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wibblewobble
Nutshell
Joined: 31 Dec 2013
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 3:39 pm Post subject: Season 5 is on iTunes... in HD! |
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Just spotted this... not sure how long it's been available, but so far only Season 5, but damn, it looks awesome. I'll see if I can manage a screenshot (iTunes blocks them, I have to poke around to see if there's a way around it).
25 episodes, "From Venus With Love" through "The Forget-Me-Knot" |
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wibblewobble
Nutshell
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 01 Sep 2008
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Location: The Edge of Avengerland
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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They look like an SD upscales to me. Nothing to write home about.
Very little detail, and soft.
Thanks though for the grabs, wibblewobble. 
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Alan
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Lhbizness
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| Given the quality of the current Emma Peel set available in America, this is an improvement for American viewers. |
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davidf
Little Wonder
Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 100
Location: Avengerland Forever
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| These aren't upscales, it's how the HD masters look. I have seen them on french arte TV and they are very soft looking. I'm getting season 5 already |
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wibblewobble
Nutshell
Joined: 31 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 6:10 am Post subject: |
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| Alan wrote: | They look like an SD upscales to me. Nothing to write home about.
Very little detail, and soft.
Thanks though for the grabs, wibblewobble. |
You might be right, but it's a HUGE improvement over the DVDs I have... comparison:
http://i.imgur.com/tLDLBim.png |
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davidf
Little Wonder
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 8:16 am Post subject: |
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| Damn, itunes won't accept my card because it's not an american credit card, nor my paypal account. Can anyone help perhaps with a card code? (PM). Thanks. |
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dissolute
The Ministry
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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I concur, better even than the most recent DVDs - I just compared my own screen shots - and THEY were a world better than those that came before.
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http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at. |
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| seventeen wrote: | | These aren't upscales, it's how the HD masters look. |
Goodness grief. That's shocking.
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| wibblewobble wrote: | | Alan wrote: | They look like an SD upscales to me. Nothing to write home about.
Very little detail, and soft.
Thanks though for the grabs, wibblewobble. |
You might be right, but it's a HUGE improvement over the DVDs I have... comparison:
http://i.imgur.com/tLDLBim.png |
They will be a huge improvement over the old A&E DVDs, the master restorations of which are now 20+ years old.
The more recent UK DVDs look much better (though not as clean as your grabs). I just expect more definition and detail from HD. Some of the muzziness will be down to iTunes compression, but even then... Very soft.
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wibblewobble
Nutshell
Joined: 31 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Alan wrote: | | but even then... Very soft. |
I wonder if this is as good as it gets... i.e. could the film negs just not be that sharp?
Watching more episodes, I'm noticing a couple things:
1) The DP's focus was very inconsistent from scene to scene, often just a tad out of focus in one, then much better in the very next scene.
2) I *am* seeing film grain, but not much of it.
3) I wonder if they ran it through some sort of noise reduction |
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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| Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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The only reason that the negs could look so soft is if they were shot half-perf, which, not being a widescreen ratio, they weren't. There should be a lot more detail than we're seeing in the grabs.
Obviously, seeing them in motion is where it'll be apparent, and as a UK iTunes customer I'm not being given the opportunity to see these at present. But from the grabs, I would suggest that if you're not seeing much of the film grain, then your third suggestion is probably on the money.
Some companies are terrified of film grain, and the number of waxy looking Blu-rays I have is terrifying. It seems likely to me that these have had an over zealous noise reduction pass.
However, as you say, streets ahead of the DVDs, particularly the American DVDs.
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mousemeat
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
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Location: Elvis Central, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:40 am Post subject: |
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| Lhbizness wrote: | | Given the quality of the current Emma Peel set available in America, this is an improvement for American viewers. |
amen....the original releases for the american audience..was so shoddy. |
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 12:57 am Post subject: |
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The original releases were no worse than anywhere else. What is indefensible is that when they reissued the Emma Peels recently they still used the same old masters when much better was available.
At least it means that Blu-rays, if they come, and HD iTunes files will be seen in the US as a night and day improvement! (Let's look on the bright side!)
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davidf
Little Wonder
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 1:17 am Post subject: |
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No guys, I talked to the guys doing the restoration, they went heavy on the grain reduction for consistency hence the soft look.
Also that HD restoration dates from 2007 I think, it's pretty old and it was made straight in 1080p. If they redid them in 4K, you would get amazing detail, but it won't happen because StudioCanal do not think The Avengers is a cash cow.
Optimum should work on it, and make them widescreen 1.75:1 too (the ratio they were shot for). |
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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Location: The Edge of Avengerland
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| Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 3:36 am Post subject: |
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| seventeen wrote: | | No guys, I talked to the guys doing the restoration, they went heavy on the grain reduction for consistency hence the soft look. |
Gaahhh! I sometimes think that restoration people have no idea that grain is part of the film experience, and also that if you obliterate it, you take detail with it...
| Quote: | | Also that HD restoration dates from 2007 I think, it's pretty old and it was made straight in 1080p. If they redid them in 4K, you would get amazing detail, but it won't happen because StudioCanal do not think The Avengers is a cash cow. |
That's certainly true. It isn't a money spinner as much as it used to be, sadly.
| Quote: | | Optimum should work on it, and make them widescreen 1.75:1 too (the ratio they were shot for). |
I know you've posted test comparison shots to show that, but I am sure that it would be a controversial decision, if taken. Best to leave them as transmitted or thereabouts.
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wibblewobble
Nutshell
Joined: 31 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Alan wrote: | | Quote: | | Optimum should work on it, and make them widescreen 1.75:1 too (the ratio they were shot for). |
I know you've posted test comparison shots to show that, but I am sure that it would be a controversial decision, if taken. Best to leave them as transmitted or thereabouts. |
Any hint as to what thread that would be in? I'd love to see the comparison, if just for novelty value. |
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mousemeat
A Touch of Brimstone
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Location: Elvis Central, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:44 am Post subject: |
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| Lhbizness wrote: | | Given the quality of the current Emma Peel set available in America, this is an improvement for American viewers. |
amen.....much improved over the shoddy A & E Peel mega set |
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Alan
A Touch of Brimstone
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davidf
Little Wonder
Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 100
Location: Avengerland Forever
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:56 am Post subject: |
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There are two tracks on the itunes DL, one is the 5.1 remixes, the other the original mono track. Thought I'm not sure the 5.1 plays in 5.1, it sounds 2.0 downmixed only.
Wibble thx very much for you help, reward is coming  |
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