HD DVD thread - Toshiba: HD DVD DISCONTINUED, REPAIR/SUPPORT CONTINUES, NO BLU PLANS

[Duo_Maxwell]

Who? I am not one to buy a product from some no name manufacturer. I think the key will be getting the name brand players that low (which with the amazon sale the A2 is damn close).

You'd think, but at the same time it makes me think of what I do everyday at work. Trying to talk people out of buying no name consumer electronics simply because they are cheaper. And for some reason most people have their heart set on buying absolute junk just to save a few dollars and you almost can never talk them out of it.

[rodeojones903]

Also, in that HD-DVD newsletter they are saying that you pretty much can not count PS3's sold as a sold blu-ray player. That makes me wonder if Toshiba is including the sold 360 HD-DVD drives as part of their numbers. If not that would add quite a bit to their sold numbers, and bring down their theory that HD-DVD owners buy 5 times as many movies as Blu-ray owners.

[Sarang01]

I'm sticking to my prediction. Toshiba's lowest end player will hit $250 by Christmas.

[swoosh bnd]

I'm sticking to my prediction. Toshiba's lowest end player will hit $250 by Christmas.

They're gonna need a price drop before that to stay competitive especially with all the "Blu-Ray outsells HD-DVD" news we've been hearing because of the Playstation 3.

[thrustbucket]

You'd think, but at the same time it makes me think of what I do everyday at work. Trying to talk people out of buying no name consumer electronics simply because they are cheaper. And for some reason most people have their heart set on buying absolute junk just to save a few dollars and you almost can never talk them out of it.

This is mostly because consumers have been trained that most brand names will really stick it to them. Sure, they also realize that buying no-name appliances is riskier as far as reliability, but so many people have been burned by paying 2-3x more for a name brand that they quickly learn to take their chances with the cheap.

That combined with the fact that places that often sell a lot of no-name brand stuff have very liberal return policies (walmart). So if it does break, you simply go exchange it.

It also greatly depends on the Consumer Electronics device you are talking about . If it's something generally considered a luxary item, most low-income people can't justify paying extra for brand name, because they already feel guilty buying something they really don't need.

[asianxcore]

Should I not even bother trying to get HD-DVD releases at B&M stores. Should I just try Ebay or other online outlets?

I picked up my HD-DVD 360 Drive today and wanted to get some additional movies out for it.

Target had great prices ($5-10 less than other places I went to) but they had a poor selection. CompUSA had next to nothing on HD-DVD. When I stopped by Best Buy they had an ok selection of HD-DVD stuff but had a TON of stuff on the other side for Blu-Ray. If I was a random consumer I would say to myself..."Gee there are a lot more movies for Blu-Ray, HD-DVD must stink".

[thrustbucket]

Should I not even bother trying to get HD-DVD releases at B&M stores. Should I just try Ebay or other online outlets?



Have yet to find a very good deal on any HD DVD at BM stores. But then, same goes for DVD.

[gunm]

Yeah, I'd stick with online for the cheapest HD/BluRay titles.

[Trakan]

Should I not even bother trying to get HD-DVD releases at B&M stores. Should I just try Ebay or other online outlets?

Definitely stick to online right now. You can get older HD-DVD releases for about $11 shipped on Buy.com using Google Checkout. You can get new releases for around $18 shipped.

The only HD-DVD I purchased at a B&M store was Cinderella Man when it was clearanced at Target and I didn't have any other HD-DVDs.

[Jedi1979]

i brought the HD-DVD drive for the 360 a few months ago, i used it maybe 4 times and honestly wasnt greatly impressed and am about to put it back in its box and sell it along with the HD-DVDs since i came across a deal on a PS3.

I decided i will change to blu-ray even though i truly did want to support HD-DVD but it seems that Blu-Ray is getting their act together with the transfers and sound quality...i watched Casino Royale, Ice Age, and Open Season and after that i was very much impressed, now i look forward to Rocky Balboa this week and if that looks as good as i expect it then it will seal the deal for me along with the fact the HD-DVD has NO releases it seems:roll:

Basically i have the PS3 just for Blu-ray (since after i sell my HD-dvd drive and with the already discounted price i will have ended up spending around $150 for it) and since my time that i have for gaming is used up by my 360 it made the desicion to switch from HD to BR that much harder*

*im tired so this may or may not make sense;)

[asianxcore]

Thanks to everyone who chimed in about buying HD-DVD's online. I've never done the Google checkout before, so I might have to pick up some older releases. Though I already have it on standard DVD, I've always wanted to get Serenity on HD.

Jedi1979, your post made plenty of sense. It doesn't make sense to keep the player if there isn't anything coming out that interest you.

[thrustbucket]

I decided i will change to blu-ray even though i truly did want to support HD-DVD but it seems that Blu-Ray is getting their act together with the transfers and sound quality...i watched Casino Royale, Ice Age, and Open Season and after that i was very much impressed, now i look forward to Rocky Balboa this week and if that looks as good as i expect it then it will seal the deal for me along with the fact the HD-DVD has NO releases it seems:roll:

Basically i have the PS3 just for Blu-ray (since after i sell my HD-dvd drive and with the already discounted price i will have ended up spending around $150 for it) and since my time that i have for gaming is used up by my 360 it made the desicion to switch from HD to BR that much harder*



http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html

If nothing on that list looks appealing, then I guess you should.

Make sure you pay special attention to the releases at the bottom under "release dates pending" without dates yet, (mostly waiting for the new version of AACS but many of which are due out May-July.

[Jedi1979]

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html

If nothing on that list looks appealing, then I guess you should.

Make sure you pay special attention to the releases at the bottom under "release dates pending" without dates yet, (mostly waiting for the new version of AACS but many of which are due out May-July.

there definately are some movies i would want but i figure i can pick them up later on when the prices drop (if the war is still going on) for the players but in the mean time Blu-ray fills my needs rather well with this list
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html

[Duo_Maxwell]

Just out of random curiousity and to stem the BD vs. HD debate for just a bit, I've got a question for everyone...

What, if any, films from your regular DVD collections did you all rebuy in HD?

For me it's been thus far: Serenity, Batman Begins, Apollo 13 and Mission Impossible. The former two I rebought because they are some personal all-time faves, Apollo 13 because I had the original DVd release and M:I becuase I bought the set (only owned the 1st on regular DVD). There were some others I considered buying but didn't for various reasons (like The Fugitive's poor HD transfer) and there may be a small handful I rebuy in the future but I try to hold off on them as much as possible.

[Trakan]

Just out of random curiousity and to stem the BD vs. HD debate for just a bit, I've got a question for everyone...

What, if any, films from your regular DVD collections did you all rebuy in HD?

For me it's been thus far: Serenity, Batman Begins, Apollo 13 and Mission Impossible. The former two I rebought because they are some personal all-time faves, Apollo 13 because I had the original DVd release and M:I becuase I bought the set (only owned the 1st on regular DVD). There were some others I considered buying but didn't for various reasons (like The Fugitive's poor HD transfer) and there may be a small handful I rebuy in the future but I try to hold off on them as much as possible.

The first two movies in The Fast and The Furious series as well as Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick. I think I only did it because they were rated so high on the tier list and I was able to get them for a good price.

Mission Impossible I and II are being released again later this year, right? I might rebuy those if they have better transfers. I know they're already supposed to be good, but apparently they don't stack up to III.

[KaneRobot]

To answer the "what did you rebuy" question - just Clerks II and Batman Begins....mostly due to lack of willpower. I said early on that I wouldn't be rebuying anything. I guess I'm just a big liar.

Hilariously stupid article on Kotaku today, based off the thread in the deals section where someone found a Wal-Mart clearancing the add-on. They actually suggested Wal-Mart is clearancing HD-DVD - as in, every Wal-Mart is dumping HD-DVD. Then then asked "it's already over?" and implied the format was dead.

Yeah. This is why people shouldn't confuse blogs with news sites.

Funny, I've actually felt better about the format than I have for a while recently. There's a lot of stuff on the way.

[KaneRobot]

I would never buy a PS3 just for Blu-Ray. Worst case scenario, HD-DVD tanks completely in, say, mid 2008. Microsoft would just release a Blu-Ray add-on...probably for even less than the initial price of the HD-DVD player. It wouldn't at all surprise me to see it happen within the next two years, even if HD-DVD manages to thrive. Heck, they said they may do it even before the format war started, it's not going to take much to get them to do it if HD-DVD is out of the picture.

Plus, then ALL of my movies can be played on the same device. It's not like those HD-DVDs you already own suddenly explode if the format fades out. Short of buying a dual-format player, the 360 is the safest choice for HD movies, for my money. I can wait.

[thrustbucket]

I would never buy a PS3 just for Blu-Ray. Worst case scenario, HD-DVD tanks completely in, say, mid 2008. Microsoft would just release a Blu-Ray add-on...probably for even less than the initial price of the HD-DVD player. It wouldn't at all surprise me to see it happen within the next two years, even if HD-DVD manages to thrive. Heck, they said they may do it even before the format war started, it's not going to take much to get them to do it if HD-DVD is out of the picture.

Plus, then ALL of my movies can be played on the same device. It's not like those HD-DVDs you already own suddenly explode if the format fades out. Short of buying a dual-format player, the 360 is the safest choice for HD movies, for my money. I can wait.

Yeah that kotaku article took a great deal and spun it to be bad news somehow for HD DVD. But, of course, the 50% off sale for BD on Amazon was good news....

[guyver2077]

yea when are getting a good sale like that one on amazon for hd dvd...

i havent picked up any hd dvd titles at all recently.. the only one i was looking forward to was harsh times and they delayed that

[asianxcore]

What, if any, films from your regular DVD collections did you all rebuy in HD?


Nothing. I just got my HD Drive yesterday, but I don't plan on re-buying anything I already own. I also have tried to only buy movies that I know will benefit from having a higher image resolution. The only exception I think I'll be making is for Serenity, since I personally love the movie.

I hope to get Children of Men next week but since it's a HD/DVD combo, it'll be pricey.

[Sporadic]

Just out of random curiousity and to stem the BD vs. HD debate for just a bit, I've got a question for everyone...

What, if any, films from your regular DVD collections did you all rebuy in HD?

I'm planning on rebuying Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Shaun Of The Dead, Dawn Of The Dead and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, besides them none of the movies I currently own have been released on HD-DVD.

[LinkinPrime]

You'd think, but at the same time it makes me think of what I do everyday at work. Trying to talk people out of buying no name consumer electronics simply because they are cheaper. And for some reason most people have their heart set on buying absolute junk just to save a few dollars and you almost can never talk them out of it.
Rebought:

MI:I
MI:II
MI:III
V For Vendetta
Batman Begins
Fast and the Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
The Italian Job
Constantine
Sahara
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Will be rebuying the Matrix Trilogy and the LOTR series when they come out.


New to library:
Clerks II
The Last Samurai
The Departed

[thrustbucket]

I hope to get Children of Men next week but since it's a HD/DVD combo, it'll be pricey.

Go to buy.com and use google checkout and you can get it for about $18 shipped.

[Ruined]

Matrix Trilogy HD DVDs May 22nd

The HD DVD format gets a major boost May 22 when Warner Home Video releases The Ultimate Matrix Collection and The Complete Matrix Trilogy for $119.99 and $99.99, respectively.

The special editions, which include HD DVD releases of The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, collectively comprise 8 discs and more than 35 hours of bonus material, in addition to three “Revisited” mini-features.

Both releases include HD DVD’s In-Movie Experience (IME) interactive feature.

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2

HD DVD only in May due to Blu-Ray's BD-J still not being ready!

[rodeojones903]

Are they only going to be available in the collection? I only want the first one so I hope not.

[thrustbucket]

Are they only going to be available in the collection? I only want the first one so I hope not.

Looks like it.

This is fraking fantastic. About time Warner woke up and stopped postponing releases because Bluray is half baked.

[Sporadic]

Matrix Trilogy HD DVDs May 22nd



http://www.homemediaretailing.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2

HD DVD only in May due to Blu-Ray's BD-J still not being ready!

Good, now hurry up and give me the rest of my Stanley Kubrick movies.

Spartacus and Full Metal Jacket are getting lonely.

[TheRock88]

Awesome news, going to pick it up on day 1 when it comes out.

[guyver2077]

tis a great day!!!

[nharmon91]

yup, awesome shit.

[thrustbucket]

Here is the official press release for those that care:

( I have a very sneaky suspicion that 300 will follow this pattern)

For Immediate Release

The Most Requested, Quintessential
HD DVD Title is Now Here!

THE ULTIMATE MATRIX COLLECTION &
THE COMPLETE MATRIX TRILOGY
ARRIVE MAY 22

Just in Time For Father’s Day Gift Givers
The Entire Legendary Matrix Series
in the Splendor of 1080p High Definition Brilliance with More Than 35 Hours of Bonus Features

Burbank, California (March 22, 2007) -- If ever a film series was meant to be seen in HD DVD, that series is now here. The Matrix, the legendary, groundbreaking sci-fi film, and its visually dazzling second and third installments, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were produced with future technology execution in mind. The Matrix, the first DVD to sell one million copies and to date a $1 billion worldwide franchise, will be part of two new definitive high definition collections to be released by Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures on May 22.

The Ultimate Matrix Collection, for the hardcore Matrix fan, presents the complete adventures of machine battling truth-seekers Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in all three of the Wachowski brothers’ post-modern epic films. This collection will contain, for the first time, all three HD DVD versions of The Matrix series with more than 35 hours of bonus material in 5 double sided discs. The second offering, The Complete Matrix Trilogy, contains HD DVD versions of the three Matrix films and the three Revisited features in a 3-disc set.

Both The Ultimate Matrix Collection and The Complete Matrix Trilogy come with the In-Movie Experience (IME), an exclusive interactive feature that allows viewers to enjoy new ways of accessing interviews and other material. For these titles, the IME will let viewers experience the evolution of all The Matrix’s ground breaking elements through the recollections of the cast and creative team.

The Matrix Series on HD-DVD is the definitive and ultimate film compilation for the ultimate hi-def format, plus will no doubt make the ultimate Father’s Day gift for sci-fi film lovers. The Ultimate Matrix Collection will be available for $119.99 SRP and The Complete Matrix Trilogy available for $99.99 SRP. Order due date for all is April 17. Blu-ray Disc versions of both collections will be released later this year.


