The Format War

[imdaly]

The advertising group who did some on Sony's PS3 commercials will be doing some Blu Ray commercials?

I don't know who's doing it, but it just reminds me a whole lot of the PS3 commercials: lots of random crap happening with seemingly nothing to do with the product they're supposed to be advertising followed by the logo.

 

[Zenien]

Well the week of the HD-DVD landslide releases came to pass and I'm pretty suprised by the result.

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

So HD-DVD had undeniably the more releases by a landslide for the week...
To see the results for the week click here.

Spoiler

 

[BatMatt]

haha^ interesting

 

[Avalanche]

I'm I the only one sick of the utter crap being released on HD formats? Give us films we actually want to buy please.

 

[Jerry!]

Didn't Zenien say something about Universal trying to stuff movies no one cares about out on HD DVD? Out of the 11 releases on that list, there might be 3 that I don't care about.

 

[Zenien]

No one is an exxageration for saying people in general, and if you take a look at those releases and then look at the sales? It backs up what I said. No one cares about the smaller releases of movies that came out years ago. People are buying up the day and date releases of new movies.

* Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (Universal)
* Being John Malkovich (Universal)

2/11 for me, and not movies I'd be running out to buy. That's me, you're you, and me and you =/ people in general.

 

[Jerry!]

Most of them are good movies is what my point was. Its not like they are releasing a whole bunch of bad movies just for the sake of releasing more HD DVDs.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Most of them are good movies is what my point was. Its not like they are releasing a whole bunch of bad movies just for the sake of releasing more HD DVDs.

Universal is doing a whole lot of HD-DVDs in an effort to boost the format which is getting it's ass handed by blu-ray. If this doesn't work, I really doubt Universal will remain exclusive to the format for much longer.

 

[Zenien]

Most of them are good movies is what my point was. Its not like they are releasing a whole bunch of bad movies just for the sake of releasing more HD DVDs.

They're indescriminant that's the issue, they released Flubber II, Flubber II.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I'm I the only one sick of the utter crap being released on HD formats? Give us films we actually want to buy please.

Well something that confuses me is Blu-ray's lack of 7.1 audio titles. They are starting to make more titles with it but it is with movies like Waiting and Van Wilder???? I mean those are good movies and all but there are WAY too many other movies that need it more.

 

[Fading]

I think that's part of the problem HD is going to face in the future. Even tho I play movies on my PS3, I reserve what I buy to movies I really want to see in HD that I don't already have in my DVD collection. Eventually Universal is going to have released all their big guns and have to resort to their lesser films just to keep releasing, while Fox and Disney haven't pulled out their biggest guns yet. It's great that HD-DVD is releasing tons for the HD buyers, but what out of those are must buys? That can work for BR too, what movies really haved screamed for me to buy them?

I've bought a few so far, mainly new movies that I didn't have by the time I bought my PS3. Like Casino Royal, I like James Bond movies, it has flashy special effects, and I didn't have it on DVD. Army of Darkness tho, while I love the movie, I have still even have it on VHS and DVD, I don't see a reason to buy a High Def version (if it were ever to come to BR that is). Now after seeing Transformers, I'll be buying that for BR . Past that tho the current releases for both have been somewhat lack luster, some I'll buy and aren't bad, but the majority are just fillers just to fill out the library and say they have tons of movies, even if they aren't movies that warrant a buy.

 

[Jerry!]

Why did you buy a PS3 then? Not trying to start anything, just curious.

 

[BatMatt]

I reserve Blu-Ray purchases for movies that are either one of my favorites (The Prestige) and my other ones that I feel take advantage of HD the best (Casino Royale, Rocky Balboa, Planet Earth, and The Patriot). I love the Big Lebowski but I would be in no rush to re buy it in an HD format. Same goes for a lot of other movies

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Why did you buy a PS3 then? Not trying to start anything, just curious.

