The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
#26
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
The Prisoner, however, was a PAL TV series, meaning it's originally 25 fps, which my research shows is replicated as 50i on Blu-ray. Not every BD player can handle 50i.
Here's a link that discusses how the US Torchwood Blu-Ray was converted from 50i to 60i:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...-question.html
Here's a link to a list of BD players that do not support 50i:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post15765041
#27
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
A proper restoration couldn't hurt, though I doubt they bothered. Studios seem remarkably disinterested in preserving their past. I doubt the discovery of the atrocious storage conditions of the Godfather (if there's a past movie a studio should care about preserving, this is it) actually penetrated down to the core of any of the studios, in terms of wholesale changes in operation.
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
Zulu's a film though, and thus originally 24fps, which is the framerate almost everyone puts films out on on Blu-Ray, and which every BD player supports.
The Prisoner, however, was a PAL TV series, meaning it's originally 25 fps, which my research shows is replicated as 50i on Blu-ray. Not every BD player can handle 50i.
Here's a link that discusses how the US Torchwood Blu-Ray was converted from 50i to 60i:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...-question.html
Here's a link to a list of BD players that do not support 50i:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post15765041
The Prisoner, however, was a PAL TV series, meaning it's originally 25 fps, which my research shows is replicated as 50i on Blu-ray. Not every BD player can handle 50i.
Here's a link that discusses how the US Torchwood Blu-Ray was converted from 50i to 60i:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...-question.html
Here's a link to a list of BD players that do not support 50i:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post15765041
#30
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
#32
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
(1) When the series wasn't available in the US, I bought the R2 box set.
(2) Then A&E finally put out the series, in thin paks, loaded with extras. I got that too.
(3) Now I have to decide if I'm gonna triple-dip.
(2) Then A&E finally put out the series, in thin paks, loaded with extras. I got that too.
(3) Now I have to decide if I'm gonna triple-dip.
#33
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
It sounds like you really like it. Why don't you sell your standard DVDs and get the Blu-rays? Thats what I do when I really like a certain video.
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
#35
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
AMAZING! I was always disappointed by the DVDs. Here's hoping the A&E Region 1 release looks just as good!
#36
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
http://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Compl...4381438&sr=8-1
#38
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
#39
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
There are two possibilities. Either it's been slowed down, or the show was photographed at 24 fps and aired on European TV with PAL speedup. The latter sometimes happened for series that the producers expected would receive international distribution. I can't speak for The Prisoner specifically, though.
#41
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
DVD Beaver just updated their review of the blu-ray with the US A&E release. Looks like the quality is an exact match to what Network put out in the UK! Dolby Digital 5.1 only, no lossless. Ah well...
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...er_blu-ray.htm
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...er_blu-ray.htm
#42
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Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
Have you watched a lot of Brit-TV before? It is an acquired taste & the Prisoner is certainly unique to say the least. I would rent the first disc if I was you, but if you are open minded & can appreciate what IMO is one of the greatest stories in the history of television, then blind-buy it. I mean to watch this series for the first time, & on Blu-Ray is something special & marathoning through this set will be a ton of fun. I first saw this show on crappy VHS bootlegs.
#43
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
DVD Beaver just updated their review of the blu-ray with the US A&E release. Looks like the quality is an exact match to what Network put out in the UK! Dolby Digital 5.1 only, no lossless. Ah well...
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...er_blu-ray.htm
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...er_blu-ray.htm
I compared the extras listed on both releases, and found these differences:
Network:
• 290-page Book: The Prisoner - A Complete Production guide by Andrew Pixley
• Behind-the-scenes footage, including much previously unseen
• Image Galleries with Music Suites on each of the first 4 discs
A&E:
• "The Pink Prisoner": Peter Wyngarde pays tribute to the series in this unique cross between an interview and comedy sketch (9:24)
• "You Make Sure it Fits": music editor Eric Mival discusses his role behind the scenes in making 'The Prisoner' and provides a unique look at the Music Bible for the show (9:16)
• Original edit of the episode "The Chimes of Big Ben" (50:34)
• Image Archive: individual galleries of over 1,200 stills are featured throughout this set, including episodic shots, generic/PR Photos, coverage of the original press conference in 1967 and Jack Shampan's designs.
