FRIENDS The Complete Series - November 13, 2012

[slainery]

They're enough reruns of Friends not to buy any dvds nor blurays tbh

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by slainery

They're enough reruns of Friends not to buy any dvds nor blurays tbh

Maybe in your opinion.

[Arlington]

Originally Posted by MrHT

I, personally, didn't find Seasons 1-3 as funny as 4-10. Not sure why. I remember when I watched my first episodes back in 2000. I was watching Seasons 2-3 and didn't care for the show that much. But then when I started watching the later seasons, I really started to like the show and just couldn't stop laughing. I remember Season 6 was the funniest for me and that was the season that was airing on NBC at the time.

Completely agree...I love the show and always have, have watched from the beginning. I would never call the writing or the show groundbreaking or anything, but it certainly found a groove and became "comfort TV" for me, and I think it holds up well over time. It isn't dated.

The storylines and acting in the first 3 (maybe 4) seasons just wasn't as strong; those episodes are more hit-and-miss for me. Hated the monkey, and hated Ross through most of those years. And Aniston in particular was a lot weaker--she was a completely different performer the latter half of the series, far more comfortable and natural. Season 5 and on are all fantastic for me, and many of the first 4 are very good (I don't re-watch those as much...will have to re-visit).

I'm torn over this release; I don't care about a few 4th walls being broken with the new framing, but it's the lack of the extended episodes that really gets me. I have watched my DVDs a lot over the years, and after visiting that site posted earlier that listed the dialogue that was exclusive to the extended episodes, I know I would recognize the omissions, and that would bug me.

[NeoMaximuz]

I can watch any season and (as long as I haven't seen it in a while) I'll laugh out loud (lol), from the first to the last season. I'm actually excited about being able to watch it re-framed and in HD. From the few episodes I've caught on Nick@Nite, it looks great.

Only downside is that my wife bought me the complete DVD set about a year or two ago as a gift. Now it's going to be a lot harder to justify this! If I had known... Oh, well.

[samukas]

Originally Posted by Arlington

I'm torn over this release; I don't care about a few 4th walls being broken with the new framing, but it's the lack of the extended episodes that really gets me. I have watched my DVDs a lot over the years, and after visiting that site posted earlier that listed the dialogue that was exclusive to the extended episodes, I know I would recognize the omissions, and that would bug me.

I'm the total opposite of you. While I've never watched the extended cuts, say I had to choose between:

1) Extended cuts with walls being broken, lights, camera and cameraman appearing outside the "4:3 area of the frame"
2) Broadcast cuts with those issues corrected.

I'd definitely go for 2. That screenshot with the camera man is absolutely atrocious. I do hope that we get a decent release at least regarding framming issues.

I would of course much preferred 'option number 3' with extended cuts and proper framming' (it would be an excuse for me to watch the show from the beggining with unseen footage)

[TNAJason]

Anybody know if somebody on ebay will sell the Bonus Disc by itself? Friends is my Favorite Show of All-Time,but without the Extended Episodes which is all I have watched for 10 years now,I don't want to buy the Blu-Ray box set,but I am a big fan,and want the Bonus Disc with the new Bonus Features,hell I'd pay between $20-30 just for that disc to save from buying a $153(UK Set) or $197(US Set) Box Set that I'll have a hard time justifying a watch with just the Broadcast Episodes.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by TNAJason

Anybody know if somebody on ebay will sell the Bonus Disc by itself? Friends is my Favorite Show of All-Time,but without the Extended Episodes which is all I have watched for 10 years now,I don't want to buy the Blu-Ray box set,but I am a big fan,and want the Bonus Disc with the new Bonus Features,hell I'd pay between $20-30 just for that disc to save from buying a $153(UK Set) or $197(US Set) Box Set that I'll have a hard time justifying a watch with just the Broadcast Episodes.

I doubt very few people will be selling the bonus disc separately as it is one of the biggest incentives to purchase the release...

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Arlington

The storylines and acting in the first 3 (maybe 4) seasons just wasn't as strong; those episodes are more hit-and-miss for me. Hated the monkey, and hated Ross through most of those years. And Aniston in particular was a lot weaker--she was a completely different performer the latter half of the series, far more comfortable and natural. Season 5 and on are all fantastic for me, and many of the first 4 are very good (I don't re-watch those as much...will have to re-visit).

That's exactly why I didn't like it. Oh gosh, I really hated that monkey too. And not only that, but the jokes in the earlier season just weren't as funny as the later seasons.

[Rambaldi47]

I agree. When I watch the show, I usually start at Season 5 and go through 10. Sometimes I'll watch Season 4, but 5 is really where it got funny to me. I agree about Rachel getting better and Ross being less annoying. I know Monica annoyed alot of people, but I liked her alot better when they ramped up her neurotic behavior.

[Filmmaker]

Say what you will about the earlier seasons being lesser than the latter ones, but Chandler was definitely funnier early on and began to fade as the show continued.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Say what you will about the earlier seasons being lesser than the latter ones, but Chandler was definitely funnier early on and began to fade as the show continued.

this!!!!! exactly this!! both Chandler and Monica were more interesting IMO in the earlier seasons, especially Chandler. He was more funny and energetic as a character. I believe the change might have had something to do with his addiction problems. Ross takes over as the "funny one" in the later seasons.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

He was more funny and energetic as a character. I believe the change might have had something to do with his addiction problems. Ross takes over as the "funny one" in the later seasons.

