Highway To Heaven - The Complete Series (1984-1989) - March 2023 from VEI

[emw107]

I haven't seen a final disc count mentioned for this set, but I'm guessing it will clock-in somewhere around 22-23 discs (given that Teen Wolf was 100 episodes on 18 discs).

To give the VEI release some perspective, a 5-disc bluray set came out last year (Sept 2022) in Germany. Yes - 92 HOURS WERE SHOVED ONTO 5 DISCS. Sadly, all of the episodes were 16x9, but it seems the picture quality was still better than the DVDs.

Highway to Heaven Blu-ray

So, again, here's hoping VEI does a decent job with their release of Highway to Heaven. It's going to be more than 5 discs, have a better bit-rate and be presented in 4:3. Time will eventually tell - and I'll be waiting for those first reviews.

[Torgon]

So far have only seen this on VEI's website and Amazon. VEI's website has it for $49.99 with a free shipping option. Amazon is showing it (sold by VEI) for $54.99 + 6.99 shipping. Odd. I guess VEI wants you to buy directly thru them.

Originally Posted by emw107

I haven't seen a final disc count mentioned for this set, but I'm guessing it will clock-in somewhere around 22-23 discs (given that Teen Wolf was 100 episodes on 18 discs).

[Show spoiler]To give the VEI release some perspective, a 5-disc bluray set came out last year (Sept 2022) in Germany. Yes - 92 HOURS WERE SHOVED ONTO 5 DISCS. Sadly, all of the episodes were 16x9, but it seems the picture quality was still better than the DVDs.


So, again, here's hoping VEI does a decent job with their release of Highway to Heaven. It's going to be more than 5 discs, have a better bit-rate and be presented in 4:3. Time will eventually tell - and I'll be waiting for those first reviews.

Website says 21 disc so we are looking at about 5 episodes a disc.

[t2smith]

I went ahead and ordered from VEI's website. I have a feeling this is one of those releases that will go out of print in a couple years and you will have to pay hundreds to buy it if you wait. Hopefully it's good quality and really 4:3. The only HD versions I've seen on streaming sites are all 16:9.

If it's upscaled SD that is false advertising and I will send it back for a refund.

[smithb]

Bad news. Someone that received it already on another forum stated it is actually 16:9 and not the previously reported 4:3 from the marketing text. They compared it to the SD DVDs and said that while there is some more information on the sides, content was definitely chopped from top and bottom.

[ElectricPeterTork]

Yeah, I saw that.

And assuming that holds true as more sets filter into more hands, that's a no sale for me.

Better PQ isn't worth losing part of the picture to a shitty crop job. I can stream that, and I don't even want to do that for free.

Oh well. As I said in my original post, it's VEI. And VEI generally means crap product, disappointment, and no sale.

[Spottedfeather]

Originally Posted by DavidRoylance

I hope this does turn out to be real HD for the benefit of the show's fans, but VEI has plenty of what we call "previous" in the UK when it comes to upscaling SD as HD.

The last few months, I've noticed Highway To Heaven being shown on tv with amazing looking HD transfers. hopefully, these are the same masters.

[Spottedfeather]

Originally Posted by smithb

Bad news. Someone that received it already on another forum stated it is actually 16:9 and not the previously reported 4:3 from the marketing text. They compared it to the SD DVDs and said that while there is some more information on the sides, content was definitely chopped from top and bottom.

have a link to this review ?

[t2smith]

Originally Posted by smithb

Bad news. Someone that received it already on another forum stated it is actually 16:9 and not the previously reported 4:3 from the marketing text. They compared it to the SD DVDs and said that while there is some more information on the sides, content was definitely chopped from top and bottom.

I should have known. I'm going to try to cancel and get a refund. I can watch the 16:9 HD versions on Peacock or Amazon Prime.

[garyd97]

Does anyone have pics of the inside of this set?

[do.wayne.ClassicFilm]

Disappointing to hear about the 16:9 crop chop. VEI should’ve reported this under their product description instead of a misleading 4:3.

VEI has a 20% restocking fee on returns and customers have to foot the bill on returns if VEI determines that the product is not defective or that there isn’t an error on their part.

Don’t shoot the messenger on VEI’s return policy.

[Twilight62]

I'm glad I didn't pre-order this. Was really hoping it would get the release it deserves.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by Spottedfeather

have a link to this review ?

