New Classic Who Blu-Ray Sets (2021 edition)

Discussion in 'Doctor Who' started by Nightowl1701, Nov 25, 2020.

  1. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    Season 8 looks and sounds fantastic on blu-ray. All the stories look the best of any release so far, which is saying something since the DVD releases were phenomenal in their own rights - the makers spent a lot of technical time to improve on something that was already passable and the result is amazing.

    Some of the restoration tricks and even the colorized b/w film where the phosphors from the telecine can be seen on blu easier. It's 99% not detracting, only a battle in "Terror of the Autons" with the converted NTSC color with occasional/rare color bleed and blooming reds/purples in a couple areas try to detract but it's nominal at worst. The tweaks done for blu-ray significantly improve on the DVD release, which itself was very strong in its own right with the effort and time and care put into it. A lot of scenes look almost indistinguishable from original 625 line VT. The story will never look better unless there's a copy of the original VT hanging around that can be archived to D3, which is more than unlikely a possibility at this point.

    If I had a complaint, it would be "why not do a special edition of 'The Claws of Axos' where they removed the back-and-forth of green and Jo aging to death, which might sell the horror a bit better. With computers able to construct missing frames (useful in remastering damaged film cels or shifting FPS), it'd be a breeze. At least coneptually; in practice, the effects used helped the problems with camera lock and mixing, as well as making use of late 60s/early 70s fads with color, camera close-ups on swirling gels, and so on, to sell "organic space vampires". The fringing is much improved on the blu-ray as well; Axos' interiors are largely and virtually seamless now. Really a great release. (The bonus of that story's RSC treated episodes on a supplemental disc was a nice touch to compare, but the main disc content is always going to be best...)
     
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  2. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, season 8 is the best of the bunch so far. I thought Colony in Space was the biggest revelation - the new restoration was a significant upgrade on the old RSC version. It really bodes well for season 9.

    I think the budget only goes as far as new CGI effects for one story. I'm glad they chose Terror of the Autons, because fixing the CSI backgrounds and fringing goes a long way to selling the effect much better. The new puppet looked fantastic!
     
  3. StCoop

    StCoop Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I couldn't disagree more about the quality of the S8 episodes. On my 65 inch 4K TV they're such a smeary mess that it's hard to know what you're looking at some times. (To be clear I understand that it's a miracle colour versions exist at all, it's just a shame they give me a headache.)
     
  4. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    They're never going to look great, it's the nature of the source material. The point of comparison is with the DVDs, and the Blu-ray is a definite upgrade.
     
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  5. N-121973

    N-121973 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Thanks for the link. They've certainly put in a lot of time and effort on that site. I'm guessing this 'Wilderness Years' set will also include 30 Years in the TARDIS and possibly K-9 & Co. An interesting thing will by with the Season 7 set and Spearhead From Space. When that story was released on Blu-Ray there were a bunch of extras from the SE DVD edition not included. i wonder if on these box sets we'll get every extra previously released?
    EDIT - Just noticed - K-9 & Co is on the season 18 set which is out in a few weeks time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2021
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  6. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, the Spearhead Blu-ray was intended to be a companion to the DVD so didn't have any of the commentaries or documentaries. I'm certain the season 7 boxset will contain everything. Some are speculating that it might come with a UHD version as well so we can see Spearhead in glorious HDR.

    Wilderness Years is likely to cover the content from the DVDs of the TV Movie, More than 30 Years in the Tardis and Scream of the Schalke, plus possibly the other webcasts from the early 2000s, and maybe the charity specials Dimensions in Time and Curse of the Fatal Death, if they can afford to clear them.
     
  7. Chaos Descending

    Chaos Descending Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Because of this thread, I just bought Pertwee Season 2, Pertwee Season 4, T. Baker Season 1, and T. Baker Season 7 Blu-Ray season sets. :bolian:
     
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  8. Chaos Descending

    Chaos Descending Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Indeed it is.
     
  9. StalwartUK

    StalwartUK Captain Captain

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    I remember that when the Spearhead from Space Special Edition DVD first came out (in the UK it was released as part of a set with Terror of the Autons) a fair few people complained about double dipping since those who already had the original Spearhead from Space DVD had to buy another one of it to get Terror of the Autons.

    And about two years later they released Spearhead from Space again this time on Blu-ray. They possibly didn't want people to feel short changed if they already had the DVDs hence why only some new special features were included on the Blu-ray and none of the older ones.
     
  10. Nightowl1701

    Nightowl1701 Commodore Commodore

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  11. StCoop

    StCoop Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I think this will be my 5th time buying Shada, if you include the Big Finish version.

    Not bad for a story that was never finished!
     
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  12. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Ha, I know. Shada is rivalling Spearhead from Space for the number of copies I've bought. But I would like the 6-parter, that's one thing I missed on the 2017 Blu-ray.

    Season 17 isn't my favourite, and I've seen it fairly recently, though the extras do look lovely. I might just wait for the standard version this time.
     
  13. StCoop

    StCoop Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I notice it's a lot easier to order copies of the sets since they started doing the non-limited versions. It also put an end to the scalpers buying multiple copies and selling them for ridiculous amounts a few months after release.
     
  14. Emperor-Tiberius

    Emperor-Tiberius Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well, what a completely dishonest trailer. Anyone buying this season after this trailer is completely deceiving themselves. It especially makes Destiny of the Daleks to look like an epic adventure of wills for Davros, when its actually pretty silly overall.

    "But Shada was never going to be a six-parter!"

    Season 17 is certainly interesting, but only Doug Adams knew what he wanted from it and that's why only his two stories in it work at all.
     
  15. Kor

    Kor Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Great... Is it different from the 2017 release of Shada? I just ordered that one on UK blu-ray because I've never watched it, and it hasn't been released on blu-ray in the US (the UK disc is region free, and my equipment handles 1080/50i content just fine).

    Edit: I see from the article that it will be "presented in six episodes for the very first time, alongside the original 1992 VHS and 2017 versions."

    Kor
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2021
  16. Relayer1

    Relayer1 Admiral Admiral

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    In all fairness, it had been several hours since I last purchased a version of Shada...
     
  17. Redfern

    Redfern Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I didn't read anything stating such, but it will be cool if the 5:1 surround audio mix for "Destiny of the Daleks" adds some ring modulation to David Gooderson's dialogue. A couple of fans have demonstrated what I difference it made to Davros' voice. You know, offer it as an extra like they do the enhanced visuals.
     
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  18. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Mark Ayres has heavily hinted that this is the case!
     
  19. Tomalak

    Tomalak Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah, but the only set released since the standard edition announcement was season 24. IIRC all the eighties sets have been available for a while after release, it's only the Tom Baker and Pertwee sets that seem to be gone on day 1 unless you pre-order.

    But on the plus side the scalper market has completely crashed since the announcement. You can get the older limited sets for very reasonable prices now.

    We'll have to see if season 17 sells out immediately or if the market really has calmed down now.
     
  20. Redfern

    Redfern Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Oh, ho! That will be sweet if true! Gooderson's performance was not bad, but it just lacked something without the Dalek-esque ring modulation, especially since it was brought back when Molloy played the character.
     
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