The Avengers International Fan Forum

Alan · Last edited by Alan on Tue Nov 06, 2012 4:15 am; edited 1 time in total

As there didn't seem to be an official thread...

Now confirmed for Monday 25th October 2010.

Screen capture comparisons (Contender/A&E/Optimum) from Murdersville - http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_optimum_set4_captures.htm

Special Features:

• Audio commentary by script writer / producer Brian Clemens on Murdersville
• Audio commentary by guest star Peter Wyngarde on Epic
• Audio commentary by script writer Richard Harris on The Winged Avenger
• Audio commentary by Cyd Child, Diana Rigg's stunt double, on Return of The Cybernauts
• Archive German TV interview with Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg
• Film trims from The Fear Merchants, Escape in Time, From Venus With Love and The See-Through Man
• The Avengers – A Retrospective (1993 documentary presented by Patrick Macnee)
• ATV newsreel footage (Diana Rigg receives TV Award)
• The Avengers – "They’re Back" archive trailer
• Filmed episode introductions by Brian Clemens to The Bird Who Knew Too Much, The Living Dead, Epic, The Correct Way To Kill, The Superlative Seven, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Station, The Joker and Murdersville
• Granada Plus Points for each episode (previously released as 'Follow the Hat' on Contender edition)
• Episode Reconstructions for lost Series 1 episodes One For The Mortuary, Death on The Slipway, Tunnel of Fear and Dragonsfield
• Original 1960s German Titles
• Insert reprint of Series 5 promotional brochure
• Stills gallery for featured episodes
• PDF material (scripts, TV Times, etc)
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Alan
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mousemeat

Cybernowt · Little Wonder Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 240

I have 7 or 8 eps still to watch from the series 4 box set.. which may take 3 or 4 weeks to get round to them all.. which means it shouldnt be such a wait for this next one.. brilliant!

PaulGreaves · Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:54 am Post subject:

Got an email from Play this morning saying my Series 5 box set is on it's way. Woo Hoo! Smile

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darren · Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:13 am Post subject:

I kept thinking that this was coming in November so was rather perplexed to get an email from Moviemail saying it had been dispatched today.

I don't really care for much of this season but hopefully seeing the lovely clean images will colour my viewings.

darren · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 12:36 am Post subject:

Yay, boxset arrived this morning. Very Happy

Tara46 · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:41 am Post subject:

I also received Set 4 (Series 5) this morning. Just watched a little of Escape in Time, and was very impressed with the vivid colours. I'll sit down later and watch one of my favourite episodes, The Winger Avenger Very Happy

PaulGreaves · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 6:13 am Post subject:

Prendergast · Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject:

I'm curious about any defects in this set Wink

darren · Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 4:36 am Post subject:

Having pretty much watched the first two disc (skimmed The Fear Merchants, Bird Who knew too much as they fail to entertain), the first episode to make me go wow in terms of quality was The Living Dead.

I've never liked the pastelly colour to the early Wilfred Shingleton designed episodes, so the restoration hasn't changed that. But Once designer Robert Jones comes on board, the look of the show changes - I love bolder colours. There's a scene in the graveyard when they're searching for Mrs. Peel and the coloured lighting they used makes it look stunning. I made out detail on the underground glass shot that I hadn't noticed before. It's not that the earlier episodes don't look great it's that they don't reveal anything that appeals to me.

robmyers · Nutshell Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 22

My set arrived this morning and I'm watching "The Living Dead" now.

The image and sound are so clear and nuanced, it's wonderful to watch.

A big thank you to everyone who worked on this! Very Happy

Mr S · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:24 pm Post subject:

Well done to everyone concerned with restoring these. I think because we're in colour now, you can clearly see the impact the restoration has made on our favourite show.

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:49 am Post subject:

starboy9091 · Nutshell Joined: 05 Aug 2010 Posts: 32

I don't have this set, but I have the A&E DVDs. I also got the first two new partworks that I think were manufactured by Optimum since their logo is on the packaging. The sound on Death at Bargain Prices on the partwork DVD is noticibly sped up both when I play it on my laptop and my region free DVD player on my flat screen TV. Not sure how much of this is due to the 4% PAL issue or a mastering issue at Studio Canal. The same episode on the A&E discs sounds fine although even the partwork picture is better than the A&E disc.

Has anyone done a comparison between the new Optimum set and the existing German and French discs that are also supposed to be the remastered versions?

Now I'm worried that a future USA release may possibly also be sped up. Sad

Brad

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 12:47 pm Post subject:

pauljwyatt · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 1:15 pm Post subject:

I watched the Optimum "The bird who knew too much" and the Contender one and couldn't tell the difference with regards the sound. Ofcourse it's MUCH clearer but the levels and pitch were the same.

It reminds me off a quote Patrick Macnee said about Diana Rigg that when she had a long reams of dialogue she would say them very quickly and high pitched - perhaps that is what is happening here! Surprised

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rdc180368 · White Dwarf Joined: 19 Aug 2010 Posts: 9

It seems to have been one thing after another with Avengers DVDs?? It's annoying because the whole thing seems to have become a long-running "saga" over several years (faults with the Contender ones, the problems '2entertain' encountered leading to long delays and now these latest issues).

I find the whole self-indulgent "anorak" analyses of all the fine 'technical' detail really tedious, though. If they aren't right, just return them to the supplier... the filmed episodes of The Avengers are far and away my favorite television series but we're not exactly talking life and death, surely!! I can live without it if I have too... there are far more pressing things in life.

Alan · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:35 pm Post subject:

But returning the DVDs to the supplier won't make a jot of difference, because they will be replaced with identical discs. If there are faults with these DVDs, they need to be addressed - and there's nothing "anorak" about doing so.

Please by all means put your own argument, but don't pass judgement on the legitimate concerns of others.
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rdc180368 · White Dwarf Joined: 19 Aug 2010 Posts: 9

I'll try to clarify.

First of all, I accept that if you don't think these DVDs are satisfactory, then there are only two choices right now... wait to see if Optimum say anything or return them for a refund.

Second, I used the word "anorak" simply because there seems to be a certain amount of point-scoring (almost a competition if you like) between a few people regarding what niggles and faults they say they've found. I don't know anyone on here personally but even I have picked up that there are 2-3 people who appear to have put in quite a bit of their own time and effort to help Optimum try to put something on sale that will be highly attractive to Avengers fans. I think you misinterpreted because what I was attempting to say was that there comes a time when everyone simply has to make their own decision what to do rather than bombard people who were obviously contributing the most (and yet who can't bbe held responsible for the faults) with "complaints". Oh well...

Alan · Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:24 am Post subject:

But I don't personally feel "bombarded". My comment was as an administrator at this board, not in my capacity as being involved in production of special features for the releases. The sound issues and faults with the previous sets are significant, and no-one is being picky.

These faults have compromised a heck of a lot of good work from many quarters on these releases, but I don't feel they should be overlooked because of that good work.
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Alan
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