Serenity on Blu-Ray Dec. 30th by reginaroadie

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Serenity on Blu-Ray Dec. 30th

POSTED BY: REGINAROADIE
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 3, 2009 20:21
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VIEWED: 11620
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Thursday, November 6, 2008 7:50 AM

Hey Everyone

Well, it looks like not only will we be getting FIREFLY on Blu-Ray next week, but 'Versal is finally releasing SERENITY on Blu-Ray two days before the new year.

Here's the link.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2023

And here's the actual article.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Serenity' to Blu-ray on December 30th. As one of the first HD DVD titles released, it been a long wait for fans to get the film on Blu-ray, but it appears to be worth the wait. Coming on a BD-50, video will be presented in 2.35:1 1080p accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack.

Extras for this release include:

* Alliance Database
* U Control
o Mr. Universe Compendium
o Digital Tour of Serenity
o Picture in Picture
o Visual Commentary with Writer/Director Joss Whedon & Cast
* BD Live: My Scenes Sharing
* Feature Commentary with Writer / Director Joss Whedon
* Feature Commentary with Writer / Director Joss Whedon & Cast Members Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Ron Glass
* Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Joss Whedon
* Future History - The Story of Earth That Was
* What's In A Firefly
* Re-Lighting The Firefly
* A Filmmaker's Journey
* We'll Have A Fruity Oaty Good Time!
* Extended Scenes
* Take A Walk On Serenity
* The Green Clan
* Session 416

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Thursday, November 6, 2008 8:43 AM

STORYMARK

Groooovy!

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, November 6, 2008 8:54 AM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

Whoa, lots of comments on that site for only having been posted today.

This looks very interesting:

U Control: Digital Tour of Serenity

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

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Thursday, November 6, 2008 2:38 PM

STAPLES

Okay. It's settled. I'm going to buy a PS3 and an HD TV so I can buy these beautiful discs.

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Thursday, November 6, 2008 3:17 PM

ASARIAN

Good news, indeed. Sadly, it's Region A only. :(

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Saturday, November 8, 2008 4:40 AM

MICJWELCH

Cover art that doesn't suck!

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/11/07/universal-bringing-serenity-to-bl
u-ray-with-upgrades-and-extras/

"It’s frickin’ great." - Nathan Fillion

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Sunday, November 9, 2008 3:58 PM

ANONYMOUS1

Ain't they shiny together!

Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday! Firefly Blu-Ray Release! Serenity December!

Details and covers! See http://www.serenitystuff.com/2008/11/08/firefly-and-serenity-coming-to
-blu-ray/

Firefly Tuesday November 11, 2008

Serenity Tuesday December 30, 2008

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Monday, November 10, 2008 8:35 AM

JUPITEROLYMPIUS

Going to be awesome to see sharp picture on an HD tv when I get the money. Dang but Maybe we will find a browncoat with one and we host a movie night. Fun fun till alliance shows up heh

"You are my eyes and I am your ears"
"To feel pain is to feel alive"

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Monday, November 10, 2008 10:30 AM

JOSSISAGOD

Quote:
Originally posted by Anonymous1:

Ain't they shiny together!

Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday! Firefly Blu-Ray Release! Serenity December!

Details and covers! See http://www.serenitystuff.com/2008/11/08/firefly-and-serenity-coming-to
-blu-ray/

Firefly Tuesday November 11, 2008

Serenity Tuesday December 30, 2008

I probably won't get blu-ray until next year, on the plus side, it'll be cheaper.

Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008 6:41 PM

DECLAN

For what it's worth, AMAZON just emailed me that my BLU-RAY Firefly just shipped! How shiny is that?

Items shipped on November 11, 2008:
Delivery estimate: November 17, 2008
1 package via USPS 1 of: Firefly: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC

***************
"'Course, there are other schools of thought."

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008 6:41 PM

DECLAN

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:26 AM

COZEN

Just picked up my Blu-Ray edition of Firefly (the series, eh). I'm posting this having just seen 'Serenity part 1', thus my very seat-of-the-pants first impression is brief and necessarily incomplete, fwiw.

I'm not seeing any significant or even noticable improvement in video quality. Note that in my career I'm a colour timer for feature release films, so I humbly submit I've necessarily developed an eye for film/video quality. I even put up my original Firefly dvd, paying special attention to the early scenes where the crew are busting into the derelict spaceship to heist the Alliance stamped food bars. And, to my eyes, they look about the same on my 42" Sony Bravia via my first generation Sony Blu-Ray player. I couldn't discern any significant improvement in contrast, depth of field or colour. I'm guessing that the video quality was aready maxxed due to the manner in which the series was filmed, all grainy and flashy like.

