Top Gear UK Comes to Blu-ray - Blu-ray Forum

Trace17 · 12-01-2010, 05:28 PM

Top Gear: The Complete Season 14 Blu-ray

Top Gear: The Complete Season 14 Blu-ray Review

Top Gear: The Complete Season 15 Blu-ray

Looked for a thread on this but didn't see one, but looks like the HD seasons are finally getting released!

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gear-Se...4-and-15/14749

Quote:

With over 10 awards to its name and a U.S. spin-off in the works, Top Gear is showing no signs of slowing down. The fourteenth series kicks off with a driver's idea of heaven when Richard and James take an Aston DBS Volante, a Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder to Romania in search of 'the greatest road in the world'.

Elsewhere, James makes a rare appearance on the track as he compares two absurdly powerful limos; Jeremy and Richard settle the thorny issue of which company has made the greatest number of truly brilliant cars and Richard invents the brand new sport of airport vehicle racing.

Celebrities taking a turn in the 'Star in the Reasonably Priced Car': Hulk actor Eric Bana, Hollywood's hottest new property: Frost/Nixon star Michael Sheen, and RocknRolla director Guy Ritchie...who seems to have a little trouble with his gears!
The BBC and Warner Home Video have announced that February 15th sees the release of Top Gear - The Complete Season 14 on a 3-DVD set. What's more, for the first time ever they will release it on high-definition 3-disc Blu-ray as well! Cost is $24.98 SRP for the DVD, and $29.99 SRP for the BD version. Extras listed for The Complete Season 14 are as follows:
Audio Commentary for "South America Special"
"Polar Special"
Celebrity Laps "Behind the scenes"
Top Gear Featurettes:
Electric Wind Tunnel
James's Jumpers
James on Caravans
Lancia Breakdown
But wait, the studio isn't done yet! They've also announced, for release on the same date, the DVD and Blu-ray versions of Top Gear - The Complete Season 15! Yes, you can get a 2-disc DVD version of that for $19.98 SRP, or else get it in a 2-disc BD-format release for $24.99 SRP. Running time is 349 minutes. Bonus material for The Complete Season 15 hasn't been revealed yet, but below we've got the package art for both seasons, in both formats. Check 'em out!

UPDATE: Bonus material has now been provided for The Complete Season 15. You can expect Outtakes, Behind-the-Scenes, Extended and Alternate Scenes, plus Celebrity Guests Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Harry Potter star Rupert Grint. Nice!

I know a couple specials are on blu-ray, but this is our first taste of the show's seasons on blu-ray. Pretty excited, and especially with what seems to be a bit lower SRPs too.

JTStarkiller · 12-01-2010, 05:49 PM

And these are edited when shown on BBC America to fit the timeslot, aren't they? Would be cool to see the full versions. I'm more of a casual viewer of this show. Catch it when there's nothing else on. It really is a pretty good show.

My favorite segment of recent memory was the one where they created their own cars, and Clarkson created "Geoff." It was made out of aluminum or something, so when they entered the sunlight, all hell broke loose.

Jezza · 12-01-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace17

Looked for a thread on this but didn't see one, but looks like the HD seasons are finally getting released!

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Gear-Se...4-and-15/14749

I know a couple specials are on blu-ray, but this is our first taste of the show's seasons on blu-ray. Pretty excited, and especially with what seems to be a bit lower SRPs too.

I'm very annoyed the UK isn't getting this and I don't understand why because it's a British programme with a very British style. I know I maybe sounding a bit stuck up, but I just don't understand why this is a US-only release.

I will say though for those of you in the US, the South America Special commentary is by James May and various other members of the crew.

I know this since I own the Great Adventures 3 Blu-ray.

Trace17 · 12-01-2010, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTStarkiller

And these are edited when shown on BBC America to fit the timeslot, aren't they? Would be cool to see the full versions. I'm more of a casual viewer of this show. Catch it when there's nothing else on. It really is a pretty good show.

