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[mrklaw]

I've said this before, but dual format players is not in Toshibas interest either. If they become the defacto standard, then studios are free to choose to distribute in one format only, to save duplication and stocking costs etc. I will assume they'll choose bluray to keep the PS3 audience.

So a dual format future simply means that HDDVD loses as a medium to store movies, and the only benefit is for those purple/red fans to still be able to play their discs.

I don't see that as any kind of a solution really. The only solution where Toshiba continues to make money is for HDDVD to either win (not going to happen) or for both formats to continue as separate entities.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

The PS3 audience is huge (relatively) today, but will be marginal before too long.

I don't think Toshiba wants dual players to become a standard, but they probably prefer it to extinction.

 

[VanMardigan]

Ironic considering Microsoft's original claim for supporting HD-DVD was supposedly about respecting consumers.

And what was Sony's motivation, world peace? Please, we all know this is business.

I think WB is going to announce in Q1 2008, but I'm not expecting to hear it at CES. DVD sales are declining. Every studio has a vested interest in ending the format war. Thanks to the Blu Shutout of 2007, buying a victory is no longer plausible.

CES is when we ALL expected this. I don't see why WB would delay their decision past that. And to think that we're past the point of a buyout is laughably naive. When average HD movie sales are still less than 50k per title, $150-$200 million and above is still way more than any one studio can make off of this market in the next 18 months.

 

[StoOgE]

All I can say is that we'd damn well better hear about Batman Begins on Blu-ray at CES.

my guess is at this point you are waiting for TDK to hit theaters.

 

[Chemo]

my guess is at this point you are waiting for TDK to hit theaters.

Yeah, I'm betting that's when it's released... but I just want to hear about it. Some re-confirmation.

 

[VanMardigan]

I can't wait for the Blu fans here to get a load of Batman Begins on HD discs. Not only does it look fantastic, but the iME stuff is superb as well. Ditto for Matrix.

 

[theBishop]

And what was Sony's motivation, world peace? Please, we all know this is business.

I think their stated reasoning was superior technology. Of course in both situations, its about profit, no argument there. I just think its funny Microsoft thought anyone would believe their support of HD-DVD was remotely altruistic. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are both significantly worse than DVD, which was already a failure from a consumer-rights standpoint.

CES is when we ALL expected this. I don't see why WB would delay their decision past that. And to think that we're past the point of a buyout is laughably naive. When average HD movie sales are still less than 50k per title, $150-$200 million and above is still way more than any one studio can make off of this market in the next 18 months.

"Delay" implies that there was ever a target date to make such an announcement. Perhaps they haven't decided yet, or the terms are still being worked out, or whatever. As I recall, the Paramount announcement didn't come on any special day. Going by that, there's no historical reason to expect a huge sweeping announcement at a high-profile event.

Any buyout price at this point is going to be well below the potential sales revenue IF the format was was over. The war itself ranks high on the reasons why HD media sales are relatively low. Even $300 is not an outrageous price to pay for a set-top player if you know you've bought something that won't be completely useless the following year. DVD players sold quite well at that price.

When the 18 month Paramount deal was signed, the number crunchers at Paramount were probably able to determine that $150M guaranteed was a safer bet than the revenue on the next 18 months of Blu-Ray sales. I don't think any studio wants the format war to continue for another 18 months, these people are desperate for new revenue streams.

 

[v1cious]

We arent getting one format, unless BRD is consistenlty killing HDDVD, and Im not talking 70/30.

that's not enough? seriously, i don't understand this "war". i mean besides HD getting completely shut out of 2007, Blu-Ray still has Disney exclusive. that right there is enough to keep them ahead for a very long time. i just don't see how this is still going on.

 

[Kastro]

Id be interested in seeing if they update the codec on Batman Begins for Blu-Ray. The HD-DVD looks great but uses VC-1

 

[Chiggs]

i just don't see how this is still going on.

Well, HD-DVD would have been all but finished, but Toshiba went and moneyhatted Dreamworks/Paramount, and they accepted because it made financial sense to do so. Still, something like that is only temporary (unless WB decides to do something "funny"). If you believe Michael Bay, the real players in Hollywood don't really care about HD-DVD, anyway. It's viewed as an inferior tech.

