Doctor Who: The Complete Matt Smith Years (16-discs) November 4th, 2014

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Jason One

No, as mattwil says, it's more complicated than that. The UK Day of the Doctor and season 1-4 BDs were slowed down to 1080p/24 just like the US BDs. (I'm not sure about the UK Spearhead from Space or Time of the Doctor BDs.)


Yes. You can either take 25fps and use frame interpolation to convert it to 1080i/60, or slow it down to 1080p/24. The BBC used to do the former for US BDs, but now they do the latter.

I'm not sure about U.K. release of The Time Of Doctor but the U.K. Release of Spearhead From Space is definitely 25fps.

[Nailwraps]

I have the US Blu of Spearhead From Space, it's 24fps (audio pitch is correct). More info on Spearhead Blu here:

http://www.restoration-team.co.uk/

Again, I have no problem with this so long as the original audio pitch is correct.

[StingingVelvet]

Yeah, Day of the Doctor is the first time I ever noticed audio issues from slowdown. Mostly in the music and TARDIS sound. Supposedly it was a poor mix overall, that's probably why it's the first time I ever noticed the slowdown's effect on audio.

[Jason One]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I'm not sure about U.K. release of The Time Of Doctor but the U.K. Release of Spearhead From Space is definitely 25fps.

I'm glad to hear that about Spearhead. I'll definitely be importing that version, then.

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

I have the US Blu of Spearhead From Space, it's 24fps (audio pitch is correct). More info on Spearhead Blu here:

http://www.restoration-team.co.uk/

Thanks for the link. Quoting the site:

[Show spoiler]'Spearhead' was originally shot and edited at 25fps, as befits a UK television production, so was remastered at 25 progressive frames per second, or 25P as it is known colloquially. However, the Blu-ray standard doesn't include 25P, so it is presented on Blu-ray at 50i (50 interlaced fields per second), which is the norm for this sort of material. As both fields originate from the same point in time (ie the same film frame), there is no real difference between 50i and 25P in this case.

For the US release, the choice was more complicated. In order to maintain the same running time, the 25P master would have to be standards converted to 59.94i, which would create inherent conversion artefacts as well as potentially introducing other artefacts caused by deinterlacers and scalers in the consumer's player and TV. It was therefore decided that the best way of presenting the show for the US disc in order to optimise the quality was to slow it down to 23.98fps (which is generally referred to as 24P, although that term covers both 23.98 and true 24.00fps rates - 23.98 being the most generally compatible due to its strong relationship to the 59.94 field per second video standard). This maintains the 'one video frame for every film frame' link which means no deinterlacing issues, but it does mean that the soundtrack is also running around 4% slower than normal. This is somewhat mitigated by digitally pitch correcting the audio so that voices appear to be at the normal pitch although speech itself is still slightly slower. This pitch correction was done downstream of us by authoring house Deluxe, using Avid Protools.

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Again, I have no problem with this so long as the original audio pitch is correct.

It still bothers me regardless of pitch correction. Maintaining the correct speed and running time should always be a bare minimum requirement, in my opinion.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Jason One

I'm glad to hear that about Spearhead. I'll definitely be importing that version, then.


Thanks for the link. Quoting the site:




It still bothers me regardless of pitch correction. Maintaining the correct speed and running time should always be a bare minimum requirement, in my opinion.

Yeah you should definitely go for it if your TV can support 50Hz.

The transfer looks great considering how it was shot and what film stock was used.

[Jason One]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Yeah you should definitely go for it if your TV can support 50Hz.

The transfer looks great considering how it was shot and what film stock was used.

Very nice. I actually just ordered a region-free mod kit for my Oppo player, so it should be able to convert this and other 50i material for me with no problem.

(I just realized I've helped this thread go way off-topic, so apologies to anyone wanting to discuss The Complete Matt Smith Years.)

[Mickactual]

This set irks me on a few levels:

I kept my S5 &S6 Blu sets after I bought The Complete Series 1-7 Gift Set last year for those correct speeds (though, honestly, my eyes don't spot the difference).
That was OK - Matt is MY Doctor, and doubles of his eps were fine.
But triples?
It would be REALLY nice if that disc #16 would get a separate release (and I'll spit nails if I triple dip for this box , and then disc 16 gets a standalone release). ...But somehow I doubt it. Does anyone else remember last winter BBC/Warner said all the individual blu seasons in the gift set would get standalone releases throughout 2014? That never happened.

The other big irk: "New bonus features include the 2013 Doctor Who Proms Concert, Matt Smith’s two Sarah Jane Adventures episodes, the Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, and more!"
Does anyone know what "and more" would refer to? The big sell point here for me is finally having the two SJA eps and the Five(ish) Doctors on region A Blu.
...But there's still stuff missing! To do this pricey triple dip, I'd want everything Matt filmed. Of particular interest to me would the Eleventh Doctor Revisited special (currently only available on DVD), and The Day of the Doctor cinema intros. I know the latter is supposed to be on the UK DOTD 4-disc set. Can anyone confirm or deny if that would be included in the "and more" in this set?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Mickactual

Does anyone else remember last winter BBC/Warner said all the individual blu seasons in the gift set would get standalone releases throughout 2014? That never happened.