Well he already said. For future releases that he doesn't own yet and are worth seeing in high definition. I am pretty much the same way. I am not going crazy and buying every movie in high definition just ones that I love or really want. Right now I only have Casino Royale, The Departed, The Prestige, and American Psycho. I don't plan on buying another until 300 comes out. I also really want Batman Begins on Blu-ray and the Spider-Man trilogy is a must.

 

[Fading]

Why did you buy a PS3 then? Not trying to start anything, just curious.

For the entire package. To buy BR movies when I find one I want to watch is nice, if I can start building up a good library sooner than later that's great. I also enjoy Sony exclusives (which have been slipping a bit lately) more than the other consoles, tho Nintendo is a close second. I like Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, and all the other quirky games that other consoles don't typically release. I like the Xenogears and Xenosagas, RPGs in general, the fighting games they release like Tekken and the occasional Street fighter. It also has an internet that costs no additional fees on top of my current internet, so I have a source of constant firmware updates, the PS store to play old games I haven't tried forever. Overall it gives me a reason to use my HD tv lol.

I just don't buy movies that aren't worth a first or second (if I have it on DVD already) purchase. I've only been buying the BR movies that are worth viewing in High Def. I'm not keen on buying old 80's movies I already own a copy of, I'm more interested in buying movies with brilliant colors and great cgi that scream made for High Def viewing is all I meant.

 

[Zenien]

Why hasn't Imdaly posted yet.

 

[imdaly]

I'm at work and not supposed to be on here, that's why.

'Sides, what are you wanting me to respond to?


Or do ya just miss me?

 

[BatMatt]

I'm at work and not supposed to be on here, that's why.

'Sides, what are you wanting me to respond to?


Or do ya just miss me?

probably the sales results from the week ending July 1st

 

[Superman1314]

Potentially Dumb question, but I'm not tech savy when it comes to HD stuffs.....ok..so...what will a Blu-Ray/HD DVD movie look like on my normal, 2 year old 40 inch Television?

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Potentially Dumb question, but I'm not tech savy when it comes to HD stuffs.....ok..so...what will a Blu-Ray/HD DVD movie look like on my normal, 2 year old 40 inch Television?

You need a player, hdtv, and hdmi connection. Go to a local Circuit City or Best Buy they will likely have one on display and you can see the difference for yourself.

 

[BatMatt]

other words, if your TV isn't HD they will look the same as DVDs. I've heard the sound may be better though

 

[Zenien]

I'm at work and not supposed to be on here, that's why.

'Sides, what are you wanting me to respond to?


Or do ya just miss me?

Don't deny me of your spin.

 

[Downhere]

other words, if your TV isn't HD they will look the same as DVDs. I've heard the sound may be better though

On a regular TV, you won't notice that much of a difference between HD and DVD, especially in sizes of 40 inches or less. You'll get the most benefit from a TV that can accept 720p resolution and up and at sizes 40+ inches.

When it comes to the sound, it depends. The regular Dolby Digital should sound a bit better considering it is encoded at a higher bitrate. If you have a receiver that can accept multi channel PCM through HDMI then you can use the PCM or Dolby TrueHD soundtracks and you will get lossless sound, which would be substantially better than the regular Dolby Digital stock.

 

[BatMatt]

My HDTV is actually only 23", perfect for my room/dorm room. Blu-Ray and PS3 games still look great but they look even better if I hook them up to my dad's 32" TV and I know how great they look on the larger set. Nice thing is that a few years down the line when I own a 40" TV or larger, I'll have all the HD equipment and software ready to go

 

[Downhere]

My HDTV is actually only 23", perfect for my room/dorm room. Blu-Ray and PS3 games still look great but they look even better if I hook them up to my dad's 32" TV and I know how great they look on the larger set. Nice thing is that a few years down the line when I own a 40" TV or larger, I'll have all the HD equipment and software ready to go

I think you have better eye sight than I do. lol. A friend of mine has a PS3 and a 32 inch HDTV and I can hardly tell the difference between a good upscaled DVD to a High Def Disc. Now, when I watch it on a 65" TV then the difference is huge, at least to my eyes. lol.