Any rumors about Buffy the Vampire Slayer show coming out on Blu-ray?

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

If it can be opened up without any cropping at all, that's even better.

It can. The US DVDs were 4:3 whilst the UK DVDs were opened up with no cropping. It's an absolute boom mike fest though and the composition is ridiculous. I hope that if these make it to Blu-ray Whedon will ensure they're back to 4:3 like he did with the US DVDs.

[naelst]

Originally Posted by Buffdale

Yes it's really amazing! We will rediscover the series after so many years!

Besides, someone who has a friend who works at 20th Century Fox in France, has revealed that his friend has said that 20th Century Fox has just signed a contract to acquire the rights of the episodes in HD, in order to get the series on a physical support (Blu-Ray I guess).
20th Century Fox France indicated that this is due for release "soon" (to quote). The speed of the output depends on the demand and the views of the Pivot TV channel.

I think it's possible. I do not think this person would lie. But it is better to wait for official confirmation.

Omg, if this is true, I'm going to freak out! It's my most wanted release ever. I'd happily give up all my steelbooks if it could get me a Buffy Blu-ray collection.

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

It can. The US DVDs were 4:3 whilst the UK DVDs were opened up with no cropping. It's an absolute boom mike fest though and the composition is ridiculous. I hope that if these make it to Blu-ray Whedon will ensure they're back to 4:3 like he did with the US DVDs.

I know, but as of now it's unknown whether or not season 1 can be. And I don't care what Joss says about the framing. I'll take either, but there are more episodes I loved in 16:9 than 4:3.

[iank]

Exciting developments. Up there with X Files as "MUST OWN in HD".

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Originally Posted by Buffdale

I contacted PIVOT.

[Buffdale]

Originally Posted by naelst

Omg, if this is true, I'm going to freak out! It's my most wanted release ever. I'd happily give up all my steelbooks if it could get me a Buffy Blu-ray collection.

I do not think he's lying, but like I said ... Let's be careful !
Buffy is what I want the most on Blu-Ray too ! It seems too good to be true this Pivot thing and all haha !

Originally Posted by Dynamo of Eternia

You just kill me ! Good one !

Nobody talks about it but ... Do you think Angel will follow soon ?

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by Buffdale

I do not think he's lying, but like I said ... Let's be careful !
Buffy is what I want the most on Blu-Ray too ! It seems too good to be true this Pivot thing and all haha !



You just kill me ! Good one !

Nobody talks about it but ... Do you think Angel will follow soon ?

Angel would probably be a lot easier to re-master. Streaming sites & iTunes claim to have season 5 in HD, but from what I've seen it looks like it might be upscaled.

[Buffdale]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

Angel would probably be a lot easier to re-master. Streaming sites & iTunes claim to have season 5 in HD, but from what I've seen it looks like it might be upscaled.

Yes you are probably right ! Moreover, there will be no problem with the aspect ratio this time ! By the way, I read that season 2 is available in full screen in US ? Here, on DVD, there's only 4/3. Funny, it's the opposite with Buffy !

Really ? Everyone says it's in high definition, but I am not surprised if it is, in fact, upscaling !

[Drewbee87]

Originally Posted by Buffdale

Yes you are probably right ! Moreover, there will be no problem with the aspect ratio this time ! By the way, I read that season 2 is available in full screen in US ? Here, on DVD, there's only 4/3. Funny, it's the opposite with Buffy !

Really ? Everyone says it's in high definition, but I am not surprised if it is, in fact, upscaling !

Yeah, the season 2 DVD is in 16:9 here. And season 5 may very well be in HD, it could just be the streaming quality that makes it look upscaled to me.

[EddieLarkin]

For the record:

All episodes of Buffy were composed 4:3, except 6x07 (Once More With Feeling) which was composed 16:9.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Angel were composed 4:3, whilst 3, 4 and 5 were composed 16x9.

All seasons of Buffy on DVD in the US are in 4:3, except for episode 6x07. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are 4:3 in the UK, whilst 4, 5, 6 and 7 are 16:9.

Angel was released the same way on both sides of the pond: 4:3 for Season 1 and 16:9 for 2-5 (thus Season 2 was incorrect).

[kngtmat]

I wonder if Fox has done these shows (X-Files/Buffy together with the remasters for a little less cost then they usually would separately. If I'm not thinking it right that's fine.


I don't care if it's either way since my player can bring the 4x3 side to side like 16:9. Also in the DVD's 4x3 I have seen a boom mic & stuff on top of the screen before.

[Drewbee87]

I know what aspect ratio the show was composed for, I just don't care... lol If I like the 16:9 versions more, that's what I'd prefer to have on DVD/Blu-ray.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

For the record:

All episodes of Buffy were composed 4:3, except 6x07 (Once More With Feeling) which was composed 16:9.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Angel were composed 4:3, whilst 3, 4 and 5 were composed 16x9.

All seasons of Buffy on DVD in the US are in 4:3, except for episode 6x07. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are 4:3 in the UK, whilst 4, 5, 6 and 7 are 16:9.

Angel was released the same way on both sides of the pond: 4:3 for Season 1 and 16:9 for 2-5 (thus Season 2 was incorrect).

