The Prisoner on Blu-Ray from Network

[John Hodson]

Mine went to a Prisoner fan in the States, not because of the book but because of the '40th Anniversary' splash on the artwork. Marketplace prices are even more mental now than when I sold mine, but whether they're actually still selling of course is another matter...

[Richard M]

My main problem is that as great as Blu-ray releases of all the ITC film series would be, I've spent an awful lot of money (if you add it all up) collecting all the SD ITC Network sets and to buy them all again on Blu seems like a bit of a waste.

Where as to pick up the Bond films on Blu is not such a big re-buy if you get what I mean.

[julz1970]

If Network had only released the BD version instead of the SD (which I have), it would have persuaded me to buy a BD player just for this!

See above, don't let price be a bar, you know you'll want to watch the Blu-ray every time you reach for the SD version, waiting would only be postponing your innevitable upgrade to Blu-ray - why wait? Unless it's purely a case of not having the money in which case fair enough, as and when but it's no longer the massive financial strain it was to go Blu

Yes, I see where you're coming from, Alyd. However, although I currently have the dosh to waste, I can't justify double-dipping (or should that be tripple-dipping, since I also have the old Carlton DVDs as well?). I'm waiting for the 'killer app' (ie. either something that's completely unique to the BD format, or makes me wet my pants in excitement ) to make me splash out on Blu-Ray!

This release comes close, but just not close enough - my pants are only moist for now!

[alyd]

My main problem is that as great as Blu-ray releases of all the ITC film series would be, I've spent an awful lot of money (if you add it all up) collecting all the SD ITC Network sets and to buy them all again on Blu seems like a bit of a waste.

Where as to pick up the Bond films on Blu is not such a big re-buy if you get what I mean.

You seem to believe in having a definitive/finite collection. I absolutely do not, my mantra is you'll never be done buying your favourite films, TV and music; there'll always be a better version and a true enthusiast will want any significant improvement.

I love The Prisoner, I've bought it loads of times and sold it/given it away loads of times when new ones come along. I feel that if you shop wisely in the first place that these things pay for themselves after a few watches – I don’t want them to wear out but one pays primarily for the first watch.

There’s only so many times one puts on a special feature but those are major factors in most people’s purchasing. So the value is in being able to re-watch until such time as you’re tempted to buy the new version – if that never comes then you are definitive but they usually don’t let the big stuff stand, technology moves on and so must they.

There's lots of stuff to buy and limited funds but I can't not want to watch The Prisoner and lots of other things besides in the best possible quality. I'm a fan

If Network had only released the BD version instead of the SD (which I have), it would have persuaded me to buy a BD player just for this!

See above, don't let price be a bar, you know you'll want to watch the Blu-ray every time you reach for the SD version, waiting would only be postponing your inevitable upgrade to Blu-ray - why wait? Unless it's purely a case of not having the money in which case fair enough, as and when but it's no longer the massive financial strain it was to go Blu

Yes, I see where you're coming from, Alyd. However, although I currently have the dosh to waste, I can't justify double-dipping (or should that be tripple-dipping, since I also have the old Carlton DVDs as well?). I'm waiting for the 'killer app' (ie. either something that's completely unique to the BD format, or makes me wet my pants in excitement ) to make me splash out on Blu-Ray!

This release comes close, but just not close enough - my pants are only moist for now!

Splendid! Please keep me updated on the status of your underwear

[Eagle Al]

This ones a pass for me, I'm happy with the flawed DVD's of last year which were good enough picture and sound wise.

I'd much rather see a Network or ITV blu ray set of Space:1999 or UFO.

That weird shaped box art does nothing for me either, but I'll be interested in early purchasers reviews of the whole set with presumably no new extras ?

[alyd]

I'd much rather see a Network or ITV blu ray set of Space:1999 or UFO.

Don't fancy yours much

[John Hodson]

Useful comment from a happy punter on another forum: "...Good news it says written and directed by Patrick McGoohan in Once Upon a Time, and in It's your Funeral, it's all the same number 2 voice .. Video quality is amazing, there is subtitles which I'm sure was missing previously and the Moni sound choice is there and sounds fine, but to me the 5.1 sounds great..."

[Duncan]

My set arrived this morning - just flicking through Arrival - what can I say, other than it looks how I'd always hoped it could look - absolutely beautiful.