• Exposure strips gallery
• Preview of AMC's 'The Prisoner' mini-series remake (:31)
The "Image Archive" on the A&E may be the same as the "Image Galleries" on the Network set, but their descriptions are different enough that I kept them on the lists. Also, they don't explicitly mention the A&E having "newly created 5.1 audio soundtracks for each show, plus the original mono soundtrack" that the Network set has, but the audio options listed elsewhere are identical for both sets.
The 1.5 hour "Don't Knock Yourself Out" documentary is on BD in the Network set, and on NTSC DVD in the A&E set. However, I don't know if it was in HD or SD on the Network BD. The original edit of "The Chimes of Big Ben" is on the A&E DVD as well, and sounds like the same transfer as on the old A&E DVDs.
Last edited by Jay G.; 10-18-09 at 07:03 PM.
#44
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
After watching the first hour of the abysmal A&E miniseries (and subsequently deleting it all), I started looking into checking out the original which I've never seen.
I see Amazon has it "under review" and is not selling it. Anyone know if something is wrong with this set?
I see Amazon has it "under review" and is not selling it. Anyone know if something is wrong with this set?
#45
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
I see Amazon has it "under review" and is not selling it. Anyone know if something is wrong with this set?
http://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Compl...dp/B002C68WOG/
I have the Blu-ray set and haven't noticed any problems with the two discs I've played so far.
#46
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
They must have just reinstated it - I literally checked it right before I posted and it was "under review".
I just bought it for in store pickup through Best Buy who are matching Amazon on the website for $50. Hope it's a worth blind buy - Netflix had a very long wait and I wanted to see it soon.
From what I read elsewhere, it might be that one of the extras discs, which is a DVD, has a PDF or something on it, and some players aren't playing that disc. As long as the BD episodes play that's all I care about.
I just bought it for in store pickup through Best Buy who are matching Amazon on the website for $50. Hope it's a worth blind buy - Netflix had a very long wait and I wanted to see it soon.
From what I read elsewhere, it might be that one of the extras discs, which is a DVD, has a PDF or something on it, and some players aren't playing that disc. As long as the BD episodes play that's all I care about.
#47
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
Most likely, Amazon had it "under review" temporarily while they changed a description or confirmed the sale price.
#48
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
About watching the series for the first time:
The episode order for this series is somewhat controversial, as there isn't a single, official or agreed-upon order. I watched the series in the KTEH order, as that's the closet to definitive and was also the order the AVClub recently reviewed the series:
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/the-prisoner,84/
Here's a List from the FAQ, ordered according to KTEH:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/tv/the-prisoner/part1/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...soner_episodes
The episode order for this series is somewhat controversial, as there isn't a single, official or agreed-upon order. I watched the series in the KTEH order, as that's the closet to definitive and was also the order the AVClub recently reviewed the series:
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/the-prisoner,84/
Here's a List from the FAQ, ordered according to KTEH:
Code:
KTEH 6o1 SciFi ITC 1st McG *1* || 1 Arrival 2 3 2 || 8 8 || 3 Dance of the Dead 3 4 4 || 11 9 || 4 Checkmate 4 5 5 || 2 2 || 5 The Chimes of Big Ben 5 2 3 || 4 4 || 2 Free For All 6 9 9 || 7 7 || - Many Happy Returns 7 8 8 || 5 5 || - The Schizoid Man 8 7 6 || 6 6 || - The General 9 6 7 || 3 3 || - A, B, and C 10 14 14 || 12 14 || - Living in Harmony 11 10 10 || 10 11 || - It's Your Funeral 12 13 13 || 9 13 || - Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling 13 11 11 || 13 12 || - A Change of Mind 14 12 12 || 14 10 || - Hammer Into Anvil 15 || - The Girl Who Was Death *16* || 6 Once Upon a Time *17* || 7 Fall Out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...soner_episodes
#49
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
I find it hilarious that the end credits have a listing for "Jim Caveziel's Acting Coach" (no joke). I can't believe he was actually coached to give a performance that terrible!
#50
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Complete Prisoner Series: 10/27/09
About watching the series for the first time:
The episode order for this series is somewhat controversial, as there isn't a single, official or agreed-upon order. I watched the series in the KTEH order, as that's the closet to definitive and was also the order the AVClub recently reviewed the series:
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/the-prisoner,84/
The episode order for this series is somewhat controversial, as there isn't a single, official or agreed-upon order. I watched the series in the KTEH order, as that's the closet to definitive and was also the order the AVClub recently reviewed the series:
http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/the-prisoner,84/