Babylon Berlin - 19 October 2018 - Blu-ray Forum

James Luckard · 08-19-2018, 07:41 AM

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Babyl...lu-ray/211582/

https://www.leoninedistribution.com/filme/150405.html

Universum will be releasing BABYLON BERLIN, the mega-budget historical thriller miniseries, on October 19.

Does anyone know if they usually include English subs? I have a horrible feeling Netflix's US deal will preclude them from having English subs. If so, there should be a UK release soon too.

After one viewing, it's already tied among my favorite shows ever, and may very well be my single favorite show. It is SPECTACULAR on every level - writing, direction, performance, music, cinematography, production design, effects. The only things I can compare it to are TITANIC and LORD OF THE RINGS for re-creating a fantastical world in epic detail and then setting a gripping narrative within it. I haven't seen it, but friends have also compared it to GAME OF THRONES. Yes, it's that good.

The show has about half a dozen story strands that converge with awe-inspiring screenwriting skill toward one of the most powerful climaxes I've ever seen.

The show also does a BRILLIANT job of explaining exactly how the German democracy was strangled by competing forces from the right and left in the 20s, allowing a monster like Hitler to present himself as a savior, and it does this in the form of an electric crime thriller, so it doesn't ever feel like a history lesson. It's heartbreaking to watch the world all these people are in and realize it's on the edge of catastrophe, soon to be obliterated, like TITANIC.

It must be a contractual thing that they had to call the first half of the show "Season 1" and the second half "Season 2." Be aware that there is absolutely no break between them, and that you absolutely cannot watch just the first half, it will make no sense. The 16 episodes form one continuous miniseries. They were shot as one unit, aired as one continuous miniseries in Europe, and premiered as one unit on Netflix in the US.

McCrutchy · 08-19-2018, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Does anyone know if they usually include English subs? I have a horrible feeling Netflix's US deal will preclude them from having English subs. If so, there should be a UK release soon too.

Universum only include English (or English SDH) subtitles for certain films originally in English. I don't believe they have any non-English Films or any TV series with English subtitles.

I'm also hoping for a UK (or Australian) release, as I assume the series is native 25 fps.

James Luckard · 08-20-2018, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Universum only include English (or English SDH) subtitles for certain films originally in English. I don't believe they have any non-English Films or any TV series with English subtitles.

I'm also hoping for a UK (or Australian) release, as I assume the series is native 25 fps.

Pity about the subs, but I was expecting that.

As for 25fps, yes, it seems that way. The Universum page has this bizarre text:

"1,78:1 (1080p/25)"

I didn't think it was even possible to have 1080p 25fps, I thought 25fps was only possible in HD with 1080i/50, like most British TV BDs (Wallander, Night Manager, etc)

samukas · 08-20-2018, 05:03 AM

Correct. 1080p is definitely not part of the BD-Specs, so they'll need to encode it at 1080i is they want to keep it 25fps.

Brokkoli · 08-20-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Luckard

As for 25fps, yes, it seems that way. The Universum page has this bizarre text:

"1,78:1 (1080p/25)"

I didn't think it was even possible to have 1080p 25fps, I thought 25fps was only possible in HD with 1080i/50, like most British TV BDs (Wallander, Night Manager, etc)

Not that uncommon, I've seen it stated on a couple of blu-rays in the specs.

Possible Explanation:
It's very likely 25psF (Progressive segmented Frame). That's possible if the source material is not real interlaced (e.g. recorded at 50i like TV broadcasts) but progressive.
The video is actually encoded as interlaced but the two fields have an exact match.

So you just set the PsF flag for playback and the video is shown as 25p on your tv instead 50i.

So while not really encoded at 25p your TV does show it that way without any interlacing present or deinterlacing required.

Reddkryten · 09-20-2018, 07:59 PM

Damn. I was really excited when I saw this disc. Unfortunatly I don’t speak the language.

It’s a wonderful series and I highly recommend it. At first I thought it was going to be another crime series (I don’t hate crime shows, but afterawhile they all start to look the same) however it got so much better and it improves massivly on rewatch.

I am hoping for a set with English subs, but also the dubbed version. It is laughably bad and I want to watch an episode in English just to hear how terrible everyone is

TheHutt · 09-20-2018, 08:07 PM

Usually Netflix should offer original audio with subtitles.

Reddkryten · 09-20-2018, 08:16 PM

Yep, however Babylon Berlin isn’t on netflix in the UK.

Sky Atlantic broadcasts it here and thankfully they used the German audio.
I couldn’t stand to watch the series dubbed, but one episode could be ammusing.

James Luckard · 09-25-2018, 08:48 AM

Wow, the dubbing in that trailer is atrocious!

I'm hoping for a UK BD soon, with English subs.

Reddkryten · 09-25-2018, 09:33 AM

I know, “Gaeron Rath I’m from California”.It’s like a car crash, I want to watch it.

