[steve.r]

Just noticed that Doctor Who is being shown in HD on Saturday at 6:45pm on BBC-HD.

[Trollslayer]

Looking at it I think it's been recorded in HD for a while (I think the BBC have been using HD equipment when available to build up thier HD catalogue).
The revolution is coming (slowly)!

[loz]

There excuse for lack of HD for Dr Who, whilst Torchwood is in HD, was that they didn't have time and resources to render the effects in HD. So it may have been filmed in HD for some time, but the final programme was still rendered as SD.

[Martin J.]

Do they still show Blue Peter viewers how to build the spaceships out of old egg cartons? I should imagine the BBC's attempts at special effects will probably look just as amateurish in HD.

[Starburst]

Originally Posted by Martin J.

Do they still show Blue Peter viewers how to build the spaceships out of old egg cartons? I should imagine the BBC's attempts at special effects will probably look just as amateurish in HD.

I think the BBC now outsource all visual effects, as we know the department responsible for special and visual effects worked wonders with the budgets they had but were woefully incapable of matching the commerical competition as the demands on the technology/art increased.

I say that but after watching the christmas special with it's quite pathetic effects you may have a point

[mike7]

Originally Posted by Martin J.

Do they still show Blue Peter viewers how to build the spaceships out of old egg cartons? I should imagine the BBC's attempts at special effects will probably look just as amateurish in HD.

I suspect you have not watched Dr Who for a very long time.

[Martin J.]

Originally Posted by mike7

I suspect you have not watched Dr Who for a very long time.

True, I only see bits of it. It is indeed a long time since I was twelve... no egg carton spaceships then?

[AMCross]

OMG

What a show in HD

Michelle Ryan what a babe !

[brian s]

Originally Posted by AMCross

OMG

What a show in HD

Michelle Ryan what a babe !

I really enjoyed it in upscaled SD. How good was the HD? I'll buy the Blu-Ray when it's released.


Bri

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by brian s

I really enjoyed it in upscaled SD. How good was the HD? I'll buy the Blu-Ray when it's released.


Bri

The PQ was good and the sound was Dolby Digital 5.1 according to my amp, which is pretty unusual for BBC HD programs (I noticed Finding Nemo was also in 5.1 too). I think my son would have still enjoyed it in low quality SD though TBH.

[AMCross]

personally i thought the show could have been better

After all the wait between episodes now you would have thought that they would get better

only my 2cents

but still worth watching

And the next one does look good

[brian s]

Originally Posted by KelvinS1965

The PQ was good and the sound was Dolby Digital 5.1 according to my amp, which is pretty unusual for BBC HD programs (I noticed Finding Nemo was also in 5.1 too). I think my son would have still enjoyed it in low quality SD though TBH.

Great to hear. Did they broadcast with a logo/dog?

Cheers
Bri

[ozzzy189]

I think dr who was upscaled, looking at finding nemo and then the masters, dr who did seem to be lacking. The flying bus looked pathetic, egg boxes and elastic bands may've looked better !

[Doctor Smith]

looked amazing on my kuro

Episode was awful. Characters were so annoying. Effects pathetic

[Starburst]

Pretty solid live action HD, good effort to make the night scenes look nice and clean ditto for the desert shots, the only weakness really was the CGI which was at a level that shows like SG, Smallville etc would have been embarrassed about 5 years ago perhaps longer.

You really can't compare a $94million dollar CGI movie or live action sport to a modestly budgeted BBC family show in terms of PQ, chalk and cheese spring to mind as we know content has a huge impact on the final HD result.

[ozzzy189]

Which is why i prefer torchwood, seems a little better with effects and not quite as much silliness, some of the recent doctor who stories have been cringeworthy, the little fat monsters spring to mind. Anyway, at least it was in hd, good, brilliant, average or otherwise.

[KelvinS1965]

Originally Posted by brian s

Great to hear. Did they broadcast with a logo/dog?

Cheers
Bri

No DOG on either Finding Nemo or Doctor Who....I even double checked that I hadn't inadvertantly changed back to SD BBC1, but the picture looked noticably worse on BBC 1, so there was some quality difference. I actually recorded both HD and SD versions so I might try comparing them on my PJ some time.

