DVD/Box Set Discussion

[AgentPat]

Someone will have to point me in the direction of the DVD thread because it's not coming up in my search.

But hey, FWIW, there's a 500+ post thread already started on the topic here:
http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=158453

 

[triplet]

You know, this article might explain why WB Home Video has held off on releasing the earlier Smallville seasons in the two HD formats...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080105/ap_on_hi_te/dueling_dvd_formats

Warner Bros. picks Blu-ray over HD-DVD

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

Warner Bros. Entertainment said Friday it will release movie discs only in the Blu-ray format, becoming the latest studio to reject the rival HD DVD technology and further complicating the high-definition landscape for consumers.

Warner Bros., owned by Time Warner Inc., was the only remaining studio releasing high-definition DVDs in both formats.

It is the fifth studio to back Blu-ray, developed by Sony Corp. Only two support the HD DVD format, developed by Toshiba Corp.

Both formats deliver crisp, clear high-definition pictures and sound. But they are incompatible with each other, and neither plays on older DVD players, which means consumers seeking top-quality playback face a dilemma.

Warner said it decided to go with Blu-ray because consumers have shown a stronger preference for that format than HD DVD.

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger," Warner Bros. chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.

"We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers and, most importantly, consumers," the statement said.

The company said sales of Blu-ray discs in the U.S. generated $169 million last year, while sales of discs in the HD DVD format totaled $103 million.

About 60 percent of Warner's sales of U.S. high-definition discs were Blu-ray titles and the other 40 percent were HD DVD, said Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

Outside the U.S., the divide was far wider, with Warner's Blu-ray discs outselling titles in HD DVD in Britain and Japan, among other markets, Tsujihara said.

Sales of set-top high-definition disc players in the fourth quarter of 2007 also factored into Warner's decision.

The company saw an acceleration in sales of Blu-ray players at the end of the quarter, particularly in December, Tsujihara said.

"We always viewed set-tops as the most significant indicator" of consumers' format preference, he said.

Still, one alarming trend Warner keyed on was that consumers didn't appear motivated by price reductions on high-definition disc players.

"When we saw that was not impacting sales in the level that it should have, and the consumer research that we did indicated that the consumers were holding back from buying either one of the two formats ... we thought it was the right time to act," Tsujihara said, noting that even sales of standard DVDs were affected because consumers appeared unsure over which format to go with.

"That was kind of the worst of all worlds for us," he said.

There are some differences between the formats. Blu-ray discs can hold more data — 50 gigabytes compared with HD DVD's 30 GB — but the technology's new manufacturing techniques boosted initial costs.

HD DVDs, on the other hand, are essentially DVDs on steroids, meaning movie studios can turn to existing assembly lines to produce them in mass.

Warner Home Video will continue to release new titles in HD DVD until the end of May.

Pali Capital analyst Rich Greenfield said in a Web posting Friday that he expects the HD DVD format to "die a quick death, versus a prolonged format war."

"While we still expect overall consumer spending on DVDs to decline at least 3 percent in 2008, the risk of an even worse 2008 DVD environment has most likely been avoided by Warner's early 2008 decision," Greenfield wrote.

The North American HD DVD Promotional Group Inc., a trade association that promotes the HD DVD format, did not have an immediate comment Friday.

Calls to representatives for Toshiba, Sony and the Blu-ray Disc Association were not immediately returned.

Studios and retailers have been choosing sides in the high-def format war in recent months.

Blu-ray got a big boost in June when Blockbuster Inc. announced it would stock only Blu-ray titles as it expands its high-definition offerings.

Target Inc., the nation's second-largest retailer, decided in July to sell only Blu-ray DVD players.

Among the other major studios that have decided to go with Blu-ray: The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Viacom's Paramount Pictures, which also owns DreamWorks SKG, dropped its support for Blu-ray and said it would start distributing films exclusively in the HD DVD format.

Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric, also releases films only in HD DVD.

Time Warner shares slipped 42 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $15.91 Friday.

