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Hi-Def Media Lovefest: The war is over and we can all go home.

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Oni Jazar

Member
druie said:
I'm a bit curious... what are the advantages of standalone BRD players compared to the PlayStation 3? A lot of people seem to have them, but personally, the value and price of the PS3 seems like a no-brainer choice to me. Though, that player right there with the movie bundles does seem a bit more competitive.

As of now,

Upscaling DVD player
720p support
5.1 analog audio out (lossless sound for those without proper HDMI receivers)
IR Remote
 

VanMardigan

has calmed down a bit.
'300' to Conquer Blu-ray, HD DVD This July
highdefdigest.com

Warner Home Video has announced it will bring the blockbuster '300' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this July in feature-laden special edition sets.

Fueled by a domestic gross of over $200 million, the ultra-violent, CGI-fueled extravaganza was the surprise hit of the winter season.

Warner will bow both a Blu-ray and HD DVD version of the spectacle on July 31, each boasting impressive tech specs and copious bonus features.

Both the BD-50 Blu-ray and HD DVD/DVD combo versions will feature identical 1080p/VC-1 transfers and, in a welcome move from Warner, matching Dolby TrueHD (48kHz/16-bit) 5.1 surround tracks.

Also comparable on each will be "over 90 minutes of bonus features," including audio commentary with director Zack Snyder and the filmmakers, multiple featurettes and more. The HD DVD version will also boast a picture-in-picture video version of the commentary, plus the exclusive "Vengeance & Valor" interactive game.

Retail will be $39.95 for the HD DVD combo, and $34.95 for the Blu-ray.




GO HD DVD with the best version. :D
 

Suikoguy

I whinny my fervor lowly, for his length is not as great as those of the Hylian war stallions
VanMardigan said:
GO HD DVD with the best version. :D

To each his own,
Saving $5 and not having to rebuy it makes more sense to me.
 

jjasper

Member
So it appears Warner has caved in and decided to sell featureless versions on Blu Ray (although other BR have interactive games so why not 300?) so why are movies like Batman and the Matrix not getting the bare bones release too?
 
jjasper said:
So it appears Warner has caved in and decided to sell featureless versions on Blu Ray (although other BR have interactive games so why not 300?) so why are movies like Batman and the Matrix not getting the bare bones release too?

Has any studio other than Disney done interactive games on Blu Ray?
 

wasting

Banned
Chemo said:
Not interested in this film either way, but I really don't think PIP video commentary and a dinky little game are worth more money.

What? Once bluray finally gets java ready
:lol
you think releases will go up to $39? No. Its the combo thats bringing it upto $39
 

Bebpo

Banned
Warner is basically an HD-DVD party at this point.

Until now they've given weak sound on most of their Blu-ray releases compared to their HD-DVD ones, and now they're just ripping the features right out.

It's very clear that they want HD-DVD to win (or they're getting moneyhats). So I'd say HD-DVD has Universal + Warner + Weinstein as their advantages at the moment.

Sadly I'll have to settle for the inferior Blu-ray version despite owning an HD-DVD player since I can take advantage of the DD TrueHD track on the PS3, but not on the X360.
 

jjasper

Member
I actually see it as the opposite, they were originally pro HD DVD but since their movies have sold better on Blu ray they are starting to cave in and give blu ray more movies now.
 

VanMardigan

has calmed down a bit.
Since I've never paid MSRP for any of my movies, I don't see how that extra $5 negates the HD DVD advantages. Bebpo offered a reasonable justification for picking the BR version over the HD DVD one, but folks with standalones should have no problems selecting the HD DVD version.

This, the update, and the Heroes announcement make this an awesome day for HD DVD owners. :D
 

mrklaw

MrArseFace
Bebpo said:
Warner is basically an HD-DVD party at this point.

Until now they've given weak sound on most of their Blu-ray releases compared to their HD-DVD ones, and now they're just ripping the features right out.

It's very clear that they want HD-DVD to win (or they're getting moneyhats). So I'd say HD-DVD has Universal + Warner + Weinstein as their advantages at the moment.

