High Definition Versus Standard TV

Article first published as High Definition Versus Standard TV on Blogcritics.

It's 2013. Analog television is a thing of the past, and we have all switched over to digital. For years, analog signals could vary in strength based on your location and antenna, but after cable standardized that, all channels mostly looked the same. As high definition (HD) becomes more persistent and prevalent, though, does it put lower definition, known as standard (SD), at a disadvantage?

I think so, for sure. When most of the major networks, like ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, USA, HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, TNT, SyFy, FX, and the like are transmitted to my house in crystal clear clarity, why would I want to tune into something that looks fuzzy and old?

I refer, of course, to those channels still not offered in HD. These may vary by location. In my area, IFC is one network I really wish I received with a better quality signal. It's frustrating to watch Portlandia when its fuzzy, especially when I can change the channel and get such a better picture. Ditto for the excellent British series Misfits, which I get on Logo, in SD. I'll just wait for the Blu-rays.

The HBO and Showtime packages I have annoy me because I pay so much for a couple dozen channels, but only three of each are delivered in HD. I can tell you, I don't even bother to record movies that aren't on one of those three channels. Why even get the rest? Because they are part of a "package," the magic word cable companies use to charge us extra money for stations we don't want or need, since the a la carte option isn't available, which could be a whole other column.

I do think this puts the SD channels at a significant disadvantage. I may be one person, but I'm sure it's a trend many are moving towards, especially those casual viewers that don't follow as many shows. If I were a channel surfer, I'd just stay in the 900s, and not go outside of that range.

The Internet has spoiled us, giving us instant access to everything however we want it. Our current generation is used to being able to access everything, and when the cable companies only give us SD versions of certain channels, those get forgotten and overlooked.

It's funny because I still watch older shows and movies. Many of them are on DVD, and may not be in HD. But because they are from a different time, I just accept the difference. Portlandia could be viewed in HD, if I lived in a certain market, so getting a lower quality is annoying. Friends has never been in HD, so I will watch an old installment and accept it.

Even better, though, is how many old shows and movies are being updated and re-released on Blu-ray. This trend means that even things made in the era before the current awesome level of clarity are being converted, making them look better than ever. If I can watch Disney's Peter Pan, made in the 1950s, and it looks superior to the signal coming in from my cable provider on a show filmed in 2012, it makes the comparison even more ridiculous.

How long before all channels are HD? This is the solution, the one that has to, and certainly will, happen. Any network that doesn't convert will be lost to modern television watchers. Cable companies that offer more HD options will gain more subscribers. It's definitely a trend many people want.

Funny enough, as technology improves, our patience shortens. HD has not been around long at all, and yet, SD is already becoming a thing of the past, something many people don't want. While other conversions in history have taken much longer, it seems the lifespan given for switching from SD to HD is a scant few years.

Now, if only screeners of episodes sent out by studios for review could be in HD. Even online viewing sites are all SD. I can't remember the last time any I received were HD, which is why, unless I have an article that needs to be done in a timely fashion, I don't even seek them out anymore. And don't even get me started about releases of seasons of shows that used to be sent out on Blu-ray that were instead provided on DVD this year to save money. But that only affects a small, isolated portion of the population, albeit one that is even more into TV than the normal person.

Does my strong preference for HD, to the point where I go out of my way to avoid SD, make me a TV snob? Or is it just part of how the world of television is evolving? Should I be more patient, waiting for some networks to be delivered in a modern format? Weigh in on the comments below.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter.

Peter Pan sparkles in Diamond Edition

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition on Blogcritics. 

Just in time for the 60th anniversary, Disney releases its classic film Peter Pan in a Diamond Edition blu-ray this week. Most are probably familiar with the classic tale of three children who fly away to Neverland with Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. There, they hang out with lost boys, battle pirates, dance with Indians, and swim with mermaids, before returning home.

Like most of Disney's early films, Peter Pan holds up extremely well. The story is fondly remembered for a reason, and with a short seventy-seven minute running time, there is no worry about dragging. It clips along at a brisk, entertaining pace, providing giggles for children and warm nostalgia for those of us who, unlike Peter, did grow up.

I cannot say enough good things about the new presentation. The case itself is modern and sharp, and the picture quality of the film is unbelievable. It is difficult to accept that this animation was drawn so very long ago, as the conversion is done to present flawless picture. The colors are vivid, and the lines aren't the slightest bit blurry.

At first, it takes a little getting used to, because the animation style is from a totally different era. There are large, broad patches of color on the screen, rather than detailed shadows and images, and so the graininess of previous releases sort of filled out those big spaces, making the first impression feel a little off. Yet, everything is so sharp, it could not have looked this good when it first came out, making it appear new, despite the drastic difference in style from current digital imaging. Once you understand what it is you're seeing, though, it's easy to appreciate just how much love and work went into giving Peter Pan the best picture possible.

I have similar complements for the audio. Again, there is a vastly different presentation than recent films, with the music and tone sometimes making it slightly harder to understand the words. Yet, no such fault can be blamed on the 7.1 surround sound track, as it is completely free of pops and hisses, providing clarity astounding for such an aged movie. The dialogue, effects, and music are all basically perfect, well balanced, and don't show their age in the slightest.

Some may be disappointed that Peter Pan is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio, meaning that you will have black bars on the sides of the screen around a nearly square image on widescreen televisions. But this is the way it was originally released, so just enjoy how good the picture and sound are, and those bars will quickly become unnoticeable.

While the Diamond Edition includes all of the previous extras, there are also some new ones, the ones on the disc mostly geared towards grown ups revisiting their past, rather than children just discovering the tale, who are better served by the multi-platform components. Two deleted scenes are shown with narration and sketches, in full 16:9 HD, about five minutes in length. They are early concepts, and don't fit in the finished story, so it's clear why they were cut. However, it's thrilling to get this glimpse into history and the creative process of this film's development.

There are also two deleted songs, also story boarded, mixed with a few bits of animation, also in 16:9 HD with restored audio. One, "Never Smile at a Crocodile," is familiar to many, given it's recorded release and appearance on Disney sing along videos, and the fact that it sets lyrics to a melody that is included in the film. The other, "The Boatswain Song," isn't very good, but hey, it's not in the movie, so it's valuable for the same reason the deleted scenes are.

There is a 40+ minute documentary about the Nine Old Men. Those familiar with the early story of Walt Disney's company will already know who these famous animators are, and while the featurette doesn't deal much with Peter Pan specifically, it will be of interest to Disney buffs, and is appropriate here because Peter Pan is the last film they all worked on together.

The only thing I really didn't care for was the Pirate Training that comes up after you pause the disc for ten seconds. It is boring and not very engaging, so I'm not not sure the kids will like it, and it's far too basic for adults to appreciate. I guess it's better than just a frozen screen, but I wouldn't call it an enhancement.

There are also a storybook app, coloring pages and memory games for the computer, a digital copy, a DVD version, and more in the combo pack, making for an interactive experience across various devices, and allowing for interaction by a generation who expects such.

This release is by far the best this movie has ever looked, and is definitely worth checking out just for the film itself. But the features are great, too, so it's a total package. Disney's Peter Pan Diamond Edition will be released Tuesday, February 5th at retailers everywhere.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!