The Format War

[KALEL114]

You're a wizard Harry.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6461120.html

 

[KALEL114]

Edit.

 

[imdaly]

sarcasm chief
EDIT: yea that is a cool case

Don't worry. I was assuming so.

You're a wizard Harry.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6461120.html

Read about this earlier today and have been asking myself if I'm gonna get this HP set.

I love the movies, and definitely want to own them all eventually, but there's a couple reasons why I might want to wait a bit.

1) I already own "Harry Potter 4". By buying the boxset, I'd be rebuying a disc I alread have.

2) It's a boxset of the first 5 movies, but there's going to be 7 in total. I'd rather have them either individually or in one big 7-movie set.

Though I really don't think I'm going to be able to wait for a 7-movie set.

Maybe it won't be too long before they offer the first 5 movies individually, like it ended up being with the "Mission Impossible" trilogy?

 

[KALEL114]

Yeah, I'm with you on waiting for the 7 movie set.

 

[imdaly]

Yeah, I'm with you on waiting for the 7 movie set.

lol I'm not even sure I'M with me on waiting...

 

[KALEL114]

Patience is a virtue.

But me, it always seems that patience is a virtue I don't have time for.

 

[BatMatt]

I just want the Blu-Ray Blade Runner

 

[imdaly]

I've never seen Blade Runner. I really don't even know anything about it.

Should I get it?

 

[KALEL114]

Affirmative. The original (not the first remastered) is the best. I am curious about the new remastered one coming out.

 

[Downhere]

Potter is definitely mine. Can't wait to see them all on High Def, especially POA.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I've never seen Blade Runner. I really don't even know anything about it.

Should I get it?

It is the movie that inspired the look and atmosphere of Gotham City in Batman Begins if that sparks your interest at all.

 

[Zenien]

That porter set is such a ripoff when you know there will be a full 7 movie set coming out.

I forgot to mention

Got its re-release on the 17th, which is today.

I'll be picking it up this week.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

That porter set is such a ripoff when you know there will be a full 7 movie set coming out.

I forgot to mention

Got its re-release on the 17th, which is today.

I'll be picking it up this week.

Yep but its been going on for years. Studios re-releasing the **** out of movies to squeeze as much as they can out of it. Deluxe edition, Special edition, Boxset edition, Triliogy edition, Ultimiate edition, 2 disc edition, etc, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Jerry!]

...porn edition...

 

[Downhere]

Yep but its been going on for years. Studios re-releasing the **** out of movies to squeeze as much as they can out of it. Deluxe edition, Special edition, Boxset edition, Triliogy edition, Ultimiate edition, 2 disc edition, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Well, when it comes to The Fifth Element, it needed to be re-released. I mean, Sony botched the first release so I'm glad they decided to re-release it with improved video quality.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Well, when it comes to The Fifth Element, it needed to be re-released. I mean, Sony botched the first release so I'm glad they decided to re-release it with improved video quality.

Well I was referring to the Harry Potter set they are planning to release.

 

[Fading]

I've never seen Blade Runner. I really don't even know anything about it.

Should I get it?

It's classic sci-fi. It might feel a bit dated special effects wise, but it's a solid and good movie. I recommend it personally.

 

[BatMatt]

Blade Runner is a great critique of what it means to be human

 

[imdaly]

I just came across this article from Home Media Magazine. Found it interesting...

EMA: Retail Must Be Part of HD
July 17, 2007

It is vital for independent retailers to play an important role in the evolving distribution landscape, despite a projected 5% drop in home video consumer spending from 2006 to 2010, said Bo Andersen, president of the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA).

Speaking during the opening session of EMA’s Home Media Expo 2007, Andersen told attendees consumers spent an average $114 on home video in 2006, compared to $37 at the box office and $56 on music.

He said by the end of the decade, 46% of consumer spending on entertainment will be on home video (down from 51%), 22% on cable television and 8% on pay-per-view content — the latter up 5% from 2006.

“High-definition’s hold on packaged media must be trendy, chic and interactive,” Andersen said.

In place of a keynote speaker, national radio technology talk show host Leo Laporte hosted a panel of nine consumer “power users” (chosen from a survey of 2,500 by The NPD Group), who discussed their take on high-def packaged media, digital delivery and online rental.

