Star Trek as an entity is something that has been a major part of the lives of many people since it debuted nearly fifty-five years ago. William Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise, a role that would define his career. Shatner has often had a complicated relationship with the franchise and other iterations of the property, but those days appear to be long behind him. Shatner embraces the series and its fans in all of their forms, so much so that he decided to create a series of documentaries examining the impact of the show from various angles. Shout! Factory has gathered together four of these films in one collection for the first time in high definition. For fans of Star Trek, they will love getting to spend some time with Shatner and the rest of the captains as they discuss behind-the-scenes details that only those closest to the production can share. Take a look at the four films in this set below: 

The Captains (2011)

Shatner sits down for five insightful interviews with the franchise’s captains — Sir Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula and his own Kirk counterpart, Chris Pine.

The five individuals interviewed in The Captains all have a very specific bond. All of them are uniquely qualified to speak to the responsibilities and experiences of leading one of the most enduring franchises in entertainment history. The fact that Shatner is the one conducting these interviews allows the viewers to hear stories that the subjects may have been uncomfortable sharing with anyone else. Shatner can occasionally be off-putting as he races to put words in the mouths of his colleagues, but he just as often asks the tough questions that you want to know. Although accompanied by a jazzy score that might make you feel like you are viewing something more on the fluffy side, the documentary delivers some brutally honest revelations concerning how the show impacted their personal lives. Stories of infidelity, lost tempers and neglected families reveal the less glamorous side of fame. There are likely stories we will never hear about some of the darker moments, but what Shatner displays here is very engaging. There is a deep appreciation for the franchise and the fans, especially from Shatner, and this is the perfect avenue for these captains to thank longtime fans while revealing other facets of their personality. 

The Captains Close Up (2013)

The interviews continue with this docuseries formed from additional interview footage unable to be included in the original The Captains film.

The Captains Close Up is a five-episode series that focuses on each captain from Shatner to Bakula composed of mostly unused footage from the feature. The episodes will occasionally feature footage from The Captains, but usually it is used as a jumping off point to a much richer conversation. While The Captains is very entertaining, The Captains Close Up gives each participant a chance to breathe and really dig into some meaty stories. In addition to more time for the participants to share stories, Close Up brings in more participation from cast members who appeared alongside each captain. Patrick Stewart shares some very harrowing memories of WWII from childhood and talks to Shatner about his trepidation with being the first captain after Kirk. Avery Brooks is revealed to be something of an enigma with his larger-than-life outlook on the world. Kate Mulgrew talks about the struggle to balance work with family as a single mom with neither getting the appropriate amount of her focus. Her story of taking over for another actress after shooting had already commenced is among the best moments of the collection. Bakula reveals how getting offered the role on Star Trek: Enterprise put a strain on a close friendship. All of these individuals have a very particular personality that is electrifying to watch on screen. 

Chaos On The Bridge (2014)

The delightful — and surprising — story of bringing Star Trek: The Next Generation to the screen!

In terms of pure drama in this collection, nothing can quite hold a candle to Chaos On The Bridge, a no-holds-barred account of the blood, sweat and tears that went into the making of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Shatner interviews everyone from the cast members to the writers to the network executives to get to the truth of the troubled production. Every step of the way seemed to be an uphill battle as Gene Roddenberry bristled at a new series even being developed. It may be inconceivable to think of anyone but Sir Patrick Stewart playing Jean-Luc Picard, but his casting proved to be very controversial to some creative figures. Some of the most fun and brutal interviews come from the writers, who felt at odds with executives and each other, and they are unafraid to name names. Shatner brings back actors who left or were asked to leave the show to get more well-rounded insights into some of these decisions. Chaos On The Bridge is like watching Real Housewives for the Star Trek community as shots are constantly fired and closed-door thoughts are revealed. One network executive details how he played mind games with Patrick Stewart to keep him from walking off the set. We all pretend to not love gossip, but we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that this level of un-redacted dirty laundry being aired is fascinating. 

Get A Life! (2012)

Shatner’s own, unforgettable love letter to the fans of Star Trek.

This final entry takes a step back from delving into the history of the show and explores the impact the series has had on the fans. Through a mixture of convention footage and interviews with key professional figures, Shatner attempts to pay back some of the love that has been given to him over the years. Part of the film is dedicated to a more surface-level aspect of fandom, such as the epic collections of memorabilia that some people amass or the elaborate costumes that are crafted when attending conventions. The level of creativity and detail some people put into these costumes rises above just being a casual lover of the series. Shatner wisely explores even more poignant themes about Star Trek bringing people together. This is a series that has given families something to bond over. This is a series that has introduced individuals with their significant others. This is not as simple as loving the same television show, but rather having the same core values and outlook on life that this particular series represents. It is genuinely emotional to spend some time with these people and truly understand the massive cultural impact this show has had and continues to have. It is the fans that have kept this franchise vibrant over the years, and this is a lovely validation of that support. 

