The Handmaid's Tale: Season 1

[James Luckard]

FYI, S2 is presented letterboxed in its OAR of 2.0:1!!!

I just had a chance to check out the discs today and was shocked to discover this. The specs on the rear of the packaging are incorrect, it is most definitely not 1.78.

I wish they had presented S1 this way too, I can only imagine people involved with the show must have complained about it being reframed for the last home video release, and demanded this one be OAR, because I certainly can't imagine the studio simply chose to respect the OAR this time.

[Rick Grimes]

That’s frustrating since I am watching S1 on Blu-Ray in 1.78:1. It will be an adjustment to watch the show in 2.00:1.

I am normally all about the OAR, but in this case, with the 1.78:1, there is no information lost. Normally, a drop to a tighter AR means loss of info, but there is now more info top and bottom.

To quote the Blu-Ray.com review: Handmaid is shown by Hulu at an aspect ratio of 2.00:1, with thin black bars above and below. For its Blu-ray presentation, MGM has opened up the image to fill the entire 1.78:1 standard HD frame. As far as I can tell, there has been no cropping, only a small addition of picture information at top and bottom.

I would have preferred a 1.78:1 presentation for S2, at least for consistency.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Rick Grimes

I am normally all about the OAR, but in this case, with the 1.78:1, there is no information lost. Normally, a drop to a tighter AR means loss of info, but there is now more info top and bottom.

Unfortunately that's not true. On S1, the sides are cropped a bit for the BD, though there is also a bit of extra image added on top and bottom.

Broadcast:


BD:

[GOMEZFAN69]

I just got through all of the Season 2 Blu-ray. When I got to the last episode, I thought there was something wrong with my TV because it was so oppressively dark. It's so dark that sometimes the blackest areas turn dark blue. The rest of the season I thought looked great, so I went back to episode 12 and saw no issues with the black levels. Has anyone else gotten to this episode and noticed this? I took some screenshots to illustrate my point.
The first 2 links are shots from episode 12 compared with the same shots from the episode 13 recap. The other 2 links are just to show how dark the episode really is. These are all different scenes from throughout the episode. Something is definitely wrong here.


http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126457
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126458
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126459
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126461

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by GOMEZFAN69

I just got through all of the Season 2 Blu-ray. When I got to the last episode, I thought there was something wrong with my TV because it was so oppressively dark. It's so dark that sometimes the blackest areas turn dark blue. The rest of the season I thought looked great, so I went back to episode 12 and saw no issues with the black levels. Has anyone else gotten to this episode and noticed this? I took some screenshots to illustrate my point.
The first 2 links are shots from episode 12 compared with the same shots from the episode 13 recap. The other 2 links are just to show how dark the episode really is. These are all different scenes from throughout the episode. Something is definitely wrong here.


http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126457
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126458
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126459
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/126461

Yikes! That looks just awful! I'll have to check my disc. Looks like they messed up BIG TIME with the settings and if so they ought to do a replacement.

[James Luckard]

I checked my disc and can confirm that it's a defect in the master, mine has crushed blacks as well. It looks dreadful.

I also compared it to the broadcast version on Hulu, which looks normal.

Episode 13 most definitely has a technical error on the BD.

I'll be complaining to Fox Home Video, I recommend you do as well. The more complaints they get, the better the chance of us getting a corrected disc. I've been trough this a couple of times (Frantic, The Interview) and been successful through polite, friendly persistence.

Wait until after the New Year to contact them, the entire entertainment industry is closed for two weeks right now, nobody will be there.

[James Luckard]

Here's a cap of the same comparison shot you posted above, with Alexis Bledel and Bradley Whitford.

It's from the broadcast version of the Episode 13 opening recap on Hulu, proving the blacks on the disc are crushed.

[ouchmyfacehurts]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I checked my disc and can confirm that it's a defect in the master, mine has crushed blacks as well. It looks dreadful.

I also compared it to the broadcast version on Hulu, which looks normal.

