TOS gets a Touch-Up

Just recently, I was watching Star Trek, the Original Series on DVD (or ST:TOS for those in the know), and for the most part, the show looks fantastic. However, I've been wishing that the external special effects scenes of the Enterprise, alien ships, and planets thoughtout the series looked a little better, as most of these shots were heavily reused and grew darker, more scratched, and more dusty as the series progressed.

There was one specific episode that I was watching that I thought could use a complete overhaul, and that was The Doomsday Machine. This episode was outstanding in terms of drama and acting, but the the horror of the Doomsday Machine itself was never sold on me. Even when I was a kid, I couldn't fathom why Commodore Decker was so horrified at this snail-paced paper maché cornucopia.

Not too long after having watched this episode on DVD, I had my wish fulfilled when I recieved a link to this video of some enhanced Doomsday Machine SFX shots on YouTube:



Even though the Doomsday Machine stays true to its original low-budget design, it's awesomeness is much better sold on me. I'm dying to see more.

Well, as it turns out, Paramount just announced that the original Star Trek series is getting a CGI makeover for it's 40th anniversary in prepartion for broadcast in High Definition! If Paramount's effects look as good as that footage on YouTube (and I'm guessing they'll be much better), I'll be very pleased. I'm probably speaking for millions of Trekkies (or Trekkors, depending on which side of the Galactic Barrier you were born on) when I say that I can't wait for this! And on broadcast tv, no less!

I guess I'll be thinking more seriously about buying an HDTV in 2007...

via TrekMovie.com

Update: Phil found some additional information on The Digital Bits Rumor Mill from yesterday (8/28)... They bring up a good point, what aspect ratio is this going to be presented in?