Great Package: Superb Special Edition Extras

This is the first in this series of collectors STAR TREK films that I have bought and/or seen.
Visually the outer package restores some elements that have not been seen since the original film.However, I guess I was expecting a booklet, but no matter since the second DVD has an equivalent version in a collection of stills.
If you buy this as one who has seen previous editions of the film, in VHS, and DVD, then the quality will totally blow you away. The immaculate detail is just superb.
On a 5.1 sound system, the effect is awesome, and on a DVI input monitor, totally great.
The person coming newly to this film will be impressed as well, and maybe perhaps a little overwhelmed.
When I first saw these Special Collectors edition, it was in a full set that had I think up to Generations in it. Costing around 120 dollars at a higher priced video store.
Anyways, the story is given in other reviews here. The impressive part is the care in the extras, the insight into the making of the film, and thankfully, Nicholas Meyers does not behave in the same manner he did in the commentary on TIME AFTER TIME ( 1979). The interviews are insightful, and sometimes contradictory, but time has passed and peoples memories get "edited". The tribute to DeForest Kelley is great, and really revealing in how a superb actor got to be a major Movie star in the latter part of his career. Most fans of STAR TREK and this genre should really enjoy this work.

One of the Better "Star Trek" Films w/ A Deluxe Treatment!

"Star Trek VI" is the film that redeemed the disappointing reactions that the fifth movie drew out of loyal fans. I for one, enjoyed that movie, even though it's my least favorite...but that's another debate for another review.

After the Klingon moon Praxis explodes and permanently damages the atmosphere of the Kronos, the Klingon home planet, peace talks begin between the Federation and their longtime-nemeses. The bitter and deeply-resentful Captain Kirk (William Shatner) is chosen to lead the soon-to-be-retired Enterprise crew for one last mission, that is to escort Klingon Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner in a wonderful brief role) to Earth. After an embarrasing dinner-in-space between the two races concludes, and many of the crew members are more-than-buzzed, the Klingon vessel is attacked. Since the Enterprise was the only within range of the Klingon vessel, Kirk and Dr. McCoy (the late DeForest Kelley) agree to surrender themselves and suffer the consequences, in hopes of saving the peace talks. There's just one catch: Who indeed attacked the Klingon vessel?

What unfolds is a mystery sci-fi adventure, where multiple tales intertwine. There's the tension on Earth between interplantery diplomats, Kirk and McCoy's struggle to survive their prison sentence, Captain Sulu's (George Takei as a former Enterprise crew member) dilemma between following orders or assisting his former starship-captain, Captain Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) sponsorship and mentoring of another promising Vulcan (Kim Cattrall in a very good performance), and finally the Enterprise's investigation of the conspiracy. This is an unusually complex story for "Star Trek" movies, which typically focus on two threads at most. Nicholas Meyer was brought back to helm this movie; a wise choice considering he directed what is widely-considered the best of all "Trek" films - "Star Trek II" (I agree with that praise).

I love these movies, and have revisited all of the movies' Two-Disc DVDs from "The Motion Picture" to "Nemesis". In "The Undiscovered Country", I've come to admire the colorful characters, fantastic visual and sound effects, and a metaphoric tale that addresses the dangers of prejudice and racism...out of ten films, "Star Trek VI" is one of the boldest.

I've also noticed a few shortcomings in each movie. In this film, one of them is a DVD-exclusive edit, where a brief flashback technique is used as the names of the conspirators are revealed. I won't reveal which scene that is, but those who've viewed the film know which one I'm talking about. It's not a huge deal, but it's distracting and doesn't fit the visual style of the rest of the movie. Another criticism applies to the entire movie - It's too rushed! For example, the trials of Kirk and McCoy have no sense of time. Did it all occur within a day? Did it span across a few days? It was a "show trial", but either a lot of ground was covered and not given enough screentime, or General Chang (Christopher Plummer as a Gorkon's chief-of-staff) was an overly-gifted prosecutor and Colonel Worf (Michael Dorn in an underused role) was the most useless defense attorney in the galaxy. I'm leaning towards the 'lack-of-screentime' theory. Another case is the time spent on Rhua Penthe, the prison planet that Kirk and McCoy are sentenced to. They spend very little time there before they figure out some key puzzles of the conspiracy, get into a few scuffles, and escape their doomed future. The screenplay, which even creator Gene Roddenberry had objections to, had a labyrinth of ideas and character studies that could've been expanded. Yet, the ideas come off as preachy, and the mystery is a little too easy to figure out. I know Roddenberry wanted "Star Trek" and his vision of the future to be accessible to all viewers; I agree with that, but cinema is the medium to expand visual art into another realm, not simply to make simple art look prettier.

Nevertheless, this is a very good film, in spite of all of its flaws. The idea of prejudice and acceptance is one of the bravest "Star Trek" has tackled; this sixth entry portrays that concept with an adventuruous mystery with some Shakespearen flavor, outstanding special effects, breath-taking suspense, and a heart-warming farewell from the original Enterprise crew.

This "Trek" movie is definitely worth checking out, thanks to this spectacular DVD treatment. The Extras are all worth watching, and the commentaries (both the Text trivia track and Audio track) are insightful and the best of the "Star Trek" DVDs.

All-in-all, I would like the film to be more than it is. But I enjoy it a lot, and the Extras are some of the best in the "Star Trek" Collection. Science fiction fans and Trekkers will love this one.

Unfortunately, a lot of boring talking heads

In my opinion, this is the worst ST movie. Apart from the effects, ST V was better.
ST VI was extremely long, involved lots of "commentary" dialogue (where the writer seemed to be extrememly concerned that we all think him well-read and intelligent), and not much plot movement.
It would have made a better episode, with some tight editing,
The best part of the movie is the last 15 minutes when the incredibly obvious "secret plot" is finally revealed, and the Enterprise shoots the modified photon torpedo at the "To be or not to be" captain.

Don't waste your money, unless you HAVE to have the whole collection. ST V is funnier. The Voyage Home (IV) is the best.