The Films
The Matrix (1999)
The box-office sensation follows the trials of a young computer programmer (Keanu Reeves) searching to determine the deepest reality of a post-Apocalyptic world. His journey uncovers a web of deceit and massive computer-generated illusions obscuring the truth. As the character Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) said to Neo (Reeves), “No one can be told what The Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” The same is true for this mind-blowing movie.
The film also stars Carrie-Anne Moss and was produced by Joel Silver. The Matrix was written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, who spent years nurturing and refining the movie’s breakthrough concepts.
Side 1
In-Movie Experience
• Commentaries
o Written Introduction by The Wachowski brothers
o Philosophers Commentary by Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber
o Critics Commentary by Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson
o Cast and Crew Commentary by Carrie-Anne Moss, Zach Staenberg and John Gaeta
o Composer Commentary by Don Davis with Music Only Track
• Behind The Matrix
o Making The Matrix
o The Dance of the Master: Yuen Wo Ping's Blocking Tapes
o The Bathroom Fight and Wet Wall
o The Code of the Red Dress
o The Old Exit: Wabash and Lake
o Agent Down
o But Wait- There's More
• The Music Revisited
• Marilyn Manson Music Video Rock is Dead
• The Matrix Teaser
• The Matrix Trailer
• The Matrix TV Spots
o Manson
o Reality
o Forget Everything
o Mystery
o Buckle Up
o The Answer
o Kung Fu
o Whoa
Side 2
• The Matrix Revisited
• Take the Red Pill
o What is Bullet Time?
o What is the Concept?
• Follow the White Rabbit
o Trinity Escapes
o Pod
o Kung Fu
o The Wall
o Bathroom Fight
o Government Lobby
o Government Roof
o Helicopter
o Subway

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
In the powerful second chapter of the Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Moss) and Morpheus (Fishburne) lead the revolt against the Machine Army as it attacks Zion, the last human city on earth, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation. In their quest to save the human race from extinction, they gain greater insight into the construct of The Matrix and Neo’s pivotal role in the fate of mankind.

What is The Matrix? The question is not yet fully answered. And it leads to another: Who created The Matrix? The answers lead to more worlds of bold possibility – and to a destiny that passes from revelations to Revolutions.

Special Features:
Side 1
In-Movie Experience
• Commentaries
o Written Introduction by The Wachowski brothers
o Philosophers Commentary by Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber
o Critics Commentary by Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson
• Behind The Matrix
o The Matrix Unfolds
o Pre-Load
o Get Me an Exit
o The MTV Movie Awards Reloaded
• Enter the Matrix: The Game
• Enter the Matrix (contains 23 scenes from the video game)
• P.O.D. Music Video Sleeping Awake
• Reloaded/Revolutions Teaser
• The Matrix Reloaded Trailer
• The Matrix Reloaded TV Spots
o Yes
o Jack In
o Nice Trick
o Story
o No Escape
o I'm In
o Prophecy
o Neo

Side 2
• Car Chase
o The Freeway Chase
o Oakland Streets and Freeway: Unseen Material
o Tour of the Merovingian's Garage
o Queen of the Road
o Arteries of the Mega-City: The Visual Effects of the Freeway Chase
o Foresight: Pre-planning the Mayhem
o Freeway Truck Crash: Anatomy of a Shot
o Fate of the Freeway
o Freeway Action Match
• Teahouse Fight
o Two Equals Clash
o Guardian of the Oracle: Collin Chou
• Unplugged
o Creating the Burly Brawl
o A Conversation with Master Wo Ping
o Chad Stahelski: The Other Neo
o Burly Brawl Action Match
o Spiraling Virtual Shot: Anatomy of a Shot
• I’ll Handle Them
o The Great Hall
o Building the Merovingian's Lair
o Tiger Style: A Day in the Life of Chen Hu
o Heavy Metal: Weapons of the Great Hall
• The Exiles
o The Exiles
o Big Brother is Watching: The Architect's Office

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
In the powerful final chapter of the Matrix trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves) takes another step forward in the quest for truth that began with his journey into the real world at the outset of The Matrix – but that transformation has left him drained of his power, adrift in a no-man’s land between the Matrix and the Machine World. While Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) holds vigil over Neo’s comatose body, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) grapples with the revelation that the One in which he has invested a life’s worth of faith is merely another system of control invented by the architects of the Matrix. During the stunning conclusion, the rebel’s long quest for freedom culminates in an explosive battle. As the Machine Army wages devastation on Zion, its citizens mount an aggressive defense – but can they stave off the relentless swarm of Sentinels long enough for Neo to harness the full extent of his powers and end the war?

Special Features:
Side 1
In-Movie Experience
• Commentaries
o Written Introduction by The Wachowski brothers
o Philosophers Commentary by Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber
o Critics Commentary by Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson
• Behind The Matrix
o Revolutions Recalibrated
o Neo Realism: The Evolution of Bullet Time
o CG Revolution
o Super Big Mini Models
o Super Burly Brawl
o Double Agent Smith
o Mind Over Matter: The Physicality of The Matrix
o Future Gamer: The Matrix Online
• The Matrix Revolutions Trailer
• The Matrix Revolutions TV Spots
o Give Anything
o Help
o Power
o Future
o Believe
o Control


Side 2
• Behind The Matrix
o Before the Revolution
o 3-D Evolution
• Crew
o Owen's Army: The Australian Art Dept.
o 2nd Unit: A World of Their Own
o Bill Pope: Cinematographer of The Matrix
o Masters of Light and Shadow
• Hel
o Coat Check
o Upsidedown Under
o Fast Break
o Exploding Man
o Gun Club
o The Extras of Club Hel
• Super Burly Brawl
o The Skybarn
o The Crater
o The Egg
o Anatomy of the Superpunch
o Super Burly Brawl
• New Blue World
o Geography of Zion
o The Ships
o Tour of the Neb
o Matrix TV
o Logos Fight Expansion
• Siege
o Dig This
o The Siege Action Match
o Anatomy of a Shot: Mifune's Last Stand
o Building an APU
o Product of Zion
• Aftermath
o Revolutionary Composition
o The Glue
o Dane Tracks
o Cause and Effects


DISC 4: Animatrix & The Roots of the Matrix

Side 1
• Voices
o The Second Renaissance Part I Commentary by Mahiro Maeda
o The Second Renaissance Part II Commentary by Mahiro Maeda
o Program Commentary by Yoshiaki Kawajiri
o World Record Commentary by Takeshi Koike
• Scrolls to Screen: The History and Culture of Anime
• Execution
o Making Final Flight of the Osiris
o Making The Second Renaissance Parts I & II
o Making Kid's Story & A Detective Story
o Making Program
o Making World Record
o Making Beyond
o Making Matriculated

Side 2
• Return to Source: Philosophy & the Matrix (AKA. Brainiac’s Revenge)
• The Hard Problem: The Science Behind the Fiction

DISC 5: Burly Man Chronicles & The Zion Archive

Side 1
• The Burly Man Chronicles
• Pre-Production
• Alameda Shoot
• Australia Shoot


Side 2
• The Zion Archive – Photo galleries
• The Rave Reel
• The Matrix Online
• 2 Music Videos, Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots

Marketing and Promotions Support
WHV will be supporting the release of HD-DVD release of the Matrix collections with national television spots on national cable such as Comedy Central, Spike, Uni HD, G4, and Sci-Fi; in national print publications such as Maxim, Wired, and EW, and on-line sites such as IGN, UGO, IMdB, iFilm, Amazon, Yahoo, Google, and AskMen. Addtionally, in-store merchandisers will be available for national retailers, leveraging other HD-DVD titles during the Father’s Day season.

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

[RedvsBlue]

Wow, I thought the reason The Matrix HD-DVD got pushed from 2006 was so it could get a simultaneous Blu-Ray release but it would seem that it was so they could really throw it all at us at once.

You know, WB claims to be supporting both formats equally but considering this, and all the other big WB movies that still haven't made it over to Blu-Ray, you've got to wonder just how committed to neutrality they really are...

[thrustbucket]

Wow, I thought the reason The Matrix HD-DVD got pushed from 2006 was so it could get a simultaneous Blu-Ray release but it would seem that it was so they could really throw it all at us at once.

You know, WB claims to be supporting both formats equally but considering this, and all the other big WB movies that still haven't made it over to Blu-Ray, you've got to wonder just how committed to neutrality they really are...

Look at the bolded areas of the press release. Warner is very clear how they feel about HD DVD.

WB has been sitting on this title, and other big ones, for over 6 months now and they are tired of waiting for BD to get their act together.

Rumor has it Star Trek is next, because Paramount is in the same boat.

Lots of studios want to put out their HD special editions and boxed sets full of IME type features, but they can't afford to sit on them forever while waiting for BD.

I just hope Disney is the next to get impatient.

[richierich]

great news hopefully this will be the beginning of more great movies to hit HD-DVD!

[RedvsBlue]

Look at the bolded areas of the press release. Warner is very clear how they feel about HD DVD.

WB has been sitting on this title, and other big ones, for over 6 months now and they are tired of waiting for BD to get their act together.

Rumor has it Star Trek is next, because Paramount is in the same boat.

Lots of studios want to put out their HD special editions and boxed sets full of IME type features, but they can't afford to sit on them forever while waiting for BD.

I just hope Disney is the next to get impatient.

I'm thinking this whole high def movie format war is a LOT of smoke and mirrors. Especially on Sony's (or the blu-ray disc alliance as the PS3 people insist on calling it) part.

I'm really getting the idea that blu-ray must be an absolute nightmare to develop for and, given it still can't use the picture in picture technology without just doubling the movie on the disc, a technologicly inferior format. That'd be crazy though, right, I mean blu-ray is a bigger format right and if Godzilla taught is anything, its that "size definetly matters."

[Duo_Maxwell]

So is it only in trilogy/collection forms or we will get individual volumes at some point? Cuz that's a little disappointing to me if it's only the sets, mainly because I thought the last 2 were a pretty big disaappointment and I didn't even purchase them on regular DVD. I'd love to rebuy the first one on HD-DVD though, but I'm not shelling out $80+ for only one film out of three I truly enjoy.

[thrustbucket]

So is it only in trilogy/collection forms or we will get individual volumes at some point? Cuz that's a little disappointing to me if it's only the sets, mainly because I thought the last 2 were a pretty big disaappointment and I didn't even purchase them on regular DVD. I'd love to rebuy the first one on HD-DVD though, but I'm not shelling out $80+ for only one film out of three I truly enjoy.

I have been all over various forums today, and what you are saying is extremely common. This leads me to conclude that Warner bros is smart, and they know a ton of people feel like you.

So they release the big box sets first, because even people that feel like you will get caught up in all the hysteria and many of you will still buy it.

I think you will probably see the single releases later on, probably on Total HD. And that might be how it comes out on BD too.

[LinkinPrime]

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/cmt_images/10426_news_image.jpg

Fucking sexy :drool:


So is it only in trilogy/collection forms or we will get individual volumes at some point? Cuz that's a little disappointing to me if it's only the sets, mainly because I thought the last 2 were a pretty big disaappointment and I didn't even purchase them on regular DVD. I'd love to rebuy the first one on HD-DVD though, but I'm not shelling out $80+ for only one film out of three I truly enjoy.

Eventually they'll release the singles. The just announced MI:I and MI:II by themselves.

[KaneRobot]

Shit, I'll buy this just on general principle even though the latter two films were weak. The Matrix and the Animatrix should be pretty great though. However, if they don't put the Animatrix in HD I'll just buy the 3-movie set and keep the older Animatrix DVD. I'm assuming they'll have it in HD, it would pretty dumb not to to.

I do hope that this is a sign that studios are sick of Blu-Ray dicking around and dragging their heels. We'll see.

[doubledown]

I still think I'm the only person who doesn't own the Matrix on any form....no DVD, nothing.

I'll be more excited when Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Revenge of the Nerds hits HD ;)

[thrustbucket]

Someone just asked Amir more about the audio problem on the 360, he finally came clean as to what caused it:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10096513&&#post10096513

Question: Why dont you try to give a release indicator of the xbox360 DTS update. As one previous stated - half the joy is in waiting for something, that you KNOW when to get! For myself I have stopped purchasing more HD DVD's, as I will need more specific information on update, before investing more money in movies and concerts with relatively "poor" sound stage.

I appreciate this. But it took me three months of trying to get you the last answer . But I will give it another shot and see if I can share more.

As to more info, here is an embarrassing nugget. The reason the audio dynamic range is not where it should be is that the Dolby Digital/DD+ decoder is permanently stuck in the "night" mode. This is the mode you can set on your DVD player where the dynamics are compressed as to not wake up the others sleeping in the house. Apparently, Dolby certification rules mandate that night mode be on, if there is no UI to turn it on and off. Their assumption is that without such UI, this a portable DVD player and such, driving a TV with its little speaker which may get damaged with full dynamic range!

Anyway, the above is a silly requirement in this situation but I don't want to put the fault on Dolby. We should have caught this and put in the UI and do it right. So the update will have a UI setting with default being full dynamic range. This is why I said earlier that even normal Dolby Digital output will sound better. But per pervious posts, we will also be adding DTS encoding output at its higher rate.

The major part of this release by the way, is fixing title compatibility issues. Just about everything reported here and elsewhere has been addressed.

[ryosnk]

Funny because my wife was asking if they will be releasing matrix on hd-dvd. Awesome info especially after all this blueray talk and hype.

[asianxcore]

Very nice news regarding the Matrix Trilogy.

I already own Reloaded and Revolutions on standard DVD, but I may upgrade. I held off on getting the first movie because it wasn't in a keepcase, but now I'll have an HD transfer to look forward to.

I've been trying to only buy movies on HD that I don't already have. I picked up Serenity (which I already own on standard) on HD used today, so who knows it might be the beginning of an avalanche

I also didn't realize until today that Serenity is only available on HD-DVD. :applause:

[gunm]

Someone already gave me the ultimate nerd version of the Matrix DVD Collection as a gift (the one with the ass-ugly bust of Neo), but if the reviews are good, I will sell that one off and get the HD version instead.

Thanks for the update, KR!

[KaneRobot]

Re: thirstbucket's post at the top of this page

Sony should take a look at that and tell all their PR 'tards to copy exactly what he did whenever there is an issue with something - I bet the dislike for them would be cut in half. He admitted there was a problem, didn't try to conjure up bullshit excuses, didn't try to redirect it to something else, and said a fix will be coming. Wow, works great, huh?

That stupid-ass story about HD DVD dying because *one* Wal-Mart clearanced the player from the other day made it onto G4. Fortunately only about 14 people watch G4, so I don't think the misinformation is that damaging.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Re: thirstbucket's post at the top of this page

Sony should take a look at that and tell all their PR 'tards to copy exactly what he did whenever there is an issue with something - I bet the dislike for them would be cut in half. He admitted there was a problem, didn't try to conjure up bullshit excuses, didn't try to redirect it to something else, and said a fix will be coming. Wow, works great, huh?