Would definitely buy other ITC 35mm series on Blu!

[alyd]

Yeah I'm not of age to have seen it first time out but I recall on Channel 4 showings and the Channel 5 VHS (same prints the screen comparisons with the Carlton set are from) first becoming aware of film ageing. I recall talking to someone running Six of One when it first came out on DVD and asking if they still had that awful magenta cast to them and him saying he didn't know what I meant.

I explained that I'd always thrilled to the vibrance of colour photographs of the series because they presented it in this hyper-real, dazzlingly sixties light which to me looked like Star Trek (use of colour particularly) and I always wished one day the series could look like that - though I'd no idea how.

Now here we are with Star Trek and The Prisoner on Blu-ray looking for all the world like animated versions of those lovely colour photographs rather than the tired crappy old prints we used to watch.

Isn't technology wonderful

[Eagle Al]

Any new stuff on there at all Duncan ?

[Bleddyn Williams]

My main problem is that as great as Blu-ray releases of all the ITC film series would be, I've spent an awful lot of money (if you add it all up) collecting all the SD ITC Network sets and to buy them all again on Blu seems like a bit of a waste.

Where as to pick up the Bond films on Blu is not such a big re-buy if you get what I mean.

You seem to believe in having a definitive/finite collection. I absolutely do not, my mantra is you'll never be done buying your favourite films, TV and music; there'll always be a better version and a true enthusiast will want any significant improvement.

I love The Prisoner, I've bought it loads of times and sold it/given it away loads of times when new ones come along. I feel that if you shop wisely in the first place that these things pay for themselves after a few watches – I don’t want them to wear out but one pays primarily for the first watch.

There’s only so many times one puts on a special feature but those are major factors in most people’s purchasing. So the value is in being able to re-watch until such time as you’re tempted to buy the new version – if that never comes then you are definitive but they usually don’t let the big stuff stand, technology moves on and so must they.

There's lots of stuff to buy and limited funds but I can't not want to watch The Prisoner and lots of other things besides in the best possible quality. I'm a fan

Alyd, I couldn't agree more with what you wrote. A lot of people seem to think there will be some magical moment when the perfect version comes along and your collection is done.

That moment never happens.

Does a new edition of a beloved title make sense to you right now, at this moment? Then go for it. I've never understood arguments like "The Alien Quadrilogy? Thank goodness I waited". Yep, thank goodness you went without some of your favourite films for five years while the rest of us were enjoying the Alien Legacy.

I never liked VHS - I always thought it just looked too crappy, not really worth owning. I came on board with home theatre in a big way with LaserDisc, then went through DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray. There are films that I will upgrade over and over, because I love them so much. I've even upgraded a few HD titles, from the HD DVD versions to Blu, where there is a reason to rebuy.

Would I upgrade all my titles? Far from it. Some films are just not worth rebuying or I'm perfectly happy with what I have. But this is "The Prisoner" - my blu shipped from Amazon UK this morning, and I can't wait to get it.

[Lee R]

Is the audio lossless or lossy? The DVD Times reviewer seems to think it's lossy AC3.

[Tony]

[

Alyd, I couldn't agree more with what you wrote. A lot of people seem to think there will be some magical moment when the perfect version comes along and your collection is done.

That moment never happens.

Actually, I am holding out on the hope that in the last few seconds of life - instead of one's life flashing before one's eyes which, frankly, I could do without as it didn't impress me much the first time around - that we get to catch up on the DVDs we haven't seen - in glorious HD and with the smell of the best chips ever.

[Fresno Bob]

You seem to believe in having a definitive/finite collection. I absolutely do not, my mantra is you'll never be done buying your favourite films, TV and music; there'll always be a better version and a true enthusiast will want any significant improvement.

So someone who has to put paying bills and feeding family before buying multiple versions of the same thing not a real fan?

[Duncan]

It says DD 5.1

Checked in a US PS3 and it is encoded for Region B only (shame it couldnt have been A, B and C )

Havent had time really to do anything other than skip through the chapters on the first two episodes - but my god - the difference between the original C5 VHS and these!! I was always impressed by the clean 35mm quality of even the ITC VHS releases of Randall and Hopkirk and The Champions in the early 90s and always wanted to see The Prisoner like this.

I'm sure the DVD set that Network brought out looks great - but on BD the episodes simply sparkle!