It is not a professional review but someone that ordered direct from VEI and already received it. They already owned the DVDs and made the comparison. I'm sure more reports will be coming in as more receive it. Just thought I'd post to let those most concerned about OAR know they may want to wait for more reports before ordering.

[t2smith]

Originally Posted by do.wayne.ClassicFilm

Disappointing to hear about the 16:9 crop chop. VEI should’ve reported this under their product description instead of a misleading 4:3.

VEI has a 20% restocking fee on returns and customers have to foot the bill on returns if VEI determines that the product is not defective or that there isn’t an error on their part.

Don’t shoot the messenger on VEI’s return policy.

I don't blame the messenger. The 4:3 listing is their error. It shouldn't be hard for a company releasing something to know which aspect ratio it is in. I bet it's the same exact transfer that's on Peacock and Prime.

If something is OAR I want the Blu-ray. If not, I'll watch on streaming. From what I've read about VEI they will probably say I should be glad it's not a16:9 video squeezed into a 4:3 window.

[garyd97]

Are the current streaming versions better than the dvd?

[t2smith]

I might change my mind on this. I saw streaming 16:9 screenshots vs DVD and the 16:9 looks more natural while the DVDs look over zoomed. Normally it's the opposite. I remember when they used to show Dukes of Hazzard in 16:9 and it looked excessively zoomed in.

[do.wayne.ClassicFilm]

Upscaling to widescreen proportions:
|---|
1440 X 1080 = 4:3
1920 X 1080 = 16:9
|----|

1440 to 1920 = 25% loss in picture detail

They keep making the same mistakes, stair-stepping resolution artifacts upscaling 1440 to 1920 widescreen with 2K digital masters. I already know what this will look like upscaling a 2K digital master 25% in order to accommodate widescreen proportions. Either jagged edges on a 2K upscale or a digitally processed SOFT picture using filtering tools in order to soften the upscaling abnormalities so they're not as noticeable. This is why their previous releases look somewhere between SD and HD.

If Blu-ray producers want to release 4:3 to 16:9 in 1080p they should have 3K resolution masters or higher.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by do.wayne.ClassicFilm

Upscaling to widescreen proportions:
|---|
1440 X 1080 = 4:3
1920 X 1080 = 16:9
|----|

1440 to 1920 = 25% loss in picture detail

They keep making the same mistakes, stair-stepping resolution artifacts upscaling 1440 to 1920 widescreen with 2K digital masters. I already know what this will look like upscaling a 2K digital master 25% in order to accommodate widescreen proportions. Either jagged edges on a 2K upscale or a digitally processed SOFT picture using filtering tools in order to soften the upscaling abnormalities so they're not as noticeable. This is why their previous releases look somewhere between SD and HD.

If Blu-ray producers want to release 4:3 to 16:9 in 1080p they should have 3K resolution masters or higher.

Like some other releases, they included more information on the sides (not VEI but the studio when scanned). So, the chop from top and bottom isn't quite as bad as some releases. I'm happy enough to watch it streamed since the physical release isn't OAR.

[do.wayne.ClassicFilm]

Originally Posted by smithb

…the chop from top and bottom isn't quite as bad as some releases.

@smithb
—and anybody else contemplating purchasing this release—
There's about a 25% loss in picture detail both vertically and horizontally on a 1.33:1 OAR upscale to 1.78:1 widescreen — with a 2K digital master:

OAR = 1.33:1 = 1440 X 1080p
1080p to 810p (a 270 pixel loss) on the crop

810p X 1.333 = 1080p (vertical)
1440 X 1.333 = 1920 (horizontal)


There's your 1080p X 1920 picture, 810p on an upscale in order to accommodate 1.78:1 widescreen proportions. Even if the original framing was… say 1.37:1 instead of 1.33:1, a 2K digital master is still inadequate resolution at 1080p. They need higher resolution masters, 3K or higher in order to avoid upscaling.

Bottom line is that we're getting about a 1440 X 810 picture in a 1920 X 1080 upscale with a 2K digital master. I am not favorable to upscaled video, but it is better than 640 X 480 standard definition DVD.

[Computerman]

I have the new set and compared it to the dvds. There definitely is more information on the left and right and less on the top and bottom. Some of the text looks positioned correctly and other text is at the bottom of the frame.

[garyd97]

Originally Posted by Computerman

I have the new set and compared it to the dvds. There definitely is more information on the left and right and less on the top and bottom. Some of the text looks positioned correctly and other text is at the bottom of the frame.

Are the discs in sleeves?