Pride and Prejudice--Change to Release Date?

[yvr]

Hi all- This is my first post, so please go easy on me. I recently purchased a BD player based on the posting on this site that Pride and Prejudice (A&E version) was coming out on BD on November 18, 2008. However, I just noticed that this has now been changed to say "No Release Date". !!! What's up with that? There doesn't seem to be any news posting or information as to why the date was changed. Can anyone help? Thanks!

[NovaCrystallis09]

That's not the Kiera Knightly version right? Is that out on Bluray yet?

I really want that and The Notebook to come to Bluray but so far it seems like all these studios just want to release action and comedy flicks....

[Chrysagon]

The 5 hour BBC version with Colin Firth is by far the best version that I have seen. Truly excellent. It is coming to blu-ray. (The Kiera Knightly version is okay for a 2 hour version, but for obvious reasons cannot capture the nuances and intricacies of the personalities.)

[DaViD Boulet]

The current 16x9 DVD is a travesty. It's possibly one of the WORST looking DVDs I've ever seen... on par with Jean De Flourette.

I certainly would love to see this in blu, but why wouldn't the problems that mar the DVD, non of which have to do with standard definition resolution, also not be a problem for the BD? Is there film-source material for this production that wasn't used for the DVD transfer?

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by yvr

Hi all- This is my first post, so please go easy on me. I recently purchased a BD player based on the posting on this site that Pride and Prejudice (A&E version) was coming out on BD on November 18, 2008. However, I just noticed that this has now been changed to say "No Release Date". !!! What's up with that? There doesn't seem to be any news posting or information as to why the date was changed. Can anyone help? Thanks!

The Pride and Prejudice date was changed because Amazon has no date on its pre-order page.

The UK Pride and Prejudice edition is available for order on the UK with a release date of October 20.


Don't know if that edtion has been confirmed or not to be playable on Region A players. Maybe someone in our European Forum will chime in.

[DaViD Boulet]

It says region "U" on the UK amazon site.

I'm ordering the UK blu-ray in the hopes that it will play fine on my US BD player. I'll report back the results here when it arrives...

[yvr]

On seeing David's post, I checked the amazon.uk site, hoping to see the same thing, but it appears to show it as being Region 2. Interesting...I don't see any reference to "U". It would be great if that one would play on North American players (I'm in Vancouver, BC), since I've read that it was a pretty swet BD. Please be sure to post your findings as soon as you get them David!

[yvr]

I did a little research on amazon.uk, and unfortunately it appears that the "U" classification only refers to the film's rating. A "U" classification means that "the film or game is suitable for children of all ages".

But hopefully since the BD version is already available in the UK, the North American BD version can't be far behind?

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by yvr

I did a little research on amazon.uk, and unfortunately it appears that the "U" classification only refers to the film's rating. A "U" classification means that "the film or game is suitable for children of all ages".

But hopefully since the BD version is already available in the UK, the North American BD version can't be far behind?

Thanks for the clarification on that.

I'll go ahead and continue with my order in the hope that it's multi-region since the "region 2" isn't blu-ray specs but DVD specs. If I discover that it's not compatible before I open the package, I'll return for a refund.

[bluskiff]

I was looking at getting Pride and Prejudice myself. I know the dvds look bad but I thought it was that it was shot on video. I don't think it was shot in highdef. i hope it was and we get a good looking bluray but it won't surprise me if its nasty.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

I was looking at getting Pride and Prejudice myself. I know the dvds look bad but I thought it was that it was shot on video. I don't think it was shot in highdef. i hope it was and we get a good looking bluray but it won't surprise me if its nasty.

from a user review at the UK site regarding the Blu-ray release:

Vastly Improved Picture Quality, 25 Oct 2008
By PGNL "PGNL" (North Worcestershire, UK) - See all my reviews

Well they've done it, my favourite costume drama is now available on Blu-Ray. There is a short feature on the disc which describes the new process of remastering the original 16mm film for Blu-ray (apparently the process for dealing with the edit points, has only very recently been devised). So what can I say? It has definitely all been worth it. Yes there is still some noise especially on the darker scenes, but overall the transformation is amazing, much more detail, edges much sharper, colours much much brighter and more natural and the overall image is less bleached out in parts than the DVD. Also Audio is now in DTS-HD. I say buy it you won't be diappointed...

[tommyg4141]

I can't wait for this.

[MortenR.]

I just want to telle you all that the UK version of Pride and prejudice BBC series is region free! I have just tested it on my region A PS3. And the transfer looks great!

[yvr]

Originally Posted by MortenR.

I just want to telle you all that the UK version of Pride and prejudice BBC series is region free! I have just tested it on my region A PS3. And the transfer looks great!

That's fantastic news! I just ordered it yesterday from amazon.uk, so I'm thrilled to hear that it's going to work.

[sperezmore]

MortenR.,

Thanks for the info. There is any CC or subtitle on the disc?

Regards,

[MortenR.]

Yes, there is subtitles!

[DaViD Boulet]

Everyone,

wanted to comment on this release now that the BD has arrived and I've watched (portions of) it.

It's indeed perfectly playable on my US Panny BD55, which assume means it's region-free.

Regarind the AV quality...

audio is DTS-HD, but not master audio. The disc, however, sounds terrific and most of the compromise is the fidelity of the source recording (though I always support lossless in all cases).

The picture is a revelation, especially in regards to the muddy, muted, noise-filled travesty of what we've been forced to endure on DVD. The sharpness isn't up to 35mm levels, but the resolution is excellent given the "soft focus" look of the original material. At the very least, you're seeing the *original scanned negatives* in their full glory... this transfer was not made from later-generation materials. Color is subdued and skewed towards warm, soft tones but that's the production and that's the intent. It's beautiful, and on my 106 inch screen I was almost in tears to finally see this masterpiece shine through unmarred by the horrible layers of analog/digital artifacts that have plauged all previous releases on all media types.

[yvr]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Everyone,

wanted to comment on this release now that the BD has arrived and I've watched (portions of) it.

It's indeed perfectly playable on my US Panny BD55, which assume means it's region-free.

Regarind the AV quality...

audio is DTS-HD, but not master audio. The disc, however, sounds terrific and most of the compromise is the fidelity of the source recording (though I always support lossless in all cases).

The picture is a revelation, especially in regards to the muddy, muted, noise-filled travesty of what we've been forced to endure on DVD. The sharpness isn't up to 35mm levels, but the resolution is excellent given the "soft focus" look of the original material. At the very least, you're seeing the *original scanned negatives* in their full glory... this transfer was not made from later-generation materials. Color is subdued and skewed towards warm, soft tones but that's the production and that's the intent. It's beautiful, and on my 106 inch screen I was almost in tears to finally see this masterpiece shine through unmarred by the horrible layers of analog/digital artifacts that have plauged all previous releases on all media types.

DaVid (or anyone else who has this set of P&P from the UK)--

Have you had any problems with disc 2? On the first set I got from amazon.uk, I had at least two places where the picture would pause, the counter would keep running, then it would skip ahead. Sometimes it would be accompanied by severe pixelation, and then the sound track would be off from the video by a second or two. I contacted amazon.uk, and they sent me a new set, which I just watched yesterday. I was hopeful that I just got a bad disc in the first set, but then I was very disappointed to find that I had the same problems on disc 2 in the second set, in roughly the same places. (It's in chapter 4, between about 30 minutes and 40 minutes in.) The rest of the disc plays fine, and I haven't experienced any problems with disc 1, or any other BDs that I own. I have a Sony BDPS350. Any help, suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!