Sadly I'll have to settle for the inferior Blu-ray version despite owning an HD-DVD player since I can take advantage of the DD TrueHD track on the PS3, but not on the X360.



actually I think they just want to get all the stupid IME/PiP stuff on bluray, but the platform doesn't support it yet. Thats resulted in delays to several titles. Hopefully this 300 move means a change of heart, but I doubt it.
 

jjasper

Member
VanMardigan said:
Since I've never paid MSRP for any of my movies, I don't see how that extra $5 negates the HD DVD advantages. Bebpo offered a reasonable justification for picking the BR version over the HD DVD one, but folks with standalones should have no problems selecting the HD DVD version.

Yeah the price will probably be easy to find $24.99 and $29.99 versions of the movie
 

Alcibiades

Member
I like the PiP commentary on other HD DVDs, but since I heard rumors that they were gonna try to get panels from the actual comic book on the screen as the corresponding action on screen matched what was going on, I was hoping Warner would do more with the hi-def version...

hopefully the IME ("In Movie Experience") isn't just commentary but something more like the the Charlie and the Chocolate Facotry (except hopefully even more entertaining and insightful than that one)...
 

ManaByte

Rage Bait Youtuber
:lol I love how The Digital Bits fails to mention the PiP features on the HD-DVD version and basically worded it like both HD versions were identical.
 

VanMardigan

has calmed down a bit.
DarkJediKnight said:
On the Blu-ray plus side, it will have artwork on the disc.

That's the spirit trooper!! When life gives you less features.......make disc art! :lol

In all seriousness, though, I was kind of annoyed at the flipper discs at first, but they've been the most useful HD discs I've bought in terms of use. I've loaned them out, played them on my car dvd set, my laptop, etc. Turns out it's a useful feature after all. The two discs I have that AREN'T flippers (King Kong and Batman) don't get that much action. And like I said, I don't pay MSRP for any of the discs (amazon.com, Ebay, etc.), the extra $5 isn't an issue.
 

XMonkey

lacks enthusiasm.
VanMardigan said:
And like I said, I don't pay MSRP for any of the discs (amazon.com, Ebay, etc.), the extra $5 isn't an issue.

You might not pay MSRP, but the combo discs are usually $5 more than the Bluray version in stores.
 
Digital Bits:

Our industry sources have checked in this week with the latest expected street dates for upcoming Universal catalog and new release HD-DVD titles through the end of September. Here's what to expect...

8/7 - Hot Fuzz

8/14 - Erin Brockovich, Meet the Fockers, Mercury Rising, What Dreams May Come

8/28 - Dawn of the Dead (2004), Heroes: The Complete First Season, The Hurricane, Notting Hill

9/18 - Battlestar Galactica: The Complete First Season, Elizabeth, For the Love of the Game, The Last Starfighter, Legend

9/25 - Cat People, Evening, The Getaway, Knocked Up, Patch Adams

As always, this information should be considered unofficial until the titles and dates are announced by the studios. Stay tuned...
 
Why does the banner ad on the bottom of the page say that PotC comes out today? I was going to ask if anyone's watched it yet to see how good the PQ is, but it seems it doesn't actually release 'til next week.

I like the fact that both the Matrix and the first two PotC are coming out on the same day... A grudge match of sorts. I'm pretty sure that PotC will sell more than the Matrix, but it will be interesting to see how they compare in the PQ and AQ departments. Overall, I think the first Matrix alone is better than both Pirates movies, but I also think PotC has the potential to look more visually impressive because of the setting.
 

Brofist

Member
VanMardigan said:
That's the spirit trooper!! When life gives you less features.......make disc art! :lol

In all seriousness, though, I was kind of annoyed at the flipper discs at first, but they've been the most useful HD discs I've bought in terms of use. I've loaned them out, played them on my car dvd set, my laptop, etc. Turns out it's a useful feature after all. The two discs I have that AREN'T flippers (King Kong and Batman) don't get that much action. And like I said, I don't pay MSRP for any of the discs (amazon.com, Ebay, etc.), the extra $5 isn't an issue.

