Hey, new packaging!

[DigiFluid]

I was out at Best Buy earlier and noticed that the DVD sets have been re-released in slimmer cases. I have no idea when this happened, but I kind of wish my cases were thin like this!

Don't mind the blurriness....my Blackberry cam sucks.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4818/img00340e.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/img00340e.jpg/)

[Replicator Todd]

WB rereleased them just last year I believe. I know because I was looking at them on Amazon a while ago. :weiranime42:

[P-90_177]

Yeah I bought the complete box set some time ago and they were all in slimline. Much prefer them like that.

[SaberBlade]

Mine are slimmer than that. All 5 series of Babylon 5 can individually be gotten in a single DVD case, with all 6 discs within. Brilliant stuff, I wish all the others were like that. It's much more convenient to have 6 discs in a single case, than 6 discs in 6 cases with a box.

[DigiFluid]

Yeah I bet. The 6 (original-style) boxes take up so much shelf space.

[Replicator Todd]

My problem with repackaging is that some TV shows loose their collectible booklets and anything else originally including, such as Buffy and The X-Files sets I believe. Then again, thats Fox. Warner Bros. are IMO gods at having collectible stuff. Smallville was repackaged last year and still includes their collectible booklets.

[DigiFluid]

But then, there really wasn't anything special in the bigger B5 discs. All the booklets have in them is a 3 paragraph JMS note and brief synopses of the episodes. And badly mis-labeled cast credits.

[Replicator Todd]

But then, there really wasn't anything special in the bigger B5 discs. All the booklets have in them is a 3 paragraph JMS note and brief synopses of the episodes. And badly mis-labeled cast credits.

Oh ok, nevermind then. I kinda like stuff like that though...

[DigiFluid]

And that definitely should've read, "bigger B5 cases".... :o

[SaberBlade]

These new versions, the single case seasons talk about being "all new widescreen transfers" and "all new introductions by JMS" and I am sure it says all new cast stuff but now sure how many seasons.

The worst thing about re-releases is some stuff potentially being lost from version to version, which is annoying at best, because it may force people who want the complete DVD experience to spend more money.

But at times you do get crap second editions. Firefly's complete box set has a special edition, that just has a cardboard sleeve. No differences from the original as far as I can tell.

[DigiFluid]

I don't think I'll ever be buying B5 again.

Unless of course, they remaster the video into proper anamorphic widescreen (or BD) and jazz up the VFX to be more in-line with how things looked circa Crusade and Lost Tales.

[SaberBlade]

I don't think they could redo all the CG effects, as I remember reading a long time ago that the biggest majority, if not all, of the files used for the effects were lost. They'd need to remake every model and scene from scratch.

Crusade and Legend of the Ranger required new stuff, so wasn't an issue.

[DigiFluid]

Yes... I realize that. I'm just saying, when and if that ever happens is the only conditions under which I'll be re-buying Babylon 5 ;)

Unless, of course, something catastrophic happens to my current collection of course. But nobody gambles on that :)

[SaberBlade]

I'm glad I was able to get the DVD's so cheap, or else I'd not have bought them as I've seen the series on TV a few times. However I'd like to see B5 given the "Star Trek treatment" by having the CG scenes redone if a Blu-Ray release is done. The only problem with that, is the Shadow War and even the Civil War fight scenes because they are fantastic for being more than 10 to 15 years old.

[DigiFluid]

Yeah I wouldn't want the 'choreography' of the space battles changed either. Just updated VFX.

God I'm demanding :D

[SaberBlade]

I don't think it's demanding to expect something more from Blu-Ray.

Lord of the Rings for example just came out on Blu-Ray, but it's the theatrical version. I expected the extended versions, with even more scenes added to them but no, just the same versions I avoided getting on DVD. Shatner has wanted to do Star Trek V over for ages, no harm in that because it's a crap movie yet Paramount keeps denying him that chance and still release the same crap movie on Blu-Ray that's been released an unknown amount of times already on DVD.

Blu-Ray should be fully used, if people want to put something on Blu-Ray then they should put the best they can on it, not just rehash everything.

[Replicator Todd]

I don't think it's demanding to expect something more from Blu-Ray.

Lord of the Rings for example just came out on Blu-Ray, but it's the theatrical version. I expected the extended versions, with even more scenes added to them but no, just the same versions I avoided getting on DVD. Shatner has wanted to do Star Trek V over for ages, no harm in that because it's a crap movie yet Paramount keeps denying him that chance and still release the same crap movie on Blu-Ray that's been released an unknown amount of times already on DVD.

Blu-Ray should be fully used, if people want to put something on Blu-Ray then they should put the best they can on it, not just rehash everything.

Indeed, that IMO is what Blu-Ray was made for! Better versions of already fantastic or not so fantastic movies and shows. LOTR is going to get a extended edition release in 2011 or 12, or thats what Peter Jackson said. I sure hope that release has both versions. :rolleyes:

[SaberBlade]

Indeed, that IMO is what Blu-Ray was made for! Better versions of already fantastic or not so fantastic movies and shows. LOTR is going to get a extended edition release in 2011 or 12, or thats what Peter Jackson said. I sure hope that release has both versions. :rolleyes:

The Blu-Ray extended version of LOTR is supposed to happen some time around the release of The Hobbit, there's a shocker. As if the extended versions of LOTR need a theatre release of it's prequel to build up the hype.

[Dr. Carson Beckett]

These new versions, the single case seasons talk about being "all new widescreen transfers" and "all new introductions by JMS" and I am sure it says all new cast stuff but now sure how many seasons.

Is there really new stuff presented? When I saw them, I thought they were just the same discs in slimmer packaging as the packaging appeared to be exactly the same except for the size. I've had the original releases for ages (I don't deal with packaging, I have large DVD binders to house my collections) so I never really paid much attention. Did they also re-release the TV movies? I can't recall having seen them in stores recently.

[SaberBlade]

Is there really new stuff presented? When I saw them, I thought they were just the same discs in slimmer packaging as the packaging appeared to be exactly the same except for the size. I've had the original releases for ages (I don't deal with packaging, I have large DVD binders to house my collections) so I never really paid much attention. Did they also re-release the TV movies? I can't recall having seen them in stores recently.

Well on the DVD's I have, the only thing specifically mentioned as new is All New Introduction by JMS. It's my understanding that US DVD's have the same special feature so not sure why it's listed as "all new" on the UK DVDs (unless earlier versions of our DVDs didn't have it). Other than that, I believe the only real difference is the box set itself. My repackaged seasons come in a single DVD case, but the Canadian/US repackage just comes in in a smaller box.

As for the movies, don't know if they re-released them. I just know that the UK got screwed on it. Our "Movie Collection" has only three movies (Thirdspace, River of Souls and A Call to Arms), yet the Region 1 box set comes with all five. They've even got the same box art. Annoys me, because the missing two movies are perhaps the two most important movies out of the five.