They've dodged the sound issues in some way shape or form since the freaking add-on launched. All PR people are the same essentially, just because he finally fesses (sp?) up to one thing doesn't make him any better really IMO. Also I have a problem with clearly bias employees being members of public message boards.

Edited: To reflect apoligies and detractions...see post 551.

[thrustbucket]

Amir's lied before, especially via Major Nelson's podcasts, the one involving 1080p and the HD add-on was pretty rediculous, so sorry if I don't trust him now more than before. Not to mention they've dodged the sound issues in some way shape or form since the freaking add-on launched. All PR people are the same essentially, just because he finally fesses (sp?) up to one thing doesn't make him any better really IMO. Also I have a problem with clearly bias employees being members of public message boards.

One thing to keep in mind, though, about Amir, is that he is the Corporate Vice President, Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft.

That means he isn't anywhere near 360 stuff. He meets with them, and such, but when you ask him an Xbox question, he usually has to go to someone in the Xbox division to get the answer. It's not his bag. He is an expert in Codecs and HD DVD type stuff, but not the 360.

[Duo_Maxwell]

One thing to keep in mind, though, about Amir, is that he is the Corporate Vice President, Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft.

That means he isn't anywhere near 360 stuff. He meets with them, and such, but when you ask him an Xbox question, he usually has to go to someone in the Xbox division to get the answer. It's not his bag. He is an expert in Codecs and HD DVD type stuff, but not the 360.

Kind of passing the buck there aren't you? He chooses to say what he says from his mouth, put simply anykind of misinformation from his mouth is still misinformation, just because he's not willing to actually look into the inner workings of something himself does that make the info any less inaccurate or the dodging any less... well dodgy? If he's going to do an interview about the 360's capabilities (including the add-on which IIRC he is in part responsible for it's compatibility and functions) and how they work in the market he certainly better get the right info from the right people before he talks about it. And you're the one who brought up his PR abilities anyways. Bill Gates is not a Xbox expert either, but if he's giving an interview or a press conference about it my guess is you'd believe whatever he's laying down about capabilities, compatbility, etc. for the system.

[thrustbucket]

I'm not defending Amir. And I am not saying that he didn't perhaps give out some false information before in a podcast or whatever. Anyone in any position that high up in any company that big is bound to make a public ass of themselves on occasion, comes with the job.

I'm simply saying I've been reading his responses for a long time in the insiders thread, and even had a few answered of my own. My experience with him is he usually doesn't say ANYTHING unless he's 100% sure about it, and if he isn't, he makes it ABUNDANTLY clear that he isn't sure about it. Probably experience from situations like you point out.

He's not a liar though.

[KaneRobot]

Amir's lied before, especially via Major Nelson's podcasts, the one involving 1080p and the HD add-on was pretty rediculous
Examples?

so sorry if I don't trust him now more than before. Not to mention they've dodged the sound issues in some way shape or form since the freaking add-on launched. All PR people are the same essentially, just because he finally fesses (sp?) up to one thing doesn't make him any better really IMO
No, they are not "all the same." Even if they out-and-out lie (and time has shown Amir to be generally forthcoming regarding stuff that he is allowed to speak about), there is a correct way to address the customers/community and an incorrect way. Sony's multiple mouthpieces are notorious for redirecting or denying problems, and indeed Major Nelson and Peter Moore constantly pass the buck and/or deny things when they do not have a good answer for something. Those are examples of how NOT to do it.

Also I have a problem with clearly bias employees being members of public message boards.

Please. If a company stays silent, people scream bloody murder about them not talking. If anything, there needs to be MORE hands-on employees. Amir is one of the few people who come off as more of an "optimist" than someone totally deluded and/or just blindly towing the company line. Even if that isn't truly the case, public perception is 90% of what matters in situations like this.

The forum is for insiders in general, not just some guy from Microsoft. There are several representatives from multiple areas of the industry there - yes, including Blu-Ray. It's hardly an HD-DVD cheerleading board.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Actually, I publicly detract partly what I said and publicly apoligize to Amir. Listening to it again, the podcast was actually not him and for that I'm sorry. However, I listened to his pdocast about HD-DVD and of course being a Majo Nelson interview the rough topics were simply skirted (like the why did MS not pick BD, not a single person mentioned because their main competeitor was launching it via PS3 or that the 360 wasn't ready for HD-DVd when it launched) and there was a soundbite here or there that was not totally forthcoming (most all the studios wanted less copyright protection? Is that why HD has less studios?). Still, calling him a liar was perhaps harsh. Plus MS as a whole did dodge the sound issue for months regarding the HD-DVD add-on, but I apoligize for taking all that out on one guy.

I'm obviously partly wrong here I suppose, maybe if Amir told more people at his company to act like that and I'd listen to what they have to say, but my stance on the PR type remains firm, no matter the company they work for.

As for them joining message boards, I suppose I wouldn't care if there was something in their member info/avatar to the side that indicated who they work for. And I didn't mean to say AVS was all HD-DVD backing, simply I don't agree with making these type of people members or even simply "special members". It may not be the situation with him, but I just dislike when the insiders peer into a message board and don't post except to when it's to their comapny's benefit. Again, not saying that's the case here exactly, but I'm sure some others have seen this type of thing and I'm speaking generally.

[KaneRobot]

Actually, I publicly detract partly what I said and publicly apoligize to Amir.
That's why I wanted an example...I thought it was some other guy. Was it the same doofus that said "1080p is basically impossible" or someone else? He's certainly had his share of brainless shills on that show.


The Digital Bits is saying that The Animatrix will be standard def only - somewhat disappointing, yes, but my wallet thanks me.

I strongly advise most people to just pick up the trilogy, as all the extras are standard def and in the Ultimate set the discs are flippers. I don't mind flippers but I know it may drive some people nuts. Personally, I'll just be copying the bonus stuff on the discs I have now and selling the set to help pay for the trilogy set.

[Sarang01]

Wow I'm disappointed. I really thought with this set all extras would be in HD hence the need for flippers.

[Duo_Maxwell]

That's why I wanted an example...I thought it was some other guy. Was it the same doofus that said "1080p is basically impossible" or someone else? He's certainly had his share of brainless shills on that show.

Dunno, don't remember that per say, but this dude was talking about using 1080p with the add-on drive and VGA, basically saying that the majority of 1080p tvs have a VGA input and every one that does can therefore do 1080p via VGA, which is essentially the total opposite of reality and other such garbage. It's funny, I used ot really enjoy Major Nelson's podcasts, but now that I've kind of become more educated and so forth about everything I realize just how much of what comes out on those things are BS.


The Digital Bits is saying that The Animatrix will be standard def only - somewhat disappointing, yes, but my wallet thanks me.

I strongly advise most people to just pick up the trilogy, as all the extras are standard def and in the Ultimate set the discs are flippers. I don't mind flippers but I know it may drive some people nuts. Personally, I'll just be copying the bonus stuff on the discs I have now and selling the set to help pay for the trilogy set.

While I never really expect all the extras to be hi-def (then that sucker would have a rediculous amount of discs I'm sure), not having the Animatrix in hi-def will be slightly disapointing IMO as well. Especially considering I enjoyed it more than the last two films. Still, I suppose it helps me decide if I should wait it out for individual volumes to be released (plus I'm one of the people that is driven nuts by flippers), but alos this from a guy who doesn't pay all that much attention to extras on most DVDs (besides commentaries which I usually love).

[Ruined]

Wow I'm disappointed. I really thought with this set all extras would be in HD hence the need for flippers.

There are no such things as HD flippers (yet)

Right now we only have HD15/DVD9 and HD30/DVD9 flippers. Technically the SD extras should be playable in any DVD player.

[thrustbucket]

Wow I'm disappointed. I really thought with this set all extras would be in HD hence the need for flippers.

What if the extras weren't filmed in HD to begin with?

[Sporadic]

Good news for Matrix fans.

We're waiting to announce our final Pre-Order price on The Matrix sets but rest assured they will be no more than $69.99 for The Matrix Collection & $83.99 for The Ultimate Matrix Collection.

HDDVDWorld is usually on par with Amazon by about 5 dollars.

23ish per Matrix movie isn't that bad.

[GizmoGC]

April 1st - 7th at Circuit City...

****Get 4 Free HD-DVD Movies with purchase of the TOSHIBA HD-A2 Player // Player Price is Listed As $399.99

AND 5 Free ones from the Mail-Away coupon! Thats an HD Player and 9 fucking titles for $400!

[Sporadic]

Just purchased A Scanner Darkly, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Planet Earth: The Complete Collection, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, The Big Lebowski and Lost In Translation from HDDVDWorld for $172.24 shipped Priority.

The next 2 months is going to kick ass.

[GizmoGC]

Planet Earth looks amazing. Was this ever shown on Discovery channel?

[Sporadic]

Planet Earth looks amazing. Was this ever shown on Discovery channel?

The US version debuts tomorrow at 8 PM EST

[Ruined]

The Ultimate Matrix Collection (big box set)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONTFU/

MSRP is $119, Amazon has it for $84 shipped.

HDDISC10 10% promotion is not active yet, but you can order now to lock in the price and email customer support to inform them HDDISC10 was not applied and they will take off the 10% on top of it. Bringing the price down to $75 - a whopping $45 off MSRP!

Go get it!

[Sarang01]

Shit why can't I find deals like this on "Children Of Men" HD DVD, like near $20 because there's NO way I'm paying $30 for any new release domestically, even HD. It's a ripoff, plain and simple.

[thrustbucket]

Shit why can't I find deals like this on "Children Of Men" HD DVD, like near $20 because there's NO way I'm paying $30 for any new release domestically, even HD. It's a ripoff, plain and simple.

Google Checkout is your friend. I ordered Children of Men from buy.com for $18 shipped.

[Bezerker]

Does anyone know what all is on the South Park HD-DVD Best Buy is givin out with 360/HD-DVD purchases?

Someone posted something a while ago, cant seem to find much useful information.

[GizmoGC]

Does anyone know what all is on the South Park HD-DVD Best Buy is givin out with 360/HD-DVD purchases?

Someone posted something a while ago, cant seem to find much useful information.

Buy a 360 HD ADD-ON and get a free disc of that episode of South Park in both HD and SD (its a flipper). However, it will ring up free with any purchase, so just bring it up along with a game or a DVD. I already downloaded it for free and if I get a chance I will pick one of these up as well.

[GizmoGC]

Starting this Tuesday HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will have no titles released every single week. The drought for HD-DVD is now over and its gonna be VERY interesting to see the Amazon charts now that all those BR sales have dried up.

[FLSHADOW74]

Does anyone know what all is on the South Park HD-DVD Best Buy is givin out with 360/HD-DVD purchases?

Someone posted something a while ago, cant seem to find much useful information.

It's the episode of South Park that was offered free on Xbox Live a few
weeks back in HD. It was the episode where they purchase martial art
weapons from the flea market.

[KaneRobot]

A few notes, both of which involve things that will likely be overblown into "format future defining" no matter what the outcome is:

"Happy Feet" releases on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on 3/27. Lots of chatter about demographics is popping up here due to The Departed selling better on Blu-Ray. If "Happy Feet" sells better on HD-DVD, apparently it means a lot. Ok.

April 15th is "buy HD-DVDs day." Of course, Blu-Ray fans are saying they're just going to counter it by doing the same. If you want to partake, though, that's the day to do it.


I couldn't care less about any of that, but the good news is: drought is over. See? That wasn't so bad.

[Sporadic]

I'm watching Planet Earth right now on Discovery HD and this is shaping up to be the disc to have to show off your setup.

It's really unbelievable.

[asianxcore]

April 15th is "buy HD-DVDs day." Of course, Blu-Ray fans are saying they're just going to counter it by doing the same. If you want to partake, though, that's the day to do it.


Cool. I am a recent HD-DVD adopter, so there are a couple of old titles I need to pick up.

Does anyone here have Dune on HD? I've been wanting to pick it up but I'm curious about the overall PQ.

[GizmoGC]

A few notes, both of which involve things that will likely be overblown into "format future defining" no matter what the outcome is:

"Happy Feet" releases on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on 3/27. Lots of chatter about demographics is popping up here due to The Departed selling better on Blu-Ray. If "Happy Feet" sells better on HD-DVD, apparently it means a lot. Ok.


Keep in mind Happy Feat for HD-DVD is also a Combo title, and it features a better sound (I can never keep the difference straight).
Both versions are about equal in sales rank on Amazon, and the HD-DVD version is even $5 more.

[Bezerker]

Thanks flash & giz. Of course right after i turn on my 360 and connect to live, its staring me in the face "Get 'South Park: Good Times with Weapons' on HD-DVD @ Best Buy".

I've been holding off on my purchases lately. Just bought a car so im being very frugal about things. I'm hoping GCO does another $20 off $50 deal sometime around May 22nd. I think im gonna pass on the ultimate edition if the special features discs are the same quality as the ones I got a while back with the 10 disc boxset.

[KaneRobot]

Does anyone here have Dune on HD? I've been wanting to pick it up but I'm curious about the overall PQ.

If you like the movie, I've heard it's good. DVDtalk gave it the highest possible rating....although read the article - it's clear the author is a totally biased fanboy who has no intentions of giving it anything less than a perfect score. I'm not exaggerating, he says as much at the end of the review. For that same reason I don't reccomend that site's reviews anymore. Really unprofessional.

Regardless, the audio and video ratings on highdefdigest were respectable:

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dune1984.html

And it's ranked as a high "tier 2" for picture quality on avsforum.com, so fans would probably like it.



On to other stuff:

Happy Feet - is this a good cartoon film like Toy Story and The Incredibles, or derivative nonsense like Over The Hedge? The presence of Robin Williams doesn't fill me with hope. However, the fact that people are raving about the picture quality has me ready to pick it up as long as it isn't terrible. I'm probably going to get March of the Penguins since I'm sure that'll look fantastic, and I'm not sure if I want to pick up two freakin' penguin movies.

[guyver2077]

time to bring hd dvd back up!!

and i finally saw departed.. what a movie.. i wanna get it on hd dvd but its more $$$ and its a damn combo disc

[thrustbucket]

Does anyone here have Dune on HD? I've been wanting to pick it up but I'm curious about the overall PQ.

I have it. It looks really good for as old as it is. If you like the movie, it's worth getting.

[guyver2077]

wow so happy feet is a big deal? lol.. people are watching the sales numbers... supposedly if hd beats out br.. it would be a boost to get disney to go dual format...

