Magnum P.I. : The Complete Series (1980-1988) - March 22, 2022

[JangleRockSTP]

Knowing Mill Creek's past compression issues, I shudder to think this set won't look much better than the HD streams on RokuTV, iTunes, AmazonPrime, Vudu, etc.

[kemcha]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Just from curiosity: why is Mill Creek so inferior with their Blu-Ray releases? I have both Quantum Leap and Knight Rider, and there's at least one disc scratched in my former set, because one episode skips. I can't take it back since the warranty expired, which means I'll have to repurchase it at some point.

Mill Creek has always had a problem with their releases, dating back to their earlier days with DVD releases. They're regarded as merely a bargain basement discount reseller. Mill Creek should have never been allowed anywhere near any of these classic TV shows. What's next? They butcher A-Team? Star Trek Vopyager? Star Trek Deep Space Nine? Addams Family? Munsters?

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I really enjoyed this series via the old DVD sets so I plan on upgrading. I wonder if they also have The A-Team.

First of all, I noticed in the Blu-ray.com news article for Mill Creek's release the total number of episodes, and wondered if they were including the original 'as-aired-in-the States' feature-length versions of a few episodes (including the Season 3 opener "Did You See the Sunrise?" (one of the classics in my opinion). Then, I see the rear boxart description about how many episodes are in the set, and it suggests the feature-length versions will be in the set (will the series finale "Resolutions" be the two-part version?).

I was watching the original Magnum, P.I. several years ago (the UK DVD releases) in rotation with Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote. Then a close friend passed away and I lost interest and stopped watching all three shows. I thought the first two seasons were strong, even so soon after the end of the original Hawaii Five-O (it would have been a dream if Jack Lord had agreed to make an appearance in the series, but sadly not). But something seemed to change after they did the crossover event with Simon & Simon (I thought the quality of the stories dipped, whereas on Simon & Simon the quality of their stories improved). To me, there seemed too many sports-themed episodes and episodes with members of Higgins's family. Then all of a sudden, come season seven and the show was back to it's best (I got as far as just before the end of the seventh season before I stopped watching the show).

On and off, I've considered getting the Fabulous Films UK Blu-ray release of Magnum, P.I., but the comments here (including one user review) have been inconsistent.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by kemcha

Mill Creek has always had a problem with their releases, dating back to their earlier days with DVD releases. They're regarded as merely a bargain basement discount reseller. Mill Creek should have never been allowed anywhere near any of these classic TV shows. What's next? They butcher A-Team? Star Trek Vopyager? Star Trek Deep Space Nine? Addams Family? Munsters?

They're only releasing them because the majors couldn't be bothered. But people will expect quality for $179.99. 5-6 episodes of 4:3 shouldn't be a disaster, but it needs to be done right.

[kemcha]

Originally Posted by chip75

They're only releasing them because the majors couldn't be bothered. But people will expect quality for $179.99. 5-6 episodes of 4:3 shouldn't be a disaster, but it needs to be done right.

I think you hit the mark, "people expect". Except, Mill Creek doesn't have a great track record. I'm not sure they can convince anyone to spend $180 on a Blu-ray boxed set because everyone saw how they produced the I Dream of Jeannie series. I can't imagine spending this much money on anything that Mill Creek releases. Unless they change and start investing more money to remaster these episodes legitimately, I think more fans of this series are going to avoid this collection and just import the series from another country.

I shudder to think how they'll release the Bewitched series.

[chip75]

It's not even a remastering issue, they're locked up from what they're given, they just need to make sure they aren't bit-starved eyesores and getting decent encoders is a tough ask theses days.

And for goodness sake do some decent QC before you send out 30 disc sets.

[critterdvd]

I actually got the Complete Series DVDs from Target a few months ago during one of the B2G1 sales and finished the first season last week. I'm enjoying it so far, and will probably go on a hiatus waiting for the Blu's. The DVDs are ancient and the transfers are pretty rough, and I can't imagine that even Mill Creek can't improved it significantly.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Just from curiosity: why is Mill Creek so inferior with their Blu-Ray releases?

A point other people haven't mentioned yet is that Mill Creek will simply take whatever they are given and put it on the disc with apparently no qc to make sure that what they've received is right. So if they did get "Columbo", they'd have the later episodes in the wrong aspect ratio, because that's what Universal has already prepared, they wouldn't push back on that. When they get "That '70's Show", they release it with the replacement music, and when they get "Quantum Leap", they can't even officially confirm that they have all of the music intact (which it apparently did, but it was through no effort by Mill Creek), they didn't even have a list of what music was licensed for the set. They also often dump previously produced/released bonus features to keep their titles as cheap as possible.

