The Format War

[Downhere]

Nope haven't been to the theatres since The Dark Knight at IMAX. I think I have some free movie passes around here somewhere though so I might have to check something out before the end of the year.

Well, I'm sure you'll enjoy Watchmen, it was a great movie...although I think I preferred the ending of the graphic novel compared to the movies ending...and Dr. Manhattan's free balling wasn't anything I wanted to see in every single scene with him. I mean, I understand the intent, but good grief almost every scene with him. Geesh. lol. But yeah, great movie besides those nitpicks.

 

[imdaly]

Here comes your Weekly Daly High-Def Release Schedule Update!

Spoiler

June 23, 2009
The Code (First Look)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (Disney)
Inkheart (New Line)
Last Year at Marienberg (Criterion Collection)
Mr. Troop Mom (Warner)
Origin: Spirits of the Past (FUNimation)
The Pink Panther 2 (MGM)
Sky Blue (Tartan)
Waltz With Bashir (Sony)

June 30, 2009
12 Rounds (Fox)
Barbara Streisand: Live in Concert 2006 (Universal)
Do the Right Thing: 20th Anniversary (Universal)
Flawless (Magnolia)
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Friends: The 70th Birthday Concert (Eagle Rock)
Jonas Brothers: 3-D Concert Experience (Disney)
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (Fox)
Ted Nugent: Motor City Mayhem (Eagle Rock)
Tokyo! (Liberation Entertainment)
Transmorphers: Fall of Man (Asylum)
Two Lovers (Magnolia)

July 7, 2009
Grumpy Old Men (Warner)
Knowing (Summit)
Mad Men: Season Two (Lionsgate)
Night Train (E1)
Push (Summit)
Torchwood: The Complete Second Season (BBC)
The Unborn (Universal)
The Universe: The Complete Season Two (A&E)

July 14, 2009
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon / Curse of the Golden Flower / House of the Flying Daggers [Boxed Set] (Sony)
Death Trance (Tokyo Shock)
The Edge of Love (Image)
Explicit Ills (Peace Arch)
For All Mankind (Criterion Collection)
A Haunting in Connecticut (Lionsgate)
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony)
NBA Champions 2008-2009 (Warner)
Night Train (National Ent Media)
Shark Week: Great Bites Collection (Discovery Channel)
The Towering Inferno (Fox)

July 21, 2009
300: The Complete Experience (Warner)
Caroline (Universal)
Echelon Conspiracy (Paramount)
Google Me (Cinevolve)
The Great Buck Howard (Magnolia)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (Universal)
Midnight Express (Sony)
Prison Break: The Final Break (Fox)
Pushing Daisies: Season Two (Warner)
Watchmen (Warner)

July 25, 2009
Green Lantern: First Flight (Warner)

July 28, 2009
12 Monkeys (Universal)
2 Fast 2 Furious (Universal)
Bad Boy Bubby (Blue Underground)
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 (Universal)
Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Series (Universal)
Dollhouse: Season One (Fox)
Dragonball: Evolution (Fox)
Dr. Who: Planet of the Dead (BBC)
The Fast and the Furious (Universal)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (Universal)
Fast & Furious (Universal)
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (Kino)
The Inglorious Bastards (Severing)
Miss March (Fox)
Repulsion (Criterion Collection)
Rhino Rescue (National Geographic)
A River Runs Through It (Sony)
Watchmen (Warner)
The Waterboy (Disney)

August 4, 2009
Big Trouble in Little China (Fox)
Jackie Brown (Disney)
Labor Pains (First Look)
The Last Starfighter: 25th Anniversary (Universal)
My Cousin Vinny (Fox)
Obsessed (Sony)
Pulp Fiction (Disney)
Race to Witch Mountain (Disney)
The Soloist (Dreamworks)
Stargate Atlantis: Fans' Choice (MGM)

