The X-Files aspect ratio

[Prim]

Hello all. I was thinking of maybe buying the complete X-files collection on DVD, but first I have a question I'd like to ask...

Does anyone here know if the first four seasons were originally filmed 4:3, or filmed wide and later cropped for TV (making an eventual widescreen release possible)?

Or would it have to be cropped from 4:3 to be presented in widescreen?

If it's possible that the show is cropped on DVD right now, I might just wait for an eventual BD release, but if the first four seasons are in OAR on DVD I might just buy it now.

What do you think?

[budious]

The current X-Files DVDs seasons 1-4 are 1.33 and 5-9 are 1.78 AR. IMBD lists the series as a Super 35 production which means very good quality negatives are likely available for the entire series. The questions being, were the first 4 seasons composed for widesreen and cropped to fullscreen, and how many special effects would need altering, re-rendering. I personally don't mind a BD release with 1440x1080 1.33 framed content preserving the original broadcast AR if that was the intended composition.

[nmycon]

Originally Posted by Prim

Hello all. I was thinking of maybe buying the complete X-files collection on DVD, but first I have a question I'd like to ask...

Does anyone here know if the first four seasons were originally filmed 4:3, or filmed wide and later cropped for TV (making an eventual widescreen release possible)?

Or would it have to be cropped from 4:3 to be presented in widescreen?

If it's possible that the show is cropped on DVD right now, I might just wait for an eventual BD release, but if the first four seasons are in OAR on DVD I might just buy it now.

What do you think?

It was shot on Super 35, so theoretically they did capture enough information for a 16:9 image. However, since the first 4 seasons were framed for 1.33:1, there's no telling how many boom mics, cast members, etc. made their way into the sides of the frame and were later cropped out.

But 4:3 is OAR for the first 4 seasons. It was framed and shown in television in the 4:3 ratio.

Original Aspect Ratio has nothing to do with the AR on film, but rather the original viewing of the show or film itself. There is always more information on the film than makes it to the final master print, so going by your "definition" of OAR, no film released on blu-ray is in OAR.

Personally I hate what they're doing with TV shows now. Like Seinfeld, they open the matting, adding a whole bunch of info to the sides and losing a bit on the top/bottom. Sure, now the image fills your screen, but there's a reason why those areas were cropped in the first place: THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE THERE!

Just do a nice HD transfer in the original 1.33:1 ratio

I would just buy it now. If they re-release the series on blu-ray, they are going to have to redo all of the special effects shots, and if they decide to open matte the first 4 seasons, the original DVD sets will be the only way to have the shows in OAR and with the original effects.

Also, I'm not sure how much you're considering spending. But I've seen the Complete Series (used but in great condition) going for $69.99. I don't like the packaging of the complete set, so I've been getting the Collector's Edition digipaks (some used in great shape, some new and sealed) for $10 apiece.

I've made it through the first 4 seasons already, so my $10 each was well spent. I'm not going to worry over $10 a season whether they will be re-released in HD or what the aspect ratio is. As it goes, the DVD seasons are the only way to watch the series right now, and for who knows how much longer.

Originally Posted by budious

The questions being, were the first 4 seasons composed for widesreen and cropped to fullscreen, and how many special effects would need altering, re-rendering.

All the special effects would have to be redone, regardless of aspect ratio. All the special effect work was done after the film was transfered to 480i video tape, so no special effect footage exists at a resolution higher than 480i.

[Prim]

Thanks for all the info guys
Will probably just get the DVDs. Appreciate all your help!

[chip75]

Some of the seasons were very cheap a few months back in the UK, like 4-6 pounds a set. So keep your eyes out for bargains. Or if you just want to watch try one of the streaming sites like LoveFilm or Netflix to see if they have the complete series.

I've been tempted to watch them all again I think it's been a few years!

[Monterey Jack]

Costco is selling season sets for $10 a pop...or at least was recently (I know that they have 24 sets for that price right now).

[nmycon]

Just beware that in North America, a lot of the season that are currently in stores are missing extras.

The X-Files has been repackaged a few times, first was the box of slimpacks, then the single clear cases that holds 5-6 discs.

The original digipak releases had no more than 4 episodes per disc. These sets consisted of discs with 4 episodes each with some scattered features on each disc (deleted scenes, commentaries, etc.), but also had a bonus disc with the majority of that season's supplements. The number of episodes per season sometimes resulted in one or two episodes being leftover, these episodes were added to the bonus discs.

For the repacks, these bonus discs were dropped if they contained one or less episode (the one episode would be added to the previous disc, making it a 5-episode disc). Some of the seasons had 2 episodes on the bonus disc, in these cases, the bonus disc is retained.

Seasons 1-5 & 9 are all missing these bonus discs.

Seasons 1-5 each have 1 disc less than the original digipak release, as the single episodes were moved to the previous disc.

Disc 9 originally came with two bonus discs, both of which have been dropped from subsequent repacks.