They said 2015. Well actually BBC said nothing, but Steve Manfred, the man with inside information, said 2015.

[WMAangel]

So who caught the Season 8 premiere tonight?

[Show spoiler]Turns out this box set (despite just being announced) will no longer truly be the complete Matt Smith, eh?

[worldchmps]

If anyone is getting the individual seasons, make sure with season 5 to get the version with the lenticular 3d cover.

[worldchmps]

Originally Posted by WMAangel

So who caught the Season 8 premiere tonight?

[Show spoiler]Turns out this box set (despite just being announced) will no longer truly be the complete Matt Smith, eh?

Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying? Matt Smith did a magical return and will be doing another season? Wow! Amazing!

[jaredofmo]

I just preordered this. I bought what seemed to be a bootleg (or really poorly constructed case) Series 5 on DVD and A Christmas Carol on DVD, but I need to start picking up my Who on Blu. And 3 seasons + 2 specials + 1 TV movie for $104.27? Seems a good deal. Right now Series 5 is on Blu for nearly $30 on Amazon, and 6 and 7 are about $40 each. That's already $110, without the two specials and TV movie.

Hope they release Series 1-4 (+ David Tennant specials) on Blu separately. I would have gone for that big set, but there was no way I'd pay that much leading up to Christmas last year.

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by jaredofmo

I just preordered this. I bought what seemed to be a bootleg (or really poorly constructed case) Series 5 on DVD and A Christmas Carol on DVD, but I need to start picking up my Who on Blu. And 3 seasons + 2 specials + 1 TV movie for $104.27? Seems a good deal. Right now Series 5 is on Blu for nearly $30 on Amazon, and 6 and 7 are about $40 each. That's already $110, without the two specials and TV movie.

Hope they release Series 1-4 (+ David Tennant specials) on Blu separately. I would have gone for that big set, but there was no way I'd pay that much leading up to Christmas last year.

David Tennant specials have been available separately on Blu-Ray for over 4 years now...

http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Com...Doctor+who+blu

[Zombie Kermit]

The first four seasons were only released separately in Australia on Blu-Ray.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yeah, Day of the Doctor is the first time I ever noticed audio issues from slowdown. Mostly in the music and TARDIS sound. Supposedly it was a poor mix overall, that's probably why it's the first time I ever noticed the slowdown's effect on audio.

The Blu-ray uses the cinematic 24p version with the accompanying audio mix. It's fine in 5.1 (despite the slowdown) but isn't compatible with stereo downmix and sounds awful on those audio systems of built-in TV speakers. They should have used the very slightly different UK broadcast mix and slowed and pitch corrected it, as that was fold down compatible.

[insomniac013]

This is such a pointless release, considering last years Anniversary collection and the fact that no "David Tennant, Eccelston Years" set exists. Only thing kinda new is the bonus disc, which you are then forced to buy if you're a completist and want everything. Cashgrab move, BBC Warner!

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by insomniac013

This is such a pointless release, considering last years Anniversary collection and the fact that no "David Tennant, Eccelston Years" set exists. Only thing kinda new is the bonus disc, which you are then forced to buy if you're a completist and want everything. Cashgrab move, BBC Warner!

Well, technically there IS a David Tennant Years set, although it's DVD only (remember that the Blus for Series 1-4 are upscales). Not to mention that Eccelston was only in one series...

I agree that it sucks to be a completist in this case, especially if you got the giant 1-7 set...

[jaredofmo]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

David Tennant specials have been available separately on Blu-Ray for over 4 years now...

http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Com...Doctor+who+blu

Ah, right. I'll hold out to see if they do a set of Series 1-4 and the specials, though. As I said in my past post, the only Doctor Who I own is on DVD, so upgrading to Blu is not a big issue for me.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by jaredofmo

Ah, right. I'll hold out to see if they do a set of Series 1-4 and the specials, though. As I said in my past post, the only Doctor Who I own is on DVD, so upgrading to Blu is not a big issue for me.

I doubt they would do a 1-4 + specials blu ray set. The whole point of them releasing 1-4 individually next year is for people who didn't want to get the box set of 1-7. They might do 1-4 in a box for people who already had the specials and 5-7 on blu, like me, but even then it would probably just be a thin slipcase around the 4 individual releases.

Anyway it seems like you don't care much either way so you might as well wait for around for sales or whatever.

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by Zombie Kermit

The first four seasons were only released separately in Australia on Blu-Ray.

I fancy picking up the first 4 series on Blu-Ray but the Australian releases are quite pricey, could almost buy the UK 1-7 boxset.