My favorite segment of recent memory was the one where they created their own cars, and Clarkson created "Geoff." It was made out of aluminum or something, so when they entered the sunlight, all hell broke loose.

Yes they are. The news is often edited out as well as a few other scenes. The music is also changed because in the UK BBC pretty much have a blanket music license to use whatever they want and here they have to take out anything they 1)can't license 2)don't want to pay for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

I'm very annoyed the UK isn't getting this and I don't understand why because it's a British programme with a very British style. I know I maybe sounding a bit stuck up, but I just don't understand why this is a US-only release.

I will say though for those of you in the US, the South America Special commentary is by James May and various other members of the crew.

I know this since I own the Great Adventures 3 Blu-ray.

Geesh, conceited much?

Across the pond is there only one TG Special on blu-ray (polar)? Perhaps you will get the seasons but they aren't announced yet.

Jezza · 12-01-2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace17

Yes they are. The news is often edited out as well as a few other scenes. The music is also changed because in the UK BBC pretty much have a blanket music license to use whatever they want and here they have to take out anything they 1)can't license 2)don't want to pay for.

Geesh, conceited much?

Across the pond is there only one TG Special on blu-ray (polar)? Perhaps you will get the seasons but they aren't announced yet.

No, there's a recently released Blu-ray/DVD exclusive called Top Gear Apocolypse, that basically sees May and Hammomd discovering what'd it be like in a post-apocolypse world.

I've seen some rather unfavorable reviews of it, but I enjoyed it and there are some very funny challenges, as always.

And I'd like to the UK will eventually get a release of the seasons, but Season 10 has only just come out on DVD and that's from 2007.

So it doesn't look like there'll be one anytime soon and I can only guess the delay season releases are because they're constantly repeated on a channel called Dave.

Trace17 · 12-01-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

No, there's a recently released Blu-ray/DVD exclusive called Top Gear Apocolypse, that basically sees May and Hammomd discovering what'd it be like in a post-apocolypse world.

I've seen some rather unfavorable reviews of it, but I enjoyed it and there are some very funny challenges, as always.

And I'd like to the UK will eventually get a release of the seasons, but Season 10 has only just come out on DVD and that's from 2007.

So it doesn't look like there'll be one anytime soon and I can only guess the delay season releases are because they're constantly repeated on a channel called Dave.

Clarkson's Italian Job isn't on blu-ray? Hrmm. Interesting.

I do know about the Apocalypse, have it on my computer to watch sometime.

US has seasons 11-13 on dvd. I saw them at Best Buy a month or two ago, but at a whopping $35 apiece. With the new blu-rays having an SRP of $30ish, I'm even more excited for them.

Jezza · 12-01-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trace17

Clarkson's Italian Job isn't on blu-ray? Hrmm. Interesting.

I do know about the Apocalypse, have it on my computer to watch sometime.

US has seasons 11-13 on dvd. I saw them at Best Buy a month or two ago, but at a whopping $35 apiece. With the new blu-rays having an SRP of $30ish, I'm even more excited for them.

No, Clarkson's Italian Job is on Blu-ray, but's not a BBC or Top Gear production, so I didn't mention it.

Trace17 · 12-01-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

No, Clarkson's Italian Job is on Blu-ray, but's not a BBC or Top Gear production, so I didn't mention it.

Right. I haven't watched that either but I bet it's pretty predictable

lol

Stinky-Dinkins · 12-01-2010, 08:57 PM

So, they'll be converting it to 1080i60... great. Since it was recorded originally for broadcast over in the UK I'd assume it'd originally be in 1080i50. So.. I'd assume this would have a slight amount of artifacting / ghosting as opposed to the eventual UK release (which would be in its native 1080i50).

I wish the UK would stop recording and broadcasting their shows in 1080i50.

