| 3/17/2009 8:34 PM |
|---|
Omega Supreme
Member since: 3/6/2009 | | Any Plans for The Transformers in High Definition? | | Brian, are there any plans to bring The Transformers to high definition? |
|
 |
| 3/18/2009 9:58 AM |
|---|
Zaranyzerak
Member since: 5/28/2008 | | RE: Any Plans for The Transformers in High Definition? | It's theoretically possible, but only the workprints exist on 35mm film. The original broadcast versions only exist as 1" master tapes, in standard definition. The problem is the workprints (which Rhino used for their DVD releases) contain many errors and incomplete sequences that were later corrected for the broadcast versions. So while it would be possible to simply transfer those over and make an HD release from them, it wouldn't be true to the way the show was broadcast.
The only way to do it would be to amalgamate elements from BOTH. If Shout is doing a full remaster for the DVD release along these lines (ie: using as much of the 35mm material as possible and only using elements from the 1" tapes to fix errors), AND remastering it in HD for possible future Blu-ray release, then...maybe. I'd love to see a release like this, but no idea if it's feasible. |
|
|
| 3/18/2009 9:10 PM |
|---|
GarrettCRW
Member since: 3/18/2009 | | RE: Any Plans for The Transformers in High Definition? | | I have strong doubts, myself, as many of the re-inserted re-takes were taken not from "B-roll" film sources (as the Rhino special feature in the season 1 set stated), but from the broadcast masters. Additionally, "Countdown to Extincton" from the first season, a great number of Season 3 episodes, and "The Rebirth" seemed to be sourced from broadcast masters. As such, 480p is the best the episodes will ever look-unless negatives/prints for all of the re-takes are found. However, with the absolutely sloppy way re-takes were integrated into most Sunbow shows until sometime in 1985 (those nasty tape splices any hardened Sunbow fan is used to seeing), I doubt much care was taken with that footage.
Truth be told, the broadcast masters aren't in *that* bad shape, as evidenced by the DVD packs Hasbro has been selling lately (good luck finding them, though). And, given the problems of re-constructing episodes (it was a couple of years before I realized that the second act of "Worlds Without End" Part I had mis-ordered shots as presented on the Rhino DVDs, and I'd like to consider myself extremely knowledgeable about these things), it's probably best to restore the broadcast masters as best as possible, and stick with those. |
|