 

[mollipen]

A newly mailed invitation to HD DVD's CES 2008 conference indicates that WHV executive(s) will be speaking.

*Warner exec walks on stage. Looks around a bit, taps microphone.*
WHV exect: ".......... WE OUT BITCHES!"
*knocks over mic, raises arms, walks offstage.*

But the retailers seem content to be dual format and the studios have all picked a side except Warner.

I can not at all believe that retailers are content with two formats. I wanted A Christmas Story on Blu-ray, but had to buy it from Amazon because no local retailer carried it. Now, I'm not saying I have PROOF that this is the reason, but when you're using a set amount of space to squeeze in two different product lines, some of which is complete duplication, doesn't that hamper the amount and variety of stock you can carry? If a retailer has, say, two shelves on which to stock HD media, doesn't it make them more competitive to use that space to carry twice as much content for one format, versus half the amount of content for two different formats, greatly reducing the variety?

 

[Xater]

*Warner exec walks on stage. Looks around a bit, taps microphone.*
WHV exect: ".......... WE OUT BITCHES!"
*knocks over mic, raises arms, walks offstage.*

What about the magazine rack? There has to be one that is overthrown!

 

[Forsete]

What about the magazine rack? There has to be one that is overthrown!

Leave that to the real pros, AVS Forum folks.

 

[DarkJediKnight]

Id be interested in seeing if they update the codec on Batman Begins for Blu-Ray. The HD-DVD looks great but uses VC-1

Having watched Batman on HD DVD on my 120" screen at 1080p, I can tell you that video quality is not an issue. Neither is audio. I know I'm one of the few people here who will jump on the "bandwidth" and "bitrate" wagon, but let me assure you, nothing needs to be done to Batman Begins.

Can it look sharper with more bitrate and space thrown at it? Maybe, but it's such a dark movie that I doubt Warner was challenged at all with the HD DVD specs.

And WTH is "but uses VC-1". VC-1 is great. As is AVC. Wanrer is the only company that has used only ONE codec. VC-1. All the other studios have experimented with codecs. I doubt they will change.

 

[VanMardigan]

I can not at all believe that retailers are content with two formats.

I would agree, except that retailers continue to stock discs for both formats. While all the pressure is on Warner Brothers, large retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart could also pick a side and end the war. As long as HD DVD's are selling (and the volume grows every week), it's going to be tough for retailers to simply stop offering it. You have to think that it's also true for Warner, which has sold hundreds of thousands of discs on both formats.

Everyone here talks about potential long term gains, but retailers are even less interested in playing kingmakers and sacrificing a format that is selling and giving up those sales to potentially sell more down the line. Especially when HD media is being offered in so many ways and there is no reason to assume that either format, even without competition, can approach the golden cow that was/is dvd.

And WTH is "but uses VC-1". VC-1 is great.

I think his assumption was that you couldn't use VC-1 on Blu Ray, not that it was crappy. But VC-1 is on the BDA specs, so that's not an issue.

 

[Oni Jazar]

"Delay" implies that there was ever a target date to make such an announcement. Perhaps they haven't decided yet, or the terms are still being worked out, or whatever. As I recall, the Paramount announcement didn't come on any special day. Going by that, there's no historical reason to expect a huge sweeping announcement at a high-profile event.

Any buyout price at this point is going to be well below the potential sales revenue IF the format was was over. The war itself ranks high on the reasons why HD media sales are relatively low. Even $300 is not an outrageous price to pay for a set-top player if you know you've bought something that won't be completely useless the following year. DVD players sold quite well at that price.

When the 18 month Paramount deal was signed, the number crunchers at Paramount were probably able to determine that $150M guaranteed was a safer bet than the revenue on the next 18 months of Blu-Ray sales. I don't think any studio wants the format war to continue for another 18 months, these people are desperate for new revenue streams.

Agreed 100%. If studios will look long term they can realize that there is a lot of potential money to be made, not millions but BILLIONS. Just about every analyst, blogger, reviewer, whatever is fed up with this war and that message gets sent to the consumer who backs off. I've always beleived that the HDM has a chance at making a big dent of DVD but only if there is a format that is affordable, reliable and unified.

 

[OokieSpookie]

What about the magazine rack? There has to be one that is overthrown!

