I didn't grow up when the original Star Trek (1966-69) was boldly exploring new worlds and all that, but the popular sci-fi franchise has always been at close hand. My dad was always a big fan of the original series...so when The Next Generation premiered in 1987, my eight year-old brain quickly followed suit. Though I've never considered myself a die-hard fan of the franchise, it's obvious that Star Trek has made an imprint in many people's minds and lives...including my own, of course.

A handful of these folks are on hand to discuss Star Trek's influence during How William Shatner Changed the World, but this 2005 History Channel documentary is more than just a gaggle of gushing geeks. Hosted by Shatner himself (above, mugging for the camera), it focuses on the real-world technology that the original Trek and its successors have helped to create...or at least inspire. Though it doesn't always stay focused during its somewhat padded 86-minute running time, How William Shatner Changed the World is an interesting curiosity that most Trek fans should enjoy.

Like its host, this documentary is relatively tongue-in-cheek, maintaining a light and often self-deprecating tone from start to finish. Broken down into brief monologues by inventors, engineers and other creative minds, we learn how some of the original Star Trek's fictional gadgets have developed into...well, non-fictional gadgets. Our esteemed participants include Dr. Marc Rayman (chief propulsion engineer at NASA), Martin Cooper (chief engineer at Motorola and inventor of the cell phone), Ed Roberts (inventor of the first "real" home computer, the Altair 8800) and several others. Developments in the medical field are also briefly touched upon; namely, the non-invasive procedures employed by McCoy and other Star Trek doctors.

The documentary starts to lose its focus a bit during this first half, drifting from technology into the series' race-related milestones and other topics. These are certainly notable achievements in their own right, but they seem out of context and could've been dropped from the main program entirely.

Luckily, the second half eventually picks up steam, bringing the technological focus to more recent installments like The Next Generation. Participants this time around include Steve Perlman (former principal scientist at Apple Computers and developer of QuickTime technology), who's currently hard at work developing his own version of the Holodeck. The more detached technology of the Borg is also briefly covered, as cybernetics professor Kevin Warwick (Reading University, UK), who's been studying and developing direct interfaces between computers and the human nervous system. If nothing else, Warwick's achievements may persuade some viewers to protect John Connor.

Overall, How William Shatner Changed the World proves to be a slightly disjointed but interesting show. The addition of a few familiar Star Trek faces (Walter Koenig, George Takei, Jonathan Frakes, Kate Mulgrew and writer D.C. Fontana) helps to maintain the continuity a bit, though Shatner is featured most prominently (surprise!). Viewers may find several of the host's claims a bit far-fetched, but it's all part of the fun. All things considered, it's really no surprise that one of television's most forward-thinking sci-fi franchises has directly influenced science and technology.

Whether this DVD is worth buying, though, is another story. Presented by Allumination Filmworks, How William Shatner Changed the World doesn't quite shine, pairing a slightly below-par technical presentation with virtually no added content. Despite the lower price tag, it still seems a bit steep for a movie-only disc with a limited shelf life.

Presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, How William Shatner Changed the World has, unfortunately, not been enhanced for widescreen displays; oddly enough, the menus have. Despite this sloppy oversight, the documentary looks fairly decent, displaying a clean color palette and only a few hints of edge enhancement and softness. Stock footage and other dated clips can only look as good as the source material; for this reason, it's visually satisfying instead of impressive.

The audio is a more down-to-earth affair, delivering this dialogue-driven documentary in Dolby Digital 2.0. Everything comes through clearly, from vintage episode clips to newly-recorded documentary footage, so it's hard to be disappointed. Unfortunately, no optional subtitles or Closed Caption support have been included.

It doesn't always fire on all thrusters, but How William Shatner Changed the World will appeal to casual and die-hard Trekkies alike (though the latter may not learn as much). Shatner's quirky brand of humor complements the film's light-hearted tone, while appearances by the cast and crew spice things up a bit. Allumination Filmworks' DVD presentation is lackluster, skipping anamorphic enhancement and bonus features alike. This light release should only be purchased by rabid Star Trek completists, but other interested parties should find it worth a weekend viewing. Rent It.