Visual effects comparison - The Tholian Web (redux) 

After watching a few of these videos I find I prefer the original practical effects over the CGI in a lot of places. Specially for the shots of the Enterprise. examples at 0:43 and 3:23, in the original FX the ship has character, shading and some bumps and bruises, the CGI is too clean and unblemished, and I'll never not love that profile shot of the old girl.

interestingly not all the effects are an improvement

That one ship changed the course of history in the parallel universe.

The funny thing is: Ifeel like the original Tholian vessel is more creepy and more alien. It looks like a mere colored geometrical figure. Why should alien vessels follow our human standarts design? With propulsion and detail. I feel like a real alien vessel should be just more geometrical and maybe with less details, cause they probably didn´t follow the same path we did,specially a geometrical race like he Tholians. Also, such a shame we didnt got to see more of them in other series...

0:45 Original effect : rich texture, vivid lights, soul / CGI : dull, flat , lifeless

The Defiant rippling in the CGI effect was kind of cool. Trouble is, the physical models look so much more believable. The CGI ships look like computer images. The models look like real vessels.

The CGI Enterprise just looks too clean and cartoony. The shots of the model obviously have more grain, but they look more "real." Half of the charm of the original show is lost with the new effects.

Enjoying both rewatching all of TOS, then checking out the comparisons here ep by ep. (great work BTW.) Still, the original of this one holds up pretty well.

I understand changing up some of the shots where the original was using heavily recycled stock shots. But for unique shots I think they should preserve the original framing/positioning closely.

Is it me, or are a good many of the original effects a lot better?

1:32 is actually the best film I’ve seen of the Enterprise model.

I actually like the original exterior shot of the Enterprise in the opening.The film grain adds a sense of mass and scale that the CGI version destroys. The CGI version looks too smooth like a little plastic toy.

The original Tholian ship is better. Something really elegant and organic about the design that added a real alien look to it.

I always hated the Tholian Web idea, how can you just sit there and let them build a cage around you. This idea really annoyed me in Enterprise too.

One of the better episodes of Season Three, imo, although the bit with a supposedly transparent Kirk floating around in space, arms outstretched and pleading was a bit overkill. But then, that was typical Bill, lol! It wouldn't have been Star Trek without him hamming it up. I must admit, this is one if those instances where the digital enhancements were an improvement. The 60's effects showing the Defiant fading in and out of the universe looked like someone was having a bit too much fun with glitter. When it finally did disappear, it was too abrupt, like, now you see it, now you don't. The CGI just gave it that eerie green, wavering glow, making the Defiant appear not entirely substantial, and then it just eventually faded away, which is how it should have been. They did not change the apearance of the Tholian commander, which I felt was a wise move. The updating of the Tholian ships, and the more weblike appearance of the "laser web" the ships discharged was perfect, and provided a creepy, spiderlike appearace. I kinda always wondered if the Tholians weren't just giant spider-like creatures, anyway. The thought totally makes me shudder, as I have major arachnophobia. Thank you for a well-rendered, taut, sharp video of the episodes side by side. It's always a treat to watch. I hope you've been able to settle your issue w/ RU-vid. Honestly, they can be so aggravating!

One honest correction to the credits: Written by Judy Burns & Chet Richards Directed by Herb Wallerstein AND Ralph Senensky Ralph was fired halfway through filming this episode. On his website, he identifies which scenes are his and he sets the record straight.

Cinema is art and modifying it as they did with Star Trek is a violation. Imagine editing The Mona Lisa to lighten her hair and make her slimmer. (Sorry, I'm using Google's translator)

The problem with CGI is that, the more "realistic" it tries to be, the more artificial it feels.

The tholian web has to be the most impractical weapon ever conceived (although they did improve it in ST ENT)

Having seen the originals so many times as a kid, and now watching the CGI for the first time on MeTV, I don't like it. Hope they never do this to 2001: A Space Odyssey!!

I realize the way they lit the old Tholian ships wasn’t accurate, but it looked so much more dynamic and interesting having them 3 colors.

4:16 on the CGI model.. Dafuq is that movement supposed to be.. lol

My favorite episode, Spock at his most 'spockiest'.

What is with this remastered bashing? I understand that all of you prefer the original effects and that’s fine. But come on. It is very childish to bash on the version just to give an artistic take of today.

Yup ...this was the best of the original special effects ... it would have been nice if all three seasons had been this good ...

So did Kirk ACTUALLY see the mirror universe of 2155 while in limbo????

The original had a such nicer star field, and I kind of liked the garish colors for the Tholian vessel. The remake, though, had much better shots of the web...more panning and better angles.

I like the idea of putting both pics side by side. So good job there. But the disruption of the fading in and out meant I couldn't watch for long...

