Blu-Ray 16:9 Widescreen Remaster vs 4:3 Fullscreen SD original

I prefer watching Buffy in...


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TheMaster666

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Which do you prefer? I know the remaster originally had some major flaws, but I believe those have been ironed out since.

Personally, I am relatively new to Buffy, to the extent that the first version that I watched is the recent HD one. I didn't notice anything wrong with it at the time since it was all I knew. But I'm rewatching the episodes in the original look, and I rather like it. Comparing the two versions side by side, for example, in the episode "Beauty and the Beasts" from Season 3, I noticed that the remaster is a lot brighter compared to the original. This increased brightness gives a more upbeat, happier tone I feel, which makes the overall vibe of the show somewhat campier. By contrast, the original look is a little darker, with a little more contrast, and the greens/yellows are stronger (or you could view it as remaster increasing the reds). The overall feel is a little scarier and more foreboding, contributing to a more horror-bent, gothic vibe which feels very 90s. Of course, 1080p HD is nice, but I find myself rather preferring the striking look of the original.

Of course, how the shot is framed is another huge element. Shots that seemed fine in the remaster suddenly look rather zoomed in after comparing the two, or they may feel oddly spaced out compared the original. Yes, I am aware the show was never intended to be safe for widescreen during filming, so the remaster team probably did the best with what they can, but hey, other shows from the 80s have been remastered in crystal clear HD without compromising the aspect ratio and original cropping.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Which color/lighting tone do you feel suits the show better?
 
The only thing I can say for certain , is I prefer the HD season 1 😛 .

The bulk of seasons 1-2 were shot on super 16 film , that frames up nicely for widescreen . I think the detail suffers a bit but only an av anorak would notice .

From season 3 onwards . they were shooting on 35mm and protecting (for the most part😉 ) for 16:9 . From season 4 onwards they were selling a widescreen version for broadcast in the UK , Australia too maybe ? There's a few camera flaws in the margins , but in theory there already was a framed template for a HD upgrade .

They didn't do that though 😀 . Seems like they mucked around zooming and cropping , seemingly at random . Likewize the colour and brightness can be a mixed bag of eccentric settings .

BTVS is no filmic prize anyway , so it's not like they defaced a flawless masterpiece of cinema art . However they could/should have done a better job of it . I was hoping for more respect for the original film frame .
 
I'd love a good quality Buffy 4K or Blu Ray release. The DVDs would really benefit from a tidy up. I don't believe it exists though. The ones I've seen always mess up the framing and colours. Can't get through an episode.
 
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