I have heard the same thing regarding his addiction problems and how that affected how he played Chandler as a character. It is also interesting to see as throughout the entire season his weight is even affected by it, some seasons he is so much skinnier than others.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by Adrock

I have heard the same thing regarding his addiction problems and how that affected how he played Chandler as a character. It is also interesting to see as throughout the entire season his weight is even affected by it, some seasons he is so much skinnier than others.

Yes, and his colour was reddish after a while. Poor guy.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Lnds500

this!!!!! exactly this!! both Chandler and Monica were more interesting IMO in the earlier seasons, especially Chandler. He was more funny and energetic as a character. I believe the change might have had something to do with his addiction problems. Ross takes over as the "funny one" in the later seasons.

Yeah, but Rachel, Ross, and Joey got funnier as the series progressed. I didn't notice any deterioration in Monica and Chandler's character in the later seasons. Yeah, Chandler's weight fluctuated throughout the series, but I didn't think it affected his performance much. He was still funny.

It seems like Chandler's weight finally stabilized in Season 8. I didn't notice any weight fluctuations starting in that season and on.

[RayCRP]

I dunno, I actually preferred Chandler towards the middle and later seasons. In the early seasons, you could tell the show was just trying to emulate Seinfeld humor to some degree, and Chandler was just one-liner after one-liner. Later on, once the show had become its own, the humor was integrated more into his body language and general conversations. "Was that another joke?" "Was that another question?"

EDIT: Oh man. Watching TOW the Yeti right now. The shots of Emily calling on the phone from London seem to have awful PQ. Not SD awful, but still very noticeable. Could just be WGN's crappy HD bit rate, but considering the shots of Ross intercut looked pretty good, I guess they didn't use the greatest of cameras for Helen's scenes.

[Lincoln6Echo]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

Wow didnt know that in 2004 they still werent doing the show in HD on tv.

Considering that the FCC Digital TV standard didn't take effect until 2007, it's a wonder anything prior to that year was even HD-compatible. In fact many shows that aired prior to that were upconverted for HD later one. I'm thinking in terms of stuff like from the DISC CH family of channels.

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by RayCRP

I dunno, I actually preferred Chandler towards the middle and later seasons. In the early seasons, you could tell the show was just trying to emulate Seinfeld humor to some degree, and Chandler was just one-liner after one-liner. Later on, once the show had become its own, the humor was integrated more into his body language and general conversations. "Was that another joke?" "Was that another question?"

EDIT: Oh man. Watching TOW the Yeti right now. The shots of Emily calling on the phone from London seem to have awful PQ. Not SD awful, but still very noticeable. Could just be WGN's crappy HD bit rate, but considering the shots of Ross intercut looked pretty good, I guess they didn't use the greatest of cameras for Helen's scenes.

I recently just got done downloading the Comedy Central HD rips for seasons 5 & 6. There are a TON of episodes with the switching quality from scene to scene issue. And the Comedy Central HD rips have the best quality out of the 3 network rips I've seen on the net. I'm still torn on if I should get this set or not. I might just wait for the review to see how many issues are fixed before I decide to buy this.

[RayCRP]

Well, keep in mind, it may or may not be a fixable issue. I recall reading that while most of Friends was shot using decent cameras on WB sets and lots, some outdoor and on-location shots may not have been done on as good cameras, or at least not consistent. These scenes in particular would have been right after Helen Baxendale had her kid, so I imagine they just sent a crew out to England and had to make due with whatever cameras they had at the studios there or could bring there.

It may not necessarily be a transfer issue.

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by RayCRP

Well, keep in mind, it may or may not be a fixable issue. I recall reading that while most of Friends was shot using decent cameras on WB sets and lots, some outdoor and on-location shots may not have been done on as good cameras, or at least not consistent. These scenes in particular would have been right after Helen Baxendale had her kid, so I imagine they just sent a crew out to England and had to make due with whatever cameras they had at the studios there or could bring there.

It may not necessarily be a transfer issue.

None of the scenes I'm talking about from seasons 5 & 6 are outside, they're on set. They'll cut to one actor and it'll be crystal clear, then cut to another and it will look like up-converted SD. It's like they didn't re-scan each cut scene in those episodes. The one outside scene I can remember from speeding through the season 5 & 6 episodes, "The One Where Phoebe Runs" looked absolutely fantastic! Like it was shot this year.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

None of the scenes I'm talking about from seasons 5 & 6 are outside, they're on set. They'll cut to one actor and it'll be crystal clear, then cut to another and it will look like up-converted SD. It's like they didn't re-scan each cut scene in those episodes. The one outside scene I can remember from speeding through the season 5 & 6 episodes, "The One Where Phoebe Runs" looked absolutely fantastic! Like it was shot this year.

I know exactly what you mean. I've noticed that as well. The New York shots haven't been cleaned up as well. I believe they remastered most of it to make it available for broadcast and they left some things to fix for later when they had time.