Ultimate Soprano's Set - November 11, 2008

[Bluelitespecial]

If it does comes out on Blu-ray I would say it would cost a minimum of $499.99.

[Rogue588]

Originally Posted by Geist

Bring on the Blu-Ray.

Agreed. Anything less is unacceptable.

[chris_sc77]

I'm gonna go on record stating I really don't think the complete Sopranos Collection will be coming to Blu-ray.
Sorry, but I dont think the Blu-ray sales are enough to justify a set of this magnitude yet.

[cracksky]

Originally Posted by scoot95

I wonder what kind of packaging it will come in.

HBO Video plans on whacking a good number of consumers in the 4th Quarter when it releases The Sopranos: The Complete Series on Nov. 11 (prebook Oct. 7). The 33-disc collection features re-mastered versions of the award-winning series’ 86 episodes, three CD soundtracks, a 56-page photo album, a 16-page episode guide and a pair of bonus discs featuring such supplemental materials as 16 lost scenes, a sit-down dinner and discussion with creator David chase and other key cast and crew members, Sopranos spoofs, additional interviews and more. The set, which comes housed in a premium black linen box that weighs in at nearly 10 pounds, carries a suggested retail price of $399.99.

[rmick]

Until I feel weak after seeing the packaging, I am going to say I can stand strong and take this as my oppurtunity to pick up S6 Pt1 and Pt2 on the cheap while people are unloading to get the set.

[chris_sc77]

November 11 also happens to be my birthday I just realized. My favorite show ever coming out on my birthday. Sweet. Looks like I know what I'll be treating myself to this year.

[Josh-da-man]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

I'm gonna go on record stating I really don't think the complete Sopranos Collection will be coming to Blu-ray.
Sorry, but I dont think the Blu-ray sales are enough to justify a set of this magnitude yet.

Agreed.

I have heard that TV on Blu-ray isn't doing that great, and neither are catalog titles. You look at the Sopranos (which, IIRC, has only the sixth season avaible on HD discs), and they would need to create Blu-ray discs for over sixty hours of television programming in order to get the first five seasons. That's a lot of effort and capital to expend for something that's still a niche market. I honestly don't see a complete Sopranos collection coming out on Blu-ray in the next five years. What they'll probably do is release each season individually, and then do a complete series after they've already released seperate seasons in order to maximize their revenue and recoup disc matering costs.

I really think that Blu-ray discs of television material is going to struggle for a while. There's too much material out there that would normally be the top shelf content that isn't fit for HD release. Like TNG, DS9, and Babylon 5 that would need to be remastered for HD and get the special effects redone; and Buffy the Vampire Slayer whose early seasons were shot on 16mm and look shitty even on standard DVD.

[Goat3001]

^Well I for one am hoping that you are wrong but my gut is telling me that you may be right. If they didn't mention Blu-Ray when they mentioned the entire set it is possible that there is not Blu-Ray just yet.

I'm happy I stayed away from the single season sets. This is a no brainer for me right now. I don't know how I'll feel in Nov. but right now I'm thinking that I may put off buying it for a few months to see what the news on Blu-Ray is.

[Richard Malloy]

I'm the perfect customer. "THE SOPRANOS" is not only one of my favorite TV series, but one of my favorite bits of filmed entertainment ever. And I've been waiting for the full set - waiting and waiting and netflixing and netflixing as I wait.

But I'm not buying this until it's on blu-ray.

The blu-ray of the 6th season blows away the SD releases. I'd rather catch reruns on HBO-HD than buy a standard def release.

[jjcool]

This is great news!! Bring on all the people that are gonna upgrade, and sell their season sets for cheap!!

[chris_sc77]

First pic of the boxset:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Sop...te-Series/9919

[mzupeman2]

I think the first season could have been better picture quality wise, but is it really necessary to have a completely remastered series? Not quite too sure about that.