Nobody pays MSRP on movies, and the $5 higher MSRP still translates to around $5 more at Amazon, even at their discounted prices.

for example

Departed HD-DVD

Departed BD
 

Chemo

Member
wasting said:
What? Once bluray finally gets java ready
:lol
you think releases will go up to $39? No. Its the combo thats bringing it upto $39
Uhh... I think what I was saying, in less words, was, "VanMardigan is ridiculous for pretending that 300 on HD DVD is any better than the Blu-ray because of a couple of negligible features because it also costs more money." Did you read his post? The part that he bolded was about the PIP commentary and the stupid game. He didn't list combo DVD as a major feature. I was refuting his claim and I really don't think it was that difficult to discern.

Also, heads-up, smileys don't spoiler tag.
 
ChrisJames said:
A grudge match of sorts. I'm pretty sure that PotC will sell more than the Matrix, but it will be interesting to see how they compare in the PQ and AQ departments. Overall, I think the first Matrix alone is better than both Pirates movies, but I also think PotC has the potential to look more visually impressive because of the setting.

The first review comes from upcoming discs who have seen both the Matrix HD DVD and POTC on Blu-ray. They say Curse of the Black Pearl is the new PQ and AQ standard. I can't wait to get my copies.
 

VanMardigan

has calmed down a bit.
teiresias said:
I'll buy the version without the hokey internet flash game included, thanks.

Why doesn't GAF have a rolleyes emoticon? It's like you can sense the bitterness through the posts here. Oh noes, the flash game ruined my movie!! :lol

It goes without saying that if the tables were turned, the extra features would be seen as giving the BR version the edge. The transparency is painfully obvious.
 

VanMardigan

has calmed down a bit.
Kabuki Waq said:
Heroes is only on HD DVD?!

Is the format war over or something?

But it comes with a flash game and a ton of interactivity features I'm sure, so it's practically worthless. Also, a $5 dvd-9 on one side so your stupid friends will want to borrow it or you may be tempted to play it on one of the half dozen standalone and portable dvd players everybody has lying around. No disc art, either. MAJOR dealbreaker.
 
VanMardigan said:
But it comes with a flash game and a ton of interactivity features I'm sure, so it's practically worthless. Also, a $5 dvd-9 on one side so your stupid friends will want to borrow it or you may be tempted to play it on one of the half dozen standalone and portable dvd players everybody has lying around. No disc art, either. MAJOR dealbreaker.


Cut it out with the strawmen. The bitterness you mention is right here in this post.
 
DarkJediKnight said:
The first review comes from upcoming discs who have seen both the Matrix HD DVD and POTC on Blu-ray. They say Curse of the Black Pearl is the new PQ and AQ standard. I can't wait to get my copies.

Thanks for the info. That's really not that surprising to me. Like I said, the PotC movies have the potential to be reference material, but I'm not going to just accept one guy's opinion as fact...

edit: and Van Mardigan I do understand what you're saying, but come on, that game on the 300 HD DVD sounds stupid as shit and I'm sure it will play like it (shit) :lol
 
As far as 300 on Blu-ray goes, it's inferior to the HD DVD version from an extras POV. I don't really give a shit about the game, but the PIP commentary would be cool. Honestly, Warner could have easily done a el-cheapo 2nd transfer and stuck the PIP on it like Descent. However, since the PQ and AQ will be identical, I'm gonna get the Blu-ray version anyways.
 

drohne

hyperbolically metafictive
i hope the matrix set underperforms and convinces warner to sell the bd releases separately. i really want the first one, but not if i have to take the sequels in the bargain. little chance of that, though.
 
A bit of an aside....

What really kills me about this format war is how it affects the libraries available. I remember the early days of DVD, waiting for movies I wanted when most were not yet out. But htis is worse. Between the split, and the fact that studios are holding stuff back, it's really hard to get excited about releases. Add to that the fact that I'm not going to re-buy stuff unless I have a strong reason to, and viola-- I find myself with cash to spend and not much to buy. I'm not at all excited by PotC *or the Matrix Trilogy (M1 would be a buy, the others, no).

If the libraries were combined right now, it's be different (and all you dual format owners, I am jealous).... but even still, I'd be scraping for things to get.

I have an HD setup. I want HD content. Not sales figures, flash games, PiP, just movies.

C'mon, lets get this thing rolling.
 
