Sharpe Classic Collection [Blu-ray]

Ordered this to upgrade from the quality of my current Sharpe collection which was a mix of the original US dvd releases and digital recordings from old PBS analog tv broadcasts. Also while I had the "Sharpe - The Legend" documentary, I did not have the 2nd feature "Sharpe's Shooting".

As to the quality of the "Remastering":
I have not watched all to compare against my older versions, but the earlier episodes are a great improvement over my older US dvds released by BFS Video. The BFS versions were faded and the colors muddy as well as being very soft focus. There were also variable black edges at the sides. BFS appears to have simply played a VHS tape and pointed a digital camera at the screen - The episodes I captured from PBS broadcasts in the 90's were not any better - probably broadcasts of the same BFS material.

These new releases have vibrant colors and much sharper detail - not the quality of a dvd produced from modern theatrical film, but very good for a restoration, given that the Sharpe's were rather low-budget and so used less than the best camera equipment for the times.

The real surprise was the wide-screen transfer. These were for tv, which in the 90's was only 4:3 aspect.
I had always assumed that the 4:3 of the BFS dvds and PBS broadcasts was how Sharpe was filmed - NO!
These new releases are from wide-screen stock. If you ignore the necessary letter-boxing and compare only the image to the old 4:3 versions, there is much additional image on both sides - now you see there were 12 soldiers standing on the right, not 4 and that there was a horse on the left that wasn't shown in the old 4:3 version.

The sound is harder to judge - there is good, clean 5.1 channel sound, but at least on my 7.1 system, it sounds no different than the receiver's "stereo to surround" option.

The best part was getting this entire great set with all it's improvements and shipment from the UK for less than I paid for a single episode on US DVD.

NOTE: For US purchasers - these will require a Region-Free dvd drive on your computer or a Region-Free home dvd player - both inexpensive and easy to obtain, but necessary to play these in the US.

This is the upgrade I was waiting for. Extras are so light as to be practically nonexistent (so one star deducted), but the shows are the thing. And they're beautiful on a large screen. The old DVD sets were not enhanced for 16x9 sets, and the transfers weren't that great. The new Blu-ray package definitely sets matters straight. Video is now quite clean and sound is more involving with all episodes mixed for 5.1.

Price is more than reasonable for all these shows in one collection (not counting the later series of TV movies set in India). American buyers need to be aware that the discs *are* locked to region "B", so they will need a region-switchable Blu-ray player.

It was without doubt, the Best thing I ever did, to buy this absolutely Brilliant series. The battle scenes fighting the French,are So authentic. The Characters/actors performances are wonderfully acted out. Intrigue, Action...humour, it's got the Lot! I've never enjoyed viewing anything quite so much as this...and I've watched a lot of series and films on DVD, in my time. Sean Bean is marvellous in his role as Sharpe. My wife loves Sharpe also. Outstanding!!!