August 11, 2009
17 Again (Warner)
About Last Night... (Sony)
Alien Trespass (Image)
Blue Thunder (Sony)
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (Universal)
Chaos (Lionsgate)
The Class (Sony)
Cutthroat Island (Lionsgate)
Donkey X (Phase 4 Films)
Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid - Complete Collection (FUNimation)
I Love You, Man (Dreamworks)
National Geographic: Sea Monsters 3-4 (National Geographic)
The Ninth Gate (Lionsgate)
Replicant (Lionsgate)
See No Evil (Lionsgate)
Starman (Sony)
State of Play (Universal)
St. Elmo's Fire (Sony)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Collector's Edition Boxset (Warner)

August 18, 2009
Dexter: The Complete Third Season (Paramount)
Dexter: Seasons 1-3 (Paramount)
Go (Sony)
Hannah Montana: The Movie (Disney)
Kagemusha (Criterion Collection)
The Last House on the Left [2009] (Universal)
Playtime (Criterion Collection)
Sons of Anarchy: Season One (Fox)
Surveillance (Magnolia)

August 25, 2009
Adventureland (Disney)
The Beast (Timeless Media Group)
Billy Jack (Image)
Children of the Corn (Anchor Bay)
Devil May Cry: The Complete Series (FUNimation)
Duplicity (Universal)
Fighting (Universal)
Fire and Ice (Blue Underground)
Lie to Me: Season One (Fox)
A Haunting - Twilight of Evil (Timeless Media Group)
Man on the Moon - 40th Anniversary Edition (Timeless Media Group)
Natural Born Killers (Warner)
Sex, Lies, and Videotape (Sony)
Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season (Warner)

September 1, 2009
Braveheart (Paramount)
The Crusades: Crescent & the Cross (A&E)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Ninth Season (Paramount)
The Dark Crystal (Sony)
Earth (Disney)
The Girlfriend Experience (Magnolia)
The Girl Next Door (Fox)
Gladiator (Paramount)
Heroes: Season Three (Universal)
High Crimes (Fox)
Labyrinth (Sony)
M*A*S*H (Fox)
Monster (First Look)
Supernatural: The Complete Fourth Season (Warner)

September 8, 2009
Catwoman (Warner)
Crank 2: High Voltage (Lionsgate)
Creepshow(Warner)
Dead Calm (Warner)
Freddy vs. Jason (New Line)
Friday (Warner)
Fringe: The Complete First Season (Warner)
Menace II Society (Warner)
The New World: Extended Cut (New Line)
The Office: Season Five (Universal)
Over the Top (Warner)
The Postman (Warner)
The Quick and the Dead (Sony)
Requiem for a Dream (Lionsgate)
Set It Off (Warner)
Silverado (Sony)
Snakes On a Plane (New Line)
Sphere (Warner)
Terry Fator: Live from the Mirage (Image)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre [2003] (New Line)

September 15, 2009
48 Hrs. (Paramount)
Child's Play (MGM)
Crash: Season One (Anchor Bay)
Deep Impact (Paramount)
Easy Rider (Sony)
Escape From L.A. (Paramount)
The Firm (Paramount)
Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Fifth Season
Hannibal Lecter Anthology [Manhunter, The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal] (MGM)
K-19: The Widowmaker (Paramount)
Misery (MGM)
My Name Is Earl: Season Four (Fox)
Punch-Drunk Love (Sony)
The Score (Paramount)
Torchwood: Children of Earth (BBC)
Varsity Blues (Paramount)
Wrong Turn (Fox)
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End(Fox)

September 22, 2009
The Complete Monterey Pop Festival (Criterion Collection)
Gojira [Godzilla: King of Monsters] (Classic Media)
Hot Fuzz (Universal)
Pierrot le fou (Criterion Collection)
Shaun of the Dead (Universal)
Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Season 2 (Warner)

September 29, 2009
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa (FUNimation)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (Dark Sky)
How I Met Your Mother: Season Four (Fox)
Management (Image)
National Geographic Ultimate High-Definition Collection (National Geographic)
The New York Ripper (Blue Underground)
Rob Thomas - Live at Red Rocks (Koch)
The Unit: Season Four (Fox)
The Universe Megaset (A&E)
The Wizard of Oz (Warner)

October 6, 2009
Audition (Ventura)
Contact (Warner)
Ghost Ship (Warner)
The Number 23 (New Line)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition (Disney)

