Is it really worth the upgrade from DVD to Blu-ray?
You are probably wondering why "Spearhead From Space" is available on blu-ray and why there aren't more classic Doctor Who episodes being released in high-definition on blu-ray. Well the fact of the matter is that "Spearhead From Space" has the unique distinction of being the ONLY classic Doctor Who story that was shot entirely on location at BBC Wood Norton and a pub in nearby Radford on 16mm film because of a BBC studio strike. It was also the first classic Doctor Who story to be presented in full colour. Because of this, the 16mm film elements could be scanned into high-definition without any upconversion or loss of definition. The 1.33:1 aspect ratio, which was shot for television, remains at 4:3 full-frame so you will still have the "pillarboxing" black bars on the sides of a 16:9 television.
Nearly all of the classic Doctor Who episodes were shot in the studio on videotape because it was cheaper to produce with post-production finishing and special effects being...
If you are a die hard fan (which i am) then upgrade to this Blu-Ray
Just received my UK Blu-Ray of this and YES it really IS worth the upgrade., the restoration, colour grading are spectacular,
the additional doccos are exceptional., real in depth detail into the careers and lives of both Caroline John and Jon Pertwee to a scale never before seen
Kudos to BBC Worlwide - The Restoration Team and PUP Productions
Nice print, but DVD features were not carried over
"Spearhead from Space" was the only classic Doctor Who serial to be shot entirely on film (as opposed to videotape) and therefore it's the only serial that can be easily converted into high definition and presented on Blu Ray. Hence this release -- the only 1970s Who story in the Blu Ray pipeline, for the time being.
Now, long-time fans will no doubt be aware that Spearhead has been released before, on VHS and DVD (twice). Thus, we all face a burning question...is it worth triple- (or quadruple-) dipping and buying this same story yet again, in a new format?
The short answer is, yes. The Blu Ray edition of Spearhead has a much nicer print than even the recent DVD special edition, with vivid colors and details; indeed, it simply blows away the washed-out prints of this story that I remember from back when I was a kid. To cite just two examples of how good this print is, I was able to admire the stitching on Jon Pertwee's shirt, and I noticed for the first time...
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