The Format War

[KALEL114]

http://www.dvdrama.com/news.php?20746&page=1

Finally Fox is stepping up! Now if we can get some US release dates.

Fox Announces 22 for France
Posted June 21, 2007 by Josh

These days, any Blu-ray news from Fox is good news, but when you start seeing release dates for some of the titles Fox delayed many months ago, you're heart starts to beat just a little bit faster. New releases for September 26th: 'Day After Tomorrow', 'Independence Day', and 'Platoon'. New releases for October 24th: 'Predator', 'Commando', 'Robocop', 'Arthur and the Invisibles', 'The Hills Have Eyes', 'Ice Age', and 'Tristan & Isolde'.

Also being released those two days, are titles which have already been released in other regions, as well as the French films 'Renaissance', 'Les Choristes', and 'Ne Le Dis A Personne'. For some specs and cover art, click on the source below.

No official word when or if these titles will make it to other countries, but expect an announcement sooner than later.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=274

 

[Timstuff]

Independence Day and Predator will be must-buys for me. I might pick up Ice Age since there aren't really any other good animated movies out on BR yet.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Independence Day and Predator will be must-buys for me. I might pick up Ice Age since there aren't really any other good animated movies out on BR yet.

Except any CGI-animated movie that is not Shrek or a Pixar movie sucks ass.

I really do wish that Dreamworks Animation will go under someday and stop producing so much damn crap.

 

[BatMatt]

I think Bee movie has potential

 

[Zenien]

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ques...2407/index.php

Week: 64 BD:36 HD DVD
YTD: 67 BD:33 HD DVD
SI: 59 BD: 41 HD DVD

Top 10 titles:
Ghost Rider BD 100.00
Planet Earth 26.72
Breach 21.19
Apocalypto 13.69
POTC: Dead Man's Chest 13.60
Planet Earth 13.12
POTC: Black Pearl 11.34
Casino Royale 10.05
Blood Diamond 6.71
Primeval 6.69

 

[Zenien]

http://www.digitimes.com/displays/a20070621PB205.html

Cheap Blu Ray players coming in the fall apparently.


Some new releases

From Dimension Home Video
To Be Released This Fall on Blu-ray Disc

SCARY MOVIE
BADDER SANTA: THE UNRATED VERSION

BURBANK, Calif., June 22, 2007 -- Dimension Home Video will release the hilarious comedy
Scary Movie starring Marlon and Shawn Wayans on Blu-ray Disc October 23 and Badder Santa: The Unrated Version starring Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton (Best Adapted Screenplay, Sling Blade, 1996) and Golden Globe nominated actress Lauren Graham available on Blu-ray Disc November 20, 2007.

SCARY MOVIE BLU-RAY DISC

Scary Movie, the hilarious, must-see comedy smash places Carmen Electra (TV's Battlebots), Marlon Wayans (Senseless) and some of today's hottest young stars in a wickedly funny send-up of today's most popular horror movies! A familiar-looking group of teenagers find themselves being stalked by a more-than-vaguely recognizable masked killer! As the victims begin to pile up and the laughs pile on, none of your favorite scary movies escape the razor-sharp satire of this outrageously funny parody! There's nothing to fear in this scary movie ... unless you're afraid of laughing too much.

Blu-ray Disc bonus materials include Movie Showcase, plus most of the original DVD bonus materials including Additional Scenes, a Behind the Scenes featurette and the Theatrical Trailer.

STREET DATE: October 23, 2007
Direct prebook: September 11, 2007
Distributor prebook: August 28, 2007
Suggested retail price: $29.99 U.S.
Feature run time: 88 Minutes
Rated: Rated R for strong crude sexual humor, language, drug use and violence.
Encoding: AVC
Resolution: 1080p

BADDER SANTA: THE UNRATED VERSION BLU-RAY DISC

Badder Santa: The Unrated Version lets Hollywood favorites Billy Bob Thornton (The Alamo) and Bernie Mac (MR. 3000) kick it up a notch in this unrated version of the outrageous comedy hit
BAD SANTA. You'd better watch out -- Santa Claus Willie T. Stokes (Thornton) is coming to town and he doesn't care if you've been naughty or nice. Willie's favorite holiday tradition is to fill his sacks with loot lifted from shopping malls across the country. But this year his plot gets derailed by a wise-cracking store detective (Mac), a sexy bartender, and a kid who's convinced Willie is the real Santa Claus! You're sure to believe in Badder Santa: The Unrated Version -- once you experience this longer, funnier, and more explicit motion picture!

