X-Files (series) coming to Blu in ... I want to believe

[stvn1974]

Originally Posted by davidthenikonuser

Never heard of the El-Rey network.

Robert Rodriguez's network.

http://www.elreynetwork.com/

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by d514

A German TV station (ProSieben Maxx) announced to start showing the X-files beginning with season 1 in remastered HD versions! The first episodes are shown on January 20th, 2014.

Source: http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/43814..._2014_wachsen/

[Show spoiler]Bei den synchronisierten Serien setzt Carl auch auf ein Comeback des Mystery-Klassikers "Akte X". Scully und Mulder werden - erstmals in nachbearbeiteter HD-Version - ab 20. Januar am Montagabend ermitteln.

"...a comeback of the mystery classic "X-files". Scully and Mulder are going to investigate - for the first time in remastered HD versions - on Monday nights starting on January 20th..."

So this is airing pretty soon.. Anyone here have the ability to DVR it or something similar?

[samukas]

I'll be watching it on the SD feed as the HD channels is encrypted. At least I'll see if they kept it widescreen or not.

[d514]

I don't know if this is available outside of Germany but ProSiebenMaxx posted a trailer:
http://www.prosiebenmaxx.de/video/ak...d-trailer-clip

It confirms the show will be broadcasted in HD but the trailer itself is only SD. But it is in 16:9...

[Dreamliner330]

I don't know why the major networks don't rebroadcast. Xfiles and TNG rebroadcast in prime time would get better ratings that some of the crap on now.

[Prince Junior]

Every so often I'm in the mood to watch The X-Files. Yesterday I revisited a few of my favorite episodes: Darkness Falls, Grotesque, Colony and End Game! I'm sure I'll view at least a couple more by this weekend.

I'm not going to hold my breath that we'll see the series on Blu-ray anytime soon though, as glorious as that would be. If it hasn't happened by now, when will it happen?

I'll just have to stick with my DVDs for the foreseeable future, it seems. Man, those things were effin' expensive back in the day, weren't they? Still can't believe how much cash I spent on 'em.

[jayj306]

Found some screengrabs on a German forum with a quick comparison of some of the HD masters to the DVD ones.

[tommb84]

Hi all

I've been following this thread ever since it was first posted, so I'm coming out of the woodwork, hi

Thought I would do a bit of my own digging on this ProSiebenMaxx stuff. After seeing the commercial for "HD Akte X" I wanted to have a look and see if the original image was cropped to create this widescreen effect or, if it was protected for 16:9 during filming, the 16:9 image was fully restored.

My results are in and I'm not sure what to think. The image is definitely opened up to the left and right on some scenes and it looks a lot cleaner, even in standard definition, although there is definitely some cropping and stretching going on. I'm hoping that when watching the episodes without comparison it will not be noticeable that much.


Scenes from the Pilot

Original:


German commercial:


Original:


German commercial:


Original:


German commercial:



Scene from Deep Throat

Original:


German commercial:



Scene from Squeeze

Original:


German commercial:



Scenes from The Erlenmeyer Flask

Original:


German commercial:


Original:


German commercial:


Original:


German commercial:

[MulderWasTaken]

I don't know about this widescreen... I took screenshots of that trailer and compared to the same shots on Netflix...

[magnetite2]

Originally Posted by Prince Junior

I'm not going to hold my breath that we'll see the series on Blu-ray anytime soon though, as glorious as that would be. If it hasn't happened by now, when will it happen?

People were saying similar things about TNG being on Blu-ray back in 2007 or so, and in 2012, look what happened.

[iaragorn1]

Someone with more knowledge than I could probably comment on this, but I think it looks like it was filmed in Super 35 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_35

From the Wiki article, the Super 35 common top of the image appears to be the widescreen image used in the remastering. There is NOT any squeezing of the image but it has been (obviously) reformatted.

I have to say the I do not mind as I think that it pulls the viewer in closer to the action and you are gaining quite a lot of details that were left out from the left and right of the images. Contrast seems much improved.

You notice from the image below that the focus is towards the top of the image and it seems that the X-Files was filmed and protected for 16x9 Television.

[gettodamoofies]

Not a fan of the aspect ratio change. Chopping heads and legs off all over the place (not to mention the iconic poster). I'm sure detail, contrast and colours will be much improved but I am not liking what I am seeing with the cropping going on. The extra info on the sides is OK but not at the expense of the info on the top and bottom.

[ijustblumyself]

Hmm.. The cropping is a little worrying, but I think I can live with it.

[Maxwell Everett]

It's important to understand before people begin getting upset after looking at, for instance, that cap of the "I Want to Believe" poster, that the pilot was shot by Thomas Del Ruth with standard "Academy Offset" 35mm cameras and framed for TV Trans 1.33:1. However, starting with the second episode, "Deep Throat," John S. Bartley took over as DP for the next three years and they switched to Super 35mm and protected for 1.78:1 while shooting for 1.33:1. So while the widescreen is certainly a compromise, they were at least conscious of it at the time of filming.

[Lsnake]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Hmm.. The cropping is a little worrying, but I think I can live with it.

Yeah, if that's the worst it will look I'll be completely fine with it. I tend to sometimes crop and zoom older 4:3 movies on my Plasma (Blasphemy, I know) anyway so I can handle it if I can have it covering more of the screen.

Either way, no matter how it's done, as soon as this set is (hopefully) announce, I'm heading straight for pre-orders to show my support.

Thanks for the pictures to the uploaders, if those shots are any indication I'm more than satisfied even if some sacrifices have to be made by the look of the shots.

[rockin]

I think it looks like a good compromise. Sure you lose some of the frame from before, but you gain more in other instances.

The one particular thing I like, is the colour timing on this. It demonstrates just how washed out the old DVD looks in comparison.

[reece]

My guess is that the slight cropping came to be at the German network, and is not present on the original masters. If that is what Fox is planning for blu ray, there is going to be a riot.

[samukas]

Yes, I do hope that the pilot, since it doesn't seem to have (much more?) image on the sides, is presented on 4:3, and the rest in widescreen.

[xmd.pl]

In those screengrabs, the pilot does have more image on the sides.
But I'm not fully trusting the trailer about the look of the ultimate presentation of the hd series.

So it would be best if there was anyone here in germany who recorded the episodes in HD and could post some HD screencaps from the episodes. Anyone?

[amoergosum]

HD screenshots >>>

http://forum.cinefacts.de/208508-akt...ml#post7966465

http://forum.cinefacts.de/208508-akt...ml#post7966468