http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Prisoner-The-Complete-Series-Blu-ray/12681

Holy Toledo, that's an amazing cavalcade of extras--is there anything missing from what the UK set will be offering?

Holy Toledo, that's an amazing cavalcade of extras--is there anything missing from what the UK set will be offering?

The book and the special packaging (needed to accommodate the book).

The book and the special packaging (needed to accommodate the book).

As a collector, I concede that's a disappointing loss but one I can deal with without too much hand-wringing, if the UK version does turn out to be region locked. I anxiously await the first person who can set that issue straight...

Another thing that I just noticed is that the US set is listed as 884 muinutes and the UK set is listed as 850 minutes. I don't know if that is a typo on the part of the UK set.

The Prisoner was shot on film at 24 fps and runs 884 minutes. If the UK set is really 850 minutes, that means it is 25 fps and has the 4% PAL speedup. It would mean everyone's voice will sound slightly higher pitched, like what occurred on the European and UK releases of Basic Instinct.

The UK DVD's always had the speedup issue because the UK is 50Hz. Blu-ray would be the first opportunity for them to release it as 1080p/24, but maybe they think their audience is so used to 25 fps, that they are carrying the speedup over to Blu-ray.

Tons of UK Blu-rays list the PAL runtimes still despite being 24fps.

And the problem with the Euro Basic Instinct HD DVD was actually that the audio was high-pitched DESPITE being 24fps. They fixed it for their Blu-ray release.

The 1080i50 titles out there like The Crow actually are sped-up on the other hand. 1080i50 is the only way to put 1080p25 on Blu-ray since there is no spec for the real content (content actually produced at 1080p25 could also be slowed down to 1080p24 like Planet Earth, of course).

I just saw the U.S. release of The Prisoner at a local Best Buy store... If I didn't have an Amazon preorder already in, I might have bought it.

Got my US copy today.

Very impressed w/the picture quality. Like it said in the other thread- a no-brainer for Prisoner fans.

Does this series leave you hanging? Or does it have some sort of ending? I never watched this, and was considering the BD. But not if it doesn't really conclude.

It is one of the greatest shows of all time and there is an ending (it wasn't cancelled), but there is a good chance you will not be satisfied with it.

Does this series leave you hanging? Or does it have some sort of ending? I never watched this, and was considering the BD. But not if it doesn't really conclude.

It does end in a two-part episode, but the ending is weak. I say this as a tremendous fan of the series.


I don't mind them going surreal for the conclusion; that was big in the 1960s and fits with the nature of the program. But it all looks pasted together too quickly. They could have done better. It's Too Damn Silly.

The good part of the conclusion is the clue that no one really leaves The Village, because (I have always presumed) it extends over the entire world.



-Bill

It is one of the greatest shows of all time and there is an ending (it wasn't cancelled), but there is a good chance you will not be satisfied with it.

Like the Sopranos? Yes, I was wondering if the show had been cancelled, and thus 'not concluded'. But if it ends the way the writers intended, then I will probably give it a chance.

Like the Sopranos? Yes, I was wondering if the show had been cancelled, and thus 'not concluded'. But if it ends the way the writers intended, then I will probably give it a chance.

It was Patrick McGoohan's project and he wrote the ending. He also left the country soon afterwards.

-Bill

It really is worth watching, whatever your feelings about the end. This is one where the journey is more important than the destination.

I think the ending is great, you have to remember that The Prisoner is a sci-fi show with tons of allegory, metaphor and social commentary.

So anyone who has this care to offer an opinion as to picture and audio quality? Especially in comparison to the A&E SD-DVD's?? Thanks.

So anyone who has this care to offer an opinion as to picture and audio quality? Especially in comparison to the A&E SD-DVD's?? Thanks.

I have the UK version. It's stunning, visually. Quality varies from shot to shot, but overall, excellent. The interior shots (or any "exterior" shots done on a soundstage) are particularly good. Color, contrast, and black levels seem very appropriate. I had the A&E DVDs, and there's no comparison whatsoever. This is the kind of transfer that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that older 35mm sources really shine in HD.

The mono mix is good. The 5.1 mix has more depth and presence, but I swear it sounds like they mucked with some of the instruments to give them a kind of echo. Not sure if that's just the original sound coming through in a more revealing mix or something they did just for 5.1.

As has been stated, the current Blu-ray releases (UK and US) are miles better than the old A&E version. If you're a fan of the show, upgrading is a no-brainer.

I just picked this up during the recent amazon sale. I've just watched arrival and the quality is great. One slight problem, though; the DVD bonus disc won't play on my samsung bd-p2500. I just get an error "this disc cannot be played." My laptop has no trouble with it, however. Has anyone else run into an issue with the bonus DVD?

I just picked this up during the recent amazon sale. I've just watched arrival and the quality is great. One slight problem, though; the DVD bonus disc won't play on my samsung bd-p2500. I just get an error "this disc cannot be played." My laptop has no trouble with it, however. Has anyone else run into an issue with the bonus DVD?

It's ok on the OPPO BDP-83. It is not PAL or non-region 1 so I'm not sure why a player wouldn't like it.

Do you have a DVD player to try it on? PCs are often more generous as to what they will accept than standalone players, but a commercial disc should not have the sort of authoring errors that make that sort of difference.