[slop101]

Looks like they're going for sort of a coffee-table-book vibe. Looks cool and all, but I don't care for displaying my dvds that way.

[CaptainRon]

Originally Posted by Richard Malloy

I'm the perfect customer. "THE SOPRANOS" is not only one of my favorite TV series, but one of my favorite bits of filmed entertainment ever. And I've been waiting for the full set - waiting and waiting and netflixing and netflixing as I wait.

But I'm not buying this until it's on blu-ray.

The blu-ray of the 6th season blows away the SD releases. I'd rather catch reruns on HBO-HD than buy a standard def release.

Comments like this drive me nuts, so even though it could be years (possibly never) before blu-ray is released the crispness of the picture is more important to you that the content of this unbelievable show? I mean I understand why casual fans want to wait for blu-ray, or people who have the single season sets, but to avoid a show you love for its content because its not in HD? That's counterproductive.

I do think thought that HBO should come straight out and tell us what the deal is with Blu-Ray so people aren't avoiding this great set.

[macnorton]

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man

Agreed.

I have heard that TV on Blu-ray isn't doing that great, and neither are catalog titles. You look at the Sopranos (which, IIRC, has only the sixth season avaible on HD discs), and they would need to create Blu-ray discs for over sixty hours of television programming in order to get the first five seasons. That's a lot of effort and capital to expend for something that's still a niche market. I honestly don't see a complete Sopranos collection coming out on Blu-ray in the next five years. What they'll probably do is release each season individually, and then do a complete series after they've already released seperate seasons in order to maximize their revenue and recoup disc matering costs.

I really think that Blu-ray discs of television material is going to struggle for a while. There's too much material out there that would normally be the top shelf content that isn't fit for HD release. Like TNG, DS9, and Babylon 5 that would need to be remastered for HD and get the special effects redone; and Buffy the Vampire Slayer whose early seasons were shot on 16mm and look shitty even on standard DVD.

I disagree. I think people are waiting for something like The Sopranos on Blu...that would be enough to get them to buy it. I held off buying them for years because I knew something bigger and better would come along. And granted I understand where CaptainRon is coming from, but why not wait for the best instead of settling?

One last thing, I can tell you this...I am from Sopranos Country and I can guarantee that people here will buy both the SD set and a Blu set when it is available.

[Living Dead]

I'd love to have The Sopranos on Blu, but with the ridiculous way that HBO prices their sets it will probably cost as much as a heart transplant.

[rexinnih]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

First pic of the boxset:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Sop...te-Series/9919

Damn that's nice looking.

[Jack Straw]

Originally Posted by CaptainRon

Comments like this drive me nuts, so even though it could be years (possibly never) before blu-ray is released the crispness of the picture is more important to you that the content of this unbelievable show? I mean I understand why casual fans want to wait for blu-ray, or people who have the single season sets, but to avoid a show you love for its content because its not in HD? That's counterproductive.

Completely agree. To each his own, but waiting is f*&%in' nuts.

[Richard Malloy]

Originally Posted by CaptainRon

Comments like this drive me nuts, so even though it could be years (possibly never) before blu-ray is released the crispness of the picture is more important to you that the content of this unbelievable show? I mean I understand why casual fans want to wait for blu-ray, or people who have the single season sets, but to avoid a show you love for its content because its not in HD? That's counterproductive.

Of course not. As I plainly stated, this remastered set will be a welcome addition to my Netflix queue, and I'm looking forward to seeing the whole series again. But I'm not shelling out the big bucks until it's released in its full HD glory.

It would be imprudent of me to make such a large expenditure given the likelihood that a substantial upgrade is not long around the corner. Since Warner has already released an entire SOPRANOS season in HD, I don't find an imminent HD release of the entire series to be unlikely at all.

Till then, I can enjoy watching the remastered SD for the price of my Netflix subscription.

[GreenVulture]

Originally Posted by Richard Malloy

Since Warner has already released an entire SOPRANOS season in HD, I don't find an imminent HD release of the entire series to be unlikely at all.