___

On the Net:

Time Warner: http://www.timewarner.com/corp/

Blu-ray Disc Association: http://www.blu-raydisc.com/bluray_site.htm

North American HD DVD Promotional Group Inc.: http://www.TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com

 

[AgentPat]

Oh, WOW! Warners went Blu-ray. I was wondering when that chip would fall. Wow.

Well, there it is. I've been waiting to see which format would come out on top, and it looks like it'll be Blu-ray. Was kinda hoping it'd be HD, but that's okay. I haven't bought anything yet, so it didn't really matter.

 

[Cmill216]

I got the Season 6 set for Christmas (leaflet and all).

It's still a terrific season of the show, IMO. Not the greatest on the story arc front, but nearly every episode brings the goods in some way.

 

[AgentPat]

I got the Season 6 set for Christmas (leaflet and all).

It's still a terrific season of the show, IMO. Not the greatest on the story arc front, but nearly every episode brings the goods in some way.

Oh, I love the S6 box set - and I think S6 was the worst season. It's still SV, so I love it anyway.

<- always a fan

 

[Cmill216]

Oh, I love the S6 box set - and I think S6 was the worst season. It's still SV, so I love it anyway.

<- always a fan

It was neat to watch this season straight through. Many episodes that I really really didn't like in their original airings (with commercials and a "build up" between each one) I found myself enjoying so much more on the DVD. "Prototype" comes to mind on that front. The Oliver arc still shines, Clark had a good slew of Supermanly moments, and I really liked Aaron's Jimmy.

I also managed to pick up that other hero show.

And, let it be known, I digged that a million times more than I was expecting.

 

[AgentPat]

It was neat to watch this season straight through. Many episodes that I really really didn't like in their original airings (with commercials and a "build up" between each one) I found myself enjoying so much more on the DVD. "Prototype" comes to mind on that front. The Oliver arc still shines, Clark had a good slew of Supermanly moments, and I really liked Aaron's Jimmy.

Yeah, no doubt. SV tends to get better as it ages. Go figure?

I also managed to pick up that other hero show.

And, let it be known, I digged that a million times more than I was expecting.

You mean Heroes? Eh. I watched the first half of the first season and then got bored with it. Too many characters, which isn't a bad thing, but with Heroes, there were only a few that I actually liked. No biggie.

 

[Cmill216]

You mean Heroes? Eh. I watched the first half of the first season and then got bored with it. Too many characters, which isn't a bad thing, but with Heroes, there were only a few that I actually liked. No biggie.

I felt the exact same way when it first aired. I just couldn't get into it at all; too dry, took itself too seriously, too many characters.

But watching it on DVD alleviates 99% of its problems. It doesn't have nearly the same heart as SV, but I can definitely see why it gets the amount of hype and attention it gets. It's really well put together, plenty of twists and turns. Great entertainment.

 

[Serene]

Oh, WOW! Warners went Blu-ray. I was wondering when that chip would fall. Wow.

Well, there it is. I've been waiting to see which format would come out on top, and it looks like it'll be Blu-ray. Was kinda hoping it'd be HD, but that's okay. I haven't bought anything yet, so it didn't really matter.

Great. I just bought an HD-DVD player.

Oh well, at least it was fairly inexpensive. I figured I"d just buy the blu-ray player at some point too until this stupid war was over.

(For some reason I cant use my apostrophe key without the "quick find" window opening on the bottom. Damn ghosts in the machine. )

 

[avidreader]

Great. I just bought an HD-DVD player.

Oh well, at least it was fairly inexpensive. I figured I"d just buy the blu-ray player at some point too until this stupid war was over.

(For some reason I cant use my apostrophe key without the "quick find" window opening on the bottom. Damn ghosts in the machine. )

Yeah, I think we'll be getting one of each. If you time it right, you can get them for about $130.00.

And I thought the market was waiting to see what Walmart was doing, it being the biggest retailer, and a report I saw recently suggested that Walmart was going with HD.

 

[bullets]

I walked into a walmart and it was carrying dvd's for both blue ray and hd-dvd.

 

[Sam Fisher]

I felt the exact same way when it first aired. I just couldn't get into it at all; too dry, took itself too seriously, too many characters.