Blu-ray Disc bonus materials include Movie Showcase, plus all the original DVD bonus materials including Deleted and Alternate Scenes, a Behind the Scenes special and Gag Reel and Outtakes.

STREET DATE: November 20, 2007
Direct prebook: September 25, 2007
Distributor prebook: October 9, 2007
Suggested retail price: $29.99 U.S.
Feature run time: 98 Minutes
Rated: Rated R for pervasive language, strong sexual content and some violence.
Encoding: AVC
Resolution: 1080p

Dimension Home Video is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry and the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista DVD, Blu-ray Disc and electronic distribution product. Buena Vista Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.

Exoptron Limited Announces Blu-ray Exclusivity

Posted June 19, 2007 by Josh

Blu-ray Disc Exoptron Limited has announced that they will begin releasing titles exclusively for Blu-ray. The company has available three HD Documentary titles ready to be released during the last quarter of 2007. The titles are 'The Valley of Roses', 'Bacchanals in Modern Times' and 'Spirulina the Astronauts Nutrition'. An Additional title - 'Olive Oil & Med Diet' a 3 hour HD documentary will be released by the end of February 2008.

Link: http://www.exoptron.com

 

[Zenien]

Here's the uber release list for June 26th, this is going to be an awesome week for sales numbers.

HD DVD

American Me (Universal)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (Universal)
Being John Malkovich (Universal)
The Big Lebowski (Universal)
Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
Bulletproof (Universal)
Dead Silence (Universal)
Freedom: 1 (Bandai Visual)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)
Mallrats (Universal)
Meet Joe Black (Universal)
Mystery Men (Universal)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (Universal)
The Watcher (Universal)


Blu-ray Disc

Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)

 

[imdaly]

Time to update the release list:

June 26, 2007
- American Me (Universal)
- Army of Darkness (Non-Combo Re-Issue) (Universal)
- Being John Malkovich (Universal)
- The Big Lebowski (Universal)
- Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
- Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
- Bulletproof (Universal)
- Dead Silence (Universal)
- Freedom: Vol. 1 (Bandai Visual)
- Hustle and Flow (Paramount)
- Hustle and Flow (Paramount)
- Mallrats (Universal)
- Meet Joe Black (Universal)
- Mystery Men (Universal)
- Unleashed (Non-Combo Re-Issue) (Universal)
- The Watcher (Universal)

July 3, 2007
- Blood Diamond (WB)
- Flatliners (Sony)
- The Patriot: Extended Cut (Sony)
- Untouchables (Paramount)
- Untouchables (Paramount)
- The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (Paramount)
- The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (Paramount)

July 10, 2007
- Billy Madison (Universal)
- Dante's Peak (Universal)
- IMAX: Blue Planet (WB)
- IMAX: Blue Planet (WB)
- The War (Universal)
- The Wedding Date (Universal)

July 17, 2007
- Fifth Element (Remastered) (Sony)
- Premonition (Sony)
- Waiting... (Lionsgate)
- Wild Things (Sony)

July 24, 2007
- The Bourne Identity (Universal)
- The Contract (First Look)
- Deep Purple: Live at Montreux 2006 (Rhino)
- The Host (Magnolia)
- The Host (Magnolia)
- In Good Company (Universal)
- The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps (Universal)
- Out for Justice (WB)
- Out for Justice (WB)
- Purple Rain (WB)
- Purple Rain (WB)
- Santana: Hymns for Peace - Live at Montreux 2004 (Rhino)
- Scent of a Woman (Universal)
- Streets of Fire (Universal)
- Weeds: Season Two (Lionsgate)
- Yes: Live at Montreux (Rhino)

July 31, 2007
- 300 (WB)
- 300 (WB)
- Darkman (Universal)
- Hot Fuzz (Universal)
- IMAX: Roving Mars (Disney)
- Sea of Love (Universal)
- Shaun of the Dead (Universal)
- Shooter (Paramount)
- Shooter (Paramount)

August 7, 2007
- Are We Done Yet? (Sony)
- Arlington Road (Sony)
- Disturbia (Paramount)
- Disturbia (Paramount)
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony)
- TMNT (WB)
- TMNT (WB)