I wish I had at home the technology for putting up both versions side by side on the same or identical screens (A/B'ing them in the biz terms), but, if wishes were bank accounts, I'd have funds stored in Cayman Islands money laundering institutions.

So much for my impressions of the video.

However, the audio differential sounds amazing to my untrained ears. Listened to on my general purpose home theatre system, the difference is nothing short of stunning. Clarity and depth were phenominally improved on the B-R version. Now I don't understand audio all that well, so I can't speak as to why the B-R sounded so much better, but there you have it, my statistically insignifcant impression.

In any case, as a fan I bought the B-R version at a premium price the very day a local store put in on their shelves. Obviously because I'm into supporting the "cause" in my little way. Likely the B-R version will drop to a third or so of today's price within a couple of months, such that the wisely frugal will wait patiently for the market to settle.... Or, y'know, for those who actually have Blu-Ray players to justify the cost.

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Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:42 AM

DECLAN

Cozen, it was interesting to read your review, given your professional background.

On large screen HD DLP's, I've seen Firefly on upconverted DVD and on Universal HD off DirecTV.

Off of Universal HD, I could see detail -- or noticed detail because it was clearer -- that I never saw watching upconverted DVD. I was hoping for this on the Blu-Ray.

Well, I'm in off in the middle of nowhere still waiting for my BluRay. Good to hear about the sound, though.

***************
"'Course, there are other schools of thought."

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Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:42 AM

DECLAN

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Thursday, November 13, 2008 12:05 PM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by cozen:

Just picked up my Blu-Ray edition of Firefly (the series, eh). I'm posting this having just seen 'Serenity part 1', thus my very seat-of-the-pants first impression is brief and necessarily incomplete, fwiw.

I'm not seeing any significant or even noticable improvement in video quality. Note that in my career I'm a colour timer for feature release films, so I humbly submit I've necessarily developed an eye for film/video quality. I even put up my original Firefly dvd, paying special attention to the early scenes where the crew are busting into the derelict spaceship to heist the Alliance stamped food bars. And, to my eyes, they look about the same on my 42" Sony Bravia via my first generation Sony Blu-Ray player. I couldn't discern any significant improvement in contrast, depth of field or colour. I'm guessing that the video quality was aready maxxed due to the manner in which the series was filmed, all grainy and flashy like.

This is sad news. :( I was hoping for at least true Full-HD material, and not some upscaled shite. Yes, TrueHD sound is cute, but who has a HDMI 1.3 receiver anyway? I was hoping for superior video quality, and now I'm a mite disappointed.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Saturday, February 28, 2009 7:46 AM

CELLARDOOR

Thread necromancy time! Figured I'd post my question here instead of just starting a duplicate one, since I don't know yet if the necromancers around these parts are tied up and burned at the stake.

Apart from graphics/sound improvements, are there extra goodies, interviews, specials, commentaries, etc. in the Blu-Ray version that the standard DVD of Serenity (or even Firefly) doesn't have? I'm never sure if I'm getting the whole picture when I look on Amazon at the DVD extras. What's the motivation to buy the Blu-Ray version?

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 7:14 PM

NANOOK

Don't you fret, you're definitely getting good new stuff:

* Feature Commentary with Writer / Director Joss Whedon & Cast Members Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau and Ron Glass

This in addition to the commentary from Joss from the DVD. Oh, and you can watch the new commentary in PiP!

Also, all kinds of U Control stuff that pops up constantly, almost to the point of annoyance, over the course of the film. You can turn it on and off, of course.

The new stuff for Firefly BD is:

Our Mrs. Reynolds BD Exclusive - Commentary by executive producer Joss Whedon and actors Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk and Ron Glass

Special Features: BD Exclusive – "Firefly" Reunion: Lunch with Joss, Nathan, Alan and Ron featurette (HD)

While all this is great, it's just icing on the cake of gorgeous transfers and improved sound. Not to mention they didn't omit anything from the DVDs like some stupid releases, so these BDs could replace the DVDs on my shelves.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 8:24 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Extra goodies on bluray Firefly? not so much. I need to cross-check the vid quality, but I'm assuming bluray is better - the packaging was not very clear on what bluray has over standard DVD, and I have not yet gotten to the goodies listed above - but nothing like the originally broadcast intros or things we'd hoped for.