[Sarang01]

wow so happy feet is a big deal? lol.. people are watching the sales numbers... supposedly if hd beats out br.. it would be a boost to get disney to go dual format...

Well it would basically send out the message the PS3 audience is only good for selling action movies. Look how well "Crank", "The Departed" and "Casino Royale" sold. Given this indication the Santa Clause movies and older Disney catalog movies won't sell shit on it.
edit: I can't think of much, if any, family titles that have hit HD DVD till now.

[Sporadic]

edit: I can't think of much, if any, family titles that have hit HD DVD till now.

The Polar Express
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Scooby-Doo
The Ant Bully
A Christmas Story
How The Grinch Stole Christmas

I still don't understand why Happy Feet is such a big deal.

We already had a head to head sales race with The Departed, which ended up being 20,000 (Blu-Ray) to 13,000 (HD-DVD)

That isn't bad at all for a more expensive combo disc.

[LinkinPrime]

So what's the cheapest price for HD-DVD Happy Feet?

EDIT: Amazon.com has it for $27.99 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Feet-Combo-DVD-Standard/dp/B000MQ54OO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174919738&sr=8-4

[guyver2077]

just noticed that matrix will be going up against apocalypto on 5/22

[LinkinPrime]

So what's the cheapest price for HD-DVD Happy Feet?

EDIT: Amazon.com has it for $27.99 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Feet-Combo-DVD-Standard/dp/B000MQ54OO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1174919738&sr=8-4

EDIT2:
Children of Men $27.99 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N6TX22/103-6371716-2374255

Smokin' Aces same price $27.99 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000NTPFK8/ref=pd_luc_mri/103-6371716-2374255?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[Sporadic]

EDIT2:
Children of Men $27.99 shipped
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N6TX22/103-6371716-2374255

Smokin' Aces same price $27.99 shipped:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000NTPFK8/ref=pd_luc_mri/103-6371716-2374255?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

If you plan on doing a bunch of preorders just use HDDVDWorld.com

They have free priority shipping for the rest of the month (discount code "HighDef") and mail out your order as it comes in at no additional price.

[GizmoGC]

just noticed that matrix will be going up against apocalypto on 5/22

...and Pirates of the Carribean 1 and 2

[LinkinPrime]

The reviews for Happy Feet are in.

HD-DVD version was reviewed with better sound than the Blu-Ray.

Warner has delivered an HD DVD release of truly fantastic quality -- the video and audio are simply superb. It's Dolby TrueHD track is also a notch above the Blu-ray, which doesn't enjoy the same high-resolution audio.

Blu-Ray Review (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/happyfeet.html) / HD-DVD Review (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/happyfeet.html)

[doubledown]

Are people EXCITED for Happy Feet? Wasn't it basically a propoganda film against Global Warming? (at least from what I heard).


Finally rented the Departed HD-DVD....good movie, good quality.

[guyver2077]

If you plan on doing a bunch of preorders just use HDDVDWorld.com

They have free priority shipping for the rest of the month (discount code "HighDef") and mail out your order as it comes in at no additional price.

i was looking into that place as well.. but i guess all the sales info used by the media comes from amazon

[KaneRobot]

I still don't understand why Happy Feet is such a big deal.

It isn't. It's just fuel for the flamewars, regardless of what side sells more...just like The Departed was.


Come on, NONE of you guys have seen Happy Feet? One of you must have a little sister or girlfriend who made you go see it.

[LinkinPrime]

Are people EXCITED for Happy Feet? Wasn't it basically a propoganda film against Global Warming? (at least from what I heard).
Personally i'm not excited, but its a good kid movie, thinking of picking it up on HD-DVD for my step-daugther and for me especially because of this:

'Happy Feet' is a case in point. It's a gorgeous-looking film, and for my money, Warner has delivered the finest transfer of an animated movie I've yet seen on HD DVD. Quite simply, this 1080p/VC-1 encode is flawless, and it's going to be the title I whip out as first-choice demo material when I want to show off how great animation can look in high-definition.

[Santurio]

It isn't. It's just fuel for the flamewars, regardless of what side sells more...just like The Departed was.


Come on, NONE of you guys have seen Happy Feet? One of you must have a little sister or girlfriend who made you go see it.
I saw it and liked it. It's not the greatest animated movie but it was very enjoyable. It seems a little crude with the stereotypes at times but I guess that's one of the points of the movie. I am buying it for my niece and nephews but would buy it just for Robin Williams as Ramon the latin penguin : "Let me tell sumthin to ju"

[thrustbucket]

I am of the belief that Monster House was the best animation last year. Oh well, if I can find happy feet for a good price I'll buy it just to help out HD DVD.

[Sporadic]

I just received The Adventures Of Robin Hood from Blockbuster.com and wow. It's mind blowing how well it looks for a movie that was made in 1938.

Although, I wish there was stretch the image to fill the screen like normal DVDs have.

[Sarang01]

When are we going to get "The Aviator" for crying out loud?!

[KaneRobot]

I just received The Adventures Of Robin Hood from Blockbuster.com and wow. It's mind blowing how well it looks for a movie that was made in 1938.

I'm tempted to check that out myself (along with Casablanca). I've heard good stuff about both of them.

[Bezerker]

Although, I wish there was stretch the image to fill the screen like normal DVDs have.
Watch out, those words seem to be blasphemy around here. I got bitched at when I said they should give the option to downgrade 2.35:1 to 1.78:1 so it takes up a widescreen.

For non-flippers. Best deal i could find for Happy Feet was $23.64 shipped after GCO @ DVDempire.

http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?userid=99365521792255&item_id=1288004

[Sporadic]

I'm tempted to check that out myself (along with Casablanca). I've heard good stuff about both of them.

If you are into older movies, you really can't go wrong with either one.

Plus that looney tune short in HD is unbelievably 8-)

Watch out, those words seem to be blasphemy around here. I got bitched at when I said they should give the option to downgrade 2.35:1 to 1.78:1 so it takes up a widescreen.

Fuck em.

Stretching (not pan and scan) a 4:3 picture doesn't hurt the image at all.

Downgrading though would cut off some of the picture.

[doubledown]

If you are into older movies, you really can't go wrong with either one.

Plus that looney tune short in HD is unbelievably 8-)



Fuck em.

Stretching (not pan and scan) a 4:3 picture doesn't hurt the image at all.

Downgrading though would cut off some of the picture.

That would make the picture appear "Stretched" ;) I don't mind though, as I watch normal broadcast TV stretched.

[LinkinPrime]

Watch out, those words seem to be blasphemy around here. I got bitched at when I said they should give the option to downgrade 2.35:1 to 1.78:1 so it takes up a widescreen.

For non-flippers. Best deal i could find for Happy Feet was $23.64 shipped after GCO @ DVDempire.

http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?userid=99365521792255&item_id=1288004

yeah but its free shipping after purchasing 3 titles...I guess Buy.com with GCO is not bad. $24.99 shipped

[KaneRobot]

Plus that looney tune short in HD is unbelievably 8-)
SHIT. I forgot about that. I need to watch it.

[LinkinPrime]

Now available for preorder at Amazon.com

HD DVD The Ultimate Matrix Collection (http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Matrix-Collection-HD-DVD/dp/B000OONTFU/ref=sr_1_2/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175009996&sr=8-2) $83.95 shipped

HD DVD The Complete Matrix Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Matrix-Trilogy-HD-DVD/dp/B000E1MTZE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175009996&sr=8-1) $69.95 shipped

[grendel19]

Now available for preorder at Amazon.com

HD DVD The Ultimate Matrix Collection (http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Matrix-Collection-HD-DVD/dp/B000OONTFU/ref=sr_1_2/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175009996&sr=8-2) $83.95 shipped

HD DVD The Complete Matrix Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Matrix-Trilogy-HD-DVD/dp/B000E1MTZE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6371716-2374255?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175009996&sr=8-1) $69.95 shippedHope the 10% discount apply to these. Did it apply to the Mission Impossible box set?

[LinkinPrime]

Could this mean good news for HD DVD?

'Me, Myself & Irene' represents the latest of Fox's winter line-up of Blu-ray catalog titles to be yanked from the schedule. The studio had previously announced a major shake-up (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Sony/CES/CES:_Casino_Royale,_MPEG-4_Support_Highlight_Sonys_Q1_Blu-ray_Plans/427) of its Blu-ray schedule, which saw the postponement of a number of high-anticipated hits, including 'The Fly (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/fly1986.html),' 'Turistas (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/turistas.html)' and 'Dude, Where's My Car? (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/dudewheresmycar.html)'
The studio then delayed (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Fox/Fox_Confirms_Mr._&_Mrs._Smith_Delay/516) two other major catalog releases, 'From Hell (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/fromhell.html)' and 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/mrandmrssmith.html),' earlier this month.
Now, aside from the already-released 'Eragon (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/eragon.html)' and the upcoming April 24 debut of 'Night at the Museum (http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/nightatthemuseum.html),' Fox's entire winter Blu-ray line-up has been wiped clean.


http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Fox_Bumps_Me,_Myself_&_Irene_from_Blu-ray_Slate/545

[KaneRobot]

No, but it is bad news for Blu-Ray.

[Sporadic]

I wish Fox would switch sides.

I need House in HD.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Dude, Where's My Car is considered a "highly anticipated hit"? That's news to me...

And while we on it what calendar are the studios using in which March and espeicaly April are considered "winter"?

[GizmoGC]

Dude, Where's My Car is considered a "highly anticipated hit"? That's news to me...

Apparently enough for Fox to become cheerleaders for the BDA about how awesome it is.

[Duo_Maxwell]

In other news I need some HD DVD suggestions. I'm cashing in the PRP on the A1 I bought from someone a little while ago for the A2 next week. The $100 drop will be nice to get back (especially considering I got the player for next to nothing in comparison) but I'm going to try and match the 4 free deal from CC (I used to work at this BB so hopefully that'll help my cause some).

Regardless of the boring backstory, I need suggestions on what to pick up as the 4 free. I've already decided on Fearless and Children of Men as I've wanted both for a bit, but the rest are harder to choose because I want to maximize the dollar value by getting new releases and/or combo releases only as they are typically the most costly to purchase. So long story short, anybody have any suggestions on this?


edit: the collection thus far to make things easier:

Batman Begins
Casablanca
Serenity
Troy
Mission Impossibles 1-3
Wolf Creek (came with the A1 player)
Apollo 13
Constantine (also came with it)
Pitch Black
Last Samurai (again, with it)

[Trakan]

Gah, they suspended my GCO account, so I need a deal on Children of Men. Is $28 on Amazon really the best deal?

[KaneRobot]

D_M - The Departed is a combo, get that one for sure (I don't know if you have a Blu-Ray player and already have it).


I'm sure this is posted elsewhere here, but another reminder that the $10 off $30 GCO deal is working on ecost.com, cduniverse.com, and bestprices.com through March 30. Unless you're Trakan, apparently.

Unfortunately the prices are pretty crappy to begin with, so it doesn't do much. Two or three bucks difference after shipping, usually.

[propeller_head]

Are people EXCITED for Happy Feet? Wasn't it basically a propoganda film against Global Warming? (at least from what I heard).


Finally rented the Departed HD-DVD....good movie, good quality.
no. it was a kids movie. and it encorported global warming/climate change. which is very very real despite what the uneducated know-nothing pompous asshats on talk radio say.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061116-happy-feet_2.html

[RedvsBlue]

no. it was a kids movie. and it encorported global warming/climate change. which is very very real despite what the uneducated know-nothing pompous asshats on talk radio say.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061116-happy-feet_2.html

Quoted for irony-goodness.

[thrustbucket]

Hey guys, apparently Google has started a new deal. The $10 off $30 is back, and you don't have to be a new customer to use it. You apparently are allowed to use it twice per account.

So far, though, the only DVD store that is doing this is cduniverse. You can get Serenity for like $13 now though, minus the $10 off it ends up being just over $5 (Of course, your total has to go over $30)

[asianxcore]

Hey guys, apparently Google has started a new deal. The $10 off $30 is back, and you don't have to be a new customer to use it. You apparently are allowed to use it twice per account.


Thanks for the heads up. Also thanks for answering my question about Dune. I picked up the movie tonight and it does look great for being 13 years old.

[KaneRobot]

Hey guys, apparently Google has started a new deal. The $10 off $30 is back, and you don't have to be a new customer to use it. You apparently are allowed to use it twice per account.

So far, though, the only DVD store that is doing this is cduniverse. You can get Serenity for like $13 now though, minus the $10 off it ends up being just over $5 (Of course, your total has to go over $30)
Oh come on! Not only did I beat you to it, but I listed more stores. SHEESH.

[Sporadic]

The 15 HD DVD titles (http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/2006/12/studio-canal-hd-dvd-titles-in-france.html) announced earlier by Studio Canal will now due at retail on May 21 instead of March 26 or March 5. The delay is possibly due to the need to press the discs with the latest/updated AACS layer for all 15 HD DVD titles released by Studio Canal. Studio Canal has indicated that the discs with the updated AACS layer will not affect playback on standalone HD DVD players such as Toshiba HD DVD players and Microsoft Xbox360 HD DVD add-on. Software HD DVD players bundled with HD DVD PC drives may need software updates/upgrades to playback those discs.

Warner Home Video (France) has announced Le Prestige (The Prestige) on HD DVD, June 6. The HD DVD will contain Dolby Digital-Plus audio tracks. The bonus materials are expected to be presented in high-definition. English [SDH], French, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Finnish, German [SDH] & Dutch subtitles are provided.

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

I'm glad to see the Studio Canal releases weren't canceled like previously rumored.

I need Terminator 2.

- edit Also "Breach" will be available for Pre-Order tomorrow at $27.99 on HD-DVD & $20.99 on DVD. It will be a HD-DVD Combo title from Universal and will street on 6/22.

[thrustbucket]

Oh come on! Not only did I beat you to it, but I listed more stores. SHEESH.

You did? I scrolled back 3 or 4 pages and can't find your post about it. Not saying you didn't, but if it's there, and I missed it, sorry.

[thrustbucket]

no. it was a kids movie. and it encorported global warming/climate change. which is very very real despite what the uneducated know-nothing pompous asshats on talk radio say.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061116-happy-feet_2.html

lol. now u done it....

Yeah no kidding global warming is real.
And since global warming has been proven to be taking place all over the solar system, like places like Mars..... We should start marking some kid-movies towards the Martian demographic so those fucking Martians don't grow up and drive SUV's! We need to make sure the guilt is spread on a solar-system-wide basis next. :roll:

This is why I rented Happy Feat from Blockbuster online. What I normally would have blind bought, I will only rent, because my friends (very liberal friends, mind you) warned me about how heavy handed it's multiple messages are. I just want to see the 5 star PQ.