Are you sure of that when you say they're imminent? Granted, I don't follow HD that closely, but from what I've seen, virtually all TV-on-HD consists of the most current released season (or two), with no announcements made for previous seasons.

Like it's been suggested, I just think Blu-Ray and HD media in general is still too much in its infancy stage for HBO to consider a Blu release to be financially viable, especially since they charge more for their sets than other companies.

Just using Amazon's pricing as an example: even with their 30% discount, you're still paying close to $200 just to own all of S6 of The Sopranos. So it's fair to say you will be paying somewhere between $600 and $700 to own this box on Blu, and that's at a discounted price. I doubt more than a handful of people are willing to throw down that much cash at this point. Hell, just look at the people scoffing at the SD set's $400 price tag.

I'm sure somewhere down the line all seasons will be available on Blu-Ray, and perhaps this box set as well, but not until there are massive price drops in both hardware and software. Just don't act surprised if you or anyone else with the same plan are still Netflixing this thing a year (or even two) from now. Unless you're cool with that, in which case, disregard everything I just said.

(And now that I mention it, does anyone have the sales numbers for The Sopranos on HD/Blu? How does it stack up against the SD release and other HD/Blu TV sets?)

[puddytay]

prices are insane. these were 19.99 a season last black friday at walmart.

[slop101]

Costco usually has these big sets at a good 40 to 45% discount.

[Richard Malloy]

Originally Posted by GreenVulture

Are you sure of that when you say they're imminent?

Well, "imminence" may mean something different for different folks. Given Warner/HBO's strong commitment to the format, plus the fact they've released an entire season of "THE SOPRANOS" on blu-ray already, plus the fact that they're now sitting on a brand new HD-transfer of the series that was utilized for the upcoming SD release, I suspect a full BD release of the series should hit the shelves within a year or two. That might not strike you as "imminent", but man does time fly.

If we're waiting two years, I suspect I may watch the entire series twice in that time frame at most. And probably only once given that we're talking about 6 seasons' worth of episodes. Via Netflix, I'll certainly be starting from episode one as soon as the SD set is released - assuming of course that the quality is at least comparable to HD rebroadcasts on HBO - and of course watch the final season in glorious HD on the already released blu-ray sets.

Frankly, I'm astonished at the fast rollout of hi-def titles. I never suspected that studios like Criterion, Kino, Masters of Cinema, Optimum, Lionsgate and other smaller ones would already have announced their commitments to BD, and in some case already released a nice selection of films. Warner remains very much on the ball with an enormous number of already released titles and many more announced. Their commitment is absolutely clear.

So, "imminence" may not mean quite the same to you as it does for me. And if this were a favorite 2-hour film that cost only about $20, a potential HD release down the road may not be nearly imminent enough even for myself. But for a multi-season set containing 86 hours worth of episodes on 33 discs for over $300? I can wait for the BD, and get by via Netflix till then!

[The Bus]

Originally Posted by CaptainRon

Comments like this drive me nuts, so even though it could be years (possibly never) before blu-ray is released the crispness of the picture is more important to you that the content of this unbelievable show? I mean I understand why casual fans want to wait for blu-ray, or people who have the single season sets, but to avoid a show you love for its content because its not in HD? That's counterproductive.

No. I know it pays off in waiting, especially for shows that you know will be re-released as a complete series or on Blu-ray.

I want The Wire. I want Sopranos. I want Lost. But until the "complete series" is available or the season sets are a reasonable price ($25 or less), I'll wait.

[ASAPadam]

You can pick up the Sopranos complete series set for $209.97 (with free shipping) from the Warner Home Video store with the 30%-off code, ANWBTS. (Remember, you have to buy two items for the discount to work.)

http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/....jsp?OID=49948

That's almost half off the retail price. (If DD's price holds, the set would be about $224 during the November sale.)

I wish we knew if a Blu-ray set was coming, though...