I like the more dynamic angles of the defiant in the cgi version, but there is something to be said about the way the old models looked. The cgi is a little too smooth in some places. I am surprised by how well the original effects hold up. I have a lot of respect for the bluray releases of TOS because they let you choose between the original and cgi effects. I think its a great way preserving the hard work of the original vfx artists while still allowing people to enjoy the updated versions.

What I wonder is why they changed the angle often with the CGI versions? Like, I get that the original was limited in what they could do but why not try to match it? What's interesting is that the writers tapped into this mystery in Star Trek: Enterprise by having the Defiant as a key narrative component and a way to callback to TOS.

This is just another example. Of one of these big corporate conglomerates. CBS Studios, Paramount, et al. Needed to put these more modern enhancements of computer-generated animation. So they can write the cost of the unnecessary postproduction. Off of their corporate taxes. And so it's also plain to see. The Original, really cannot be beat. It did not need to be modernized. Why don't they just go ahead and modernize and computerize. All of the old, Flash Gordon episodes. To make it look like it was all created within a computer. Instead of a little carved and painted wooden toy, spaceship. Dangling from a string. So all of these modern enhancements and eye-catching upgrades. Make it feel so fake now. Trying to make alien planets more closely resemble the earth. Which we absolutely positively, know. The original more unrealistic 1966 version. Might in fact have planets that look very much like that. And so the enhancements are just trying to, inject the only narrowminded thing they know. Assuming all habitable planets have to look like ours.. So, what do we see when we view Venus, from above? Thick LA smog. So thick you cannot see the terrain of the ground. And all you see from above. Is a swirl of, softserve, piping hot, ice cream.. We all scream.. On the surface of Venus. For an ice cream in a burning hell. But not for long. You won't be waiting long. You will melt before the ice cream. I pray for all my Christian friends as an atheist. RemyRAD

The original design of the Tholian scout ships is still the best. The essence of alien technology and mystery was compromised and diluted by making the ships look more contemporary.

I'm one of those rare few who's actually totally fine with the new effects, but I have to ask...what was with the _Defiant's_ sudden angle swap at 1:18-1:25?

I prefer the original Tholian ships. They had a more unique color scheme and if you take it with the recent lore that they are creatures derived of extreme heat then it makes more sense the exterior of their ship looks like it radiates heat. The new ones are pretty generic.

My biggest disappointment in this episode is that they did not upgrade that cheesy image of the Tholian commander. I've always wondered why they didn't do that.

It's funny how in the TOS, it took like a long time for the Tholian Web to complete. While in the ENT, it barely took a second.

Oh goodness. I'm startting to say "fascinating" in my old age of 57.

The cgi is too dark.

Just watched this episode on the CBS butchery channel U.K. freeview..NO black and white...edited to #uck

THE ORIGINAL WAS JUST GROOVY BABY!

i till think the practical effects are more visually appealing to the eyes.

0:47 If there's anything about the remastered versions that bothers me a bit (other than re-recording the theme tune), it's how the font of 'U.S.S. ENTERPRISE NCC-1701' doesn't quite match the font in the original. And yet in some remastered episodes like "Balance of Terror", "Miri", "Arena", "The Devil in the Dark", "The City on the Edge of Forever", "Catspaw", "Mirror, Mirror" and "I, Mudd", it does appear with the correct font. And I believe these were actually the first few episodes to be remastered. So how did they manage to get the font right in the first few remastered episodes and then later screw it up with the rest?

As I've watched these videos I've come to the conclusion that certain effects -- such as the CGI planet surfaces -- are nice improvements to the overall look. Yet I feel they are not significantly better than the original effects. Certainly with a much larger budget they could've created fantastic improvements had they chosen to do so, but we're probably not far from the point where CGI could reproduce all the original actors in new stories.

Seems to me they had more better shots/sfx this season of the ships??

The original effects were way better

Like putting Shakespeare to rap

@5:32 the model on the left looks like a real ship...that's what a model does... it looks real because it is real... on the right is looks like an old video game ship.... They should have kept the models when it looked better and left them alone when it didn't -- it would be nice to show kids what a fucking awesome model looked like....

You kept fading to black before I can even focus on the changes very annoying.

I watched this episode with my nephew at one point and he thought at the end that Kirk missed his chair lol. Makes sense in a way I suppose not to mention the part from the movie where he says “I miss my old chair” to Bones.

Why are the GCI star fields so inferior to the original?

Didn’t they also slightly redo the bridge viewscreen shot of the Tholian itself? It was made higher res and it turned very slightly to the left and right..

Growing up watching the remastered version with my Dad, just feels right to me. As a kid It always confused me how it had such good graphics for being an older show.