Jezza · 12-02-2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

So, they'll be converting it to 1080i60... great. Since it was recorded originally for broadcast over in the UK I'd assume it'd originally be in 1080i50. So.. I'd assume this would have a slight amount of artifacting / ghosting as opposed to the eventual UK release (which would be in its native 1080i50).

I wish the UK would stop recording and broadcasting their shows in 1080i50.

Well you've got to remember that it's designed for UK broadcast, not US, and in the UK 1080i50 is the best defintion to boradcast in.

Stinky-Dinkins · 12-02-2010, 05:40 AM

What do you mean by "best"? It is the resolution to broadcast in over there, it's the standard, but it isn't better than 1080i60. PAL had advantages over NTSC in that although it had a lower refresh rate it had a higher resolution... I don't really see any advantage 1080i50 has over 1080i60 as an HD broadcast standard, though.... apart from bandwidth, I guess.

It's not a dig deal really; the conversion from 1080i50 to 1080i60 really doesn't cause any huge problems or anything.... I just wish for the sake of importing on our side it was standardized across the board as BD is with film presentations. When a show like Top Gear is picked up by a US distributor and converted the slight problems caused by the 1080i50 -> 1080i60 conversion are all there is to worry about.... when it starts to suck is when the show isn't picked up by a US distributor. The majority of sets over here aren't 1080i50 compatible and most players aren't 1080i50 compatible either (and many of those that are don't do the conversion to 1080i60, they output the 50hz signal, so even those players that will output it don't have a TV on the other end that is able to deal with the signal) so even when those releases aren't region locked we can't import and watch them (as we could easily do with movies.)

SellmeyourDVD · 01-28-2011, 06:10 PM

I just started watching this show last week and I've blown through seasons 11 and 12 on Netflix. I'm grabbing both of these seasons on release day WITHOUT A DOUBT. This is definitely my favorite TV show right now; even my girlfriend loves this show because of its humor (and she "kind of" likes the cars too

).

BMM · 02-01-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SellmeyourDVD

I just started watching this show last week and I've blown through seasons 11 and 12 on Netflix. I'm grabbing both of these seasons on release day WITHOUT A DOUBT. This is definitely my favorite TV show right now; even my girlfriend loves this show because of its humor (and she "kind of" likes the cars too

).

Totally agree. Best show on TV as far as I'm concerned. Can't wait for seasons 14 and 15 on Blu!!!

Trace17 · 02-02-2011, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SellmeyourDVD

I just started watching this show last week and I've blown through seasons 11 and 12 on Netflix. I'm grabbing both of these seasons on release day WITHOUT A DOUBT. This is definitely my favorite TV show right now; even my girlfriend loves this show because of its humor (and she "kind of" likes the cars too

).

It is fantastic and so much fun to watch. I blew through them all last spring as well and when I had to wait for the new season it was agonizing.

Only two more weeks!!

I'm still curious if these are the edited versions or not. I know BBCA started airing un-edited but I can't remember when. It was season 14 or 15....

BMM · 02-02-2011, 02:38 AM

I think the Blu-rays are the un-edited UK versions. BBCA started airing them that way for Season 15, but S14 should be un-edited on Blu as well.

halo0 · 02-05-2011, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMM

I think the Blu-rays are the un-edited UK versions. BBCA started airing them that way for Season 15, but S14 should be un-edited on Blu as well.

Hoping someone can confirm this after release. If they are the edited versions then I'll keep my money and stick with my downloaded UK versions. I'd also like to know what kind of audio they have.

madacj · 02-10-2011, 12:08 PM

I have recieved my copies of seasons 14 and 15 today from axelmusic and I can confirm that they are region free!

Exist2Inspire · 02-10-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madacj

I have recieved my copies of seasons 14 and 15 today from axelmusic and I can confirm that they are region free!

Can you confirm that they are un-edited? I believe they normally edit out "The News" (One of the best parts), as well as some of the Interviews.

halo0 · 02-10-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exist2Inspire

Can you confirm that they are un-edited? I believe they normally edit out "The News" (One of the best parts), as well as some of the Interviews.