Episode 13 most definitely has a technical error on the BD.

I'll be complaining to MGM Home Video, I recommend you do as well. The more complaints they get, the better the chance of us getting a corrected disc. I've been trough this a couple of times (Frantic, The Interview) and been successful through polite, friendly persistence.

Wait until after the New Year to contact them, the entire entertainment industry is closed for two weeks right now, nobody will be there.

easily the worst looking home video presentation i've ever seen. if you could please provide the MGM contact number/email, it would be appreciated.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ouchmyfacehurts

easily the worst looking home video presentation i've ever seen. if you could please provide the MGM contact number/email, it would be appreciated.

I'll look into it first thing next week. The entire entertainment industry is closed this week as well for the holidays, there would be no point contacting anyone at Fox Home Video before then. Trust me though, it's at the top of my list.

[worldchmps]

Where can I get S2 cheapest? Last year I got S2 digitally on Vudu for $12.99 after a 50% off code during the holidays for one item. What’s the cheapest for the digital version of S2?

[ouchmyfacehurts]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I'll look into it first thing next week. The entire entertainment industry is closed this week as well for the holidays, there would be no point contacting anyone at MGM Home Video before then. Trust me though, it's at the top of my list.

Any word?

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ouchmyfacehurts

Any word?

I'll contact them as soon as offices open on Monday. The entire entertainment industry shuts down for two weeks over Xmas/New Year's.

[James Luckard]

I called 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. They said to call their customer 800 number. I know that will be useless, but it's important to go through all the proper steps before contacting them again.

PLEASE CALL:

(888) 223-4369

Be sure to ask the operator for your case # and note it here if you would, mine is 974757

The 888 operator said nobody else has reported issues with the disc. It will take multiple people calling to get this fixed.

After a few of us have called, I'll call 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment again.

The 888 operator suggested I send my disc in for a replacement. You need to explain to them, very politely, that your individual disc is not defective, they need to make a new master for episode 13 and offer replacements for disc 4.

[ThEnd]

German release has the same problem for episode 13.

[James Luckard]

GOMEZFAN69, or anyone else who's able, would you please make 5-6 caps of key shots in episode 13, and record the exact timecode?

I'll then make comparison caps of those same frames from the broadcast version.

I don't have the ability to make BD caps.

Comparison caps will be HUGELY helpful as we try to convince Fox to make replacement discs.

Thanks!

[Aunt Peg]

Originally Posted by ThEnd

German release has the same problem for episode 13.

So does the Australian disc.

Looks like a worldwide transfer screw up.

[James Luckard]

Everyone, please call Fox Home Video and lodge your complaints. We'll only get this fixed if multiple people call in.

(888) 223-4369

They told me I was the first to call in, and they clearly didn't really believe me. we need more people.

Even if you're overseas, if it's not too expensive, or if you can use WhatsApp, try calling. Thanks!

[ouchmyfacehurts]

i just called them and was told "no one had called in to report a problem about this"

they took my information but i'm not sure what it's going to get me

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ouchmyfacehurts

i just called them and was told "no one had called in to report a problem about this"

they took my information but i'm not sure what it's going to get me

Did you get a case number? I posted mine above. I'll call to tell them people are being told they're the only ones calling in.

I got a call back from them yesterday, asking for my email, and then an email just now asking for screencaps, which I sent, so they're taking this somewhat seriously.

That said, please, EVERYONE call in, and post your case # here afterwards.

Only together can we fix this!!!

Thanks!!!!!!

[ouchmyfacehurts]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Did you get a case number? I posted mine above. I'll call to tell them people are being told they're the only ones calling in.

No case number but I did get an email shortly thereafter asking for screenshots and time stamps. I also initiated a return with amazon. Amazon's procedure is they have to replace it and when the replacement (inevitably) has the same defect, they pull it from their site and escalate it with the supplier.

Fox already had my information on file because of the defects on SUNSHINE and DIE HARD 2. Hah.