Region 2 DVDs and Complete Series Set Question

[Randy Giles]

Is season one in widescreen on the Region 2 DVDs? What about the Region 1 complete series set?

 

[VisionGuy]

In the region one set, it's still full screen. I was kinda disappointed when I bought it and saw there was no change.

 

[Kean]

I'm failry sure region 2 are full screen aswell. Mine are anyway.

 

[Randy Giles]

GRR. That sucks.

Seasons 2-5 look sooo good in widescreen.

 

[Wraith]

Hello,

I'm new, so I'm not sure this is the place to ask my question (and I'm sorry if I'm not), but the title of this thread fit my question well, so...

I've never seen a single episode of either 'Buffy' or 'Angel'. This is something I plan to rectify. I already own the American Complete Chosen Collection, which I bought specifically (even though I'm from Europe) because I knew that several episodes were cut on the Region 2 sets. I have also heard that the two series are linked (through common characters, among other things), and because I don't really want to spoil events from 'Angel' that are referenced in later seasons of 'Buffy', my plan is to watch all the episodes in the order they originally aired (which should prevent spoilers, right?).

For that, I need to own 'Angel' (naturally). Just like with 'Buffy', I know there are complete box sets out there. Specifically, I have easy access to the American, French, German and British editions; unless there are censorship differences, I want to get the one that's cheapest.

Ok, roundabout way of asking a simple question: Are there censorship issues similar to 'Buffy'? I've already found out that Season 1 is in the wrong aspect ratio, but at least it's in the wrong aspect ratio everywhere, not just in the British set. I've also found out that the American set eliminates the recap in front of the episodes. So at the moment, the British set is the one I'm most likely to get (since it's also the cheapest, considering shipping). google has revealed postings from other boards from several years back; in these postings, it is said that the German 1st Season set is slightly cut, as is the British 2nd Season set. I've not been able to verify that anywhere, however. So I thought I'd ask here whether there's any truth to that and, if so, if these censorship issues persist into the complete Five Season boxes.

 

[JCC]

There is no censorship on the Region 2 boxset.
The German episodes of Buffy have cut out all Nazi references, that's not just season one either, it's all of the seasons.
There are no big spoilers for either show, though I intend to watch it in the same way as you do on my next run through both series, just so that the interlinking episodes really match, but it's not at all necessary.

 

[Kemy]

I have the Whedonverse on DVD here in Region 2, Buffy, Angel and Firefly and believe me theres no censoring in any of them, nor have I heard of any sets being so.

Anyway watching Season 2 of Angel at the moment and there are more or less fullscreen as Kean said, slight bars top and bottom.

 

[Wraith]

Ok, I think I'll order the UK set, then.
Thank you for your answers 🙂.

 

[doppelgänger2]

What's with the obsession with widescreen? I personally find that format only suitable for movies on the big screen, definitely not for a teveshow. I know a lot of shows are shot in widescreen format nowadays, and I guess it's to bring that widescreen-experience to the comfort of our homes. I like the fact that teve is 4:3, I like my movies to be 16:9 and I don't want those two to mash. Call me old fashioned, but it's just comfy that way.

Btw; I found this note from Joss on the subject of the region 1 DVD's not being in 16:9. He does talk specifically about BtVS but I'm pretty sure that Angel was shot in 4:3 too.

No doubt you are looking over this scrumptious BUFFY package and exclaiming "No @#$%ing letterboxing ? Whutzat ? GYPPED !" Possibly you are breaking things. Please calm down. The fabulous episodes of BUFFY (and that one crappy one, sorry about that, seemed really cool when we wrote it...) were not shot in a widescreen format. They were shot in the TV 4 by 3 ratio. Now I'm a letterbox fanatic, but not just because I crave th' wide. I want to see the whole screen, as framed by the director. The BUFFY's I (and others) shot were framed for traditional TVs. Adding space to the sides simply for the sake of trying to look more cinematic would betray the very exact mise-en-scene I was trying to create. I am a purist, and this is the purest way to watch BUFFY. I have resisted the effort to letterbox BUFFY from the start and always will, because that is not the show we shot. This is. So enjoy ! Stop breaking things. You're getting the best presentation of -- let's face it -- the best Television Drama since MATCHGAME '79. Bye for now !
Sincerely,
Joss Whedon

 

[FaithyFivebyFive]

Reading Joss' view on the point makes me feel better about the lack-of-widescreen Buffy and Angel.

 

[Fake Shemp]

4:3 aka 1:33:1

Ive got it on the tv now and there are no black bars at the top or bottom

 

[BepperGirl]

I read somewhere that if you watch certain episodes in widescreen, you can spot some "mistakes" like Angel seeing his reflection in, uh I wanna say, Angel 2x1? So while I do love the widescreen generally speaking, I am pretty happy with what I've got 'cause if that's the way Joss intended it, that's the way I'll do it.

...Googled. Found this site. This must have been the one I was thinking of:

Spoiler

You see Cordelia and Wesley walking without Angel through the gym in the mirror (because vampires have no reflection). In the Widescreen Edition you can see Angel waiting at the right side of the screen to join in a "normal" shot.

(Put in spoiler just in case 'cause this is the season 1 board.)