Original TOS on HD-DVD?

[Vance]

Well, since Sony owns the distribution rights to over 50 percent of all movies.. (and, of course, the next Giant, Disney, has joined with them)... Blu Ray is going to obviously be the next 'big' format.

But, we're a few years out from it being solid yet. I like it.. but, honestly, even with my nice screen, I just don't see THAT big of an improvement over my DVDs on the same screen - at least not enough of one to warrant rebuying my existing DVD collection.

It's superior, but it reminds me too much of upgrading my computer for the newest graphics card every four months.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Charles Trip Tucker III said:
I better take good care of my Star Trek DVD's.

I downloaded the HD version of Mirror, Mirror on my XBox 360 and compared it with the same episode on standard DVD played on an upscan DVD player.

The DVD version actually holds up pretty well. I think the image looks more natural, personally. The HD version seems a bit too dark and some of the added clarity exposes flaws in the sets and make up. It seems a bit "contrasty" to my eyes as well. Sometimes the console lights look really different, they are super-colorful but kind of unnatural looking. It might be just the way I'm used to the show looking all these years but I'm not so sure.

It will be interesting to see the difference in a true 1080p vs the 720p version currently available but I don't think you need to throw your DVD's away. That being said despite my comments above I don't think the HD version is a disaster but I think people overstate how "unwatchable" the standard DVD version is on an HDTV. EDIT: Must say, I just saw Tommorrow is Yesterday remastered and the cleaned-up video looked really good.

YMMV of course, some people will really think the HD version completely blows the other away but I say take a look for yourself and judge instead of taking someone's word for it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Re: Original TOS on HD-DVD/BluRay?

Charles Trip Tucker III said:
How could they make the episodes widescreen? Wouldn't they have to cut off the top and bottom of the picture?

They could always stretch the 4:3 image.

On the actual discs, OTOH, the show will probably be 'sideboxed' like it is on stations that are airing the show in HD.