October 13, 2009
The Craft (Sony)
Wolf / Bram Stoker's Dracula / Mary Shelley's Frankenstiein (Sony)

October 20, 2009
Freedomland (Sony)
Snatch (Sony)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Warner)

October 27, 2009
Expedition: Africa (A&E)
The Prisoner: Complete Series (A&E)
Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure (Disney)

November 3, 2009
Forrest Gump (Paramount)
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy [Theatrical] (New Line)

November 17, 2009
Scrubs: The Complete Eighth Season (Disney)

November 24, 2009
Santa Buddies (Disney)

December 8, 2009
Lost: The Complete Fifth Season (Disney)

February 15, 2010
Highlander: The Series - Season One (Legendary Heroes)

 

[BatMatt]

Nice to see you've fought of the demon of the bottle Ian

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Vizio Blu-ray Player Coming Exclusively to Walmart
During a press conference today, John Schindler, New Product Development Vice President for Vizio, commented on the company's upcoming Blu-ray Disc player, the VBR100. The player will be available in late July, exclusively at Walmart, for the suggested retail price of $188. It will be BD-Live capable with the addition of a USB thumb drive.

In the November timeframe, Vizio will introduce the VBR110, which will be technically identical to the VBR100, but available at other retailers.

 

[imdaly]

Nice to see you've fought of the demon of the bottle Ian

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Toshiba President Hints at Supporting Blu-ray
At the annual shareholder meeting of Toshiba Corporation today, outgoing president Atsutoshi Nishida did not rule out the possibility of selling Blu-ray products. In a new pragmatic vein, Nishida said: "It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open."

Nishida said that BD recorders, in particular, appear to be a viable option. They are quite successful in Japan.

When Toshiba conceded defeat in the format war in February 2008, it said that it would not make any Blu-ray products and has reaffirmed that position several times since. But Nishida's latest remark appears to indicate that Toshiba is considering reversing that decision in light of the significant growth in the market for these products.

Nishida is to step down as President today. As expected, the shareholders approved the appointment of Corporate Senior Executive Vice President Norio Sasaki as the new chief executive.

 

[Downhere]

So there are some rumblings of Warner Bros. having a big announcement for the upcoming Lord of the Rings films on Blu-ray. Seems, we could be seeing the extended cut in some form this year.

http://www.collider.com/2009/06/24/...he-rings-blu-ray-announcement-in-a-few-weeks/


I can see WB doing a mega expensive set with the extended cuts and releasing only the theatricals as the "cheap" version. Heck, I'd pay the extra money if I can get the extended cuts as well.

 

[Symbiotic]

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2977

This made me happy. Michael Bay says Transformers 2 will have the IMAX formatting for the Blu-ray.

 

[Downhere]

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2977

This made me happy. Michael Bay says Transformers 2 will have the IMAX formatting for the Blu-ray.

This makes me not happy...all I have to say is...ugh!

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

This makes me not happy...all I have to say is...ugh!

Why? Don't you want the film how it was intended to be seen?

 

[Downhere]

Why? Don't you want the film how it was intended to be seen?

Yes, but this is one of those gray areas and is just like the TDK fiasco. These films were shown in scope throughout in over 95% of theaters. Therefore, it would be nice to keep that consistency on the Blu-ray release. Now, we also have to consider that even opening up the frame to 1.85 or 16:9 is still not what was intended to be seen considering the IMAX footage is more like 4:3 than the other format ratios (At least it's that way with TDK, not sure about TF2). I will also bet that the DVD will be shown in scope throughout which begs the question of why can't the Blu-ray be shown in the same way, at least give consumers the option to view it how they want.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Yes, but this is one of those gray areas and is just like the TDK fiasco. These films were shown in scope throughout in over 95% of theaters. Therefore, it would be nice to keep that consistency on the Blu-ray release. Now, we also have to consider that even opening up the frame to 1.85 or 16:9 is still not what was intended to be seen considering the IMAX footage is more like 4:3 than the other format ratios (At least it's that way with TDK, not sure about TF2). I will also bet that the DVD will be shown in scope throughout which begs the question of why can't the Blu-ray be shown in the same way, at least give consumers the option to view it how they want.

