The Avengers and The New Avengers OOP on DVD. The Saint and The Persuaders!? (1 Viewer)

[Osato]

Osato,I've been thinking seriously about purchasing this collection. It's been a favorite of mine since I watched episodes of it back in the 1960s. Do you like this collection, and how do the episodes look to you?

I love the new 50th Anniversary Region 2 DVD set. Wow, wow, wow!! For the new scans of the discs are top notch. The contrast is so much better than what was on the A&E 90's set. It's nice to have all of the available episodes in one set too!

Highly recommended!

 

[Osato]

Apparently the rumors a year or so back of a BD Peel set were just that since there doesn't seem to be anything in the horizon concerning a release.

For those interested in such things, Patrick MacNee is still alive (and at last report) fairly well in his early 90s. Here's a video from 2011 that he filmed for an Avengers convention. http://patrickmacnee.com/subPages/videos.html

Thanks for the update! I am really enjoying the Region 2 Avengers 50th anniversary box set. It is quite a bump in terms of picture, audio and bonus content from what A&E released in the 90's.

 

[Roy Wall]

Hey.Hey....

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Avengers-Complete-Emma-Peel-Megaset/18758

 

[DVDvision]

Something is off, the package is that of the remastered releases issued recently in the UK... but it doesn't mention anything about the actual episodes being remastered, nor does the press release.

Also Emma Peel is two seasons, not 3. I thought this silly theory started by some armchair specialists had been put to rest.

 

[Sam Favate]

As tempting as a much smaller package is, I will hold off until these are released on blu-ray. I suspect that's why there is no mention of remastering - if there were, they probably would have been remastered to high definition.

 

[DVDvision]

The recent UK releases are all stuck from High Def masters made in 2008. They may be SD Pal, but they are incredibly more detailed and beautiful than the old A&E releases. This is certainly just a repackaging, akin to the recent Terminator repackaging on Blu (remember, the film came out remastered in Europe, the Americans re-released the old version with that same packaging as the remastered european disc, a sure way to fool buyers and make a few more bucks along the way).

I suggest anyone wait a bit more, unless you feel 50$ is not a lot for a box set you will throw out in a few years, and doesn't mind the 20th century quality presentation. Either Blu-rays, or remastered DVDs from the HD masters, are sure to appear at one point or the other.

 

[Osato]

The recent UK releases are all stuck from High Def masters made in 2008. They may be SD Pal, but they are incredibly more detailed and beautiful than the old A&E releases. This is certainly just a repackaging, akin to the recent Terminator repackaging on Blu (remember, the film came out remastered in Europe, the Americans re-released the old version with that same packaging as the remastered european disc, a sure way to fool buyers and make a few more bucks along the way).

I suggest anyone wait a bit more, unless you feel 50$ is not a lot for a box set you will throw out in a few years, and doesn't mind the 20th century quality presentation. Either Blu-rays, or remastered DVDs from the HD masters, are sure to appear at one point or the other.

Wow. Is it confirmed that A&E are using the old masters again? I see there is nothing about new mastering.
I picked up the UK complete series set early this year. I ended up selling my oop A&E set and it was enough to buy the new set from the UK!

It's really disappointing that A&E have waited all this time and are only reissuing the un remastered Peel episodes. The remastered UK set includes all of the in print episodes of the series. Peel, King and Gale episodes are included in that set.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Avengers-50th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/B00485D7WQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374762476&sr=8-2&keywords=the+avengers+dvd

I'm guessing that A&E is only issuing the Peel series here as they believe it is the only one that will sell?

I'm guessing that The Avengers series may eventually reach blu ray in the UK, but I doubt the US will get the series on blu ray.
I also believe that a future blu ray set of The Avengers will be locked to region B. This was done with The Persuaders! series blu ray set. It really stinks, because it means buying a mod blu ray player to be able to view the show here in the US.

Thanks for the post. Interesting overall, but I am really disappointed with A&E Home Video!! SHAME ON THEM!

 

[JoeDoakes]

Wow. Is it confirmed that A&E are using the old masters again?

It's not confirmed, although it would not surprise me. It would be nice to know. At any rate, come Christmas time, Amazon will proabably sell the new set for around $20, which will be good enough for me regardless.