Run Lola Run’s dub was equally bad, I only managed to endure five minutes of it before switching to subtitles.

Norlad · 10-01-2018, 08:29 PM

It is televised in Norway now -NRK1- with original German audio German and Russian speak and Norwegian subtitles.

crazednoir · 10-09-2018, 08:35 PM

Will this Blu-ray have the option of english subtitles or not?

James Luckard · 10-10-2018, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazednoir

Will this Blu-ray have the option of english subtitles or not?

All signs point to no, but we're waiting on confirmation.

McCrutchy · 10-10-2018, 02:09 AM

The back cover for the first season makes no mention of any subtitles:

[Show spoiler]

LRSVDR · 10-10-2018, 02:37 AM

At least the Russian dialog should have German subs imo.
The German broadcast had them hardcoded tho.

McCrutchy · 10-10-2018, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LRSVDR

At least the Russian dialog should have German subs imo.
The German broadcast had them hardcoded tho.

Certainly, though it does surprise me that German HoH subtitles are not provided on a series this major--I'm unsure of the laws and procedures in Germany, but surely the Sky 1 and/or Das Erste TV broadcast(s) had German subtitles available for the hard of hearing.

LRSVDR · 10-10-2018, 03:45 AM

There's also a descriptive audio broadcast. I guess that won't be included either then.

Heinz-Klett · 10-10-2018, 09:48 AM

I own the german season 1 release by Universum and can confirm that there are no subtitles for the german audio. The release is actually bare bone as it provides no extras and no alternative cover artwork without the FSK rating etc.

crazednoir · 10-11-2018, 07:09 PM

I asked universum de about the english subtitles and they answered in the negative: No.
No english subtitles.
I am suprised at this.

James Luckard · 10-12-2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazednoir

I asked universum de about the english subtitles and they answered in the negative: No.
No english subtitles.
I am suprised at this.

They're probably contractually forbidden to have English subs, that's often the case. Other companies control the series in English-speaking markets.

I'm still hoping we eventually get a UK BD with English subs.

08-20-2018, 05:03 AM	#4
samukas Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2010 Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- Trading Score:541	Correct. 1080p is definitely not part of the BD-Specs, so they'll need to encode it at 1080i is they want to keep it 25fps.

09-20-2018, 08:07 PM	#7
TheHutt Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jun 2010 Trading Score:1	Usually Netflix should offer original audio with subtitles.

09-20-2018, 08:16 PM	#8
Reddkryten Active Member Member since:Jun 2014	Yep, however Babylon Berlin isn’t on netflix in the UK. Sky Atlantic broadcasts it here and thankfully they used the German audio. I couldn’t stand to watch the series dubbed, but one episode could be ammusing.

09-25-2018, 08:48 AM	#9
James Luckard Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Los Angeles, CA 4K collection:401 Blu-ray collection:1819 Blu-ray reviews: 34	Wow, the dubbing in that trailer is atrocious! I'm hoping for a UK BD soon, with English subs.

09-25-2018, 09:33 AM	#10
Reddkryten Active Member Member since:Jun 2014	I know, “Gaeron Rath I’m from California”.It’s like a car crash, I want to watch it. Run Lola Run’s dub was equally bad, I only managed to endure five minutes of it before switching to subtitles.

10-01-2018, 08:29 PM	#11
Norlad Junior Member Member since:Nov 2013 Location:Norway 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:414 DVD collection:15	It is televised in Norway now -NRK1- with original German audio German and Russian speak and Norwegian subtitles.

10-09-2018, 08:35 PM	#12
crazednoir Active Member Member since:Feb 2016	Will this Blu-ray have the option of english subtitles or not?

10-10-2018, 02:09 AM	#14
McCrutchy Contributor Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:East Coast, USA Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:1276 Blu-ray collection:6790 DVD collection:254 Blu-ray reviews: 5 Trading Score:17	The back cover for the first season makes no mention of any subtitles: [Show spoiler]

10-10-2018, 02:37 AM	#15
LRSVDR Active Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2014 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:275 DVD collection:191	At least the Russian dialog should have German subs imo. The German broadcast had them hardcoded tho.

10-10-2018, 03:45 AM	#17
LRSVDR Active Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2014 4K collection:4 Blu-ray collection:275 DVD collection:191	There's also a descriptive audio broadcast. I guess that won't be included either then.

10-10-2018, 09:48 AM	#18
Heinz-Klett Expert Member Member since:Mar 2016	I own the german season 1 release by Universum and can confirm that there are no subtitles for the german audio. The release is actually bare bone as it provides no extras and no alternative cover artwork without the FSK rating etc.

10-11-2018, 07:09 PM	#19
crazednoir Active Member Member since:Feb 2016	I asked universum de about the english subtitles and they answered in the negative: No. No english subtitles. I am suprised at this.

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