Seeing the look on people's faces as someone carries a magazine rack to the stage before Warner's exec goes on would be gold.

 

[KZObsessed]

Top ten for Blu Ray and HD DVD

1. Pirates: At World's End / Disney
2. Harry Potter: Phoenix / Warner
3. Superbad / Sony
4. Casino Royale / Sony
5. Harry Potter 1-5 Gift Set / Warner
6. 300 / Warner
7. Spider-Man 3 / Sony
8. Planet Earth: Collection / BBC
9. Ratatouille / Disney
10. Live Free or Die Hard / Fox


1.Bourne Ultimatum / Universal
2. Harry Potter: Phoenix / Warner
3. Planet Earth: Collection / BBC
4. Transformers Dreamworks-Par
5. Harry Potter 1-5 Gift Set / Warner
6. Bourne Supremacy / Universal
7. Shrek the Third Dreamworks-Par
8. Batman Begins / Warner
9. Bourne Identity / Universal
10. 300 / Warner

Posted yet?

 

[VanMardigan]

The appearance of Casino Royale and Batman Begins on those top ten lists tells me that we have plenty of new owners on both formats.

 

[Oni Jazar]

So anyone experienced the online screening feature in the HD DVD version of Harry Potter 5?

 

[Jeff-DSA]

It irks me to see that Spider-Man 3 (pretty bad movie) is outselling Ratatouille (best movie of the year!). Do those numbers include PS3 pack-ins?

 

[KZObsessed]

It irks me to see that Spider-Man 3 (pretty bad movie) is outselling Ratatouille (best movie of the year!). Do those numbers include PS3 pack-ins?

Nope sorry.

 

[dankir]

Whens Advent Children and Sin City dropping on Blu Ray?

 

[theBishop]

It irks me to see that Spider-Man 3 (pretty bad movie) is outselling Ratatouille (best movie of the year!). Do those numbers include PS3 pack-ins?

Get used to it. Transformers is the biggest HD-DVD to date.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Get used to it. Transformers is the biggest HD-DVD to date.

At least Transformers is worthwhile. I know it's kinda silly, but it's a pretty fun film overall. Spider-Man 3 lagged, dragged, and induced the rolling of eyes time and time again.

I guess I shouldn't care, it's just that Ratatouille is just THAT GOOD.

 

[theBishop]

At least Transformers is worthwhile. I know it's kinda silly, but it's a pretty fun film overall. Spider-Man 3 lagged, dragged, and induced the rolling of eyes time and time again.

I guess I shouldn't care, it's just that Ratatouille is just THAT GOOD.

In my opinion Spider man 3 and Transformers are equally terrible. I wouldn't buy either of them.


But I've given up on the masses buying anything quality in large numbers. Some times, it happens, but you can't count on it.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I liked SM3 a lot more than Transformers. I think if you weren't into the cartoon, there's not much to recommend it. Both movies did about the same box office and got about the same reviews.

But yeah, Rataouille ought to have done better, if quality = sales. For that matter, I doubt No Country for Old Men will outsell any of these, and I thought it was better than all of them. And Children of Men is probably the best HD-DVD release of the year, but gets outsold by mediocre pretty crap like 300. *shrugs*

 

[OokieSpookie]

In my opinion Spider man 3 and Transformers are equally terrible. I wouldn't buy either of them.


But I've given up on the masses buying anything quality in large numbers. Some times, it happens, but you can't count on it.

I agree, both are disposable garbage that equally kick their source materials in the pills.

 

[XMonkey]

All I can say is that we'd damn well better hear about Batman Begins on Blu-ray at CES.

Aye, now that the majority of Bluray players are profile 1.1 they have no excuses.

 

[Raistlin]

At least Transformers is worthwhile. I know it's kinda silly, but it's a pretty fun film overall. Spider-Man 3 lagged, dragged, and induced the rolling of eyes time and time again.

While that may be true, I would guess that a large number of sales are going to people that are completing the trilogy.

Otherwise, it would be like buying 2 of the 3 Pirates movies.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

At least Transformers is worthwhile. I know it's kinda silly, but it's a pretty fun film overall. Spider-Man 3 lagged, dragged, and induced the rolling of eyes time and time again.