 

[David Weicker]

I know that when they reissued I, Claudius, it was the new masters for that show.

At this point all we have is speculation.

 

[DVDvision]

There is no mention, and at 49.99 $ that would be a bargain for both Diana Rigg seasons remastered in NTSC (no pal speed up). According to the info right now, it doesn't look like so. But then, we never know.

 

[Escapay]

They also re-released "Space: 1999" via Lionsgate, using the old DVDs, but new packaging (splitting them into Season 1 and Season 2).

And when they re-released "The Prisoner" a couple years ago (around the same time as the Blu-Ray), it was the same DVDs, but in new packaging.

I have a feeling this "new" Emma Peel Megaset is just going to use the same DVDs from the original A&E release, just now under the Lionsgate label and in more compact packaging. It's probably a way to get the content out there again, while a new, more substantial Blu-Ray is in the cards (hopefully).

 

[JohnMor]

This is too frustrating. I can't believe they are just repackaging the old discs. Hopefully, we'll be surprised, but given their track record, I'm 99% sure it will be the same old transfers. The saddest part is, I think this release pretty much kills any chance that remastered dvds or blu rays were coming in the foreseeable future. They certainly would not be releasing this set if it was going to be competing with any better version within the next several years.

 

[Osato]

This is too frustrating. I can't believe they are just repackaging the old discs. Hopefully, we'll be surprised, but given their track record, I'm 99% sure it will be the same old transfers. The saddest part is, I think this release pretty much kills any chance that remastered dvds or blu rays were coming in the foreseeable future. They certainly would not be releasing this set if it was going to be competing with any better version within the next several years.

I agree.

I would encourage everyone interested in The Avengers series to pick up the UK 50th anniversary remastered DVD set.

http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_studiocanal_complete.htm

Here are some screen comparisons of the sets..

http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_studiocanal_set3_captures_extra.htm

http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_studiocanal_set3_captures.htm

http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_studiocanal_set4_captures.htm

In addition to the remastered picture there is a wealth of extras on the set as well.

 

[JohnMor]

I agree.

I would encourage everyone interested in The Avengers series to pick up the UK 50th anniversary remastered DVD set.

http://declassified.theavengers.tv/avengernews_studiocanal_complete.htm

Would love to, but don't have a region-free player. And even if I did, I can't stand PAL speedup. Now, if they were to put that on an all-region blu ray, I'd snap it up in it second.

 

[Lord Dalek]

Seasons 2 and 3 of The Avengers will NEVER look good because of their kiniscope origins.

 

[DVDvision]

It's a 16 disc collection so it's on par with the old A&E releases.

The same content remastered by Optimum is 14 discs (plus one more to include "The Forget Me Knot").

Old masters. I emailed tvshowsondvd, and they don't know more than what they printed.

 

[Harry-N]

THE PRISONER on Blu was an outstanding upgrade - and yes, I was fooled into buying the DVD in the "upgraded" packaging and was horribly disappointed.

For now, I've still got all of the Emma Peel episodes in the huge two-fer sets that were initially issued. I'm content to wait until I'm sure of an upgrade, be it DVD or Blu.

Harry

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

For now, I've still got all of the Emma Peel episodes in the huge two-fer sets that were initially issued. I'm content to wait until I'm sure of an upgrade, be it DVD or Blu.

Harry

Ditto.

 

[JoeDoakes]

The 50th set is over 120 pounds on amazon.co.uk now. I haven't seen this show in a very long time and I'm content to get the A&E set over Christmas at a substantial discount until I see if it will come out on blu.

 

[Osato]

Would love to, but don't have a region-free player. And even if I did, I can't stand PAL speedup. Now, if they were to put that on an all-region blu ray, I'd snap it up in it second.

Region free DVD players are pretty easy to come by.

I haven't noticed any issues with PAL speedup on the set.

As we have seen with The Persuaders! series on blu ray, I'm guessing any blu ray set of The Avengers or The Saint will be region locked to the UK.

I'm guessing that A&E does not think the shows will be big sellers here in the US. Hence why they are not bothering to upgrade the new set with new masters.

In addition A&E Home Video always drops the extras that the UK sets have. Commentaries, extras, etc..