August 14, 2007
- Bell Witch: The Movie (Big River)
- Bell Witch: The Movie (Big River)
- Doctor Strange (Lionsgate)
- Erin Brockovich (Universal)
- The Lookout (Disney)
- Meet the Fockers (Universal)
- Mercury Rising (Universal)
- Vacancy (Sony)
- What Dreams May Come (Universal)
- Wild Hogs (Disney)

August 21, 2007
- Immortal Lover (Sony)
- National Lampoon's Van Wilder (Lionsgate)
- Perfect Stranger (Sony)

August 28, 2007
- Blades of Glory (Paramount)
- Blades of Glory (Paramount)
- Dawn of the Dead (Univeral)
- Heroes: Season One (Universal)
- The Hurricane (Universal)
- Notting Hill (Universal)

September 4, 2007
- Nip/Tuck: Season Four (WB)
- Nip/Tuck: Season Four (WB)
- Remember the Titans: Director's Cut (Disney)

September 11, 2007
- Face/Off (Paramount)
- Face/Off (Paramount)

September 18, 2007
- Deliverance (WB)
- Deliverance (WB)
- Elizabeth (Universal)
- Flashdance (Paramount)
- Flashdance (Paramount)
- Jailhouse Rock (WB)
- Jailhouse Rock (WB)
- Saturday Night Fever (Paramount)
- Saturday Night Fever (Paramount)
- Viva Las Vegas (WB)
- Viva Las Vegas (WB)
- We Are Marshall (WB)
- We Are Marshall (WB)
- Zodiac (Paramount)
- Zodiac (Paramount)

Septermber 25, 2007
- Jack Ryan Collection (Paramount)
- Jack Ryan Collection (Paramount)

October 2, 2007
- Top Gun (Paramount)
- Top Gun (Paramount)

October 23, 2007
- Meet the Robinsons (Disney)
- Scary Movie (Disney)

November 20, 2007
- Badder Santa: Unrated (Disney)
- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (Disney)


Broken down by which companies are releasing titles we have the following:

Big River - 1
Disney - 8
Fox - 0
Lionsgate - 4
Magnolia - 1
Paramount - 13
Sony - 11
WB - 10
Total - 48
Total Blu-ray Exclusives - 23

Bandai Visual - 1
Big River - 1
First Look - 1
Magnolia - 1
Paramount - 13
Rhino - 3
Universal - 33
WB - 11
Weinstein - 0
Total - 61
Total HD DVD Exclusives - 38

 

[Zenien]

So Imdaly any projections for the sales ratios come June 26, 2007?

 

[imdaly]

Nope.

 

[Addendum]

Just wondering if anyone in this thread has a financial stake in either format.

Financial stake meaning more than just a Blu-ray player or HD-DVD player

 

[imdaly]

Just wondering if anyone in this thread has a financial stake in either format.

Financial stake meaning more than just a Blu-ray player or HD-DVD player

Lol. I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that that's a question for me but asked to everyone so you don't sound accusing


Either way, for me, the only ties I have to either format are that I own an XBOX 360 HD DVD drive, the Toshiba HD-A2 player, 40 HD DVDs, and 17 HD DVDs ordered, and I work at a Circuit City.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Universal is going all out in trying to save the HD-DVD format.

 

[BatMatt]

Unfortunately I don't see too many of their releases as heavy hitters, one's that would turn the format war tide

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Unfortunately I don't see too many of their releases as heavy hitters, one's that would turn the format war tide

Yeah. The only exclusives that I want to see are Darkman and The Bourne Identity. Goddamn Universal is the only real thorn in Blu-ray's side.

 

[XtromaniaK]

You all suck. The Big Lebowksi? Bourne Identity? Mallrats?

Those are all quality films.

 

[Zenien]

- Army of Darkness (Non-Combo Re-Issue) (Universal)
- Hot Fuzz (Universal)
- The Bourne Identity (Universal)

These not being on Blu Ray wound me.

For Blu Ray I'll be picking up

- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony)
- Fifth Element (Remastered) (Sony)
- Disturbia (Paramount) (if I'm in the mood)

 

[imdaly]

Doctor Strange (Lionsgate)


That's the only title on the announced list that I wish I could have on HD DVD.