I love the GGI Effects. It makes feel like I'm watching the episode for the first time

10/10 These re-masters were so respectful to the look and tone of the original show. They never take you out of the story.

7:29 7:31 7:32

For this one, I prefer the original effects. The CGI effects showed the Defiant too many times from the underside, which isn't the most appealing angle for a Constitution-class ship.

why are some scenes in black and white?

I don't know how an energy weapon can physically 'knock away' the Tholian ship. A photon torpedo, perhaps..Some new effects looked good, others did nothing for me.. Was nice to see new angles of the Defiant instead of watching stock footage of the Enterprise to represent the Defiant..

I think I like the original effects (and perspectives) better.

Bearing in mind the effects of 60 years of film stock degradation on the original film stock, the CGI stock looks poorly executed and in some examples rather clunky. The Enterprise CGI version ironically looked more like a mere toy model than the 1968 version. It also looked drab and static.

The original TOS effects of the Tholian Web and the Tholian ships were more visually stunning than the remastered ones.

I prefer the original version

Starting at 4:35, I so much prefer the original effects. The lines the two ships made were mesmerizing. The new cgi, though sparkly, seems rather dull by comparison. I'm going to have to find the bluray discs with the originals!

Does anyone know if it's possible to get the non-CGI versions in Europe?

I much prefer, in the scene of the Tholian ship firing on the Enterprise, the original energy blast effect from the stupid swirly effect of the CGI.

One of the crew members You can see the distorted surroundings As the crew member seen it. Point is You can see what it looks like suffering with M.S. (Multiple sclerosis)

They never should have altered the original series, it was a bad idea. We don't need better effects, we need the effects that were created at the time. Why erase all the hard work of all the artists and craftsman? And the sad part is that the CGI is now not only the default, but the only version you can find, at the very least if it's on a streaming network, they should have the original cut available for viewing, for the picky viewer.

6:43

Original: inviting, inspired. 2007: dated, not as immersive.

It seems so unnecessary and sometimes inferior. It's like they changed it just to change it.

Yes the CGI looks good... I have no issues with releasing the series in HD, but to replace the original effects with CGI is an insult to the artists who created the show.

The original effects were better! Why did they bother with CGI?

These are good videos...thanks!

6:41 I don't know why, but the enterprise popping into existence creeps me up. (cgi effects) It's probably because of the lightning. The cgi version has darkness all around the ship (except for the small ship lights) while the original one is totally bright.

Personally I feel the original is better , than the future in style and persion

The CGI images of the ships in space are horrible. The original is about 10,000 times better. Restore these films to the original. Sure, sharpen the images, etc., but leave the film alone otherwise!

I still prefer the original. Maybe in another 50 years.

Original effects were not half bad in this episode.

Original of this episode is SO much better!

- Where are we now, Mr Spock? - In the Mirror Universe. :P

the fading in and out between scenes makes this too annoying to watch.

The Original Viewscreen from the Cage Briefing Room @2:40.

in this particular episode as good as the cgi effects are i personally prefer the original. it had more character.

What's with the weird desaturation?

"If it aint broke, why fix it?"

Great ep. I so miss ST. Bad Reboot and Shitty Hideout is NOT ST

Where are the stars?

The constant fades to black in this compilation make it nearly unwatchable.

Why did they put such strong directional lighting on the Enterprise shots. Unless the ship is close to a star, I think the original more diffuse lighting makes more sense. There are a few CGI exterior shots where you can see individual panels skinning the saucer section which looks pretty good, but typically you cant see that detail and it just looks smooth and therefore smaller.

Again - The Old effects were better up til the 4:34 mark.

Mr. Sulu uses a device such as a monitor, apparently in series with CGI effects, is deployed alone. May be?

It was never explained what was the danger of the "Tholian Web" to the Enterprise.

7:37 7:38 7:39 7:40

7:33 7:34 7:35 7:36

I like the models better. When you see the Enterprise top saucer section with the warp engine lights running, CGI pales in comparison. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Cinematography is much better on originals. It's as if the animators have never studied film making, graphic design, or photography.

this is unwatchable

I don't care about anybody else but I prefer the original photography...

For my tastes, although I appreciate the extra clarity and continuity, the new effects are always trying too hard to be realistic and dynamic, and don’t fit in with the rest of the very 60/70s looking visuals. Star Trek TOS has a very distinct style of simple shapes and bright contrasting colours, these don’t. Happily, on the home releases, you can turn them off.

I generally like the alterations the made to the series. However I like the orginal version of this better. The CGI isn't bad. It just isn't is more engaging because both vessels are the same orientation which is a bit more unsettling.