But watching it on DVD alleviates 99% of its problems. It doesn't have nearly the same heart as SV, but I can definitely see why it gets the amount of hype and attention it gets. It's really well put together, plenty of twists and turns. Great entertainment.

Agreed

 

[Serene]

But watching it on DVD alleviates 99% of its problems. It doesn't have nearly the same heart as SV, but I can definitely see why it gets the amount of hype and attention it gets. It's really well put together, plenty of twists and turns. Great entertainment.

I agree, but I did get into it when it first started. It wasn't until later in the season that it started losing me. And the second season didn't do anything for me at all! *yawn*

But, yeah...some aspects of it are really impressive. I like the chances they take with their characters. But the heart just wasn't there enough to make me want to come back week after week. Perhaps I'll try it again on DVD's one day.

 

[Venom160]

so has there been any news on a Season 7 dvd release yet?

 

[triplet]

so has there been any news on a Season 7 dvd release yet?

Seems like Craig heard something:

http://www.kryptonsite.com/rumorville.htm

Season 7 DVD News!
UPDATED 4-11-08

Here's something unconfirmed by the studio, which is why we're keeping it on Rumorville for now...

After a Season 6 DVD set lacking in the commentary department, we are hearing that the Season 7 set will have "at least 1 or 2 commentary tracks." No details beyond that are available, except that actors AND crew will be involved.

If we hear any more about this, we'll share... (and if anyone from Smallville is reading and wants to tell us more info, feel free!)

Smallville: The Complete Seventh Season should be hitting stores in September, prior to the launch of Season 8.

God, I hope he means Tom.

Tom is directing what seems like will be a key episode for Clark and for him as a director in addition to it being the 150th so he should be front and center doing commentary on one so important.

 

[04nbod]

has tom done a commentary before for smallville? (i haven't listened to any but the one on the pilot)

 

[Cmill216]

I know he did commentaries for "Red" and "Rosetta".

 

[04nbod]

I got season 6 today. I think i've told you all how expensive the DVDs are in the UK but i got a bargain off amazon. Anyway am i the only one thinking that the CW just want to knock them out cheap? the slim cases are ugly as hell compared to the fold out sets of the early seasons and the menus aren't animated anymore! I can also see why people are upset at the special features, unless you like green arrow there is really nothing there for you. The documentary is very cool though and i hope we get something similar for kara this year.(I'm not holding my breath though)

 

[triplet]

With our luck, it doesn't mean Tom... He doesn't any since the second season DVD set.

 

[Captivated]

With our luck, it doesn't mean Tom... He doesn't any since the second season DVD set.

I know he did commentaries for "Red" and "Rosetta".

Tom has done a commentary!? I've listened to ALL the commentaries on all seasons (DVD's) and Tom didn't do ANY on the ones I have...

 

[Cmill216]

Tom has done a commentary!? I've listened to ALL the commentaries on all seasons (DVD's) and Tom didn't do ANY on the ones I have...

You sure? He did two commentaries on the Season 2 set with Michael.

 

[triplet]

Tom has done a commentary!? I've listened to ALL the commentaries on all seasons (DVD's) and Tom didn't do ANY on the ones I have...

Well, they were sneaky... There were two sets of commentary for those episosdes, Al/Miles and Beeman/Tom/Michael...

To get to the ones with Tom and Michael, there's like a more button in that menu where you see the Al/Miles commentaries...

That help?

 

[SamuraiSon6]

seasons 1-6 are on sale at walmart right now for $19.99 each, just thought everybody who doesn't have em yet might wanna know

 

[jr24tw]

Tom has done a commentary!? I've listened to ALL the commentaries on all seasons (DVD's) and Tom didn't do ANY on the ones I have...

He was in the Red and Rosetta commentary for sure. With Michael and KRISTIN (using caps because everyone seemed to have forgotten her, figures) and the directors for those episodes.

 

[04nbod]

With our luck, it doesn't mean Tom... He doesn't any since the second season DVD set.

i hope justin hartley does one for siren, he seems like the type of guy who would be up for it. Maybe Tom doing one for Bizarro talking about playing two parts and Laura doing one for 'Kara'.