Serenity bluray? Different story. Can't list them all now due to foggybrain, but there is aqn Alliance database, with stuff on the BDH. Also stuff on the worlds of the verse, or at least thsoe mentioned prominently in the series - these do not mesh well with The Map of the Verse.
The picture is vastly better - immediately obvious with the opening Universal logo. I have not yet figured out all the controls and gimmicks with my new bluray player, or my new lcd screen, or my 3 new remotes, so unable to give detailed examples. All the U-controls pop up, but apparently only when I fiddle with th3 remote buttons - they don't come up during normal viewing.
So if you're interested in all the Verse has to offer, I do recommend Serenity bluray, not so sold on Firefly, but I did get it in addition to my 3 sets of standard DVDs. Part of why I wanted Firefly bluray was in case a friend has a party and I might recruit new bronwcoats with the bluray experience.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 11:28 PM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

So if you're interested in all the Verse has to offer, I do recommend Serenity bluray, not so sold on Firefly, but I did get it in addition to my 3 sets of standard DVDs.

Glad you got them both. So did I. I knew they hadn't redone the CGI and such, but hey, I'm a Browncoat: I buy the stuff because it's the right thing to do. And I figure, if there's ever a moment where you can put your money where your mouth is, supporting Joss-wise, and in hope of more Verse, buying the Blu-Rays is it.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 11:44 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:

So if you're interested in all the Verse has to offer, I do recommend Serenity bluray, not so sold on Firefly, but I did get it in addition to my 3 sets of standard DVDs.

Glad you got them both. So did I. I knew they hadn't redone the CGI and such, but hey, I'm a Browncoat: I buy the stuff because it's the right thing to do. And I figure, if there's ever a moment where you can put your money where your mouth is, supporting Joss-wise, and in hope of more Verse, buying the Blu-Rays is it.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

Part of my rationalization for buying bluray Firefly was the knowledge that Joss FILMED the series -as in using FILM. So even if not redone, the basis of the medium allowed better screen imagery - I knew it COULD be better than standard DVD. If it had been regular tv junk, I would have been less enamored.
Of course, if Firefly became the best-seller of Fox TV blurays (even 6 years later), I wouldn't mind rubbing it in their faces.
Did you find more stuff on the series DVDs? How do you compare the picture? What size screen you have? Is your standard player upgrading the output to 1080?

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 6:13 AM

ASARIAN

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Did you find more stuff on the series DVDs? How do you compare the picture? What size screen you have? Is your standard player upgrading the output to 1080?

I have a nice Full HD Sony Bravia TV (1080p, 52").

I'm thinking the quality of the series Blu-Rays of Firefly is good, but not excellent. It's decidedly better than what's on the DVDs, of course. In fact, I recently was just doing the comparison:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=12&t=36831

Overall, the picture quality is still a mite too grainy for my taste (and I don't think all of it was intentional). Naturally, it's still very good. Especially color has improved drastically. And of course the higher resolution. A big, positive deal for me also is the superb DTS-MA track. At 6.9Mbps, the soundtrack never sounded so rich and full. That alone makes the buy worth it.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by my 'standard player upgrading the output,' as the material (H264) is already at 1080p, so it needs no upscaling.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 5:53 PM

MUGGI

I wish I could see the extras on the Blu-Ray stuff, but I don't own a Blu-Ray player :/ I'm convinced it's not a medium that will remain as the top-dog for very long...and I'm not going to buy a player for ONE disc.

It'll be just about the only officially released media (movies, books, etc) that I don't own.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 8:21 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Can't disagree with the cashymoney issue for one disc. I did get the 3-disc set of Firefly also, so I had 4 bluray DVDs to use - no other blurays for me yet. I got the cheapo $190 bluray player so I could watch them - and got a LCD screen to watch THAT.

Quote:
Originally posted by asarian:
Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Did you find more stuff on the series DVDs? How do you compare the picture? What size screen you have? Is your standard player upgrading the output to 1080?

I have a nice Full HD Sony Bravia TV (1080p, 52").

Overall, the picture quality is still a mite too grainy for my taste (and I don't think all of it was intentional). Naturally, it's still very good.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by my 'standard player upgrading the output,' as the material (H264) is already at 1080p, so it needs no upscaling.

--
"Mei-mei, everything I have is right here." -- Simon Tam

One of us might be confused, I'm not sure.
I was under the impression that FF and Serenity on the non-HD-DVD and the non-bluray DVDs were on SD, and that SD was defined as 480 resolution, while 720 and 1080 were defined as HD.
I had already gotten the SD DVD player with the converter function upgrading to 1080 output, which makes 480 look much better on the HD screen.
Maybe you are saying the SD Serenity was actually outputting 1080, which I thought was defined as HD. Maybe you are not saying that. Even if the non-HD Serenity was produced in 1080, the Standard Definition player still needed the menu selection to be set at 1080 output, or it would default to the 480 output.

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