IIRC Whedon himself gave the go ahead for Angel S2 to be in widescreen; note that he maintained Buffy's 4:3 aspect ratio throughout on US home video but for Angel S2 he went with 16:9. While there are still a few framing errors in S2, some shots also work very well and by the end of the season you can see that they're starting to actually compose for 16:9, the last episode in particular.

Who gives a shit any more though, it's BUFFY IN HD, BABY!!!!

[willbfree]

This is fantastic, of course - regardless of what aspect ratio it may be in.

BUT… let's assume that it never makes it to BluRay and all we have are these syndicated episodes. If so, doesn't it seem likely that each episode will be missing about 5 minutes of material to make way for more commercials?

So… there is a need for BluRay even if everyone is acquiring the airings.

[CouncilSpectre]

Buffy? HD? Oh boy......

[Buffdale]

I really want to see season 2 widescreen because of you guys !

I hope, for Buffy, we will have new scenes in the bonus. This is what is most lacking with DVDs (and Sarah M. Gellar...).
Unfortunately, the trailer makes me a little scared... You do not feel that there is a small abuse of Digital Noise Reduction ? There is no grain for instance. I hope this is the low quality of the video that gives that impression !

[NL197]

Originally Posted by Drewbee87

Angel would probably be a lot easier to re-master. Streaming sites & iTunes claim to have season 5 in HD, but from what I've seen it looks like it might be upscaled.

I purchased ANGEL season 1 and season 5 on the iTunes Store.

Season 1 is modified (opened up) widescreen like the UK season 4-7 Buffy DVDs, which is how you see it on Netflix. It is in standard definition.

Unlike the DVDs, the "previously on Angel" recaps are intact for this first season, just as they are for season 5.

Season 5 however, is similar to FIREFLY, in that all non-visual effect scenes are indeed true high definition and not upscaled. In fact it was the only season of either show to be broadcast in HD on The WB in 2003 to 2004 when it ended. The effect shots are upscaled but with a few minor instances of softness (vampire face morphing being the most obvious) it isn't distracting.

If there is one complaint to be made about season 5 in terms of its presentation, the entire season was desaturated to be almost colorless at times, which is how it looked on TV and on DVD. Compare it to earlier seasons and it looks just bland. Sharp, but bland.

Originally Posted by Buffdale

Yes you are probably right ! Moreover, there will be no problem with the aspect ratio this time ! By the way, I read that season 2 is available in full screen in US ? Here, on DVD, there's only 4/3. Funny, it's the opposite with Buffy !

Really ? Everyone says it's in high definition, but I am not surprised if it is, in fact, upscaling !

ANGEL season 2 was released in widescreen everywhere except for region 4 (Australia).

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

For the record:

All episodes of Buffy were composed 4:3, except 6x07 (Once More With Feeling) which was composed 16:9.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Angel were composed 4:3, whilst 3, 4 and 5 were composed 16x9.

All seasons of Buffy on DVD in the US are in 4:3, except for episode 6x07. Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are 4:3 in the UK, whilst 4, 5, 6 and 7 are 16:9.

Angel was released the same way on both sides of the pond: 4:3 for Season 1 and 16:9 for 2-5 (thus Season 2 was incorrect).

Whedon may have approved season 2 for widescreen DVD presentation, but indeed it is 4:3 and has similar issues to Buffy's frame-expanded seasons. Season 1 is worse for it (like season 4 of Buffy) but it's still dammed fun to see it wide, and gives the entire series that nice consistency. Season 1 episode 17 'Eternity' features several of the jump-cut hyper-edit scene transitions in 4:3 with borders, similar to a single transition in season 2 episode 18 'Dead End'.

If anyone has a look at the 16:9 version of the "Previously on Buffy" recap for the season 5 finale 'The Gift', along with the season 6 premiere recap, you will see that many season 1 clips have side borders.


Being in Canada, no Pivot to be made here.

[theprestige85]

Look, i'm a purist through and through, but Buffy is one of the very few shows where it's 'wrong' aspect ratio doesn't harm it. At least to me. I haven't seen the boom mic's and crew members that other people have mentioned, and yeah, I can see that theres extra space sometimes but it never takes me out. If anything, I think it heightens the show more cinematic content. The only episode where the 16:9 stretch was an issue was The Body, because it's such an intimate episode and the framing is very meticulous and deliberate, the 16:9 sort of undermines the intent a bit. But for everything else it actually works, which is surprising for a show not protected for the ratio.

Angel would look boss in true HD. It's even more cinematic than Buffy, and from season 3 and onwards it's actually shot and protected for widescreen.

Did the first HD episode broadcast yesterday??

[lstar337]

I checked out Angel (S5) with my AppleTV last night and it is HD for sure.

The hair is the big give away. Instead of looking like a single mass (DVD) you can see individual strands. The level of detail is very high!

[Buffdale]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Did the first HD episode broadcast yesterday??

Like I said, I think they just broadcast the whole series in SD. Now, this is the last episodes.
Next week, they start the series from the beginning. But this time in HD.

Originally Posted by NL197

ANGEL season 2 was released in widescreen everywhere except for region 4 (Australia).

Not on DVD region 2. We have 4/3.