All in all, a good 70-75% of extras originally released, are absent from the DVDs that are in stores now.

The only way to get all of these extras in North America is to track down the original "Collector's Edition" digipack releases or get the Complete Set.

If you have a region free player, you can import the seasons, as the US and Canada were the only 2 countries to lost the bonus features from the repacks.

EDIT:

Season 2 has one episode (Anasazi) on the bonus disc, for repacks the episode was moved to Disc 6 and the extras were lost. Season 8, on the other hand, also had a single episode (Existence) on the bonus disc, yet in this case the bonus disc was kept.

The only difference in this case is that Season 2 was originally a 7-disc set, whereas Season 8 was originally a 6-disc set, therefore I think this more accurately describes the elimination of the extras:

- If no episodes were on the bonus disc, it was dropped
- If a single episode was on the bonus disc, the extras were lost unless this would put the total disc count below 6

EDIT 2:

Just realized the OP (Prim) lives in Norway. Good for you

You don't have to worry about this annoying business with the bonus features.

I'll leave the post in case others residing in North America may find it of use.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by nmycon

Just beware that in North America, a lot of the season that are currently in stores are missing extras.

The X-Files has been repackaged a few times, first was the box of slimpacks, then the single clear cases that holds 5-6 discs.

The original digipak releases had no more than 4 episodes per disc. These sets consisted of discs with 4 episodes each with some scattered features on each disc (deleted scenes, commentaries, etc.), but also had a bonus disc with the majority of that season's supplements. The spacing of the episodes sometimes resulted in one or two episodes being leftover, these episodes were added to the bonus discs.

For the repacks, these bonus discs were dropped if they contained one or less episode (the one episode would be added to the previous disc, making it a 5-episode disc). Some of the seasons had 2 episodes on the bonus disc, in these cases, the bonus disc is retained.

Seasons 1-5 & 9 are all missing these bonus discs.

Seasons 1-5 each have 1 disc less than the original digipak release, as the single episodes were moved to the previous disc.

Disc 9 originally came with two bonus discs, both of which have been dropped from subsequent repacks.

All in all, a good 70-75% of extras originally released, are absent from the DVDs that are in stores now.

The only way to get all of these extras in North America is to track down the original "Collector's Edition" digipack releases or get the Complete Set.

If you have a region free player, you can import the seasons, as the US and Canada were the only 2 countries to lost the bonus features from the repacks.

Would getting the original sets used for $15.00 be good?

[nmycon]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Would getting the original sets used for $15.00 be good?

Yes

As mentioned in my previous post, most of the original sets come with extras that are not found in the repackaged sets, plus they come with nice booklets.

I've been able to find the original releases of Seasons 2-5 for $10 apiece (and was even luckier to get 4 & 5 factory sealed ), but I wouldn't have a problem spending up to $20 each season, and I'm cheap

Buyers on ebay are asking upwards of $40 for used original sets, if I were ever to sell mine, I'd want to get at least that as well.

So yes, I wouldn't hesitate to pick them up for $15

[HDMe]

Probably worth mentioning too... I don't believe any episode of X-Files has ever been aired in HD.

Even when they went to widescreen, this was back when fox was airing 480P widescreen and not yet doing HD broadcasts... so the DVDs should look pretty comparable to what was broadcast.

Now... IF they have stuff on film and could go back to that, maybe they could make HD versions of everything some day... but I don't think we've heard a peep out of them regarding that.

[Cruel Angel]

And a caveat about the complete series set... the discs might not play back correctly on later model/ current blu ray players and ROM drives.

[Prim]

Originally Posted by nmycon

Just realized the OP (Prim) lives in Norway. Good for you

You don't have to worry about this annoying business with the bonus features.

I'll leave the post in case others residing in North America may find it of use.

So I'm correct assuming that the UK sets are as complete as they were when they were first released? There's a big chance I will either get the UK editions, or possibly the Nordic releases (which often is just the UK discs in local language packaging).

Thanks for your very detailed overview on this though!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Prim

So I'm correct assuming that the UK sets are as complete as they were when they were first released? There's a big chance I will either get the UK editions, or possibly the Nordic releases (which often is just the UK discs in local language packaging).

Thanks for your very detailed overview on this though!

I think it's only the packaging that changed with the UK releases.

[Prim]

Originally Posted by chip75

I think it's only the packaging that changed with the UK releases.

All right, thank you. I'll do some more digging before I buy, but it seems that the UK or Nordic releases is the way to go for me.

[satam55]

Originally Posted by HDMe

Probably worth mentioning too... I don't believe any episode of X-Files has ever been aired in HD.

Even when they went to widescreen, this was back when fox was airing 480P widescreen and not yet doing HD broadcasts... so the DVDs should look pretty comparable to what was broadcast.

Now... IF they have stuff on film and could go back to that, maybe they could make HD versions of everything some day... but I don't think we've heard a peep out of them regarding that.

In short, All 9 seasons of the X-Files were shot on 35mm film and mastered in Standard Def.