But just to make sure I'm not just saying I only want one title to make Blu-ray sound bad, there's other titles I'd like to have on HD DVD that are on Blu-ray right now:


Hellboy
Pirates: COTBP
Pirates: DMC
Deja Vu
Ultimate Avengers Collection
American Psycho
X-Men 3
Momento
RV (just kidding haha)
Punisher

 

[imdaly]

- Army of Darkness (Non-Combo Re-Issue) (Universal)
- Hot Fuzz (Universal)
- The Bourne Identity (Universal)

These not being on Blu Ray wound me.

For Blu Ray I'll be picking up

- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Sony)
- Fifth Element (Remastered) (Sony)
- Disturbia (Paramount) (if I'm in the mood)

Do you happen to have the first Blu-ray release of "Fifth Element" by any chance? I'm sure you probably know this, but just in case you don't, Sony's offering a free replacement of the old disc for the new one if you have it.

Btw...what titles do you or anyone else here have so far? All this talk about the two formats and nobody ever talks about their collections.

 

[Timstuff]

I have:

The Fifth Element (guess that means I get a free copy of the new one )
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Mission: Impossible III
The Prestige
Talladega Nights (PS3 promotional edition)
The Fugitive

I'm hoping to snag a copy of Hellboy in the near future, and I've asked for both Pirates movies for my birthday.

 

[imdaly]

I have:

The Fifth Element (guess that means I get a free copy of the new one )
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Mission: Impossible III
The Prestige
Talladega Nights (PS3 promotional edition)
The Fugitive

I'm hoping to snag a copy of Hellboy in the near future, and I've asked for both Pirates movies for my birthday.

Here's the link to the info you'll need for the replacement program for "Fifth Element"

And btw, here's my list of HD DVDs I have so far, which ones I have ordered, and which ones I'll buy once the pre-orders are up:

Owned
1. Alpha Dog
2. Ant Bully
3. Babel
4. Batman Begins
5. Bourne Supremacy
6. Breach
7. Bruce Almighty
8. Casablanca
9. Chicago / Earth Wind & Fire - Live at the Greek Theatre
10. Children of Men
11. Constantine
12. Corpse Bride
13. The Departed
14. Dreamgirls
15. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
16. Forty-Year Old Virgin
17. The Fountain
18. Good Shepherd
19. Happy Feet
20. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (UK Import)
21. Hulk
22. King Kong
23. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
24. Liar Liar
25. Matrix (Ultimate Matrix Trilogy)
26. Matrix Reloaded (Ultimate Matrix Trilogy)
27. Matrix Revolutions (Ultimate Matrix Trilogy)
28. Mission Impossible (Ultimate Missions Collection)
29. Mission Impossible II (Ultimate Missions Collection)
30. Mission Impossible III (Ultimate Missions Collection)
31. Monty Python's The Meaning of Life
32. Phantom of the Opera
33. Planet Earth: The Complete Series
34. Poseidon
35. The Prestige (UK Import)
36. Pulse
37. Scanner Darkly
38. Smokin' Aces
39. Training Day
40. V For Vendetta

Ordered
41. Billy Madison
42. Blades of Glory
43. Blood Diamond
44. Bourne Identity
45. Chronicles of Riddick
46. Dead Silence
47. Dukes of Hazzard
48. Face/Off
49. Heroes: Season 1
50. Hot Fuzz
51. Laura Croft: Tomb Raider
52. Meet The Fockers
53. The Perfect Storm
54. The Rundown
55. Serenity
56. Shaun of the Dead
57. What Dreams May Come

Waiting To Be Able To Order
58. 300
59. TMNT
60. Zodiac

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

You all suck. The Big Lebowksi? Bourne Identity? Mallrats?

Those are all quality films.

Yeah I love the Big Lebowski but it is not exactly a priority to see on Blu-ray.

 

[BatMatt]

I still only have:
The Prestige
Casino Royale
Rocky Balboa
Planet Earth

Next Blu-Ray will be 300

 

[KALEL114]

I just started out but:
Casino Royale
Pirates: COTBP
Pirates: DMC
Ghost Rider (Don't ask me why)

 

[TheBat812]

I just started out but:
Casino Royale
Pirates: COTBP
Pirates: DMC
Ghost Rider (Don't ask me why)

OH GOD WHY?!


but seriously.... WHY?!