[Sarang01]

Wow if "Breach" ends up $28 MSRP it should be like $23 at Amazon which I'd definitely buy it for. I'm proud Chris Cooper is from around the KC area, he's an excellent actor.

[asianxcore]

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/


I am anxiously awaiting the French release of Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups). Hopefully it will be the 2 1/2 hour director's cut. Also looking forward to getting a copy of The Prestige. Is there a good site for import HD-DVD reviews?

Also I heard that NTSC/PAL is no longer a problem now with HD-DVDs. Is that true? No PAL speed-up?

[thrustbucket]

I am anxiously awaiting the French release of Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte Des Loups). Hopefully it will be the 2 1/2 hour director's cut. Also looking forward to getting a copy of The Prestige. Is there a good site for import HD-DVD reviews?

Also I heard that NTSC/PAL is no longer a problem now with HD-DVDs. Is that true? No PAL speed-up?

That's true, it's not an issue with HD DVD's, all movies (almost all) are encoded at 1080p24 so it's the same on either PAL or NTSC. (At least I think that's why it's not an issue)

Xploitedcinema.com seems to be the most popular right now. It's located in Ohio, so what they have in stock,you can get in 2 days.

[edison]

That's true, it's not an issue with HD DVD's, all movies (almost all) are encoded at 1080p24 so it's the same on either PAL or NTSC. (At least I think that's why it's not an issue)


I don't think video wise there are any problems, but I thought some people over at AVS had reported some of the European imports audio tracks are higher pitched.


Just a note if you don't want to mess with GCO the local Wal-Mart had Children of Men for $26.98 which was strange because all the other combo disc are $29.98.

[asianxcore]

I don't think video wise there are any problems, but I thought some people over at AVS had reported some of the European imports audio tracks are higher pitched.


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=783777

is that what you were talking about? I was reading a lot of the posts on that topic and it's mixed. Some people are hearing the sound difference and some are saying that it sounds fine.

Seems like the problems are lying with Studio Canal releases though. Isn't "La Haine" a Studio Canal release? I haven't heard any problems about that particular films' audio yet.

I looked up a Basic Instinct HD-DVD review (on DVDreview.com), which took time to mention the sound problem. The writer described it as very minor and that the uproar wasn't necessary.

I am hoping this won't be a problem with Le Pacte De Loupe or any of the other imports I'm planning on ordering soon.

[propeller_head]

lol. now u done it....

Yeah no kidding global warming is real.
And since global warming has been proven to be taking place all over the solar system, like places like Mars..... We should start marking some kid-movies towards the Martian demographic so those fucking Martians don't grow up and drive SUV's! We need to make sure the guilt is spread on a solar-system-wide basis next. :roll:

This is why I rented Happy Feat from Blockbuster online. What I normally would have blind bought, I will only rent, because my friends (very liberal friends, mind you) warned me about how heavy handed it's multiple messages are. I just want to see the 5 star PQ.
geez, another fool who thinks its a fucking political issue. IS GRAVITY a political issue? its fucking science. do you understand the greenhouse effect? do you understand what persistant greenhouse gasses are? what feedback mecahnisms are? THAT MARS ISNT EVEN REMOTELY the same ecosystem? that the rotational tilt of the earth that would traditionally signal a slight increase in temp takes hundreds of millions of years, not decades. that the sun is in hydrostatic equilibrium it doesnt all of a sudden get hotter. that all this supposed evience against anthropogenic warming is pseudo-science fuded by special interest groups. the same ones that try to convince people its a political issue.

dont believe me? look
http://www.factcheck.org/article395.html

(you may remember factcheck from when dick cheney misquoted it during the VP debate w/ edwards (http://anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=20285))
if you go, for example, to FactCheck.com [sic ], an independent Web site sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, you can get the specific details with respect to Halliburton.
http://www.factcheck.org/article272.html
the very real fact of the matter is oil & coal are the 2 most profitable rackets in the history of the world, bar none. and some very very veeery rich motherfuckers who could care less what happens to anyone else as long as they get theirs before they kick the bucket are the ones who try to make it political. because when people are in a fervor about politics they lose the ability to think straight. why did they choose conservatives? because conservatives are always the ones afraid people are taking their shit away, in this case the right to consume as much as they want w/o feeling guilty.


some other reading you may be interested in

http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2006/05/doomsday_scenarios.php

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2006/04/a-correction-with-repercussions/#more-265

http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=2043

http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-55/iss-8/p30.html

http://web.mit.edu/erc/

http://www.greencarcongress.com

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/index.html

note: sorry for goin off topic to every1. but willful ignorance compounded by self-absorbed over-confidence is one of my pet peeves

[Sporadic]

That's true, it's not an issue with HD DVD's, all movies (almost all) are encoded at 1080p24 so it's the same on either PAL or NTSC. (At least I think that's why it's not an issue)

Xploitedcinema.com seems to be the most popular right now. It's located in Ohio, so what they have in stock,you can get in 2 days.

I used Xploitedcinema in the past and they are fantastic.

[GizmoGC]

I was going to buy 'The Graduate' on HD-DVD (import) but its been delayed till when the 'rumored' Blu-Ray version will be released. Looks like the BR version for me.

[GizmoGC]

The studios backing HD DVD including Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Paramount Home Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Genius Products, and Eagle Rock Entertainment today announced a massive lineup of 70 HD DVD titles expected in stores between now and July. Additional titles are expected to be announced individualy as studio production schedules are finalized.

Below is the complete list of 70 titles (excluding March titles already in stores) with newly announced titles in bold.
April

Good Shepherd (C) (day & date)
Smokin' Aces (C) (day & date)
Payback: Straight, The Director’s Cut
A Scanner Darkly
Dog Day Afternoon
School for Scoundrels
The Game
The Jerk
Feast
Freedom Writers (day & date)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Nutty Professor
Failure to Launch

May

The Ultimate Matrix Collection
The Complete Matrix Trilogy
Dreamgirls (day & date)
40-Year Old Virgin Unrated
Flags of Our Fathers: Special Collector’s Edition
The Hitcher (C) (day & date)
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible 2
Black Christmas (2006)
Harsh Times
The Battle of the Bulge
The Road Warrior
The Fountain
Smokey & the Bandit
Alpha Dog (C) (day & date)
The Skeleton Key
The River
Midnight Run
The Frighteners
Dragonheart
The Big Lebowski
Lost in Translation

June

Bruce Almighty
Liar Liar
Coming To America
Born on the 4th of July
Daylight
The Meaning of Life
Freedom: Vol.1
Yes Live in Montreux
Santana: Hymns for Peace
Deep Purple: They all Came Down to Montreux
Sneakers
Trading Places
Meet Joe Black
Being John Malkovich
Mystery Men
American Me
The Watcher
Bulletproof
Mallrats

July

Shaun of the Dead
Billy Madison
Cat in the Hat
The Untouchables
The Warriors
Dante’s Peak
The War
The Wedding Date
The Bourne Identity
In Good Company
Streets of Fire
Nutty Professor 2
Scent of a Woman
Darkman
Sea of Love
Deliver Us From Eva

[thrustbucket]

geez, another fool who thinks its a fucking political issue. IS GRAVITY a political issue?

Thanks for all that Al.
Unless inconvenient truth is an HD DVD, lets keep the propaganda on topic plz.

[propeller_head]

Thanks for all that Al.
Unless inconvenient truth is an HD DVD, lets keep the propaganda on topic plz. remember people were just talking about Happy Feet on HD-DVD. you're the 1 who started the b.s.

i take it you didnt read 1 sentence.

propaganda is intentional misleading lies for the aggregation of support & power usually for financial gain.

science is not proaganda. you sound like the church sarcastically procaliming Copericus' assertion that the unvierse doesnt revolve around the earth propaganda. or that the world wasnt flat.

"There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance"
~Socrates

"A point of view can be a dangerous luxury when substituted for insight and understanding."
~Marshall McLuhan

"I recognized that information was, in many respects, like a public good, and it was this insight that made it clear to me that it was unlikely that the private market would provide efficient resource allocations whenever information was endogenous."
~ Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz

"It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes... we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions - especially selfish ones."
~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
~Arthur Schopenhauer

"What a man believes upon grossly insufficient evidence is an index into his desires -- desires of which he himself is often unconscious. If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."
-Bertrand Russell

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
~Upton Sinclar

"You're slower than a herd of turtles stampeding through peanut butter."
~Dilbert:rofl:

[propeller_head]

The studios backing HD DVD including Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Paramount Home Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Genius Products, and Eagle Rock Entertainment today announced a massive lineup of 70 HD DVD titles expected in stores between now and July. Additional titles are expected to be announced individualy as studio production schedules are finalized.

Below is the complete list of 70 titles (excluding March titles already in stores) with newly announced titles in bold....

oooo new stuff for my collection :D

April

Dog Day Afternoon
The Game
The Jerk
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

May

The Ultimate Matrix Collection
40-Year Old Virgin Unrated
Flags of Our Fathers: Special Collector’s Edition
The Road Warrior
Smokey & the Bandit
The River
The Frighteners
The Big Lebowski
Lost in Translation

June

Bruce Almighty
Liar Liar
Coming To America
Santana: Hymns for Peace
Deep Purple: They all Came Down to Montreux
Sneakers
Trading Places
Being John Malkovich
Mallrats

July

Shaun of the Dead
Billy Madison
The Untouchables
The Warriors
Dante’s Peak
The Bourne Identity
Scent of a Woman
Darkman

[Bezerker]

Also for any anime fans. It looks like Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steamboy)'s "Freedom" will be the first series to be released on HD-DVD in America. Volume 1 comes out June 26th. Below is a synopsis:

In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilisation on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in hover-craft races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden's origin.


Sounds kinda iffy, but usually whatever Otomo touches turns out to be gold. His visuals look stunning on normal dvds, cant wait to see how they look in HD.

[KaneRobot]

Sweet. Chris Farley making out with a penguin in HD.

[doubledown]

Anyone watch Children of Men yet on the 360 HD-DVD. Reports are saying it does NOT play in the 360....just curious as I was going to rent it eventually from Blockbuster.com

[edison]

Anyone watch Children of Men yet on the 360 HD-DVD. Reports are saying it does NOT play in the 360....just curious as I was going to rent it eventually from Blockbuster.com


Mine is coming from Netflix and should be here this afternoon, I'll let you know tonight.

[ashram]

Mine is coming from Netflix and should be here this afternoon, I'll let you know tonight.

that would suck as i ordered a copy on monday and it should be here today or tomorrow....

quick edit:
just searched for any possible issues and it seems to be hit or miss
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=825971

[thrustbucket]

There are people that have played children of men just fine on the 360.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Anyone notice any reports of it not playing in a standalone player? Cuz it seems like issues with some of the discs they put out maybe instead, of the 360 add-on itself.

[asianxcore]

Anyone watch Children of Men yet on the 360 HD-DVD

I bought the movie yesterday and it works fine in the HD-DVD add-on.

[propeller_head]

Anyone watch Children of Men yet on the 360 HD-DVD. Reports are saying it does NOT play in the 360....just curious as I was going to rent it eventually from Blockbuster.com
plays fine on mine. maybe they just stuck too many dirty discs in there.

[anomynous]

Shaun of the Dead & The Warriors are going to be insane in HD

[Trakan]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=705387

They put Children of Men in Tier 0.

Goddamnit.

[RedvsBlue]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=705387

They put Children of Men in Tier 0.

Goddamnit.


Umm, isn't that good?

[Trakan]

Umm, isn't that good?

Yeah, my GCO got suspended though, so I'm going to have to pay full price, heh. Putting it in tier 0 makes it that much harder to say no.

I might wait til April 15th though.

[KaneRobot]

Yeah, my GCO got suspended though, so I'm going to have to pay full price, heh. Putting it in tier 0 makes it that much harder to say no.

I might wait til April 15th though.
Yeah, I guess I'm going to hold off on stuff until 4/15. I don't know why because that kind of stuff never accomplishes anything. I suppose I just want to BELONG.

Veering off course a bit, but how the heck do you get your GCO account suspended? Just using it too much or something?

[thrustbucket]

Yeah, my GCO got suspended though, so I'm going to have to pay full price, heh. Putting it in tier 0 makes it that much harder to say no.

I might wait til April 15th though.
I got mine suspended and just opened a new account using a different credit card and it worked.

[Trakan]

Yeah, I guess I'm going to hold off on stuff until 4/15. I don't know why because that kind of stuff never accomplishes anything. I suppose I just want to BELONG.

Veering off course a bit, but how the heck do you get your GCO account suspended? Just using it too much or something?

Yeah, I bought like 7 things with it.

[Sporadic]

Combo haters rejoice

In the first example of a studio "demoting" a combo release, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will re-issue 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' as stand-alone HD DVD titles this June.

Universal first released both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' last year as HD DVD/DVD combos, at the format's slightly higher $34.95 price tag. The studio is now discontinuing those versions from the market, and re-issuing both as $29.95 HD DVD-only versions on June 26.


Specs and features remain the same -- Universal is simply dropping the HD DVD side, with no other changes to the discs' content.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise, as only a couple of months ago, the studio was touting an aggressive release strategy that would see an estimated 90 percent of its entire HD DVD 2007 line-up go combo. However, in the past several weeks, the studio has announced its HD DVD release schedule all the way through July, and not a single catalog title is a combo.

Of Universal's 2007 titles announced thus far, only new release theatrical hits, including the recently-announced 'The Hitcher' and 'Alpha Dog,' are slated to be combos.

No word has come from Universal on just what the strategy is behind their seeming about-face on combos. Perhaps the lower price point on HD DVD-only catalog titles will prove more attractive to consumers, and help further drive sales? Certainly, with the news of Blu-ray's success with titles like 'Casino Royale,' which last week became the first next-gen title to ship over 100,000 copies, the battle for sales bragging rights is certainly more competitive than ever.

We'll keep you posted on any further Universal conversions of combo titles to HD DVD-only releases. We've also added new listings for both 'Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed' to our HD DVD Release Schedule, under June 26.

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Combo_Discs/Disc_Announcements/Universal_Goes_Non-Combo_with_Army_of_Darkness,__Unleashed_Reissues/553

[LinkinPrime]

Nice!

[thrustbucket]

For those that don't follow the HD/BD deals thread.... There is a hot sale right now buying straight from Warner for Warner HD DVD's. I picked up Planet Earth for $57 shipped. You can also get Matrix set for $57.

