[Si_Crewe]

Wasn't sure whether to put this in here or in the TV forums...

I have a bunch of DVD box-sets of older TV shows from the 1980s and 90's. Stuff like Miami Vice, Buffy, Stargate, Farscape, The X-Files etc.

I've noticed that there are "HD" versions of some of these series' now available and I was wondering if the "HD" versions of these shows will actually be better quality than my DVDs?

I assume the limiting factor will be the quality of the media that the shows were originally recorded on.

If I flog all my DVDs and replace them with Bluerays it'll be because I want the show to look better on my telly screen and NOT because I want an 8gb disk filled with all sorts of extra crap and the show to be pretty-much identical quality to the DVDs I already own.

Anybody know whether this is the case or not or whether, perhaps, there's a website that compares DVD and BR versions of the same stuff for comparison?

[jjne]

If a programme was recorded on 35mm film (and some of the above were) then this media is higher-definition than Blu-Ray and so would, in theory at least, give you very high picture quality.

[Nigel Goodwin]

As already mentioned, many shows were made on film (such at the old Avengers series etc.), so HD versions are available of them.

[BKM]

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

As already mentioned, many shows were made on film (such at the old Avengers series etc.), so HD versions are available of them.

It depends!!!

16mm film is very marginal for HD. The BBC won't accept HD content from 16mm film but some BluRays are on sale which have been originated from this ("Life on Mars" TV series for example).

Also some old shows ("Buffy" for one) may have the actors on film - BUT all the special effects will have been done in the video mix - so such shows cannot be easily remastered!

[flagpole]

Start Trek The Next Generation is a great BluRay conversion.

they've gone back to the 35mm film.

[Si_Crewe]

Originally Posted by flagpole

Start Trek The Next Generation is a great BluRay conversion.

they've gone back to the 35mm film.

Reminds me, I also have DVDs of TNG, DS9 and Voyager as well.

There really should be a website that compares all this stuff, or perhaps a section on IMDB for it, so you can decide if it's worthwhile.

I suppose I could "aquire" a HD version of an episode as a means to compare them.

[jjne]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

I suppose I could "aquire" a HD version of an episode as a means to compare them.

Probably the best way. You're not really breaking any laws if you dispose of it. Maybe download a sample?

[cp2]

Originally Posted by flagpole

Start Trek The Next Generation is a great BluRay conversion.

they've gone back to the 35mm film.

That raises the other issue - how much time and effort has been put into the conversion from DVD to BluRay.
At one extreme, going back to the original film and cleaning it up if necessary. At the other, just converting from the DVD master or anything else to hand.
Only by looking at reviews for each show can you get a better idea of whether there will be a worthwhile improvement.

[cp2]

Originally Posted by Si_Crewe

There really should be a website that compares all this stuff, or perhaps a section on IMDB for it, so you can decide if it's worthwhile.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Star-T...y/6408/#Review

this isn't a bad site.

[Kenny Maclean]

Friends had been remastered from the original 35mm cam negs and looks like a brand new show in HD (apart from the occasional upscaled shots caused by missing master reels).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfZ8swV7eKg

[2Bdecided]

Originally Posted by BKM

16mm film is very marginal for HD. The BBC won't accept HD content from 16mm film but some BluRays are on sale which have been originated from this ("Life on Mars" TV series for example).

IIRC the Life on Mars BluRay is upscaled from the SD broadcast master. They didn't go back and re-scan the 16mm film.

Cheers,
David.

[BKM]

Originally Posted by cp2

That raises the other issue - how much time and effort has been put into the conversion from DVD to BluRay.
At one extreme, going back to the original film and cleaning it up if necessary. At the other, just converting from the DVD master or anything else to hand.

What did they do with ST:TNG about the special effects?? As I said that this was reported to be the major problem with remastering Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Presumably in all the Star Trek series when the crew is looking at the main viewing screen the actors were looking at a black piece of set!

[BKM]

Originally Posted by 2Bdecided

IIRC the Life on Mars BluRay is upscaled from the SD broadcast master. They didn't go back and re-scan the 16mm film.

Urggggh!!!!! Even worse than I suspected! I am surprised that BluRay does NOT have minimum technical requirements.

As I said while the BBC has defined 16mm film cannot lead to HD video others disagree!

[Kenny Maclean]

Originally Posted by BKM

What did they do with ST:TNG about the special effects?? As I said that this was reported to be the major problem with remastering Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Presumably in all the Star Trek series when the crew is looking at the main viewing screen the actors were looking at a black piece of set!

All the model / effects shots were also shot 35mm and any video effect have been re-done. The main viewing screen shots have also been replaced.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level Blu-ray Clip

[Lordy Lordy]

I bought Top Gun in Blu Ray and felt ripped off.

[jjne]

Originally Posted by Lordy Lordy

I bought Top Gun in Blu Ray and felt ripped off.

But not because of the picture quality...

[Lordy Lordy]

Originally Posted by jjne

But not because of the picture quality...

The sound was naff, that's what a good surround sound is for, a film like TG!!

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by Kenny Maclean

All the model / effects shots were also shot 35mm and any video effect have been re-done. The main viewing screen shots have also been replaced.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level Blu-ray Clip

yeah most of the effects from TNG are from film effects. not cgi or anything.

i have that bluray and the youtube clip doesn't quite do it justice. it's mind blowing if like me you've been watching it in sd for 20 years.

[Kodaz]

Originally Posted by BKM

What did they do with ST:TNG about the special effects?? As I said that this was reported to be the major problem with remastering Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Presumably in all the Star Trek series when the crew is looking at the main viewing screen the actors were looking at a black piece of set!

Originally Posted by Kenny Maclean

All the model / effects shots were also shot 35mm and any video effect have been re-done. The main viewing screen shots have also been replaced.

Originally Posted by flagpole

yeah most of the effects from TNG are from film effects. not cgi or anything.

I made some comments in this thread regarding ST:TNG, so I won't repeat them in full here.

Basically, TNG was one of those shows that was shot on film (for that "filmic" look) but then transferred to and edited on crappy low-resolution American (NTSC) video.

My understanding is that a significant number of the effects on TNG *were* done on video- either from scratch (i.e. they only ever existed as shoddy low-res NTSC) or were at least composited (from film elements) on video. In the latter case, they'd have to re-scan and recomposite them for HD. In the former case, they'd have to redo them from scratch, as you're never going to be able to upscale video to HD quality.

[flagpole]

Originally Posted by Kodaz

I made some comments in this thread regarding ST:TNG, so I won't repeat them in full here.

Basically, TNG was one of those shows that was shot on film (for that "filmic" look) but then transferred to and edited on crappy low-resolution American (NTSC) video.

My understanding is that a significant number of the effects on TNG *were* done on video- either from scratch (i.e. they only ever existed as shoddy low-res NTSC) or were at least composited (from film elements) on video. In the latter case, they'd have to re-scan and recomposite them for HD. In the former case, they'd have to redo them from scratch, as you're never going to be able to upscale video to HD quality.

my understanding is that most effects were composited from elements of video and they have redone it from the 35mm. it shows up some of the effects actually, but that adds to the charm. like in the youtube video linked above you can see that the far point station is a sand model, and the tentacles on the creature stop looking ethereal and look like bits of washing line.

there is a 10 second scene actually in 'sins of the father' where they couldn't find the film. had to upscale.

they are £50 a series so you are paying for the work.