Xena: Warrior Princess-Season Three 02/10 (1 Viewer)

[Brandon Gantt]

The video commentaries for season 2 (4:3) also had the commentators watching a widescreen monitor. So them doing the same for season 3 doesn't mean they were watching 1.78:1 transfers.

The materials for the XENA sets are being provided by licensor Anderson/Davis. When season 4 for comes around we can only hope they produce 16:9 transfers for Anchor Bay.

 

[Joseph Bolus]

Brandon,


Thanks for that information! I started my Xena collection with Season Three, so I was unaware of that. I think I'll go out and purchase Season Two now. (My local Best Buy still has them available for $44.95.)

Do you have any experience with the Season One transfers? Are they as bad as the reviewers have claimed?

Thanks!

 

[Brandon Gantt]

The picture quality of Season One isn't as terrible as everyone claims. Grain is the only problem, and once you understand XENA's inception as a low budget show, that can be forgiven. The first season was on 16mm, and it looks like low quality 16mm at that. However, the transfers are a step up above the broadcast versions, and the show looks as good as it ever will.

Season Two was 16mm as well, but a higher quality stock must have been used because the DVD's look even better than the first. The show switched to 35mm in Season Three.

 

[Gord Lacey]

I heard from someone at Anchor Bay that they were involved in the transfer for season 2 after seeing the poor quality of season 1, so that may explain the jump in quality.

Gord

 

[Brandon Gantt]

That could explain it. When I played the first ep. from S2 I was more than shocked.

 

[Robert Ringwald]

If you go to Anchorbayentertainment.com they list Xena: Season 4 as an upcoming set of theirs. Clicking on the link takes you to a page that reveals it'll be in its "Original 4:3 full-frame ratio).

Just thought I'd pass the information around.

 

[PhilipG]

Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
That's not true!!!!!!!!!!
That's IMP-ASS-ABLE!!!!!!
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! (girly scream)

Original Filmed Aspect Ratio is 16:9.
Original Special Effects Aspect Ratio is 16:9.
Original Transmitted Aspect Ratio is cropped 4:3.
Anchor Bay chooses their definition of "original" to be the cropped 4:3 ratio.

Anchor Bay loses all future sales from me until I calm down.

EDIT: Time for a new signature.

 

[Robert Ringwald]

I thought if there was any chance of changing this, it'd have to be announced sooner, rather than later...

 

[Gord Lacey]

Please keep in mind that Anchor Bay is NOT the company that is producing these sets, they're the company that is bringing them to retail. Panzer/Anderson is the company doing the work on them.

If you're going to get mad, don't take it out on Anchor Bay.

Gord

 

[PhilipG]

No, I consider AB to be just as responsible. If they're distributing, they should have some sway over the transfer quality.