Use these codes:

WBNEWS Gives you 20% off
USFS Free Standard shipping will be applied to your order.
USD Gives you 10% off

Link (http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/browsesearchtitles.jsp?functionmode=1).

[Sporadic]

Of course a better deal pops up when I pay my preorders in full *smacks head*

[SteveMcQ]

For those that don't follow the HD/BD deals thread.... There is a hot sale right now buying straight from Warner for Warner HD DVD's. I picked up Planet Earth for $57 shipped. You can also get Matrix set for $57.

Use these codes:

WBNEWS Gives you 20% off
USFS Free Standard shipping will be applied to your order.
USD Gives you 10% off

Link (http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/browsesearchtitles.jsp?functionmode=1).Nice...are those stackable?

[Trakan]

Nice...are those stackable?

Just threw some shit in my cart and it stacked them.

[Sporadic]

Of course a better deal pops up when I pay my preorders in full *smacks head*

That didn't stop me from grabbing Bullitt, Training Day, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Unforgiven for $60.91 shipped.

I'm so weak.

[thrustbucket]

Nice...are those stackable?

Yes sir, they are.

[SteveMcQ]

Yes sir, they are.Thanks thrustbucket and Trakan.

[psychobrawler]

I watched Happy Feet last night from netflix. Wow... Just amazing PQ. The scene with the elephant seals is insane.

Now - what's the best deal on this disc?

*EDIT* - I just ordered this and Batman Begins using the WB Codes for $36 shipped. Thanks Thrust!!

[Sarang01]

For those that don't follow the HD/BD deals thread.... There is a hot sale right now buying straight from Warner for Warner HD DVD's. I picked up Planet Earth for $57 shipped. You can also get Matrix set for $57.

Use these codes:

WBNEWS Gives you 20% off
USFS Free Standard shipping will be applied to your order.
USD Gives you 10% off

Link (http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/browsesearchtitles.jsp?functionmode=1).

Please sign up with the newsletter to get the code.

I picked up "V For Vendetta", "Constantine", "Enter the Dragon" and "Casablanca".

[JDMxB]

Picked up Bullitt and Grand Prix via the WB sale...hope all these orders make them realize what kind of force HDDVD really is!

[GizmoGC]

Happy Feet HD DVD is $24.99 at Blockbuster stores. Same price for the Blu-Ray version as well.

[SteveMcQ]

Looking for another filler HD-DVD to do the CDUniverse GCO deal, so which of the Discovery Atlas discs are the best? Australia, Brazil, China or Brazil? I've only seen the China episode broadcast thus far.

[thrustbucket]

Looking for another filler HD-DVD to do the CDUniverse GCO deal, so which of the Discovery Atlas discs are the best? Australia, Brazil, China or Brazil? I've only seen the China episode broadcast thus far.

I own brazil and china. I think I like brazil a little more, but it mostly comes down to which culture/country you find more interesting.

BTW- If you are using a 360 add-on to play, as of now Australia and Italy don't work. They will be fixed in the upcoming patch though.

BTW, Amir said today that the patch is coming in weeks, not months. Hinting that it should be here within a month.

[asianxcore]

Good news about the re-release of Army of Darkness. I might pick that up.

I never understood the combo-disc thing. I'm obviously buying and HD-DVD for a hi-def transfer, why would I want a standard-def version of the movie? I guess it makes sense if you let someone borrow the movie, who doesn't have an HD-DVD player?

I blind bought "Slither" a couple days ago. Awesome movie. B-Movie tribute goodness.

[Chaz]

I was thankful for the standard def side a few weeks ago. Had Hollywoodland rented from Netflix and was watching it with some freinds on the 360 HD DVD drive. 3/4 of the way through it froze, and the player wouldn't recognize the HD side no matter what. We flipped it over to the standard side and finished watching.

Of course, the only discs the 360 has had trouble with have been the combo discs...

[propeller_head]

Good news about the re-release of Army of Darkness. I might pick that up.

I never understood the combo-disc thing. I'm obviously buying and HD-DVD for a hi-def transfer, why would I want a standard-def version of the movie? I guess it makes sense if you let someone borrow the movie, who doesn't have an HD-DVD player?

I blind bought "Slither" a couple days ago. Awesome movie. B-Movie tribute goodness.
its not for people who have HD-DVD players already. its for people who have DVD players and are waiting for the stand alone players to come down in price.

[Sporadic]

More good news for combo haters.

In the latest indication of a lessening of support for the controversial HD DVD/DVD combo format, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has reconfigured the planned April combo releases of 'The Jerk' and 'The Nutty Professor' to be HD DVD-only.

Eagle-eyed HD DVD fans first noticed the change late last week, when Amazon.com cancelled pre-orders of the two combo discs, only to re-list both titles under new SKUs, with updated specs and a new suggested retail price of $29.98 (down from $34.98).


This latest move by the Universal comes on the heels of news late last week that the studio is discontinuing two of its most popular combo catalogue releases ('Army of Darkness' and 'Unleashed') and instead re-issuing them as HD DVD-only editions.

Universal had been the most vocal supporter of the hybrid concept, going so far earlier this year as to pledge that 90% of its 2007 next-gen titles would be released in the hybrid format.

But while these recent moves and a quick glance at the specs on their other upcoming releases would appear to indicate that Universal is dropping the combo format on its catalogue titles altogether, the studio seems to still be embracing the hybrid concept for their day-and-date (with standard-def DVD) releases -- including such recently announced titles as 'The Hitcher' and 'Alpha Dog' -- most of which are still planned for combo disc release.

As always, we'll keep you posted on any further changes to Universal's combo plans, and in the meantime, we've updated the listings for 'The Jerk' (due April 17) and 'The Nutty Professor' (due April 24) in our HD DVD Release Schedule to reflect their new configurations. Watch for complete reviews of both titles as their release dates draw near.

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/High-Def_Disc_Marketing/Industry_Trends/Combo_Discs/Disc_Announcements/Jerk,_Nutty_Professor_Latest_Universal_Combo_Retoo lings/554

[doubledown]

It's good they are removing the combo discs...although, from what I read...Army of Darkness needs some work before they call it "HD" ;)

[KaneRobot]

^^^It's funny, I thought I heard the same thing, but looking at the Tier list it actually has a respectable showing. Not that the tier list is all-powerful, but I would have thought it would be low 3 or 4 range.

I may pick it up now that it's cheaper, but I don't know...I've bought Army of Darkness so many times on DVD already, and I KNOW they'll probably double or triple dip this one as well.

[ryanbph]

been looking forward to the good shepherd

[rsigley]

my children of men won't play on my 360

returned it to blockbuster and rented the in store copy and same thing :(

[LinkinPrime]

my children of men won't play on my 360

returned it to blockbuster and rented the in store copy and same thing :(

You're not alone: http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Microsoft/Xbox_360/Technical_Glitches/Children_of_Men_HD_DVD_Hits_Xbox_360_Playback_Snag/552

[rsigley]

You're not alone: http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Microsoft/Xbox_360/Technical_Glitches/Children_of_Men_HD_DVD_Hits_Xbox_360_Playback_Snag/552

yea i read it here too, sucks

i just hope its an isolated incident with this movie and not something that will keep happening

[asianxcore]

For those of you looking forward to "The Good Shepherd", it looks like it may have had the same problem Children of Men did.

http://dvd.themanroom.com/dvd-newsview.php?id=532

[rsigley]

apparently the new national geographic too

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=5264

where's the fix for this

[KaneRobot]

Mallrats is up for pre-order. Not exactly a showpiece disc, but the commentary is my favorite movie commentary of all time.

http://www.amazon.com/Mallrats-HD-DVD-Ben-Affleck/dp/B000OHZL2Q/ref=sr_1_70/103-2524667-9265443?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175626666&sr=1-70


This playback issue is strange to me, since it seems to only affect certain people. I do get the "reading, then nothing" result when I put in a disc once in a great while, but usually trying again and/or powering off then on fixes it. Haven't picked up CoM yet, but I may give it a shot.

If this is a massively widespread issue, they need to get the firmware update out NOW. If anything is going to kill the format in 2007, it won't be Blu-Ray, it'll be something like this.

[LinkinPrime]

You know, I think I'm the only one that buys movies on DVD and HD DVD and could care less about any extras or commentaries. I never watched any of them and I have about 100+ movies.

[Sarang01]

You know, I think I'm the only one that buys movies on DVD and HD DVD and could care less about any extras or commentaries. I never watched any of them and I have about 100+ movies.

You really should check out the extras on "Mallrats" CE, it's worth it.

[sonicbooom]

You know, I think I'm the only one that buys movies on DVD and HD DVD and could care less about any extras or commentaries. I never watched any of them and I have about 100+ movies.
I don't care about extras either. But I still buy the CE's, SE's, and whatever premium editions of movies.

[flybrione]

apparently the new national geographic too

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=5264

where's the fix for this

I ordered this and March of the Penguins and they are on the way to my house. I report back if I have the same issues.

[doubledown]

You know, I think I'm the only one that buys movies on DVD and HD DVD and could care less about any extras or commentaries. I never watched any of them and I have about 100+ movies.

I could care less about extras...unless it was a movie I REALLY liked. Commentaries just seem boring to me. I just find it to long to watch a movie again with people talking over it.

Some are ok though...Revenge of the Nerds extras were decent. I guess that is why I use Blockbuster.com for my movie needs now.

[thrustbucket]

I could care less about extras...unless it was a movie I REALLY liked. Commentaries just seem boring to me. I just find it to long to watch a movie again with people talking over it.

Some are ok though...Revenge of the Nerds extras were decent. I guess that is why I use Blockbuster.com for my movie needs now.

I think I said this before, but Poseiden was actually 2x better, for me, with IME turned on.

[oasisboy]

I am crapping my pants about this:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000OONTFU.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V24893794_.jpg

I read somewhere that the matrix HD is coming out first on HD-DVD and later on Blu-Ray?

Pre-order now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONTFU/panandscathed-20

[nharmon91]

old news buddy

[ashram]

I am crapping my pants about this:



I read somewhere that the matrix HD is coming out first on HD-DVD and later on Blu-Ray?

Pre-order now!!!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONTFU/panandscathed-20

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2768343&postcount=524
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2768343&postcount=531

we know, but it's a great reminder that the end of next month will rock!
and yes, hd dvd only until later this year.

[MSUHitman]

Thank you to Cheapy D and the mods for letting us talk about HD-DVD's in the 360 forum here on CAG. On the IGN Message Boards (which I pay for) they only let you talk about the HD-DVD drive itself; any mention of the actual movies gets the topic locked, because IGN has a seperate DVD forum.

If we complain about it, the mods tell us to post in the forum issues thread, and then our complaints are locked saying basically "that's the way it is and it won't change, too bad." The PS3 board there had all kinds of talk about Blu-Ray movies until we started to complain and now their Blu-Ray topics are locked as well.

Is The Good Shepard any good? I might get that on HD-DVD if it's a good movie and they aren't any problems with the disk (have $20 rewards certificate to CC right now.)

[Ruined]

BDA confirms fake forum accounts & blogs created to promote Blu-Ray - "Phase Hydra"

From a reliable industry insider:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10208851&&#post10208851

The BDA has formally kicked off a new PR campaign called "Phase Hydra"....its purpose is to seed "high profile" forums with Blu-ray advocates and target bloggers to promote Blu-ray to get the word out to the world...the campaign will also focus on "smaller, independent studio issues"...

Coming from Sony, the company that created fake movie reviewers to promote their theatrical releases as well as fake PSP users to promote the PSP for XMAS 2006 (iwantapspforxmas). Think CAG was targetted? :)

[anomynous]

BDA confirms fake forum accounts & blogs created to promote Blu-Ray - "Phase Hydra"

From a reliable industry insider:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10208851&&#post10208851



Coming from Sony, the company that created fake movie reviewers to promote their theatrical releases as well as fake PSP users to promote the PSP for XMAS 2006 (iwantapspforxmas). Think CAG was targetted? :)
:roll: :roll: oh please, people are allowed to like blu ray if they want to

[Ruined]

:roll: :roll: oh please, people are allowed to like blu ray if they want to

And some people liking it doesn't mean that many aren't being paid to prop it up with fake forum accounts and anecdotes as stated by the Blu-Ray Disc Association. :)

Many people liked the PSP yet that didn't stop Sony from trying to create more demand by releasing iwantapspforxmas YouTube videos with marketeers posing as consumers, appears they are using the same strategy with Blu-Ray but more stealthily.

[Santurio]

For those of you looking forward to "The Good Shepherd", it looks like it may have had the same problem Children of Men did.

http://dvd.themanroom.com/dvd-newsview.php?id=532
damnit. I have to try the copy I bought today and make sure it works. My CoM scared me the first time I played it because it would stutter every few seconds and really pissed me off. After some tinkering with it it played fine.

[thrustbucket]

BDA confirms fake forum accounts & blogs created to promote Blu-Ray - "Phase Hydra"

From a reliable industry insider:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10208851&&#post10208851



Coming from Sony, the company that created fake movie reviewers to promote their theatrical releases as well as fake PSP users to promote the PSP for XMAS 2006 (iwantapspforxmas). Think CAG was targetted? :)

I have been following this story intensely. Very spooky what's going on.

First, I posted a summary of what happened over at highdefdigest.com. One of the mods suddenly changed the subject and acted all upset that I used the word "witch hunt" and locked the thread (http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=5608) saying the thread had been derailed and was offensive. :hot:

Also, the alleged hacker who posted this information, posted a question on the insiders thread:
Originally Posted by amillians
To any BD insiders:

Is AVS Forum part of Phase Hydra? The Digital Bits? Engadet?

This question was deleted by the mods. But not before Amir was able to respond to it, and preserving it in his quote. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10210211&&#post10210211).

Amir's response was very interesting:
Damn, is there something you don't know Alex?

If we ever write a book on this whole story, we need to dedicate a chapter to you .

Wonder how many people will get what we are talking about....

Just a few minutes ago, in another thread, the hacker posted this (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10213112&&#post10213112):

I can't tell if some people think me guilty of making all this up or not, but I assure you, there is a "Phase Hydra" campaign underway...I can't verify what websites/forums/blogs are involved, though. And yes, I agree that the HD DVD PRG likely has a similar campaign, only smaller and relying on people with less bandwidth to post.

The BDA even has a picture of a hydra they are using to generate internal awareness at BDA events:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4651/httpwwwbluraydiscbm8.png

P.S. I never thought this little trifle would generate so much discussion--I kind of assumed we were already witness to this type of stuff and I was just verifying the name. I've only had two posts here deleted by the mods, the first being when I posted Warner's original HD DVD rollout schedule, and now this (my question in the Insider's thread was deleted, but the damage was already done). Spooky...