I guess I shouldn't care, it's just that Ratatouille is just THAT GOOD.

Hence why it was awesome for me. Amazing visuals, grandiose, humorous, love the score, crazy ambitious epic action; nice to see what $150 million actually looked like on screen.

I agree, both are disposable garbage that equally kick their source materials in the pills.

Unless you are really hung over the the killer of Ben Parker bit in SM3, no, not really. And Transformers was way better treatment than it deserved to be as a film considering the "source material."

 

[mollipen]

Unless you are really hung over the the killer of Ben Parker bit in SM3, no, not really. And Transformers was way better treatment than it deserved to be as a film considering the "source material."

So, wait... are you saying that Spider-man is for some reason so much higher on the class scale than Transformers is? I'd say they're pretty close to being even.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

So, wait... are you saying that Spider-man is for some reason so much higher on the class scale than Transformers is? I'd say they're pretty close to being even.

No, I'm not really stressing that part. I sorry if I wasn't clear. I like what I like but it's really in regards to the respects about source material bit in my previous post.

Spider-man being one of the biggest comic icons in world with such a long history both good and bad. Being a kid in the 90's say how bad it got for Spidey books when Marvel seemed like it tried it's damnedest to destroy Spider-man, coupled with all the retcons over the years and there with being even an Ultimate universe to derive Spider-man adaptations from, and seeing people complain about organic webshooters and nonradioactive spiders the first film around, it seems funny about the source material bit.

As for Transformers, thinking about adapting a series that got changed ever "generation" series after GI that involved warring giant talking alien robots created to sell a toyline given the handled to Steven Spielberg and Micheal Bay to greenlight for a $150 million film, well you get what I mean about treatment.

 

[OokieSpookie]

Hence why it was awesome for me. Amazing visuals, grandiose, humorous, love the score, crazy ambitious epic action; nice to see what $150 million actually looked like on screen.



Unless you are really hung over the the killer of Ben Parker bit in SM3, no, not really. And Transformers was way better treatment than it deserved to be as a film considering the "source material."

Let me tell you about a guy named Eddie Brock, and an alien symbiote that found its way to him.
Where did it come from? Not a meteor in the park.
Let me tell you about someone named Gwen Stacey, who is a core part of the Spiderman mythos and is not who we saw in the movie.
I will not even go into the ending.
The Ben Parker thing was light.

Transformers could have been greatness.
I do not care about the remodels, I care about the complete crap between credits.
Ghetto Jazz? Bumblebee peeing on fbi? Prime getting beat easily and saved by some idiot kid?
All I have to say is Megan Fox, and Peter Cullen...the only two things that made the movie even tolerable in small doses.

 

[captive]

Awesome all my movies are here, including Blade Runner. Dont know why so many people were having a problem getting it from Amazon.

 

[steve]

I liked SM3 a lot more than Transformers. I think if you weren't into the cartoon, there's not much to recommend it. Both movies did about the same box office and got about the same reviews.

But yeah, Rataouille ought to have done better, if quality = sales. For that matter, I doubt No Country for Old Men will outsell any of these, and I thought it was better than all of them. And Children of Men is probably the best HD-DVD release of the year, but gets outsold by mediocre pretty crap like 300. *shrugs*

Release Children of Men on BD and I'd buy it one day one. DAY ONE.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

I've considered importing it, and I *really* don't want to start down that path.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

I've considered importing it, and I *really* don't want to start down that path.

What path? Buying movies you're actually interested in?

 

[kaching]

But yeah, Rataouille ought to have done better, if quality = sales. For that matter, I doubt No Country for Old Men will outsell any of these, and I thought it was better than all of them. And Children of Men is probably the best HD-DVD release of the year, but gets outsold by mediocre pretty crap like 300. *shrugs*

I think to some extent there's a difference here between quality and (re)watchability sometimes. I mean, if I built my personal movie library off of strictly what I considered to be the best movies I've seen, it would be significantly different than the one I have. Some movies are fantastic, thought-provoking, moving and all that but I just can't see myself watching them again. So if I'm going to repay for a movie I've already seen, I'd generally like it to be a movie I'm fairly sure I'd like to rewatch.

 

[dallow_bg]

What path? Buying movies you're actually interested in?

