1st series on DVD

[Jackezifez]

Just in case anyone doesn't know:

You can pre-order your copy of TNS Series 1 on DVD at

www.play.com

Get cracking!

Jackezifez

[Ziptie]

I'm gonna hang fire on ordering this until the last minute. Firstly because it may work out cheaper somewhere else (CD-Wow are normally cheaper than Play).

Main reason though is that the Region 1 version may prove to be better. The R1 release of the mini has all the extras, commentaries and stuff on it for example

[colonialone]

I'll probably wait for the R1 version too, just in case it comes loaded with better goodies again.

Already have my back up copies of the first series to tide me over til then.

[futureworldruler]

I hate the DVD regions! I'll probably get the DVD when
a)it comes out in region 1
b)I have money
could be a while on the second condition...

[prism700]

I hope the set contains extra features. Does anybody have information about this? Hope it doesn't end up being a bare bones release.

I have a feeling that it might include those 'mini' interviews that have been showing on SKY interactive.

I would like to see more comprehensive character bio's included and maybe the actors talking about their characters more. Would love to see Michael Hogan discussing his thoughts on Tigh. I have never seen him in any of the promotional material for the show.

Prism

[Blade Runner]

Someone will get it before it's released and make it available to download

[Ziptie]

Not seen a dickie bird on the content of the UK release as yet. The precedent set by the mini and the original series box is an unfortunate one though.

There are often licensing and clearance issues involved with extra features, which is probably why the UK releases have come second best so far.

It also doesn't help that the BBFC has to certify every second of content on a DVD release, and charges by the second to do so. This obviously puts the disc production costs up, so the UK studios often skimp on the bonus features. US producers, by contrast, can simply release their stuff "unrated".

With Sky having money in the series, one hopes that will turn things round a bit, but as mentioned above, I'm not likely to order the UK version at least until I've had the chance to compare features and editing.

[Blade Runner]

Blade said:

Someone will get it before it's released and make it available to download

I normally get SG-1 DVD's to review before they come out. Just so they get an incling of whats happennnig

[MHall]

In theory, European DVD's have better picture quality than American DVD's. It's 576 lines progressive versus 480 lines interlaced (which is sort of like 240 lines progressive.) And then it's 50 Hz vs. 60 Hz, but still Europe/PAL wins. In practice, European DVD's often suck big-time compared to the American versions, because the studios put more effort into producing the American DVD's.

However, the theoretical superior picture quality of European DVD's also means they can fit less time onto one DVD. So then DVD extras get cut out, compared to the American versions. I'll take the superior picture quality over extras.

I plan to go with Region 2, on the theory that they may take as much care with the Region 2 release, since this isn't a Hollywood blockbuster movie release. I should wait until someone compares the two versions, but I don't know if I can hold out that long.

[Ziptie]

MHall said:

In theory, European DVD's have better picture quality than American DVD's. It's 576 lines progressive versus 480 lines interlaced

Lol, not! Where on earth did you get the idea that PAL was inherently progressive? It isn't. Both standards are interlaced.

However, both NTSC and PAL can be encoded on DVD with a flag that enabless interlaced fields to be reassembled into progressive frames inside the player, if the material is film sourced. However, to take advantage of that, you need a prog out DVD player, and a display capable of displaying progressively, which most common or garden European TV's can't.

And then it's 50 Hz vs. 60 Hz, but still Europe/PAL wins.

Not sure how you work that out. Film sourced PAL transfers must be speeded up 4% when transferred to video, which not only shortens them, it also introduces an (annoying to some) audio pitch increase.

The field repeat necessary to convert film to NTSC is also noticeable to some, but this is eliminated if you're watching progressively.

The only area where PAL video has an inherent advantage is the increase in vertical resolution, as you correctly pointed out earlier. However, in practice, there are often plenty of other things that offset that gain,

However, the theoretical superior picture quality of European DVD's also means they can fit less time onto one DVD. So then DVD extras get cut out, compared to the American versions. I'll take the superior picture quality over extras.

But that often *isn't* how it works. As you suggest, a PAL transfer would theoretically need a higher bitrate, and more space on the disc, to account for its greater resolution. However, in many cases, there isn't sufficient space to do this, and the result is an effective reduction in bitrate - with consequences for the pic quality.

I plan to go with Region 2, on the theory that they may take as much care with the Region 2 release, since this isn't a Hollywood blockbuster movie release. I should wait until someone compares the two versions, but I don't know if I can hold out that long.

For what it's worth, the pic quality of the R1 version of the mini is clearly better than the R2. It has greater levels of contrast, better colours and much less compression artifacting.

Also, if you want another example of why your theory is flawed, suggest you check out the R2 two disc version of The Fifth Element, and compare with the R1 Ultimate Edition that came out last week.

[MHall]

Also, if you want another example of why your theory is flawed, suggest you check out the R2 two disc version of The Fifth Element, and compare with the R1 Ultimate Edition that came out last week.

I was already familiar with the story of the two disc R2 version of The Fifth Element. It was mastered from an "overexposed" filthy copy of the film, nothing like that used to master the American DVD's. For this film, the PAL version's film master itself would lose in a shoot-out against the worst of the American DVD's! This only proves my point that "In practice, European DVD's often suck big-time compared to the American versions, because the studios put more effort into producing the American DVD's."

Thank you for educating me that the R2 version of the BSG mini was inferior in every way to the R1 version. I guess I will wait then to see how the reviewers compare R1 and R2 versions of the series.

[Ziptie]

MHall said:

I was already familiar with the story of the two disc R2 version of The Fifth Element. It was mastered from an "overexposed" filthy copy of the film, nothing like that used to master the American DVD's. For this film, the PAL version's film master itself would lose in a shoot-out against the worst of the American DVD's!

It's difficult to work out how much of the R2 version's problems are caused by the actual master that was used, and how much was the result of poor digital grading and poor work on the part of the compressionist.

For all we know the uncompressed master may look alright. It may even be the same pristine CTS HD master used by the R1 editions, just converted to PAL MPEG2 by a jerk!

This only proves my point that "In practice, European DVD's often suck big-time compared to the American versions, because the studios put more effort into producing the American DVD's."

Yeah, that's certainly true. It also goes to show that different studios and distributors have a significant impact on the final product. TFE is a Columbia Tristar production, but the European distribution rights were secured by Gaumont/Pathe.

At least BSG is a Universal property on both sides of the Atlantic, but then again, Universal DVD UK's track record for TV series isn't exactly great. As you say, the "wait and see" approach seems to be the safest bet.

[Lexx2]

I'll probably wait for the R1 because the history of special features with the Region 4 (identical to R2) releases of TOS and the Mini have not filled me with confidence. I've seen the PAL and NTSC versions of the mini and the PAL version has a slightly cleaner picture but I still prefer the extras on the R1 (which I now own).

I'm betting that the R4 set will be out around May depending on whether Ten are airing the series straight after the Mini (which airs on the 11th and 12th of this month on Channel Ten).

[Jackezifez]

Sorry I'm a bit confused.

Is everyone saying that basically it's not worth getting this one and waiting for another release or version etc.?

Help

x

[Jackezifez]

Emmangel said:

I'll be buying the UK one the day it comes out. The US may have more goodies but I'm one of those people who just can't wait, and I'm dying to use those deleted scenes in my BSG music videos.

If the US versions do have more extras, I'll buy that version too. I have both copies of the mini so why not. lol

Good idea!

New plan:

Get all versions- wait...

Get loads of money then get all versions - wait...

Get decent job that pays then get loads of money then get all versions...

Got to go -
I'm gonna be a busy man...

jackezifez