Spooky indeed.

[LinkinPrime]

Another reason why I just can't support Sony.

[rodeojones903]

Another reason why I just can't support Sony.

Because they have viral marketing? Sooooo many companies do this. You better sell off your 360 too then. :D


Anyway, anyone have any problems with Children of Men? I picked it up yesterday and when I stick it in my 360 HD-DVD drive I get a cannot read disc message.

Im taking it up to best buy to exchange it, but was just wondering if this happened to anyone else.

[LinkinPrime]

Because they have viral marketing? Sooooo many companies do this.

I just don't respect the way they do buisness, with these secret people in charge to post "nice" things about Sony products on tons of forums anywhere, its just playing dirty, trying to brainwash everyone by forcing down info and media down anyone's throats.

[oasisboy]

old news buddy

Not to me... its not like I have time to scroll through 30+ pages in this thread...

[thrustbucket]

Anyway, anyone have any problems with Children of Men? I picked it up yesterday and when I stick it in my 360 HD-DVD drive I get a cannot read disc message.

Im taking it up to best buy to exchange it, but was just wondering if this happened to anyone else.

It has. It's been posted in this and many other forums already. It seems to be a manufacturing problem. I had no problems at all with my copy. But chances are if you keep exchanging it you'll get a good copy.

[Santurio]

well, I tried my copy of The Good Shepherd and it won't read at all.

[Ph8te]

For those o fyou having trouble with the combo discs try boiling them in Hot water...I have seen a few posts elsewhere that this solves some of the problems. You dont want to leave it in there forever jsut a bi should do (so i read)..then let dry and try to play it.....I havent tried it yet but if my replacement CoM doesnt work and the GS that I have now doesnt work I am going to try it to see if it works.

[Ph8te]

Also for those of you that DONT know this already here is a list of release dates TY to HiDef Digest :)

April 03, 2007


The Good Shepherd (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/goodshepherd.html) (Universal) April 10, 2007


Dog Day Afternoon (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dogdayafternoon.html) (Warner)
Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/payback_dc.html) (Paramount)
A Scanner Darkly (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/scannerdarkly.html) (Warner) April 17, 2007


Feast (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/feast.html) (Weinstein)
The Game (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/game.html) (Universal)
The Jerk (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/jerk.html) (Universal)
School for Scoundrels (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/schoolforscoundrels.html) (Genius)
Smokin' Aces (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/smokinaces.html) (Universal) April 24, 2007


Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/eternalsunshineofthespotlessmind.html) (Universal)
Failure to Launch (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/failuretolaunch.html) (Paramount)
The Nutty Professor (1996) (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/nuttyprofessor1996.html) (Universal)
Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/planetearth.html) (BBC) May 01, 2007


Alpha Dog (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/alphadog.html) (Universal)
Dreamgirls (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dreamgirls.html) (DreamWorks)
The Hitcher (2007) (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/hitcher2007.html) (Universal) May 08, 2007


Battle of the Bulge (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/battleofthebulge.html) (Warner)
Black Christmas (2006) (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/blackchristmas2006.html) (Weinstein)
Harsh Times (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/harshtimes.html) (Weinstein)
The Road Warrior (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/roadwarrior.html) (Warner) May 15, 2007


The Fountain (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/fountain.html) (Warner) May 22, 2007


The 40-Year-Old Virgin (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/40yearoldvirgin.html) (Universal)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/matrix_ct.html) (Warner)
Flags of Our Fathers (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/flagsofourfathers.html) (DreamWorks)
Freedom Writers (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/freedomwriters.html) (Paramount)
The Hurricane (2000) (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/hurricane.html) (Universal)
Letters from Iwo Jima (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/lettersfromiwojima.html) (Warner)
M:I-2 (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/mi2.html) (Paramount)
Mission: Impossible (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/missionimpossible.html) (Paramount)
The Skeleton Key (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/skeletonkey.html) (Universal)
Smokey and the Bandit (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/smokeyandthebandit.html) (Universal)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/matrix_umc.html) (Warner) May 29, 2007


The Big Lebowski (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/biglebowski.html) (Universal)
Dragonheart (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/dragonheart.html) (Universal)
The Frighteners: Director's Cut (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/frighteners.html) (Universal)
Lost in Translation (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/lostintranslation.html) (Universal)
Midnight Run (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/midnightrun.html) (Universal)
The River (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/river.html) (Universal) June 05, 2007


Breach (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/breach.html) (Universal)
Coming to America (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/comingtoamerica.html) (Paramount)
Trading Places (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/tradingplaces.html) (Paramount) June 12, 2007


Born on the Fourth of July (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/bornonthefourthofjuly.html) (Universal)
Bruce Almighty (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/brucealmighty.html) (Universal)
Daylight (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/daylight.html) (Universal)
Liar Liar (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/liarliar.html) (Universal)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/montypythonsmeaningoflife.html) (Universal)
Sneakers (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/sneakers.html) (Universal) June 26, 2007


American Me (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/americanme.html) (Universal)
Army of Darkness (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/armyofdarkness_nc.html) (Universal)
Being John Malkovich (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/beingjohnmalkovich.html) (Universal)
Bulletproof (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/bulletproof.html) (Universal)
Freedom: Vol. 1 (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/freedomvol1.html) (Bandai Visual)
Hustle & Flow (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/hustleandflow.html) (Paramount)
Mallrats (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/mallrats.html) (Universal)
Meet Joe Black (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/meetjoeblack.html) (Universal)
Mystery Men (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/mysterymen.html) (Universal)
Unleashed (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/unleashed.html) (Universal)
The Watcher (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/watcher.html) (Universal) July 03, 2007


The Untouchables (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/untouchables.html) (Paramount)
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/warriorsudc.html) (Paramount) July 24, 2007


The Bourne Identity (http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/bourneidentity.html) (Universal) JUST LISTED!

[Ph8te]

Here is a list of available Pre Orders Thanks again to HiDef Digest


One Last Thing (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GFRIJ0/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GFRIIG/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
The War Within (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GFRIK4/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
Bubble (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GFRIHW/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
The Jerk (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NA6MMW/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $26.99 (ships 04/17/07)
The Nutty Professor (1996) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NA2TNS/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $26.99 (ships 04/24/07)
Freedom Writers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONQAS/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.99; Amazon: $35.99 (ships 05/22/07)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000E1MTZE/panandscathed-20)
List price: $99.95; Amazon: $69.99 (ships 05/22/07)
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONQBM/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 07/03/07)
The Untouchables (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONQBC/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 07/03/07)
Hustle & Flow (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONQB2/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OONTFU/panandscathed-20)
List price: $119.95; Amazon: $83.95 (ships 05/22/07)
Battle of the Bulge (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OIOS56/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.99; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/08/07)
Bruce Almighty (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL3K/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Liar Liar (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL30/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL2G/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Daylight (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL0S/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Sneakers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL1W/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Meet Joe Black (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL1C/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
Mystery Men (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL1M/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
Mallrats (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL2Q/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
The Watcher (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL12/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
Bulletproof (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL3A/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
Born on the Fourth of July (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL26/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/12/07)
Being John Malkovich (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL44/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
The Road Warrior (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OCZD60/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.99; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/08/07)
American Me (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OHZL3U/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/26/07)
M:I-2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O59AFM/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
Mission: Impossible (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O59AF2/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
Smokin' Aces (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NTPFK8/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $29.95 (ships 04/17/07)
The Fountain (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O77R6O/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $27.95 (ships 05/15/07)
Trading Places (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O59AH0/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/05/07)
Coming to America (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O59AGG/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 06/05/07)
Dreamgirls (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179HW/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $27.95 (ships 05/01/07)
Flags of Our Fathers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O77QDI/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $27.95 (ships 05/22/07)
The River (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179EU/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
Dragonheart (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179F4/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
Midnight Run (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179E0/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
The Big Lebowski (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179EK/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
Lost in Translation (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179FE/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
The Frighteners: Director's Cut (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O179EA/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/29/07)
Harsh Times (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000N3AXP6/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $21.99 (ships 05/08/07)
The Skeleton Key (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NVL1YA/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
The Hurricane (2000) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NVL1XQ/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
Feast (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000N3AXPG/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $22.95 (ships 04/17/07)
Smokey and the Bandit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NVL1Y0/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
School for Scoundrels (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000K2UH74/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $22.95 (ships 04/17/07)
The Hitcher (2007) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NQQ4LK/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $27.95 (ships 05/01/07)
Galaxina (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GUJF2S/panandscathed-20)
List price: $24.98; Amazon: $17.45 (click for ship date)
Dog Day Afternoon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NOKJFE/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/10/07)
A Scanner Darkly (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NOKJFO/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/10/07)
Alpha Dog (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NO39G0/panandscathed-20)
List price: $39.95; Amazon: $27.95 (ships 05/01/07)
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NHG7CK/panandscathed-20)
List price: $28.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 05/22/07)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000N3SSBM/panandscathed-20)
List price: $34.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/24/07)
HDScape: HD DVD Sampler (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IU4DPK/panandscathed-20)
List price: $6.95; Amazon: $4.85 (click for ship date)
Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MRAAJW/panandscathed-20)
List price: $99.98; Amazon: $69.95 (ships 04/24/07)
Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MTFFUY/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.99; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/10/07)
The Game (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MTFDCO/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.98; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/17/07)
Failure to Launch (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000K7UG3Y/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (ships 04/24/07)
Digital Video Essentials (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IHYY3Y/panandscathed-20)
List price: $34.95; Amazon: $23.95 (click for ship date)
HDScape: Fireplace - Visions of Tranquility (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ICM6LG/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
HDScape: Visions of the Sea (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ICM6LQ/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship date)
HDScape: Antarctica Dreaming (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ICM6L6/panandscathed-20)
List price: $29.95; Amazon: $19.95 (click for ship

[Ph8te]

Also, the Warner sale is still going on BUT you can only use 2 codes at once...If you order more then 60$ it MAY give you free shipping if not then all you need to do is call the 18xx number and the CS will help you out...

http://whv.warnerbros.com/

Codes
WBNEWS=20% off
USD=10% off
USFS= Free standard shipping

Remember you can use WBNEWS and (USD OR USFS) only 2 are stackable

There are some problems with the CS email and the mycheckout pages but dont worry the site is legit and they are shipping the titles.


List of some of thier HD DVDs

http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/browsesearchtitles.jsp?functionmode=11&formatType=HD-DVD

there are more available but you have to use different search requirements.

[rsigley]

looks like may i'll be buying too many movies

alpha dog
hitcher
black xmas
harsh times
fountain
matrix trilogy
iwo jima


deja vu and apocalypto on blu ray

my poor bank account :(

[guyver2077]

i was suprised this morning to see my scanner darkly shipped from warner

[ashram]

i was suprised this morning to see my scanner darkly shipped from warner

just checked... mine also shipped (on the 3rd) with a delivery date of the 9th... what's funny is that i also ordered 2 other hd dvd's and all 3 shipped the same day... in 2 different packages...

[guyver2077]

wow.. thats awesome service then... it should get here before the 10th then...

i was going to cancel it too since i didnt want to wait till may 22

did they use usps?

[Sporadic]

wow.. thats awesome service then... it should get here before the 10th then...

did they use usps?

You should have gotten a tracking number with your email.

My order was mailed out UPS.

[ashram]

wow.. thats awesome service then... it should get here before the 10th then...

i was going to cancel it too since i didnt want to wait till may 22

did they use usps?

the tracking number is UPS'.... not bad for free shipping, multiple %'s off and having it in hand a day before release.

[guyver2077]

damn ups is kinda gay.. i always miss their shipments

[ashram]

damn ups is kinda gay.. i always miss their shipments
so do i, but the local processing center is literally down the street and to the right for me.... so i will have mine on the 9th....

[KaneRobot]

BDA confirms fake forum accounts & blogs created to promote Blu-Ray - "Phase Hydra"

From a reliable industry insider:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10208851&&#post10208851
This doesn't surprise me at all. I've been extremely wary of the AVS forums over the past several months, as not a day or two goes by where someone doesn't post a variant of "HD-DVD is dying?" when it has been talked about constantly why it's not going anywhere. When someone calls them out on it, they get all defensive saying "What, I'm just wondering because there are no good movies coming out! I want to know if there is anything good coming!" or some other nonsense answer. Not saying those are all BDA employees, but it becomes painfully obvious that SOMETHING is going on when you get the same shit week in and week out.

Think CAG was targetted? :)
They'd probably be outed pretty quickly, since this thread/area of the forums has been pretty much format war-free. Besides that, this doesn't seem like a very high profile site in regards to HD-DVD/Blu-Ray stuff.

[Sporadic]

Looks like Japan is getting Band Of Brothers before us.

'Band of Brothers' Arriving On HD DVD in Japan, July 27

Toshiba Entertainment Inc. has announced that the HD DVD release of Tom Hanks' and Steven Spielberg's Band of Brothers will arrive in Japan on July 27.

The entire series which was originally produced with high definition TVs in mind and consist of 10 parts will released in 5 volumes. Each HD DVD (HD-30 disc) will contain one volume of the series, comprising of 2 parts. The 5 volumes are expected to be sold seperately, with each volume being priced at 3,990 Yen. The main feature on each disc will be presented in 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.78:1 with Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English & Japanese voiceover) audio. Only Japanese subtitles are provided. All discs will contain the following as bonus materials:
- Preview trailer of the next few parts (Japanese edition)
- Interactive "Field Guide" featuring timelines, maps, profiles and other information
- Staff & Cast Profile

Documentary We Stand Alone Together (80 mins.) will be available only on the Vol. 5 HD DVD disc.

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

Bad news for any would-be importers though. The total cost of all 5 volumes would be $167.85 not including importer markup and shipping.

[Deadpool]

Also, the Warner sale is still going on BUT you can only use 2 codes at once...If you order more then 60$ it MAY give you free shipping if not then all you need to do is call the 18xx number and the CS will help you out...

http://whv.warnerbros.com/

Codes
WBNEWS=20% off
USD=10% off
USFS= Free standard shipping

Remember you can use WBNEWS and (USD OR USFS) only 2 are stackable

There are some problems with the CS email and the mycheckout pages but dont worry the site is legit and they are shipping the titles.


List of some of thier HD DVDs

http://whv.warnerbros.com/WHVPORTAL/Portal/browsesearchtitles.jsp?functionmode=11&formatType=HD-DVD

there are more available but you have to use different search requirements.

