Season TWO OFFICIAL TNG Blu-Ray Discussion Thread

[Dac]

Don't worry Jaro - They've managed to make the four footer look stunning. It will be worth it.

[J. Lester]

Amazon.com reports my copy as shipped (and at 79.99). It is scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday, but it went via FedEx SmartPost instead of UPS, even though I am an AmazonPrime member.

[RAMA]

Not yet shipped by Amazon. They charged me $64.99, with an estimated delivery on tues.

[mswood]

Well mine has shipped, but since i have been watching through "cough" other means, I feel I can comment.

As probably the first person who stated their dread of Dan Curry being involved in this endeaver, I think my fears were spot on.

I am not in any way an expert in FX, I don't do them, I have no knowledge of them. But even back in the 80's I could tell you as soon as we got a new shot, if it was Legato or Curry overseeing the FX (thankfully in a few years additional staff will come on which helped dramatically, though you can still see Curry's look with the crew's he oversaw).

But like then, his work is though flat and bland, serviceable.

With the exception of a few shots that are rip you out of the episode, utterly awful, most work, they just don't flatter the show.

My biggest gripe is how that impacted Legato's work. Take the awful episode the Child (terrible episode), but one of the best looking episodes of TNG (thank You Rob Bowman and Legato). Well we still get Bowman's outstanding work, but the FX in the child is disappointing (though still some of the better work on this set), just because it now looks like Curry's work (AARRRGGGHHH!!!).

But fx are only a small (though visually important aspect of the show), and the live action, is beautiful to see.

Review of the set
Story: C (It's a very mixed bag for me, but there is significant improvement over season 1).
Look (live Action) : A
Look Visual FX: C-

Last season to compare this is how I would have ranked Season one
Story: D+
Look (Live Action): A-
Look Visual FX: B+ (ILM work easy A, individual episode work ranging from and A to a C).

While I don't like many of the episodes of these two early season, I have purchased almost every single release of Trek from COlombbia House, to paramount issued VHS tapes through Voyager, to the laser disc, to the DVD releases and the Blu-Ray. The only thing I haven't purchased is the best of sets (the two episodes DVD release of TOS, and the original HD release of TOS, as it was clear that Blu-Ray would be the dominant format).

And as truly disappointed to the style of half of the episodes, being changed, and the overall general look of the fx not matching the beautiful live action, I can''t not purchase this release.

1. The live action is just beautiful.

2. For the first time ever I think the VAM is actually at an acceptable level. Something that Trek generally how shall I say it, sucks at.

3. In my opinion of course, the written and performed material of later seasons and DS9 (not to mention I actually think the majority of Voyager and ENT is stronger then seasons 1 and 2 of TNG) are goals important enough for me to spend 70 dollars.

Just in the hope of a release.

[NewHorizon]

Anyone willing or able to post the Season 3 trailer?

[bullethead]

NewHorizon wrote:

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Anyone willing or able to post the Season 3 trailer?

I don't think that anyone can do it before street date (and for a while after) without risking CBS take downs.

[Patrick O'Brien]

J. Lester wrote:

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Amazon.com reports my copy as shipped (and at 79.99). It is scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday, but it went via FedEx SmartPost instead of UPS, even though I am an AmazonPrime member.

I thought as a prime member they would give us the lower price if there was a reduction?

[Trekker4747]

dg1379 wrote:

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I've been to several places around town and all told me the same thing, it's not being released until the 4th. How the hell are other shops putting it out there beforehand?

Those other people are jumping the street date and likely would get in trouble from CBS should they find out, maybe suffering a fine or the loss of the privilege to sell CBS DVDs.

[bullethead]

Trekker4747 wrote:

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Those other people are jumping the street date and likely would get in trouble from CBS should they find out, maybe suffering a fine or the loss of the privilege to sell CBS DVDs.

That and someone supposedly ripped it all and put up a torrent.

[BillJ]

bullethead wrote:

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That and someone supposedly ripped it all and put up a torrent.

That's why they shouldn't hold the vendors to street dates. Some of those people who are downloading it would've bought it if it was available in stores not just on torrent sites.

People who are willing to buy it get forced to wait until the release date while unscrupulous types get to download it five-six days early.

[mswood]

Usually its closer to two or three weeks.

[Trekker4747]

BillJ wrote:

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That's why they shouldn't hold the vendors to street dates. Some of those people who are downloading it would've bought it if it was available in stores not just on torrent sites.

People who are willing to buy it get forced to wait until the release date while unscrupulous types get to download it five-six days early.

Yeah, those poor torrent users. I'm sure the wait for a few more days is what REALLY pushed them over the edge to illegally and immorally download something rather than legally purchase it.

You're kidding me, people who're going to torrent things are going to torrent it no matter what. It's not about having to wait OMG! for a specific date it's about wanting to get things for free.

[mswood]

Some certainly but to describe that as teh default reason is rather, well uninformed.

I torrent, but I also purchase, in fact out of every friend I have I purchase mroe media then anyone.

As I stated above, I have purchased almost every single US release of the various treks, in formats of VHS, Laser Disc, DVD, Blu-Ray and itunes mpeg4.

Trust me artist get their income off of me.

And there are very few souls out there at least in the US, that have not at one time or another enjoyed pirated content.

Be it from tape recordings of LP's back in the day. Letting others ever listen to those (crime). How about every recording something on VHS back in teh day and taking and watching it in another address? At a friends, ect. Letting someone borrow something? All crimes.

Hell a mix tape given to you (back in the day) is a crime.

For myself I did it because its far faster then ripping a digital copy off the bluray (also not legal). Even as I will when they become released purchase a digital copy.

Look at TAR, it's in the last 2 years finally getting some digital and DVD releases, and its been on the air since 2001. And I have every legal copy I can of all of them (including digital copies in regular and HD).

I don't feel bad that some have been unavailable in any legal form to watch in over a decade.

Supernatural, why. Because my affiliate sucks. With sound and video going out frequently. Its also a standard cropped version stretched to 16:9. Yet I have every season on DVD and Blurya. I have each episode purchased from itunes in both regular and HD formats.

I don't feel bad about it.

[MikeS]

"first world problems" beautifully sums up this thread.

With regards Torrents - I agree with the poster above. To label it a crime is to misunderstand what the majority of people use it for. I too find it easier to download than "rip" something I've already purchased. I have also "tried before I buy", if I like something I will purchase it, whereas if I did it the other way the stores would not offer me a refund or exchange. Perhaps the industry needs to start fitting in with what the consumer wants rather than the opposite. I applaud bands like Coldplay that have recently offered downloads on a "pay us what you think it's worth basis", people are genuinely honest but are scared of getting their fingers burnt by unscrupulous multi-nationals. Take this season 2 blu-ray release as an example - they have made mistakes, I don't think it is worth the £60 they're asking, I would however part with £50 for it.

[Tosk]

Is this really the appropriate thread for a discussion about torrents?