The Wire - Complete Series on VUDU - HDX Quality? - Blu-ray Forum

Adrock · 03-06-2015, 05:56 PM

Just curious if anyone has any of Seasons 1-5, or the complete series of HBO's The Wire on VUDU?

I see it is available in HDX, but was curious on the quality? I'm debating picking up the complete series but wanted to see if anyone had any feedback on if the show is formatted correctly on VUDU (Not stretched), or any general feedback about how the HDX version looks...

http://www.vudu.com/movies/#!content...omplete-Series

Greyman · 03-06-2015, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrock

Just curious if anyone has any of Seasons 1-5, or the complete series of HBO's The Wire on VUDU?

I see it is available in HDX, but was curious on the quality? I'm debating picking up the complete series but wanted to see if anyone had any feedback on if the show is formatted correctly on VUDU (Not stretched), or any general feedback about how the HDX version looks...

http://www.vudu.com/movies/#!content...omplete-Series

This thread says there is a 2 minute preview of each episode available. I don't actually see that option on the web site, maybe it is available on streaming devices.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=257950

FYI - You probably know this, the Bluray release is scheduled for June 2 and is scheduled to include digital HD.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-W...lu-ray/120000/

http://collider.com/the-wire-blu-ray...se-date-price/

vanton619 · 03-06-2015, 11:10 PM

I've only been watching them on my phone, but seasons 1 and 2 are stretched to fill the phone screen. Technically it is in SD, but I'll check on my PS4 later to see how HDX looks.

Adrock · 03-07-2015, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanton619

I've only been watching them on my phone, but seasons 1 and 2 are stretched to fill the phone screen. Technically it is in SD, but I'll check on my PS4 later to see how HDX looks.

Thank you very much! I would appreciate that.

vanton619 · 03-07-2015, 04:45 AM

HDX via my PS4 also yielded the "blasphemous" stretched version. The PQ is pretty solid for streaming a show of that age. I compared to the HBO GO stream and I thought that Vudu was a bit better. They are also stretching the show now, while keeping other old shows like Sex and the City in the old full screen format.

Granted, I'm new to The Wire (about to start season 3 now), but I didn't find the stretching to be distracting. It didn't seem to be the same as when you stretch the aspect ratio of a movie from 2.35 to 1.85 to remove the horizontal black bars from your screen. My parents do that and it bugs the shit out of me. Purists may not be happy, but I felt it was fine.

If you have HBO Go at your disposal, it'll give you a good idea as to how the aspect ratio will feel on Vudu (and presumably the blu when it releases), but you'll get a slight bump in PQ with HDX, and I'm sure an even better bump with the blu.

gueeds · 03-07-2015, 05:13 PM

If you want an HD resolution version of the 4:3 show, it doesn't exist as far as I know. I have both the DVDs and the new 16:9 "HD" version off iTunes. I'm assuming the HDX version is the newer cut as well.

The 16:9 is really good. This isn't Buffy or The Simpsons which are horrible hack jobs, this was really well done. Some shots are a little weird here and there, and it might zoom in a touch here and there and the surveillance shots are stretched, but I prefer the 16:9 cut now. It was inevitable as they shot for 4:3, but had information expected to be cut in framing so for those shots, things are going to be off to compensate. They knew what they were doing here and took time and care to do it right as best they could and the results are really excellent.

I'll keep the DVDs only to have the original versions down the line as the 4:3 cut will probably never be used for further remasters.

03-06-2015, 05:56 PM	#1
Adrock Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2010 Location:The Outer Limits Blu-ray collection:412 DVD collection:38 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:205	The Wire - Complete Series on VUDU - HDX Quality? Just curious if anyone has any of Seasons 1-5, or the complete series of HBO's The Wire on VUDU? I see it is available in HDX, but was curious on the quality? I'm debating picking up the complete series but wanted to see if anyone had any feedback on if the show is formatted correctly on VUDU (Not stretched), or any general feedback about how the HDX version looks... http://www.vudu.com/movies/#!content...omplete-Series

03-06-2015, 11:10 PM	#3
vanton619 Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 4K collection:2 Blu-ray collection:305 Digital collection:1317 Trading Score:305	I've only been watching them on my phone, but seasons 1 and 2 are stretched to fill the phone screen. Technically it is in SD, but I'll check on my PS4 later to see how HDX looks.

03-07-2015, 04:45 AM	#5
vanton619 Senior Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 4K collection:2 Blu-ray collection:305 Digital collection:1317 Trading Score:305	HDX via my PS4 also yielded the "blasphemous" stretched version. The PQ is pretty solid for streaming a show of that age. I compared to the HBO GO stream and I thought that Vudu was a bit better. They are also stretching the show now, while keeping other old shows like Sex and the City in the old full screen format. Granted, I'm new to The Wire (about to start season 3 now), but I didn't find the stretching to be distracting. It didn't seem to be the same as when you stretch the aspect ratio of a movie from 2.35 to 1.85 to remove the horizontal black bars from your screen. My parents do that and it bugs the shit out of me. Purists may not be happy, but I felt it was fine. If you have HBO Go at your disposal, it'll give you a good idea as to how the aspect ratio will feel on Vudu (and presumably the blu when it releases), but you'll get a slight bump in PQ with HDX, and I'm sure an even better bump with the blu.

03-07-2015, 05:13 PM	#6
gueeds Active Member Member since:Jun 2012 Blu-ray collection:166 DVD collection:10 Trading Score:66	If you want an HD resolution version of the 4:3 show, it doesn't exist as far as I know. I have both the DVDs and the new 16:9 "HD" version off iTunes. I'm assuming the HDX version is the newer cut as well. The 16:9 is really good. This isn't Buffy or The Simpsons which are horrible hack jobs, this was really well done. Some shots are a little weird here and there, and it might zoom in a touch here and there and the surveillance shots are stretched, but I prefer the 16:9 cut now. It was inevitable as they shot for 4:3, but had information expected to be cut in framing so for those shots, things are going to be off to compensate. They knew what they were doing here and took time and care to do it right as best they could and the results are really excellent. I'll keep the DVDs only to have the original versions down the line as the 4:3 cut will probably never be used for further remasters.

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