Customer Reviews

Undiscovered Country Special

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll say first that I'm a heretic. I think this is the best of the original series movies; I prefer it to Wrath of Kahn. You've got the best of TOS here; the friendly three way conflict between Kirk, Spock and McCoy. The enjoyable over acting by Shatner, character driven conflicts...it's the best elements of star trek. There's not one big villain but rather an ad-hoc group threatened by a loss in power and prestige with the outbreak of peace. The Cold War overtones are hard to miss for me, as a history buff, but they don't detract from the movie. I rather like this style of villain(s); they're not evil masterminds but simply people threatened by changes. It's far more believable than some of the uber-villains in other Trek movies.

The treatment that this got on Blu-Ray I'd call the gold standard. I've seen better picture and audio quality, particularly from Pixar...but this is still *very* good, far better than many. No artificating, sounds great on my speakers (A decent 2.1 setup attached to a Harmon receiver) and looks wonderful on my 50" 1080p set. It's probably as good as they could do with the source material.

The extras...oh man did they do us justice. Here's a note to other movie stuidos: If you do extras, do them like this. I can't summarize them all in this review, but they went heavy on the documentary/interview stuff as well as including the traditional directory commentaries. I enjoyed the one about Klingons, Shakespear and translations between the two...that was just classic. There's 3 or 4 hours all told of documentary footage, with intelligent, informative commentary. For a Trek fan those alone would almost be worth the purchase price. They talk with costume designers, linguist, FX, stuntmen, actors...it's amazing to see what really goes into a major motion picture.

Wrath of Kahn is the quintessential Star Trek movie. The Undiscovered Country comes close at being just as good.

As for this blu-ray version of the movie there is little I can say that is negative. My only gripe is that they changed the box art (although it makes sense for them as they are trying to re-image Star Trek). The video and audio transfer is near flawless. This disc is also loaded with special features. So far I have only watched the Farewell video to Bones as well as a few of the behind the scenes. It is really good to see that they tried really hard to make this blu-ray jam packed full of stuff for the fans rather than a rehash bare bones release. I have this movie on VHS, DVD and now blu-ray and each version has been worth every penny.

Get this movie and let your inner nerd take over!

This edition of TUC is the first and ONLY way to obtain the original theatrical version of the film. The theatrical version is significantly different (and better) in it's storytelling than the extended video version available up until now. Not even the so-called "special edition" released some years back had the original version on it! This edition is a must for any fan of the original series.

I have been an avid Star Trek TOS fan from the time it was on TV in the 1960's. I have kept up with the movies, and have enjoyed them all, even Star Trek - The Motion Picture. I am not the kind of fan that memorizes everything. But I do remember what I see! Star Trek 6 - The Undiscovered Country was a very fitting end to the TOS franchise. The actors have aged very well, and the movie aluded to that fact with the "... in three months the crew will retire".

I got the movie in VHS, then I got the collectors edition DVD. I watch it a lot, and enjoyed it. When the blu-ray version was released, I thought that it would be a lot of fun to see it in this mode. Imagine my suprise when I see that the movie from the collectors edition was not the movie on the blu-ray. MANY scenes are missing. A lot of pertinent dialogue is gone. I have read in reviews that this is the theatrical version. I do not know about that, but I know scenes are missing that were on the VHS copy! One very important part of the dialogue is Spock and Volaris debating that Vulcans never lie. Many times she will say to Spock, " a lie?" and he says things like, "an error", " an ommision" etc. Then when she is "found out" she says she doesn't remember. Spock say " a lie?" and she says " a choice". Without the previous dialogue, this exchange has no meaning. There are missing scenes in the presidents office, on the Enterprise during the investigation, and the most glaring, the discovery that the Klingon asassin is real Col West. It is one of Michael Dorn's best scene. (Michael Dorn is Worf on Next Gen)

What I do not understand about this blu ray edition is, and I have read this about other Star Trek Blu-Ray editions, if the blue ray disc can hold SO MUCH MORE information, WHY ARE THE MOVIES THE SHORTER AND LESS IMPRESSIVE VERSIONS????

While the extras are good, and the quality is great, haveing the shorter version is a real dissapointment. Maybe I am old fashioned, but I buy the disc for the movie, not the extras. If you skimp on the movie, what good are the extras? Maybe Paramount will release Collector's Editions on blu ray. Those I would buy. If you are a Star Trek movie buff, and are not in it for the "extras", I would pass on this edition, and view the DVD collectors edition. Much better ride, and it still looks good on an HD TV!