Ignatz Mouse,
I disagree with you. I think that we are seeing better content being released because of the format war. DVD didn't have anywhere near as good of a catalog in its first year as either format has now...
 
I could be wrong, as I jumped into DVD at abotu the one-year mark. But it sure seems skimpy. Certainly the fact that about 1/3 of the current releases are unavailable to me makes it seem worse.
 

Chemo

Member
VanMardigan said:
Why doesn't GAF have a rolleyes emoticon? It's like you can sense the bitterness through the posts here. Oh noes, the flash game ruined my movie!! :lol

It goes without saying that if the tables were turned, the extra features would be seen as giving the BR version the edge. The transparency is painfully obvious.
No, we'd pretty much be talking about how ****ing stupid flash games were even if they were on Blu-ray because, get this... they're pretty ****ing stupid. There's a lot of pro-Blu-ray sentiment here, but I don't think anyone is hard on HD DVD's ability to "play" shitty flash games because they're jealous... they're hard on it because it's retarded.
 

Brofist

Member
VanMardigan said:
Why doesn't GAF have a rolleyes emoticon? It's like you can sense the bitterness through the posts here. Oh noes, the flash game ruined my movie!! :lol

It goes without saying that if the tables were turned, the extra features would be seen as giving the BR version the edge. The transparency is painfully obvious.

And in that scenario you would probably be the one downplaying it ;)
 

Crayon Shinchan

Aquafina Fanboy
Chemo said:
No, we'd pretty much be talking about how ****ing stupid flash games were even if they were on Blu-ray because, get this... they're pretty ****ing stupid. There's a lot of pro-Blu-ray sentiment here, but I don't think anyone is hard on HD DVD's ability to "play" shitty flash games because they're jealous... they're hard on it because it's retarded.

To be fair, I quite like the idea of interactivity layers in HD media, and I do wish that BDA would get their asses into gear and settle on it sooner than later.
 

Christopher

Member
I'm on a Blu Ray binge before I go guys if anyone has the reviews are these movies "HD quality"?

Terminator
Terminator II
The Fifth Element
Pirates I and II

I have Casino Royale, and the transfer is ****ing beautiful...are the others so lucky?
 

Crayon Shinchan

Aquafina Fanboy
Christopher said:
I'm on a Blu Ray binge before I go guys if anyone has the reviews are these movies "HD quality"?

Terminator
Terminator II
The Fifth Element
Pirates I and II

I have Casino Royale, and the transfer is ****ing beautiful...are the others so lucky?

Fifth Element is poop

Pirates 1 and 2 are reference quality. Probably the best transfers on any format to date, sound and visually.
 

lupin23rd

Member
For those of you who are fully on board the HD train, what did you do with your DVDs?

I'm thinking of getting rid of most of my collection (for a number of reasons including moving to Blu-Ray) and wondered what the best way to get a good return on them is. Private sale? Pawn shop? Do any rental shops buy back DVDs? Bonus points if you guys know any chains in Canada that give a good return on used DVDs.

m
 

Raistlin

Post Count: 9999
Christopher said:
I'm on a Blu Ray binge before I go guys if anyone has the reviews are these movies "HD quality"?

Terminator
Terminator II
The Fifth Element
Pirates I and II

I have Casino Royale, and the transfer is ****ing beautiful...are the others so lucky?

Stay away from the 5th Element.

Supposedly Sony is going to re-releasing a new transfer ... but who knows when that will happen.

There is a rumor Sony will allow you to send in the old one for the better version, but it probably ain't worth the chance. I'd just wait to see if a new version comes out.
 

lupin23rd

Member
Crayon Shinchan said:
Fifth Element is poop

Pirates 1 and 2 are reference quality. Probably the best transfers on any format to date, sound and visually.

Fifth Element looks like it's getting re-released on 07/17. I did hear rumors there would be a free return for an upgrade campaign but not sure if that was legit.

m
 
lupin23rd said:
For those of you who are fully on board the HD train, what did you do with your DVDs?

I'm keeping them? I own a ton of DVDs, I see no need to replace most of them, aside from certain films by my favorite directors (Pedro Almodovar, Wong Kar-Wai, Jean Pieree Jeunet, Alfonso Cuaron, etc.).
 
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