The panel’s heavy consumption of entertainment ran the gamut in modes of distribution. Only one watched HD DVD via an Xbox 360, and two still coveted their VHS collections. All said they were interested in HD but will wait for a price drop. One panelist from New York said he would take advantage of Toshiba’s HD A2 HD DVD show special player for $99.

“I’ll get one of those,” he said.

To help retailers assimilate high-def packaged media, the EMA unveiled a free CD-ROM, “Understanding High Definition 101,” for its members.

One of the disc’s architects, Mark Fisher, VP of membership and strategic initiatives for the EMA, said keys to establishing HD in the home were interactivity and connectivity.

“Easier menus aren’t enough,” Fisher said. “But a richer, more interactive experience will be.”

Steven Nickerson, vice chair of the Digital Entertainment Group and SVP with Warner Home Video, urged attendees to take a more aggressive stance in the marketing and merchandising of high-def products.

Citing research from the Consumer Electronics Association, retailers and manufacturers, Nickerson said 16 million HDTVs will be sold this year, bringing the number of HDTV units sold in the United States to 52 million.

The DEG said HDTV household penetration now exceeds 30 million and will reach 36% by the end of the year. Of that group, 20% own more than one HDTV.

Indeed, Nickerson said 30 million standard DVD players will be sold this year, bringing the U.S. installed base of players to 80 million.

He said the second half of 2007 will see a 12.5% increase in North American DVD shipments to more than 914.7 million units, compared to more than 884.6 million last year.

“Best ever second half in the industry,” Nickerson said. “DVD is still the driver.”

Source

I cut out the last part of the article, which started talking about the sales of games to minors for some reason...

But anyway, interesting to see that according to the big wigs at the Entertainment Merchants Association, the key to getting HD video out there in mass is lower pricing and more interactivity.

Hmm...which format might that be?



And then there's this:

Toshiba extends 5 free HD DVD offer until September 30
July 18, 2007

We are shocked, SHOCKED to find out that not only does giving away movies and lowering prices increase HD DVD hardware and software sales, but now Toshiba has announced it is extending its "The Perfect Offer" of five free HD DVDs from a selection of 15, via mail-in with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player. Originally set to run through July, the promotion has been extended until September 30th, so you might be able to find out if that Harry Potter box set has any HDi special features before choosing a side in the format war. Still, with the base HD-A2 player at a price of $299 and several free movies in the mix, Toshiba's certainly hoping to grab the attention of remaining fence sitters and current Blu-ray owners alike.

Source

 

[Zenien]

Considering BR Java will be done by october and BR will have the movies people actually want to buy en mass where as this upcoming christams will be a masacre of HD-DVD?

 

[TheBat812]

I've never seen Blade Runner. I really don't even know anything about it.

Should I get it?

don't. Wait for Ridley scott to release his REAL cut. Both versions out now are not the way they were intended to be. Nor are they worth purchasing unless you're a die-hard fan. Give it a rent, and if you love it, go ahead and buy it. If not, wait for Ridley's real version like I am.

 

[Zenien]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/s...ny_Unwraps_Memoirs_of_a_Geisha_on_Blu-ray/782

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced it will bring the Oscar-winning spectacle 'Memoirs of a Geisha' to Blu-ray this September.

The lavish period epic, which took home four technical Academy Awards, will hit Blu-ray on September 25.


In addition to 1080p video and uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio, the supplemental package will be a slim one, with only a single production audio commentary among the bonus features.

Sony has set a $28.95 list price for the Blu-ray.

We've added full specs for 'Memoirs of a Geisha' to our Blu-ray Release Schedule, under September 25.

 

[Havok83]

What TV sets have been or will be released on BR? I only know of Sopranos season 6, Smallvile and Weeds seasons 1 and 2

 

[BatMatt]

What TV sets have been or will be released on BR? I only know of Sopranos season 6, Smallvile and Weeds seasons 1 and 2

Planet Earth if you want to count that but otherwise I can't name any others off the top of my head

 

[Downhere]

What TV sets have been or will be released on BR? I only know of Sopranos season 6, Smallvile and Weeds seasons 1 and 2

I think Lost Season 3 was supposed to come out on BR during the holidays.