I agree there should be an option. But even if it was shown in most theaters that way its still not how Michael Bay intended the film to be seen. He shot scenes for IMAX and those were INTENDED to be seen that way. So while on some level I agree with you there should be an option I think we are getting the presentation here the same with the Dark Knight. The only thing I don't get is why don't these guys just shoot 1.85:1 so we can avoid this crap?

And on a related note just a heads-up. On Amazon.com they are offering a free movie ticket for Revenge of the Fallen with a purchase of select Paramount Blu-ray's.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht...f_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=482140891&pf_rd_i=12917411

 

[Downhere]

My thing is, if these director's are so adamant about having their vision be seen, then make all theaters show the film in the individual theaters that have a constant width set-up. This way it will leave the panel masks off the screen and allow the screen to show the IMAX scenes in 1.85 and the rest with black bars. That way, those few IMAX scenes will not be cropped from the movie in the 95+% of the theaters it will be shown in. Also, if they are going to apply this to the Blu-ray, apply it to the DVD as well if their intention is to get their preferred vision to the masses. Frankly, I say if 95+% of the theaters are showing it in scope throughout, then the Blu-ray should be presented in the same fashion. I don't mind if the movie starts out in one ratio and then turns into another for the duration of the film, but when it alternates throughout it bothers the heck out of me.

 

[BatMatt]

I was very happy with the way The Dark Knight made the transition to Blu-ray, aspect shifting and all. It's good news that Revenge of the Fallen will do the same, unfortunately, although I haven't seen it, I don't think I'll find the movie worth owning from what I've read and seen.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

My thing is, if these director's are so adamant about having their vision be seen, then make all theaters show the film in the individual theaters that have a constant width set-up. This way it will leave the panel masks off the screen and allow the screen to show the IMAX scenes in 1.85 and the rest with black bars. That way, those few IMAX scenes will not be cropped from the movie in the 95+% of the theaters it will be shown in. Also, if they are going to apply this to the Blu-ray, apply it to the DVD as well if their intention is to get their preferred vision to the masses. Frankly, I say if 95+% of the theaters are showing it in scope throughout, then the Blu-ray should be presented in the same fashion. I don't mind if the movie starts out in one ratio and then turns into another for the duration of the film, but when it alternates throughout it bothers the heck out of me.

Wait...are you actually suggesting Paramount show this movie on less screens? Lol...thats gonna happen. Studio is in it for the moolah. They would show it through a peephole if they thought it had the possibility of generating a lot of money.

I was very happy with the way The Dark Knight made the transition to Blu-ray, aspect shifting and all. It's good news that Revenge of the Fallen will do the same, unfortunately, although I haven't seen it, I don't think I'll find the movie worth owning from what I've read and seen.

Meh. I would probably pick it up for $10 like I did Transformers if they sell it for that low.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Watchmen Comic-Con BD-Live Community Screening Announced
Comic-Con 2009 opens on July 23, and 'Watchmen' director Zack Snyder has announced "something special" for the fans. On July 25, there will be a "Live Community Screening" of the film at the convention, which will be relayed via BD-Live, so owners of the Blu-ray (which comes out on July 21) can watch the film along with Snyder and talk about the film.

Any viewer in North America will be able to watch the movie at the same time as the audience at Comic-Con, see and hear Snyder comment on the movie, and even ask questions. The screening will then be archived and will be available for future viewings.

"Warner Bros. is hoping to use the filmmakers of its movies to produce immersive home movie experiences," said the studio's VP high-def market expansion Kris Brown. "We're lucky to have filmmakers at Warners that believe in that."

Additionally, the weekend before Comic-Con, it will be possible to see the director's cut of 'Watchmen' theatrically, only in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Minneapolis. The director's cut is 25 minutes longer than the theatrical cut. One of the added scenes includes the death of one of the supporting characters.

Regarding BD features, something new this release offers is a "Director Walk-On" where Snyder will stand before the monitor talking about his favorite moments from the film. According to Joblo, "it feels like Mr. Snyder is right there in your living room."