Video Quality

The Captains Collection comes to Blu-Ray featuring material in varying degrees of quality in terms of clips being used as opposed to the newer interview footage. It can be said with certainty that the films themselves and everything within them look as technically excellent as they can look in high definition. This can partly be attributed to the fact that Shout! Factory has provided each feature with its own disc, giving them plenty of room to breathe. This company has been so great in this respect, and it is always appreciated. The archival clips used seem to be the best versions that were available when this was made, with most of them looking pretty excellent. Interview segments look incredibly sleek and clear with natural skin tones and detailed facial features. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. Colors of costumes and the greens of the foliage pop in a pleasant way. I do not see how this set could have been improved visually. It’s a real stunner as is.

Audio Quality

These Blu-Ray discs come with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio tracks that perfectly suit the source material, but is understandably restrained. As this primarily acts as an interview series with one-on-one conversations and talking heads abound, dialogue is the focus right up front in the center channel. The archival clips do not feature much in the way of age-related wear, thankfully. The charming score that complements the first two Captains films brings a warmth to the speakers. The two-channel presentation is enveloping in its own way, and it maintains the artistic choice of the series. The surround presentation is not hugely dynamic, but opens up the world a bit more for those who want the added experience. These tracks deftly do what they need to do to bring these films to life. 

Special Features

Disc One

• The Making of The Captains: An eleven-minute look at how The Captains came to be from the inception of the idea to travel being accommodated by a devoted fan. This piece offers up some good insights into how the interviews came together and how the fan interaction figured into the experience. 

• Trailer: A minute-long trailer that teases the candid moments that you get from the documentary. 

Disc Two

• Still Kicking: A 47-minute additional episode structured like the “Close Up” episodes featuring a wildly entertaining discussion with Christopher Plummer. There are some great discussions about Star Trek, but the conversation is incredibly expansive and delves into many interesting realms. 

• Shatner The Firefighter: A minute-long story from Shatner in which he tells how he saved the Star Trek set from burning down while on break from filming TJ Hooker. This is a fun, quick story. 

• When The Wall Came Down: A two-minute interview between Shatner and a Paramount historian in which they discuss Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez’s involvement in the Star Trek franchise and how their divorce tore down walls on the studio lot. 

• “Ponder The Mystery” Music Video: A nearly four-minute music video for a William Shatner tune that is wildly goofy, just as you would expect from the artist. 

• Captains Close-Up Trailer: A minute-long trailer that gives you quick bites from each interview. 

• Still Kicking Trailer: A minute-long tease to the glorious Christopher Plummer discussion. 

Disc Three

• Trailer: A two-minute trailer that gives you a taste of some of the heated discussions that are featured in the film. 

Disc Four

• Shatner & The Fans: A three-minute collection of touching moments featuring Shatner engaging with fans at the convention. 

• The Jue Family: A five-minute look at a large family featured in the film that has a deep love for the series. It is fun to see this passion span multiple generations as you get to know each member of the family. 

• Conversation with Robert Walter: A six-minute extended interview with the Joseph Campbell Foundation President featured in the film in which they discuss the role of TV in society, who Joseph Campbell is and more. It is fascinating to watch these two get deep into conversation. 

• Fanaddicts Sizzle: A five-minute highlight reel that shows some of the behind-the-scenes details of what goes on at the conventions, the people who attend it and some of the issues that pop up over the course of the event. 

• Peter and Charlotte: A minute-and-a-half heartwarming look at a disabled fan and his mother as they discuss the importance of Star Trek in their lives. 

• Dr. Scott Richards: A three-minute discussion with psychiatrist Dr. Scott Richards in which he discusses how conventions build community amongst individuals and how beneficial it is to the human psyche. 

• Trailer: A minute-long trailer that gives you a taste of some of the stories you are going to get from the convention floor. 

Final Thoughts

The Captains Collection offers up four enthralling documentaries that should hit an emotional chord with fans of Star Trek and newcomers alike. This is more than a nostalgic look at the series, but rather an exploration of the humanity behind the cultural phenomenon. Those who do not have the preexisting emotional connection may not find much rewatch value here, but fans of the show will appreciate finally being able to own these documentaries in high definition. Shout! Factory has provided a set with a wonderful A/V presentation and a few worthwhile supplements. Recommended 

The Captains Collection is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray. A Special Edition 5-Disc Blu-Ray set is also available directly from Shout! Factory.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Factory has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.

Dillon Gonzales

Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.