[glyn9799]

If I went for this it would be the 3rd time buying. The SD versions on Comedy Central are already much better quality than my DVDs - plus it's widescreen, so the HD must be pretty amazing.
If (or when) this come in at under £100 i'll definately be getting It's one of my all time favourites.

[downtonfan]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

Just out of interest, who is everyone fav character? Mine is Ross.

Ross, Chandler and Rachel.

Least fave is Joey because I thought Matt was wasted. He is far more superior in Episodes.

[Tyyleer]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

Just out of interest, who is everyone fav character? Mine is Ross.

Phoebe and then Rachel

[glyn9799]

My favourite throughout the whole series is definately Chandler. I loved all the girls though, more-so towards the end. Monica and Rachel were both great in the later seasons.
Ross is my least favourite.

[MGS4SnakeRulez]

Originally Posted by Master Ozzy

Just out of interest, who is everyone fav character? Mine is Ross.

Chandler is my fav. I hate Monica and Ross both of them are really annoying especially Ross. They made his character really camp towards the end too which really ruined the character.

[ThePhotographer]

Awesome news and I will be sure to buy them.

The production quality on season 1 will be interesting to see on blu-ray. It looks so faded and soft or something.

I think season 3 looked very vibrant from the season opener right though to the final episode.

[Bester]

They've done a marvelous job with the first few seasons - completely different show.

That being said, I'll hold off on the BD set until the extended episodes are released. Already have copies of the HD versions anyway, they'll last until then.

[jimbo_bob]

I haven't even got the DVD set yet; it's repeated on the telly so much - I don't feel the need to.

As for fave character - I would have to say Chandler. I don't know if it's just me, but as the series progressed, they seem to be acting LESS friendly towards each other; especially Pheobe, who was a total b**ch at times...

[jjesso123]

Finally that will give me be back 220GB, they've done a very good job on all seasons in my opinion. I really enjoyed watching all seasons in HD.

[pHo]

Originally Posted by VirginMediaPhil

Yes it's such a great thing isn't it that they decided to film in Super 35, not knowing that one day the higher resolution of film and the wider aspect ratio of Super 35 could be fully utilised.

This isn't quite correct, Friends was shot on 3-perf 35mm which gives a shooting aspect ratio that's pretty close to 1.78:1, which is why we're able to get these episodes to fit a HDTV screen with very minor cropping to top/bottom.

It was shot on 3perf to save costs, the frame size is smaller and you cut out the 4x3 from the middle. This is different to Seinfeld which was shot on 4perf which is pretty much 4x3. Unfortunately, most stations airing Seinfeld in HD crop the top/bottom by huge chunks to get it to fit the 16x9 frame and it's awful.

With Friends, I think the new aspect ratio and the wonderful new prints give it a real new lease of life... as much of an 'Original Aspect Ratio' guy I am, I can let it slide on this (and even West Wing which is similar). I really hope when time comes for Seinfeld on BD that they keep the original frame though.

[VirginMediaPhil]

Originally Posted by pHo

This isn't quite correct, Friends was shot on 3-perf 35mm which gives a shooting aspect ratio that's pretty close to 1.78:1, which is why we're able to get these episodes to fit a HDTV screen with very minor cropping to top/bottom.

It was shot on 3perf to save costs, the frame size is smaller and you cut out the 4x3 from the middle. This is different to Seinfeld which was shot on 4perf which is pretty much 4x3. Unfortunately, most stations airing Seinfeld in HD crop the top/bottom by huge chunks to get it to fit the 16x9 frame and it's awful.

With Friends, I think the new aspect ratio and the wonderful new prints give it a real new lease of life... as much of an 'Original Aspect Ratio' guy I am, I can let it slide on this (and even West Wing which is similar). I really hope when time comes for Seinfeld on BD that they keep the original frame though.

Where did you get this from? Every other forum that I've been on has said that it was shot on Super 35.

[pHo]

I can't find a single reference to Super 35mm being used other than your posts, if you could find one I'd be interested, but I'm 99.999% positive it wasn't used. I can't think of a reason why s35 would be used for a broadcast sitcom personally, although it is used for some TV work (I read 'Lost' used it I believe). I saw a few posts where someone thought it was shot on s16mm which I can see where they're coming from from the way the first season looks anyway, but it's incorrect.

I read posts from people who worked on the show who confirmed back when the HD masters were being shipped around in 1.78:1 to TV networks a few years ago that they were 3 perf 35mm and if you Google you should be able to find some posts to collaborate this. iMDB isn't the best source for info, but it also advises 35mm.