The plot of the movie is pretty simple. The Klingons (Man I'm such a nerd) are on the verge of extinction. Starfleet want's Kirk and company to go on a diplomatic mission to meet with Klingon officials to work on peace between Starfleet and the Klingon empire, the Undiscovered Country. However, that being said, not everyone wants peace between the two cultures. It seems that when the Klingons beam back to their ship, the Enterprise fire two shots at the ship and disables it. Then two officers beam aboard the Klingon ship and killed the Klingon Chancellor. This pretty much kills the chance for peace. Kirk and company have to find out what really happened and who doesn't want peace between Starfleet and the Klingon Empire.

This really is a wonderful transfer to blu ray. The sound is crisp and clear and the images are sharp, vivid and clear. I can't say enough good things on how this was transfered over. I just have one small issue with the Star Trek blu ray's. The main movie menu is really lame. It's the same image for all the movies, it's the Star Trek symbol, and that's it. The Star Trek symbol. They could have done so much and put anything they wanted there. That's the only issue I have with the Star Trek blu rays.

I highly suggest you get this movie. It has some wonderful plot twists and will keep you guessing right up to the end. If you get it for yourself, or a Star Trek fan in you life, you won't be sorry. I know I'm not.

My greatest complaint: Where is René Auberjonois??!!

The actor's two scenes in which he played Colonel West have been cut entirely from the film! The first scene occurs in the President of the Federation's office in which there is additional dialog about planning a rescue mission for William Shatner and company and the hawks of the Federation are contemplating attacking the Klingons. "Those men have literally saved this planet." "Yes, Bill, I know that. And they're going to save it again. By standing trial." The other scene is at the end of the film in which Mr. Auberjonois plays a Star Fleet officer disguised as a Klingon who tries to assassinate the President. (In this blu-Ray version -- which looks good by the way -- it isn't revealed that the assassin is actually a human in disguise.) While some may regard these scenes as unnecessary, the fact remains that they were deleted, involve the same actor, and add an additional dimension to the film. Is this due to a royalties dispute? Disappointing!

Film review:
This is one of the most well-done and intelligent of the Star Trek films. As sci-fi is often a form of entertainment that has the duel function of providing commentary/discussion about real world issues, the cultural/political themes contained therein are thoughtful and somewhat sophisticated for a film like this that came out in 1991. It's hard to miss that the central conflict is used as a metaphor for the Cold War / fall of the Soviet Union, while the film also takes the opportunity to philosophically reflect on historical and present day social/ethnic relations. This is achieved in part (in a curious mixing of metaphors) by offering up the Klingons as an amalgam of cultural references: they are at once African Americans, Native Americans, and Soviets in terms of their overall function in the plot and embodiment of past and present racial conflicts in America. They are at once the aggressors as well as the possible future victims of forced assimilation into a "homo sapiens-only social club" (United Federation of Planets / historical white mainstream USA). At any rate, the special effects are decent, the tone is darker and more menacing -- with more at stake than in past fluffier, light-hearted Star Trek films - and overall Star Trek Vi is a thrilling space swashbuckler with some characteristic light moments.

Although twenty years have passed since the making of this film, it is nostalgic to watch the old Star Trek crew once again, especially when the story, written by Leonard Nemoy, is good, as it is in this film.

The Klingons, the Federation's enemy, are losing air on their planet and will die in fifteen years unless the rest of the world helps them. The federation leaders want to help, but Captain Kirk and others are against it. Kirk does not trust the Klingons and is still angry that they caused the death of his son.

The Klingon ambassador is assassinated and Kirk is blamed. He is arrested by the Klingons, sentenced, and sent to an underground penal colony. There is another possible future assassination because it is clear that someone or group wants to stop the peace initiative.

The film dramatizes three possible reasons why many people prefer war over peace. They do not trust the others and fear that they will harm them, they can't forget the past harm that the former enemy inflicted upon them, and/or they simply enjoy the thrill and adventure of war.

The cast finds themselves in the last movie that has all it's members present. The acting is good from all involved. There are even some appearances from other well known actors. I bought this one for nostalgic purposes. It was one of my favorite Star Trek movies. The blu ray format does it justice. Gorgeous picture and great sound. Is a must buy for any Trekkie.

Star Trek: VI the Undiscovered Country is a good movie but It's single disk edition. The Special features are not so special. I think the bonus Material in this DVD is low quality. If your able to find the Star Trek VI: Undiscovered Country two-disk special edition I will recommend that over this one. I like the film but the DVD transfer is terrible. Don't buy it unless you have never seen this Star Trek movie which is the final farewell to Star Trek:the Original Series. The Original Star Trek cast will be missed. William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelly,Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nicholes, James Doohan, and George Takei. I like this movie but the DVD transfer is terrible. C

The fabulous end to the story of the original cast/crew of Star Trek. Warm, full of hope. Christopher Plummer adds to the story with his treacherous Shakespeare quoting Klingon general. This Trek movie is on a high level.

A joyous ride!