Genre: Sci-Fi | Action | Drama
Creator: Gene Roddenberry
Writers: Michael Piller
Director: Cliff Bole
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Elizabeth Dennehy, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Wil Wheaton
Summary:
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Blu-ray features a seamlessly edited, one-part, feature length presentation of the classic two-part cliffhanger. In this fan favorite episode, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is captured and assimilated by the Borg. Available in high-definition for the first time ever, a centerpiece to the release is a newly-produced featurette entitled “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg.” Offering fans an in-depth exploration into the creation of The Next Generation’s most iconic villains, along with the making of the episode, the exclusive featurette includes all-new interviews with the show’s production staff, visual effects artists, writers, and cast as they reveal the challenges faced in producing one of the most technically complex episodes of the series. Plus the set includes an exclusive gag reel and all-new commentary with technical consultants Mike and Denise Okuda, actor Elizabeth Dennehy and director Cliff Bole.
Trailer: Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds Blu-ray
[youtube]http://youtu.be/AYy8o4nXZEY[/youtube]
It glows. It makes your eyes get physically bigger because it is so crispy clear and gorgeous. Did you know there’s a texture to the TNG uniforms? You can see it now. Granted, the restoration does make the landscape matte paintings that are sometimes used in the background look like matte paintings, but they’re beautiful matte paintings.
As you can see, and as you may have already seen in my review of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3 Blu-ray, I am a big fan of these restored versions of Star Trek: The Next Generation. They are absolutely gorgeous. This particular standalone Blu-ray disc differs from the season releases because it takes the Season 3 finale, “The Best of Both Worlds Part 1” and connects it to the Season 4 premiere, “The Best of Both Worlds Part 2”, making one lovely movie. Which is wonderful. Except…
Every TNG fan knows Part 1 of “The Best of Both Worlds” as the epitome of cliffhangers. “Cliffhanger” is in fact the one-word descriptor invariably used for the episode. It’s the reason the title is uttered with reverence. In this Blu-ray presentation, the two are fused. You can’t even tell where Part 1 ends. It is REALLY missed. It is a terrific movie, a wonder to behold, a classic. But without that cliffhanger, it misses a step; it loses its very special and unique spark.
As for the bonus content, the new featurette “Regeneration: Engaging the Borg” is a great visit with old friends, as it is made up of recollections by the actors and others. Although it looks to have been made at the same time as a similar new featurette on the Season 3 Blu-ray, it’s mostly new material, and focuses a great deal on Elizabeth Dennehy’s memories of what was her first role on TV.
The commentary is interesting and full of the nuggets you’d expect from Dennehy as well as the director and the Okudas. The gag reel is fairly short and contains a couple of snorts, but is really mostly filler.
When the cliffhanger aspect is taken away from one of the best cliffhangers ever, it’s bound to lose a bit of its appeal. Still, this restoration is gorgeous, wonderful, and absolutely recommended as an addition to your TNG library.
I give Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds (Blu-ray + UltraViolet Four Out of Five Stars.
Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Best of Both Worlds (Blu-ray + UltraViolet is available now from Amazon; here’s the link:
[AMAZONPRODUCT=B00BAXTY8U]
