FRIENDS The Complete Series - November 13, 2012

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

That wasn't directed towards you, you're one of the few who understands why people don't want to buy it. I'm talking about the people in this thread who are absolutely pissed that some are choosing not to buy this and basically telling those people that they should buy it anyway. And there have been a select few that are doing that.

Ah, got it. No worries, Drewbee.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by MrHT

They were edited because they needed to make room for commercials.

That's for syndication, not original broadcast.

Many edits are made for many reasons.

Personally I don't see the big deal here, the footage is included in the set, and personally I'd rather have the original broadcast versions anyway.

I'm not sure where the confusion comes from as to why they aren't on the Blu-rays - they were not part of the broadcast masters, they were cut footage that existed only in SD as most shows do not keep cut footage and since they had them in SD already from telecine they included them on DVDs. For television, the 'true' version to me is the way they broadcast the first time they aired, so I'm pleased.

I understand some may not want it, but I am very happy to have it - and in their original form.

[GoldMotel]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

That's for syndication, not original broadcast.

Many edits are made for many reasons.

Personally I don't see the big deal here, the footage is included in the set, and personally I'd rather have the original broadcast versions anyway.

I'm not sure where the confusion comes from as to why they aren't on the Blu-rays - they were not part of the broadcast masters, they were cut footage that existed only in SD as most shows do not keep cut footage and since they had them in SD already from telecine they included them on DVDs. For television, the 'true' version to me is the way they broadcast the first time they aired, so I'm pleased.

I understand some may not want it, but I am very happy to have it - and in their original form.

I think it's less confusion more than annoyance, because a lot of people believe that the extended footage could be converted to HD but wasn't because WB was cheap and already had HD masters of the broadcast episodes, as those are the ones used for HD syndication.

I actually am likely to believe WB in this case...although I will be PISSED if an "extended" version comes out in less then 5 years.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by GoldMotel

I think it's less confusion more than annoyance, because a lot of people believe that the extended footage could be converted to HD but wasn't because WB was cheap and already had HD masters of the broadcast episodes, as those are the ones used for HD syndication.

I actually am likely to believe WB in this case...although I will be PISSED if an "extended" version comes out in less then 5 years.

Yeah, I agree - I think that conspiracy theory is simply not true. This isn't Star Trek, LOL. It's Friends. A massively popular show, but not one that draws the type of fanatics that would double-dip like that. For contrast, I fully expect a new version of ST:TNG, once the first run is complete, within the next five years with the 16:9 versions they made for broadcast, as well as additional enhancements. They went so out of their way to make us think it was about "purity", but I honestly believe that they felt they made a mistake by including both the original versions as well as the souped up versions of TOS and they won't duplicate that mistake again. But Friends? I really don't see it.

I have no doubt that that original film no longer exists. While they were forward thinking (thank goodness) enough to make sure HD was possible from the start, the thought of ever needing extra footage to entice people to purchase entire seasons of a sitcom still was a far-off idea.

If they weren't at least including the SD versions of the added footage, I'd see more reason to be irritated. I'd probably still buy it, but I'd be irritated. In this case, I think it's in their best interest to make fans happy because I simply don't see any way a planned "double dip" could be in the cards. I would bet they actually looked at upconverting that footage so it could be included, and the quality just wasn't there. But I just don't believe they have the film but are sitting on it - I mean, it's not like they are George Lucas or something, LOL.

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Yeah, I agree - I think that conspiracy theory is simply not true. This isn't Star Trek, LOL. It's Friends. A massively popular show, but not one that draws the type of fanatics that would double-dip like that. For contrast, I fully expect a new version of ST:TNG, once the first run is complete, within the next five years with the 16:9 versions they made for broadcast, as well as additional enhancements. They went so out of their way to make us think it was about "purity", but I honestly believe that they felt they made a mistake by including both the original versions as well as the souped up versions of TOS and they won't duplicate that mistake again. But Friends? I really don't see it.

I have no doubt that that original film no longer exists. While they were forward thinking (thank goodness) enough to make sure HD was possible from the start, the thought of ever needing extra footage to entice people to purchase entire seasons of a sitcom still was a far-off idea.

If they weren't at least including the SD versions of the added footage, I'd see more reason to be irritated. I'd probably still buy it, but I'd be irritated. In this case, I think it's in their best interest to make fans happy because I simply don't see any way a planned "double dip" could be in the cards. I would bet they actually looked at upconverting that footage so it could be included, and the quality just wasn't there. But I just don't believe they have the film but are sitting on it - I mean, it's not like they are George Lucas or something, LOL.

If they had the negatives for the airport footage that was cut, making it possible for them to do an HD transfer. There's no reason all of us shouldn't speculate that they're lying about not having the negatives for the extended footage and not wanting to spend more money or time doing transfers for that footage.

[rewak]

We actually don't know if the airport stuff is going to be in HD, the trailer keeps that footage in a bubble so you can't tell if it's still the old 4:3 SD copy that's been released before or a new transfer.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Personally I don't see the big deal here, the footage is included in the set, and personally I'd rather have the original broadcast versions anyway.

Um, no it's not.

[BrandonJF]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Um, no it's not.

