Thunderbirds

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by RichXTuta

What do people think the chances are of this being re-released in 4:3 along with the two films?

Not very high with the 4:3 releases, but the films will very likely be released at some point.

Some studios insist on a 16:9 release, simply because most TV shows are produced in that ratio nowadays and as such they seem to think people only want to see things that will fill the whole TV screen; but of course many consumers know better and if the studio releases it in 16:9 then it'll likely stay that way.

[chip75]

It seems this 16:9 version has been a slight mis-step considering how well the DVD's were made. I have Captain Scarlet & the Mysterions on DVD and the picture and sound are excellent upscaled, although the sound effects when an episode goes between scenes gets annoying in 5.1.

[disrember]

is currently £22.97 at amazon

[hansolo]

Finally, Thunderbirds in original 4:3 aspect ratio. English audio.

巧みなストーリー展開と魅力いっぱいのメカニック、そして人間味あふれる主人公たち…。ジェリー・アンダー ソンのTVシリーズ最高傑作、世界初の【オリジナル画面サイズ4:3】にてブルーレイ化!

Bad news, it's Japanese release and the cost is astronomical. ￥ 32,352 = 320 € = US $416.

Amazon.co.jp

[raverdave2k]

Think they need to sort out a new name / logo, looks odd to me having that ITV DVD logo on the front

[Celtic]

Got billy connolys Route 66, think that's an itv release

[DaveSimonH]

Yet another blu-ray I have to avoid, due to the poor decision of cropping to 16:9. If they ever release "Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons" on blu-ray, hopefully it won't be butchered down to 16:9

[hansolo]

How come? I got the impression that the Japanese release will indeed be 4:3 OAR! It could be that automated translation is lost in translation.

It says something like: "First time in 4:3 in Blu-ray" and in the Amazon's blu-ray specifications indicate that "picture will have black borders in sides when 16:9 TV's are used".

オリジナル画面サイズ4:3のブルーレイ化は世界初。

and from the BD contents description

収録時間:本編:約1,600分 特典:約170分予定
※画面サイズ「16:9SDサイズ」は、16:9画面の左右に黒味が映り、4:3の画像を表示し ます。

poorly translates (google) to

Blu-ray into the world's first original screen size of 4:3.

This volume: 1,600 minutes Duration Bonus: To be about 170 minutes
※ black taste is reflected on the left and right sides of the 16:9 screen, the screen size "16:9 SD size", and displays an image of 4:3.

[panmanthe2nd]

I hope they release it in 4:3 over here at some point.

[Indiana Jones]

I doubt it, ITV seem to have given up on releasing catalogue material on BD in the UK due to poor sales I believe.

[panmanthe2nd]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I doubt it, ITV seem to have given up on releasing catalogue material on BD in the UK due to poor sales I believe.

In that case, I hope A&E release it in the US.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I doubt it, ITV seem to have given up on releasing catalogue material on BD in the UK due to poor sales I believe.

Think it was after Sharpe did so badly. I got in the Amazon preorder misprice very cheaply but full price sales were reportedly poor and it never seems to be reduced.

Was same with Thunderbirds the 16:9 version which started at £100+ and took years to get down to £20 only recently. Think I paid around £45 a year or so ago.

Only hope of Thunderbirds 4:3 and UFO BDs is if ITV let Network release them. ITV licenses most of the ITC shows to Network but kept what they saw as the Crown Jewels Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and UFO.

[blurayoliver]

So is the PQ and AQ any good in this set? Or should it be avoided?

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by blurayoliver

So is the PQ and AQ any good in this set? Or should it be avoided?

The picture quality is great but the cropping ruins it, hopefully the Japanese set will get a release somewhere that is in the original 4:3

[Eusthenopteron]

Related but not quite on topic, noticed that BD.com didn't list the recent Japanese BD release of UFO, so have added it to the listings. I wonder if anyone has this and therefore what the quality is like?

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Eusthenopteron

Related but not quite on topic, noticed that BD.com didn't list the recent Japanese BD release of UFO, so have added it to the listings. I wonder if anyone has this and therefore what the quality is like?

Read reviews on other forums. It is reportedly good, but as with Thunderbirds the cost is astronomical.

[hansolo]

Japanese set is indeed OAR 4:3. It also includes the original mono soundtrack along with remixed 5.1 (with new sound effects). Price is i-n-s-a-n-e though. Ordering it from Amazon.jp would cost me almost 280-290 euros plus the VAT 24% and customs 3.5% .

I found some comments about the set in this forum. Quality seems very good although there possibly is some very minor sync issues in episode 'Pit of Peril'.

Originally Posted by MikeD's comment on eagletransporter.com forum

The Japanese set has completely new transfers from the original, new clean-up and is in the original 4:3 presentation. This set is also the first to include the original mono soundtrack (as well as a 5.1 one which has added effects, like the soundtrack on the UK DVDs).

First reports seem to be that is close to a definitive release for the series...

Screen capture comparisons here BD JP vs. dvd vs. BD UK/AUS. Unfortunately, not in 1920x1080 full resolution but you can see the difference in composition and colors.

[Pooch]

Hi,

Originally Posted by hansolo

Price is i-n-s-a-n-e though.

As nice as the Japanese Blu-Ray set looks, and as much as I'd like to own it, paying £236 (current price of getting this from Japan to the United Kingdom) is not worth paying for ANY film or TV show! That works out at £7-37 per 50-minute episode, or 14p per minute of HD material!

Screw that!

I'll stick with the UK DVD set (available for £16-75 for the entire 32-episode series) and just upscale it via my Blu-Ray player!


Pooch

[Indiana Jones]

Upscaling the DVD just doesn't compare to the Jap BD's though

Its a shame no other country has got hold of the masters and put out their own set like what happened with the Jermey Brett Sherlock Holmes series, was released in Japan last December for an ungodly amount but found it way to Spain a few months ago at 1/5 the price.

[Eusthenopteron]

Have e-mailed ITV to ask about the situation regarding the Japanese masters for both Thunderbirds and UFO to see if new BD sets here in the UK are likely.

Not expecting a response but had to try.