As previously announced, other extras include a timeline comparing the alternate history of the Watchmen as opposed to the real world; storyboard comparisons, focus points on a variety of topics and photo galleries.


Buy a PS3, Get Free Blu-ray Remote and Movie
Amazon is having another interesting promotion. When you purchase an 80GB PlayStation 3, you can get the BD remote for the PS3 and the Blu-ray of 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse' for free. To qualify, place all three items in your cart. The discount will be reflected at checkout. The offer is valid through July 11.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.ht..._1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000392231&tag=bluraynews-20

 

[Downhere]

Wait...are you actually suggesting Paramount show this movie on less screens? Lol...thats gonna happen. Studio is in it for the moolah. They would show it through a peephole if they thought it had the possibility of generating a lot of money.

No, not less screens. Many theaters have rooms with Constant Width or Constant Area set-up's. So, they could just show the movie in those theater rooms instead of the Constant Height set-up rooms...therefore, giving the audience their intended vision.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

No, not less screens. Many theaters have rooms with Constant Width or Constant Area set-up's. So, they could just show the movie in those theater rooms instead of the Constant Height set-up rooms...therefore, giving the audience their intended vision.

Well that sounds more like a theaters decision then not the studios.

 

[Downhere]

Well that sounds more like a theaters decision then not the studios.

If a studio demands it, the theaters would have to do it. Just like they show all other films in the aspect ratio given, they could do that with these special case films with the alternating aspect ratios. Frankly, I hate the alternating aspect ratios and prefer director's sticking with one aspect ratio throughout (of course I prefer scope films to flat, but yeah).

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

If a studio demands it, the theaters would have to do it. Just like they show all other films in the aspect ratio given, they could do that with these special case films with the alternating aspect ratios. Frankly, I hate the alternating aspect ratios and prefer director's sticking with one aspect ratio throughout (of course I prefer scope films to flat, but yeah).

Well regardless the movie will be huge and do amazingly well on Blu-ray. While it may be nowhere near the level of a film of The Dark Knight I would say it has a good chance of beating the sales records The Dark Knight set.

 

[Downhere]

I don't think TF2 will beat the sales of TDK, it will be close, but it won't pass it.

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

I don't think TF2 will beat the sales of TDK, it will be close, but it won't pass it.

Well it will certainly be interesting to see. Player prices have been going down and the Blu-ray consumers going up. Like I said at this point I wouldn't be surprised if we see a $99.99 Blu-ray player in Wal-Marts this Xmas at the rate prices have been dropping on players. And Revenge of the Fallen will get released in the midst of all that so it shall be interesting.

 

[hippie_hunter]

My thing is, if these director's are so adamant about having their vision be seen, then make all theaters show the film in the individual theaters that have a constant width set-up. This way it will leave the panel masks off the screen and allow the screen to show the IMAX scenes in 1.85 and the rest with black bars. That way, those few IMAX scenes will not be cropped from the movie in the 95+% of the theaters it will be shown in. Also, if they are going to apply this to the Blu-ray, apply it to the DVD as well if their intention is to get their preferred vision to the masses. Frankly, I say if 95+% of the theaters are showing it in scope throughout, then the Blu-ray should be presented in the same fashion. I don't mind if the movie starts out in one ratio and then turns into another for the duration of the film, but when it alternates throughout it bothers the heck out of me.

I'd rather have the IMAX scenes in the film the way Bay intended.

 

[BatMatt]

Watched Ghostbusters, and unless you're really searching for something to complain about, it looks quite good all things considered. There is some considerable grain in the night time scenes, but it's not a big deal. The movie itself is still fun as always

 

[RedIsNotBlue]

Watched Ghostbusters, and unless you're really searching for something to complain about, it looks quite good all things considered. There is some considerable grain in the night time scenes, but it's not a big deal. The movie itself is still fun as always

Yep I was scared at first but when people actually got the disc in their hands mainly I have heard great things. I still haven't picked it up yet. I have some sony reward points to use I will probably use them for that this weekend.