The SD version is handy if my lad wants to watch it again as it's easier for the rest of the family to turn on the TV and DVD/HDD recorder then watch via (composite ) scart, rather than fire up the Lumagen and select the HDMI input on the telly. The picture looks horrific this way though, but for casual use (like when I'm not in the room ) it serves a purpose. It will be interesting to compare the HDMI output from my HDD upscaled via my Lumagen to the 'real' HD version on my HTPC.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by ozzzy189

I think dr who was upscaled, looking at finding nemo and then the masters, dr who did seem to be lacking. The flying bus looked pathetic, egg boxes and elastic bands may've looked better !

They are doing it in HD for the first. There'll be a bit of a learning curve plus it was made in a hurry compared to normal. They usually start around July for the Xmas Day episode and 13 more for the next year. They started on this one in January. They completed work on it at 11.30pm on Monday night.

Regards
Bri

[andrew markwort]

They started on this one in January. They completed work on it at 11.30pm on Monday night.

A lot of filming of the series takes place about a mile or so from where I live. Rumours of a red London bus being seen around here have been circulating for a good while.

It's always good fun spotting which bits of Cardiff are standing in for London.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by andrew markwort

A lot of filming of the series takes place about a mile or so from where I live. Rumours of a red London bus being seen around here have been circulating for a good while.

It's always good fun spotting which bits of Cardiff are standing in for London.

I'm a huge Dr Who fan. I wish I could do that.


Bri

[tapzilla2k]

Originally Posted by Martin J.

Do they still show Blue Peter viewers how to build the spaceships out of old egg cartons? I should imagine the BBC's attempts at special effects will probably look just as amateurish in HD.

The Mill do the effects work on Doctor Who -
Mill

Originally Posted by brian s

They are doing it in HD for the first. There'll be a bit of a learning curve plus it was made in a hurry compared to normal. They usually start around July for the Xmas Day episode and 13 more for the next year. They started on this one in January. They completed work on it at 11.30pm on Monday night.

Regards
Bri

All of the 2009 specials are being shot in HD and series 5 will be in HD as well (new Tardis set apparently). Torchwood was the learning curve for Doctor Who being shot in HD. As it's virtually the same production crew that work on both shows. They set themselves a tight deadline for the planet of the dead, i don't think they were even sure they'd finish it in time for an Easter broadcast.

Filming on the second 2009 special has been completed and is now in post production, while they are currently filming the last two specials back to back (theres another 5 or 6 weeks to go for those). I expect those specials will have a more polished look to them, as they will have more time to work on them in post production.

PQ wise Planet of the Dead was very good, the CGI was ropey in places. But then it was ropey in places in the SD years of Doctor Who.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by tapzilla2k

The Mill do the effects work on Doctor Who -
Mill



All of the 2009 specials are being shot in HD and series 5 will be in HD as well (new Tardis set apparently). Torchwood was the learning curve for Doctor Who being shot in HD. As it's virtually the same production crew that work on both shows. They set themselves a tight deadline for the planet of the dead, i don't think they were even sure they'd finish it in time for an Easter broadcast.

They attempt a lot more with the sfx on Who than on Torchwood. The production team avoided going HD as long as they could because of the expense.

Regarding a new Tardis interior I've also heard that the present set isn't upto HD standards. I've also heard thar the new producer Steven Moffatt wants a new design fot Matt Smith next year. It looks like there'll be no interior shots till Smith takes over the role.

Cheers
Bri

[Ed the Penguin]

Originally Posted by brian s

It looks like there'll be no interior shots till Smith takes over the role.

I thought this.. until I heard the cloister bell in the clips for The Waters of Mars at the end of Planet of the Dead.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by Ed the Penguin

I thought this.. until I heard the cloister bell in the clips for The Waters of Mars at the end of Planet of the Dead.

Yes it certainly sounded like them but I can't see them investing in a HD worthy rebuild of the present set if Moffatt is going to do a total rebuild for Smith. They might be able to do tight shots with the original set or maybe HD upgrades on section of it.

Best wishes
Bri

[Timh]

I thought the episode was quite good, its just a shame about the poor music
It Sounds like some teenager is producing the music in his bedroom.
They really need to listen to shows like BSG and Heroes.

[brian s]

A blu-Ray release for Planet Of The Dead on 29/6/09.

Play.com (UK) : Doctor Who: Planet Of The Dead (Dr Who) (Blu-ray) : Blu-ray - Free Delivery


http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...o-blu-ray.html

Thanks to HumanMedia
Bri