Star Trek III: The Search for Spock [DVD] [1984] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This DVD is a great improvement over previous releases - two dics gives you extras that are always informative and for the most part truly interesting. The directors commentary gives Leonard Nimoy the chance to speak with his directors hat on for a change instead of as an actor, and gives good insight into what it's like for an actor to direct for the first time - it makes me want to buy "Three men and a baby" purely to see how his experiences develop.

All else that can be said is that the sound and picture quality are excellent throughout (especially considering how old this movie is), as are the discs animated menus. Oh, and hunt out for the easter egg - it contains probably the best documentary on this two-disc set.

The character interaction is at its very best, with the possibility of bringing Spock back to life causing Kirk, McCoy, Sulu, Uhura, Chekov and Scotty to steal the Enterprise and effectively end their Starfleet careers in the ultimate gesture of friendship: the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. Even the action element of the movie is up there with the more acclaimed Star Trek II; Klingon Commander Kruge is a great bad guy and it's a testament to the actor that after a few minutes I've almost forgotten he was in Back to the Future.

The only flaw with the DVD is that, aside from the commentary and special features, there's little to entice those who already own the much cheaper Star Trek III DVD; although colours are striking and the picture is sharp, it doesn't seem as 'clean' as the re-released Star Trek II, and there are no deleted scenes inserted like in the previous two movies. In terms of the film however, it's a funny ("how can you be deaf with ears like that?") and exciting journey that expanded the Star Trek universe visually for the first time, even if Shatner is still wearing a wig.

The special features are extensive and interesting, for the most part. Klingon language creator and teacher Marc Okrand gives insight into how the language was developed for this film, and altered according to the great Christopher Lloyd's pronunciations, while Industrial Light and Magic effects crew explain how they developed the designs for the U.S.S. Excelsior, Spacedock and Klingon Bird-of-Prey - all of which would be used again and again in the Next Generation. The director's commentary from Leonard Nimoy is also one of the best commentaries I've heard for a couple of reasons: firstly, it is informative and gives insight to how Leonard directed scenes, and secondly it's Spock.