Thank you thank you thank you! You just saved me $27! :applause:

[KaneRobot]

I love Band of Brothers, but I'm kind of torn - I almost think it would look worse in HD....it's obvious that the look of that show is not necessarily meant to be all sharp and clear looking.

Still tempting though.

[Transformah]

Just picked up Complete Matrix Trilogy, Scanner Darkly and Letters from Iwo Jima from the WB site.

[oasisboy]

Does the ultimate Matrix HD-DVD set contain the Animatrix??? It seems that it will not be included but I need some clarification...

[RedvsBlue]

Does the ultimate Matrix HD-DVD set contain the Animatrix??? It seems that it will not be included but I need some clarification...

Yeah I'm pretty sure I read that its on there but not in HD.

[KaneRobot]

^^^^Correct.

I bought March of the Penguins and Matrix Trilogy from the WB site.

[oasisboy]

Thanks for the info. I am defenitely in for Ultimate Matrix. My final question is, where is the cheapest place to pre-order it? Amazon.com seems to be the best deal at the moment ($83.95 shipped)

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Matrix-Collection-HD-DVD/dp/B000OONTFU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3217703-4984042?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175900253&sr=8-1

[KaneRobot]

Thanks for the info. I am defenitely in for Ultimate Matrix. My final question is, where is the cheapest place to pre-order it? Amazon.com seems to be the best deal at the moment ($83.95 shipped)

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Matrix-Collection-HD-DVD/dp/B000OONTFU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3217703-4984042?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1175900253&sr=8-1

It's back just one page. Post 698. That's going to be the best deal you're going to get on just about any Warner HD DVD for the time being.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2808499&postcount=698

[oasisboy]

It's back just one page. Post 698. That's going to be the best deal you're going to get on just about any Warner HD DVD for the time being.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2808499&postcount=698

Thanks! Just ordered it for $73.40 shipped!!! This is a deal considering that it retails for $119.99 :D

[Sporadic]

Which movie should I blind buy?

The Fountain or Breach?

I love Darren Aronofsky's past work but there is something about Breach that really makes me want to watch it.

[Sporadic]

Oh and the Fountain apparently got a new cover.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4576/7a9e569a1d38c897c12f00enu8.jpg

[guyver2077]

fukking combos

[thrustbucket]

Which movie should I blind buy?

The Fountain or Breach?

I love Darren Aronofsky's past work but there is something about Breach that really makes me want to watch it.

I saw both. The Breach is interesting, but has absolutely no action. It's just a drama.

The fountain I saw with like 10 other people and they all hated it. But I actually liked it. It's very different, and very strange. Quite a trip.

I'd choose the fountain out of those two for a blind buy.

[Sarang01]

I'm wishing "The Fountain" would be $20 but there's no way Warner would be smart enough to Weinstein.

[guyver2077]

got my scanner darkly and payback today...

[RedvsBlue]

I can't wait for Smokin' Aces next week.

[guyver2077]

I can't wait for Smokin' Aces next week.

id prob be more pumped for it if it wasnt a combo disk..

[RedvsBlue]

id prob be more pumped for it if it wasnt a combo disk..

Fuckin' A, thanks for letting me know...

Oh well, it'll be worth it.

[ashram]

got my scanner darkly and payback today...

my scanner darkly came in today as well....

also, am i the only one that doesn't mind a combo disc?

[Santurio]

my scanner darkly came in today as well....

also, am i the only one that doesn't mind a combo disc?
I actually really like them. I just wish the price was a little lower but I like them either way.

[Chaz]

I wouldn't mind combo discs if they actually worked. I've tried three different movies that were combo discs, and the HD side on each of them screwed up in the middle of the movie. At this point, I won't buy any combo discs at all, and I'm even hesitant to rent them from Netflix knowing that there's a good chance they won't play all the way through.

[thrustbucket]

I wouldn't mind combo discs if they actually worked. I've tried three different movies that were combo discs, and the HD side on each of them screwed up in the middle of the movie. At this point, I won't buy any combo discs at all, and I'm even hesitant to rent them from Netflix knowing that there's a good chance they won't play all the way through.

I don't think the fact that it is a combo disc is causing the problems you are having, it's Universal's production line having issues. I'd be surprised if one of the combos you had problems with was a Warner.

I don't mind combos either. I just don't think they should cost more. According to Amir, upcoming Universal combos won't cost more any longer.

[tenzor]

I don't think the fact that it is a combo disc is causing the problems you are having, it's Universal's production line having issues. I'd be surprised if one of the combos you had problems with was a Warner.

I don't mind combos either. I just don't think they should cost more. According to Amir, upcoming Universal combos won't cost more any longer.
i don't mind combos also, but if they have to cost more it should only be like $5 bucks not $10-15 dollars.

[SteveMcQ]

I want art on the discs themselves, so I'm really disliking the combos.

Scanner Darkly owners: how's the extras look content-wise? I don't know anything about the movie and when I do buy movies like that, the extras (or lack thereof) sway me one way or another.

[thrustbucket]

I want art on the discs themselves, so I'm really disliking the combos.


Your discs spend a lot of time outside of their cases and players? Or do you just have some kind of special vanity moment on the way from the case to the player?

[Sporadic]

I want art on the discs themselves, so I'm really disliking the combos.

Scanner Darkly owners: how's the extras look content-wise? I don't know anything about the movie and when I do buy movies like that, the extras (or lack thereof) sway me one way or another.

They are the same extras on the standard dvd which means there isn't alot.

-----------

So, I finally pulled the trigger with the google checkout 10 off deal. Dog Day Afternoon for $11.89 is mighty nice.

How many times can you do it before Google starts laying the hammer down? Twice with one credit card? Or do they go by the name?

[SteveMcQ]

Your discs spend a lot of time outside of their cases and players? Or do you just have some kind of special vanity moment on the way from the case to the player?I'm trying to cut back on my vanity actually. Having that extra shiny side available leads me to hours upon hours of just staring at my reflection in the disc. Sometimes I completely forget there's a movie stored in there and I just stare admiringly at myself.;)

It's just another surface that can get scratched. I subscribe to the philosophy that I bought an HD-DVD player to watch HD content. Having the SD content at a premium of another $10 or so seems far too wasteful when I already have the same content on the other side of the disc, albeit at a far superior quality.

[Bezerker]

So, I finally pulled the trigger with the google checkout 10 off deal. Dog Day Afternoon for $11.89 is mighty nice.

How many times can you do it before Google starts laying the hammer down? Twice with one credit card? Or do they go by the name?
Ive placed over 40 orders with 6 credit cards, only one has been 'banned' because I slipped up and did two orders with the same card at the same time. The method that seems to work for staying under the radar is to wait until the item ships before using that credit card again. Ive used the same name and address on all the orders, so my only guess would be that they look for repetitveness in a credit card number (but even that would be stupid as waiting until the item ships only takes 2 or 3 days).

I really want to get A Scanner Darkly, but im in mega-saver mode after buying a car. Even $12 shipped seems like a lot (well, i know its not, but theres a hell of a lot of stuff I want to buy, $12 adds up when you have a wishlist of 30+ dvds). I think im gonna start playing the lotto.

[Chaz]

I don't think the fact that it is a combo disc is causing the problems you are having, it's Universal's production line having issues. I'd be surprised if one of the combos you had problems with was a Warner.

I don't mind combos either. I just don't think they should cost more. According to Amir, upcoming Universal combos won't cost more any longer.

I know it's Universal's production issues. However, the production issues seem to be tied to the combo discs, because we're not seeing these kinds of problems with any of the other Universal HD-only discs. If they can get the production issues sorted, and drop the costs to normal levels, I won't have any problem with them. I really have no problem with any disc, as long as it works. When there's a consistent problem with particular discs, or types of discs, not working as they're supposed to, then I have a problem with them.

[KaneRobot]

I played it safe and "rented" Scanner on the XBL Marketplace. It was ok, but I wouldn't buy it. The overacting was annoying and the movie was confusing. Yeah, I get that Slater* is flipping out because he thinks there are bugs on him, but he still looked ridiculous. Same for Robert Downey Jr.

It had a "double swerve" element sort of like the Departed, but it was done in a way that was too muddled to be enjoyable.

Your opinion may vary.



*His name isn't Slater, but that's who he was in Dazed and Confused, so that's his name as far as I'm concerned.

[thrustbucket]

Scanner Darkly got a 5 star PQ review on High def digest btw. And dog day afternoon got 4. Amazing for a 30 year old movie.

[Sporadic]

Scanner Darkly got a 5 star PQ review on High def digest btw. And dog day afternoon got 4. Amazing for a 30 year old movie.

You want to talk amazing, rent Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938).

It will blow your mind.

[guyver2077]

crap they delayed harsh times until june....there really isnt much im looking forward to now except matrix.

and i totally hate the combo disks now.. at first i thought they were cool but in the end of the day i will never use the dvd side and it keeps the price of the discs up which make it harder to find good deals. Add in no disc art and you have to see why the combo disk must die..

[LinkinPrime]

I was watching Jurassic Park on DVD last night and man, I haven't seen that movie in a couple years fucking good ass film. Need this trilogy on HD-DVD now!!!

[Sporadic]

I really wish Paramount would stop dragging there feet and dive into the next generation.

I want the Indiana Jones trilogy so bad.

[RedvsBlue]

I really wish Paramount would stop dragging there feet and dive into the next generation.

I want the Indiana Jones trilogy so bad.

That's not Paramount dragging their feet, that's Lucas. He's very next-gen video format wary and has unfortunately passed that on to his best bud Steven Spielberg. Hence the reason we won't be seeing Jurassic Park in high def anytime soon.

[Ruined]

And now, for a brief news break :)


HD DVD Takes Lead in Europe
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18013123/

FINANCIAL TIMES/FT.COM: Aficionados of European cinema who would like to watch films such as Roberto Benigni's award-winning The Tiger and the Snow in high definition, may, for the time being at least, have to buy a HD-DVD player rather than a Blu-Ray Disc machine.

A number of European independent film studios and DVD production companies are opting for Toshiba's HD-DVD format over the rival Sony technology, thanks to a strong support programme by the HD-DVD camp and concerns over the price of Blu-Ray technology.


Samsung goes neutral: BD-UP5000 Hybrid HD DVD/Blu-Ray combo player revealed
http://www.stor-age.com/dongtai/xinpin/htm2007/0704041220IY.asp

Plays HD DVD, Blu-Ray, and upscaled DVD
Supports 720p/1080i/1080p for both formats
HDMI 1.3
Meets specs of both formats, Full HDi/BD-J support
Faroujda DCDi Processing
Release Summer 2007
~$699-$899 depending on relative pricing of BD-P1200 at release (hybrid unit will be ~$100-$200 more)


DVDTown: Say NO to Blu-Ray
http://www.dvdtown.com/news/dontgettheblues-saynotoblu-ray/4407

Toshiba has been good in issuing firmware updates for their players to make sure they are compatible with future HD-DVD releases. You might believe this is the case with Blu-ray as well, but no. Recent comments from the Blu-ray camp indicate that they have yet to complete final specifications for the interactive component called Blu-ray Disc JAVA (BD JAVA). What this means is that when the specifications are finally decided upon in late October, 2007, one's Blu-ray player bought before that date may not play parts of future Blu-ray releases. Imagine the confusion in a store trying to figure out if one's machine will play a specific extra.

HD-DVD knew the importance of a strong set of features from the get-go, and they had their mandatory features ready from the start. They made sure that every HD-DVD player had an Internet connection (which is not required by Blu-ray), allowing easy updates of the player and opening up exciting on-line features that we will see on HD-DVD releases this fall. Their interactive layer, called HDi, has also been in place from day one, and we have already seen it in various releases. "Batman Begins" and "Miami Vice," for example, showcase picture-in-picture and the possibility to make one's own scene-selection menus. Warner Bros. recognized the current limitation in Blu-ray technology and decided not to release titles with interactive features on Blu-ray before they knew what to develop for. These titles include things like "Batman Begins," "Poseidon," "Troy," and the upcoming "Matrix" box sets, which are HD-DVD exclusive for now.

I must draw a conclusion from all this: Don't buy Blu-ray. Not before the Blu-ray camp have finalized the format's specifications. Not before the manufacturer will GUARANTEE 100% compatibility with future Blu-ray releases. If you don't want to buy HD-DVD, either, that's fine. Wait. Enjoy regular, standard-definition DVDs. For now, however, the only safe and sensible HD choice is HD-DVD.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled CAGing! ;)

[LinkinPrime]

Thanks Ruined. Good to hear positive news on the HD DVD side.

[ryanbph]

very good news, considering the pro blue ray news we have been hearing lately

[KaneRobot]

Interesting news on Europe up there, especially considering how the PS3's sales have absolutely TANKED since their strong first week.

The Samsung news is what I expect to see from pretty much every hardware manufacturer eventually, although this is even sooner than I would have thought. Hopefully others follow suit so we can make the format "war" less relevant sooner than later.

FWIW (not much), don't forget that the 15th is the "buy HD DVDs from Amazon" thing.

[doubledown]

What is this AMAZON thing you speak of?

[Duo_Maxwell]

Samsung initially announced those plans many, many months ago, in fact IIRC they announced their R&D plans for a hybrid player before LG even did (here's to hoping theirs is more effective too). There was some talk out there that they canceled those plans (a early BDA quote spun to propoganda mostly from unreliable blogs and forums), but many also said that was out of context and it obviously was. The fact that they are going neutral is a poorly based or at best an outdated one, as they they have been researching the HD DVD for over a year now and almost since the start of the little format war.

Also, while I agree with the basis for the DVDTown article, it screams of some bias. Not to mention the PS3, which like it or not, I consider a Bd player and the highest selling one that regularly gets several firmware updates anyhow and is the one thing Sony may have actually "future-proofed" somewhat well. Plus HD still has some stuff I'd like to seen cleaned up. Not so much with HDi, but especially the trouble with Universal's U-Control garb and their Combo discs, which despite a couple firmware updates for both the Toshiba players I've owned (an A1 then an A2) they can't seem to get them running smoothly. Not exactly Toshiba's fault, but seeing as how Toshiba at least owns a bit of the HD DVD license fees I'm sure they could lean on them to get their act together. And I could be alone there in that thought, but I don't want to get it into on this thread, we'll leave that for the war thread.

What is this AMAZON thing you speak of?

It's basically a day to try to make HD-DVD seemingly have more support. A good idea IMO, though I think it's just buy HD-DVD day, I only buy Amazon if I can't find a better price as I'm not a big fan of Amazon (which is tough sometimes because their HD prices are hard to beat).