Where have the contents of that "The Ones With More Friends: The original extended broadcast episodes" supplement been revealed? I get that is a pretty vague description, but there is no way it's a supplement including the actual "super-sized" episodes since those will already be included. So, it's either a featurette on the history of "super-sized" episodes or they've mashed together a bunch of deleted scenes from the DVDs.

[Ugly Pig]

Originally Posted by BrandonJF

Where have the contents of that "The Ones With More Friends: The original extended broadcast episodes" supplement been revealed? I get that is a pretty vague description, but there is no way it's a supplement including the actual "super-sized" episodes since those will already be included. So, it's either a featurette on the history of "super-sized" episodes or they've mashed together a bunch of deleted scenes from the DVDs.

NO WAY are they going to include every additional scene and scene extension from ten seasons in a featurette.

[THE USER]

About time is coming to Blu!!!

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

For television, the 'true' version to me is the way they broadcast the first time they aired, so I'm pleased.

In that case, the first time they aired, the episodes were shown in 4:3 aspect ratio, not 16:9. So, if you guys really want the "true" versions, then let me say that you ain't gettin' the true versions on this Blu-ray set either. The aspect ratios of these episodes have been altered to accommodate today's widescreen TVs.

[GoldMotel]

Originally Posted by MrHT

In that case, the first time they aired, the episodes were shown in 4:3 aspect ratio, not 16:9. So, if you guys really want the "true" versions, then let me say that you ain't gettin' the true versions on this Blu-ray set either. The aspect ratios of these episodes have been altered to accommodate today's widescreen TVs.

...pretty sure most people are referring the content, not the aspect ratio. That topic has already been discussed by those who consider this set to be the "true" version.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by GoldMotel

...pretty sure most people are referring the content, not the aspect ratio. That topic has already been discussed by those who consider this set to be the "true" version.

Doesn't matter. While the show was filmed in widescreen, it was meant to be shown in 4:3. So it was filmed with that mind.

[scorpiontail60]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Doesn't matter. While the show was filmed in widescreen, it was meant to be shown in 4:3. So it was filmed with that mind.

Doesn't matter.

Show was meant to be shown on television. That's it.

No home video release will ever be the 'true' version because it's a TV show. It wasn't meant to be shown on home video.

[bookcase]

People just love to hear themselves argue. Buy it or don't -- it's as simple as that.

[Mortimer]

Sorry if I'm a little bit repetitive but I've just discovered this thread.

Originally Posted by MrHT

Doesn't matter. While the show was filmed in widescreen, it was meant to be shown in 4:3. So it was filmed with that mind.

Some screenshots from "The One that Goes Behind the Scenes" show that the episodes were shot with a 16:9 'save area' but composed and edited in 4:3 aspect ratio:





One result in opening the picture to 16:9 can be seen in the memorable revelation of Janice by panning to her in "The One With the Candy Hearts". In the 16:9 HD broadcast you can already see her waiting ...



So far I've encountered only a few of these situations but the constant squeezing of people into the 4:3 frame is annoying.

[Lnds500]

Originally Posted by Mortimer

Sorry if I'm a little bit repetitive but I've just discovered this thread.


Some screenshots from "The One that Goes Behind the Scenes" show that the episodes were shot with a 16:9 'save area' but composed and edited in 4:3 aspect ratio:

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

One result in opening the picture to 16:9 can be seen in the memorable revelation of Janice by panning to her in "The One With the Candy Hearts". In the 16:9 HD broadcast you can already see her waiting ...

[Show spoiler]

So far I've encountered only a few of these situations but the constant squeezing of people into the 4:3 frame is annoying.

thanks for the pictures!! the show producers have already confirmed that this was filmed with the 16:9 AR in mind.

[Lucy Diamond]

I'm looking at this as a gateway Blu.

If Friends takes off in Blu, dozens of tv shows will be scheduled in the months to follow.

I would LOVE to finally own Suddenly Susan.

This is one of those rare situations when only good can come of this, whether you are a fan of Friends or not.

[MrHT]

Yes, it was filmed in 16:9, but it was filmed with the intent of cropping it later on. That screenshot that was just posted is a great example. We're not supposed to see Janice until a few seconds later. The camera needs to pan to the left and we're supposed to be surprised that Janice is there. But in the widescreen version, you already see her there! It ruins the scene, if you ask me.

I'm not saying that the widescreen version is bad and that makes the BD version a no-no. But I'm merely trying to point out that it's simply not true that the DVD version is not the "true" version while BD version is. Neither are the "true" version. If you want the "true" versions, you need the original broadcast versions AND in 4:3 aspect ratio. Neither the DVD nor the BD version meets both requirements.

I remember watching the documentary for "Iron Man." It wasn't filmed in 2.40:1. They had to crop it a little bit of the picture in order to make the picture wider. But they filmed it with that in mind and the documentary showed how they were cropping unwanted parts of the picture. The director wanted it that way.

[bookcase]

Originally Posted by MrHT

Yes, it was filmed in 16:9, but it was filmed with the intent of cropping it later on. That screenshot that was just posted is a great example. We're not supposed to see Janice until a few seconds later. The camera needs to pan to the left and we're supposed to be surprised that Janice is there. But in the widescreen version, you already see her there! It ruins the scene, if you ask me.

Seeing it as a screen grab is different than seeing it in motion -- it happens very quickly.