[ElectricPeterTork]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

A point other people haven't mentioned yet is that Mill Creek will simply take whatever they are given and put it on the disc with apparently no qc to make sure that what they've received is right. So if they did get "Columbo", they'd have the later episodes in the wrong aspect ratio, because that's what Universal has already prepared, they wouldn't push back on that. When they get "That '70's Show", they release it with the replacement music, and when they get "Quantum Leap", they can't even officially confirm that they have all of the music intact (which it apparently did, but it was through no effort by Mill Creek), they didn't even have a list of what music was licensed for the set. They also often dump previously produced/released bonus features to keep their titles as cheap as possible.

The internet folk confirmed all original music was intact, the framing error in the last third of A Portrait For Troian, and the syndie cuts of LHO and Trilogy for Quantum Leap.

If only Mill Creek would outsource to the internet for QC.

[DawnShadow]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

A point other people haven't mentioned yet is that Mill Creek will simply take whatever they are given and put it on the disc with apparently no qc to make sure that what they've received is right. So if they did get "Columbo", they'd have the later episodes in the wrong aspect ratio, because that's what Universal has already prepared, they wouldn't push back on that. When they get "That '70's Show", they release it with the replacement music, and when they get "Quantum Leap", they can't even officially confirm that they have all of the music intact (which it apparently did, but it was through no effort by Mill Creek), they didn't even have a list of what music was licensed for the set. They also often dump previously produced/released bonus features to keep their titles as cheap as possible.

None of those things make them inferior though, they just make them equal.

It's the crap compression that makes them inferior.

[jee]

Mill Creek has improved a bit as of late. Besides the unfortunate case of using a censored episode from Season 3 (Mum), the release of The Shield complete series was quite well done.

I also have their release of Rescue Me complete series and it is also decent, though nothing spectacular. I would also further like to point out that in the case of Rescue Me I noticed they put in 2 of the same disc for one of the Season 4 discs and thus I was missing one. They immediately shipped out a replacement disc no questions asked when I emailed them. Did not even request receipt of proof of purchase.

My opinion of Mill Creeks releases has improved a bit as of late. They are no boutique publisher by any stretch of the imagination, but they are going in the right direction. Remember what Arrow Video was like in the 2000s?

[Luke Dodge748]

Originally Posted by DawnShadow

This is the biggest set they’ve ever put out. I wasn’t sure they’d do one this big, opens up the doors to shows like Bewitched, Murder She Wrote and Columbo.

You can sook all you want about them coming from Mill Creek, but I don’t see anyone else releasing them (especially Murder She Wrote given the failed UK and French releases)

Absolutely! And if this helps them bring out the titles you mentioned, and more, I'm all in. This is a Day 1 purchase. Murder She Wrote and Columbo the same. 21 Jump Street too, just bring it, MC!

[Marty_McFlyin]

It' says Widescreen... Hope that is a mistake.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by Marty_McFlyin

It' says Widescreen... Hope that is a mistake.

It's still say 1.33:1, fullscreen aspect ratio.

Widescreen probably means it will have black bars on the side. With everyone having widescreen TVs now, no one will notice. Unless you watch it on a fullscreen TV.

[The80s]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

Here's hoping a Murder She Wrote set is next.

YES! I would buy that in a second! I haven't watched that show since the 90s but I remember it being very good.

I would also like a complete series BD set of Golden Girls.



As for this, I'll wait until the price drop to sub $50. ($179 is way too much, especially coming from Mill Creek)

[DawnShadow]

I doubt sub $50 will happen for a set this big.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by The80s

YES! I would buy that in a second! I haven't watched that show since the 90s but I remember it being very good.

I would also like a complete series BD set of Golden Girls.



As for this, I'll wait until the price drop to sub $50. ($179 is way too much, especially coming from Mill Creek)

Not happening for Golden Girls as that's with Disney and most fans are completely happy with Hulu for it. Also, this set is not getting below $50.

[The80s]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Not happening for Golden Girls as that's with Disney and most fans are completely happy with Hulu for it. Also, this set is not getting below $50.

Argh! Damn Disney!

Maybe in a few years we'll see a few that are steeply discounted? Black Friday? Sales? Etc.

[Race Bannon]

Mill Creek. I'm out.

[huskersports]

Does Mill Creek not have their "sell sheets" for each title on their site anymore? It lists the UPC, disc specs, selling points, any bonus features, etc.