-Bill

It's ok on the OPPO BDP-83. It is not PAL or non-region 1 so I'm not sure why a player wouldn't like it.

Do you have a DVD player to try it on? PCs are often more generous as to what they will accept than standalone players, but a commercial disc should not have the sort of authoring errors that make that sort of difference.

-Bill

I've since found reports of folks with Panasonic and LG blu-ray players having trouble as well (check out user reviews on amazon). This review mentions the same problem in the UK release:

http://filmjournal.net/john/2009/09/29/you-shouldnt-have-interfered-number-6-youll-pay-for-this/

I sent inquiries to amazon and a&e to see if replacement discs may be made available to those affected at some point in the future.

I've since found reports of folks with Panasonic and LG blu-ray players having trouble as well (check out user reviews on amazon). This review mentions the same problem in the UK release:

http://filmjournal.net/john/2009/09/29/you-shouldnt-have-interfered-number-6-youll-pay-for-this/

I sent inquiries to amazon and a&e to see if replacement discs may be made available to those affected at some point in the future.

Some interesting details at that link. I've seen DVDs with extra non-video content (including PDF files) before; I'll have to check out what's on disc #6.

It did not occur to me that BR players might have a problem with that material. Just something overlooked by the designers. They really should do a firmware upgrade; that would fix the problem for any future discs that do the same thing.

-Bill

I just check Disc 5, and my Panasonic DMP-BD55 balked playing any of the material on the disc. Fortunately, my Oppo DV-983H handles the disc well.

Reason I ask is I've seen criticism as being a rehash of the previous DVD release, and I've seen plaudits as being an advance beyond the "Mega" DVD set. I like the series (despite being short lived) and am interested in getting the full 17 episode set (currently have the first three episodes on DVD). Is this a good deal on Amazon for $25, or is the UK version seriously better and I should wait for a better opportunity (recognizing the UK version doesn't support region A)?

Thanks for any help with this :)!

As far as I know the US/UK BDs are essentially the same in terms of quality and content. But they're not 100% identical. I think the UK spread it's content out over an extra disc? I believe DVDBeaver compared both sets. Do check it out.

I've had the US BDs since release. They're really great looking. Along with Star Trek and Twilight Zone they're right at the top of the best classic TV releases IMO. If you're a fan I wouldn't hesitate to buy the set.

If you like the series, its worthwhile. The PQ is far better than I ever expected. Stunning in fact. Get it, you won't be sorry.
J

They're gorgeous looking Blu-rays. It is a good deal. The BR encoding is the same as the UK version.

I have a review here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=19167834#post19167834).

-Bill

Agreed with above, the series looks terrific and well worth the upgrade.

Buy it now.

I jumped on this one at the $25 price.
I watched it when it first aired on PBS so many years ago, and have been a fan ever since.

Just watched the first episode - awesome video quality!

Thanks fellows, my order's in. Now I've just got to decide on the "Danger Man" DVD set :)! I've never seen that show, but I understand it's kind of a prequel to "The Prisoner".

Thanks fellows, my order's in. Now I've just got to decide on the "Danger Man" DVD set :)! I've never seen that show, but I understand it's kind of a prequel to "The Prisoner".

I added Secret Agent aka Danger man to my Amazon cart a few days ago.
I haven't seen it since it first aired on TV waaaaaaaaay back.
Still deciding here also.

Just watched the first episode - awesome video quality!

Agreed. The fake surround mix doesn't sound so good. There's a kind of phasing effect. I prefer the mono track, even if it's lossy.

Doug

Agreed. The fake surround mix doesn't sound so good. There's a kind of phasing effect. I prefer the mono track, even if it's lossy.

Doug

Yeah but I don't expect much audiowise from a 60's tv show. Even modern tv shows aren't noted for their sound design - Lost being a prime exception. Actually, I thought the DD 5.1 was ok - I didn't find it distracting. Then again I have Mirage omnipole surrounds which are stellar at diluting the phasing effect you mention.

Thanks fellows, my order's in. Now I've just got to decide on the "Danger Man" DVD set :)! I've never seen that show, but I understand it's kind of a prequel to "The Prisoner".

I highly recommend Danger Man. I have the old sets of it which takes up a lot of room. You will be getting the preferred slimline set. Danger Man is a great show, IMO. I daresay I enjoy it more than The Prisoner. The first season is a collection of 30 minute episodes. It's amazing how much plot and action they cram into 30 minutes. Some of them move at a breakneck speed. The one hour shows slow down the pace and take a bit more time with character detail.

I've actually not watched them all yet. I usually put one on when there's nothing on TV. I've got too many TV episodes to get through them all right now.

FWIW, I ordered The Prisoner on the Amazon $24 sale. My DVD will not play in either my Panasonic BD65 or my Insignia player. It plays in my Toshiba HD DVD player.

The Prisoner is one of the best shows ever created, IMO. Still deciding on Danger Man as well. PQ is brilliant.

It is one of the greatest shows of all time and there is an ending (it wasn't cancelled), but there is a good chance you will not be satisfied with it.

Just finished the series for the first time. I largely agree with that statement. But I've seen worse finales. . . Tough show to watch on the treadmill, not pulpy enough.