each film.)
One thing worth noting: Neither the 4K/Blu-ray singles reviewed above or this new 4-Movie Collection include the Evolutions bonus disc found in the 2009 Star Trek: The Next Generation Movie Collection Blu-ray box, so you may wish to hang onto that disc if you have it. For the record, it featured:
- The Evolution of the Enterprise (HD – 14:23)
- Villains of Star Trek (HD – 14:04)
- I Love the Star Trek Movies (HD – 4:34)
- Farewell to Star Trek: The Experience (HD – 28:06)
- Klingon Encounter (HD – 3:29)
- Borg Invasion 4D* (HD – 5:12)
- Charting the Final Frontier (HD ≈ 10:00)
*This feature is different than the Borg Invasion Trailer included on the remastered First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis Blu-rays.
The 3-part The Captains’ Summit roundtable discussion (with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, and Jonathan Frakes, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg) from the 2009 Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection Blu-ray bonus disc is also not included in any of these new 4K or remastered Blu-ray releases.
Whether you purchase this new Star Trek: The Next Generation 4-Movie Collection or buy the films individually, Trek fans should be very pleased at the overall quality of the viewing experience. It’s safe to say that these four films have never looked better than they do here. And at long last, we finally have all ten of the original Star Trek feature films on 4K Ultra HD and remastered Blu-ray. And if they sell well, there’s a good chance that CBS and Paramount might deliver Star Trek: Picard – Season Three—which continues the Next Generation crew’s story in fine fashion—in 4K Ultra HD as well. (Make it so, Paramount!) In the meantime, this new 4K set is highly recommended for Trek fans.
- Bill Hunt
(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)