This chap on Steve Hoffman's site always seemed very reliable (blatantly works in the industry) and he confirms it was shot on 3-perf 35mm, and that pretty much everything around the time was.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...6&postcount=28

Also, you might recognise this guy who said it was 35mm on here last year

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...5&postcount=22

edit:

I've found the post that's talked about S35mm, it was on the page after your post:

"Film" doesn't have a similar ratio to 16:9- it depends what type of film is being used, because there's several different formats. Standard 16 and 35mm film is only 4:3 aspect ratio. It's Super 16 and Super 35 that have the 15:9 aspect ratio, but certainly nowhere near everything shot on film will have been made using those formats. Friends clearly was, but a lot of other shows weren't- the 16:9 versions of Seinfeld I've seen have been cropped for a start, presumably they were shot on standard 35mm.

In short, he's wrong. Shooting 35mm in 3-perf gives you a different aspect ratio to shooting in 4-perf. 3-perf uses less film so is cheaper and that's what was used. It's sheer luck and due to cost cutting that it was retained in a format that now fits our screens.

[priscilla]

my favourites are
joey/ross/pheobe/chandler
could not choose one (sorry)

[Tyyleer]

Ross has to be my least favourite character.

[VirginMediaPhil]

Originally Posted by pHo

I can't find a single reference to Super 35mm being used other than your posts, if you could find one I'd be interested, but I'm 99.999% positive it wasn't used. I can't think of a reason why s35 would be used for a broadcast sitcom personally, although it is used for some TV work (I read 'Lost' used it I believe). I saw a few posts where someone thought it was shot on s16mm which I can see where they're coming from from the way the first season looks anyway, but it's incorrect.

I read posts from people who worked on the show who confirmed back when the HD masters were being shipped around in 1.78:1 to TV networks a few years ago that they were 3 perf 35mm and if you Google you should be able to find some posts to collaborate this. iMDB isn't the best source for info, but it also advises 35mm.

This chap on Steve Hoffman's site always seemed very reliable (blatantly works in the industry) and he confirms it was shot on 3-perf 35mm, and that pretty much everything around the time was.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...6&postcount=28

Also, you might recognise this guy who said it was 35mm on here last year

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...5&postcount=22

edit:

I've found the post that's talked about S35mm, it was on the page after your post:



In short, he's wrong. Shooting 35mm in 3-perf gives you a different aspect ratio to shooting in 4-perf. 3-perf uses less film so is cheaper and that's what was used. It's sheer luck and due to cost cutting that it was retained in a format that now fits our screens.

I'll take this information in but the majority of sources I've read have referred to Super 35 and I'll stick with that. But I'll keep this in mind.

[glyn9799]

Thought I should share this... You can preorder the box from HMV for £72 (20% off the £90 retail) by entering the code WQ20. It's only for another couple of days though. I don't think we'll find it much cheaper than that for a while

[Paddy C]

I remember reading on a forum the other day that there will never be a HD release of the extended episodes as the negatives of the extended scenes no longer exist, hence why they were able to be released in SD. An extended HD release is never going to happen so there won't be any box sets after this.

[lloydsimco]

Can't believe anyone would spend their money on this again and again in differing formats - it's still the same crap!

[Tyjet]

Friends is in HD? WHAT? SINCE WHEN? D:

Anyway, my favourite character is definitely Phoebe I just find her weirdness so endearing and even though she became a real bitch, I still love her.

I actually went looking for this little clip yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f6vMAp8Oqw loveit.

[dondfan998]

Originally Posted by Tyjet

Friends is in HD? WHAT? SINCE WHEN? D:

Anyway, my favourite character is definitely Phoebe I just find her weirdness so endearing and even though she became a real bitch, I still love her.

I actually went looking for this little clip yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f6vMAp8Oqw loveit.

Phoebe's my favorite too, love her.

[glyn9799]

Originally Posted by Tyjet

Friends is in HD? WHAT? SINCE WHEN? D:

Anyway, my favourite character is definitely Phoebe I just find her weirdness so endearing and even though she became a real bitch, I still love her.

I actually went looking for this little clip yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f6vMAp8Oqw loveit.

I drifted in and out of love with Phoebe, but she had so many brilliant moments. One of my favourite scenes is 'Denise, DEN-ISE'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVE15jy8sw

[SULLA]

Let's hope they have kept the laughter track to let us know when it is supposed to be funny

[Tangledweb7]

Originally Posted by SULLA

Let's hope they have kept the laughter track to let us know when it is supposed to be funny

HE HE !. Surely releasing on BLU RAY is just blatanly making more money on a show that IMO was'nt that great but if people like it that much let them fork out again and again.

[rkid]

Another reason NOT to buy a dvd player

[rkid]

Originally Posted by rkid

Another reason NOT to buy a dvd player

oops I meant BLU RAY LOL