+1

Would like to know the answer to that, and can you also tell us what the audio options are??

sfmarine · 02-10-2011, 02:24 PM

Definitely a great show. I always watch the re-runs on BBC America. A shame Directv doesn't air it in HD though.

12-02-2010, 05:40 AM	#11
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	What do you mean by "best"? It is the resolution to broadcast in over there, it's the standard, but it isn't better than 1080i60. PAL had advantages over NTSC in that although it had a lower refresh rate it had a higher resolution... I don't really see any advantage 1080i50 has over 1080i60 as an HD broadcast standard, though.... apart from bandwidth, I guess. It's not a dig deal really; the conversion from 1080i50 to 1080i60 really doesn't cause any huge problems or anything.... I just wish for the sake of importing on our side it was standardized across the board as BD is with film presentations. When a show like Top Gear is picked up by a US distributor and converted the slight problems caused by the 1080i50 -> 1080i60 conversion are all there is to worry about.... when it starts to suck is when the show isn't picked up by a US distributor. The majority of sets over here aren't 1080i50 compatible and most players aren't 1080i50 compatible either (and many of those that are don't do the conversion to 1080i60, they output the 50hz signal, so even those players that will output it don't have a TV on the other end that is able to deal with the signal) so even when those releases aren't region locked we can't import and watch them (as we could easily do with movies.) Last edited by Stinky-Dinkins; 12-02-2010 at 05:53 AM.

01-28-2011, 06:10 PM	#12
SellmeyourDVD Blu-ray Guru Member since:Apr 2008 Blu-ray collection:125 Trading Score:11	I just started watching this show last week and I've blown through seasons 11 and 12 on Netflix. I'm grabbing both of these seasons on release day WITHOUT A DOUBT. This is definitely my favorite TV show right now; even my girlfriend loves this show because of its humor (and she "kind of" likes the cars too ). Last edited by SellmeyourDVD; 01-28-2011 at 06:29 PM.

12-01-2010, 05:49 PM	#2
JTStarkiller Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Austin, TX DVD collection:69 Trading Score:17	And these are edited when shown on BBC America to fit the timeslot, aren't they? Would be cool to see the full versions. I'm more of a casual viewer of this show. Catch it when there's nothing else on. It really is a pretty good show. My favorite segment of recent memory was the one where they created their own cars, and Clarkson created "Geoff." It was made out of aluminum or something, so when they entered the sunlight, all hell broke loose.

12-01-2010, 08:57 PM	#9
Stinky-Dinkins Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:USA Blu-ray collection:1	So, they'll be converting it to 1080i60... great. Since it was recorded originally for broadcast over in the UK I'd assume it'd originally be in 1080i50. So.. I'd assume this would have a slight amount of artifacting / ghosting as opposed to the eventual UK release (which would be in its native 1080i50). I wish the UK would stop recording and broadcasting their shows in 1080i50.

02-02-2011, 02:38 AM	#15
BMM Expert Member Member since:Jul 2008 Trading Score:66	I think the Blu-rays are the un-edited UK versions. BBCA started airing them that way for Season 15, but S14 should be un-edited on Blu as well.

02-10-2011, 12:08 PM	#17
madacj Active Member Member since:Oct 2009 4K collection:366 Blu-ray collection:821 DVD collection:318	I have recieved my copies of seasons 14 and 15 today from axelmusic and I can confirm that they are region free!

02-10-2011, 02:24 PM	#20
sfmarine Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Apr 2008 Location:The Swan Station aDdIcTeD 2 LOST PSN:U5MC51473 Home Theater Gallery:18 4K collection:931 Blu-ray collection:2312 DVD collection:276 MA collection:461 Digital collection:492 iTunes collection:534 Blu-ray reviews: 7 Trading Score:43	Definitely a great show. I always watch the re-runs on BBC America. A shame Directv doesn't air it in HD though.

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