Paying premiums for something when patience can save you some cash. (possibly)

 

[KZObsessed]

Very cool PS3 Blu-Ray ad that's now airing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqdMIilf7BU

Should help with the ignorant masses.

 

[OokieSpookie]

Now that nakey Pirates are making their way to blu, the take over is nearly complete...

DIGITAL PLAYGROUND GOES BLU-RAY® WITH “PIRATES”

Blockbuster Adult Feature is DP’s First Blu-ray Release

December 20, 2007 --- VAN NUYS, Calif. ---
Digital Playground today announced its premiere release of “Pirates” on the Blu-ray format just in time to satisfy demand from all the new Blu-ray player and PS3 gift recipients this holiday. Now available for the first time in full HD 1080p “Pirates,” the record-breaking, multi-award-winning adult feature, will ship on January 4, 2008. The most expensive adult effort yet produced, “Pirates” was lauded with awards from every associated panel, notably a record-breaking 13 from AVN, including Best Selling and Best Rental title honors. Building upon the success of the film within its traditional market, the studio received an R-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America® (MPAA), thus gaining mainstream recognition and distribution.

Samantha Lewis, Digital Playground CEO comments, “We’re excited to release ‘Pirates’ on Blu-ray. In today’s high-definition market our priority has always been consumer choice. We believe it’s important to allow the consumer the option to make a purchase regardless of format. We look forward to preparing new titles for release in the Blu-ray format.”

Joone, Digital Playground Co-Founder and award-winning Director comments, “The Blu-ray format is an excellent fit for ‘Pirates’ as this feature offers a multitude of bonus features. The format’s extra capacity, and advanced video and audio qualities, allows Digital Playground to deliver an unparalleled HD 1080p experience to consumers.”

PIRATES (BR)

From award-winning director Joone comes the largest epic in the history of adult films. Available for the first time in full HD 1080p, this electrifying, swashbuckling, very sexy adventure takes you on a humorous and mystical journey through haunted seas and deep into an abyss of our most lustful desires. “Pirates” applies Blu-ray’s pristine picture quality and superior surround sound with its deadly swordplay, skeleton warriors, awe-inspiring Incan magic, grandiose sea battles and ten of the most arousing sex scenes in the history of erotic cinema. Added value features on “Pirates” are also available in HD 1080p and include:

• Behind-the-Scenes Footage in HD

• Visual FX “Making Of”

• Audio Commentary with the Stars

• Bloopers

• Pirates Short

• Casting Video

• Trailers

• Photo Gallery/Bios

• Chapter Index

• 16x9 Widescreen Format

• Audio: True 5.1 Digital Surround Sound

• No regional coding

Synopsis: “Pirates” is the 18th-century story of Isabella (Carmen Luvana) and her new husband Manuel Valenzuela (Kris Slater). On their wedding night, they make their way across the sea to his new job at a trading post in the Caribbean. Unbeknownst to either of the newlyweds, Manuel possesses an inherited power for which renegade pirate Capt. Victor Stagnetti (Tommy Gunn) and his mate Serena (Janine) lust. Capt. Stagnetti and his pirate crew board the ship carrying the young couple, kidnap Manuel, and set Isabella afloat assuming that she'll drown. Fortunately, pirate hunters Capt. Edward Reynolds (Evan Stone) and his first-mate Jules (Jesse Jane) rescue Isabella from the ravages of the sea. In due course, Capt. Reynolds and his crew follow the pirates into a forbidding cave, do battle with an army of skeleton warriors assigned from antiquity to protect the cave and its contents, reunite Isabella and Manuel, and sink the pirate ship and its mates.

About Blu-ray:
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), and is supported by more than 170 of the world’s leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers, video game and music companies, and major movie studios. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data.

 

[DarkJediKnight]

Now that nakey Pirates are making their way to blu, the take over is nearly complete...

Pff... Softcore porn! Big deal!

 

[OokieSpookie]

Pff... Softcore porn! Big deal!

This better not be the softcore version or someone is walking the plank...

(Main big deal is that this is the title that alot of asshats were using to show that hd would win because of port support, it's studio until now was hd-dvd only)

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

What path? Buying movies you're actually interested in?

No, spending large amounts because I'm too impatient to wait to see if this will ever come to Blu.

 

[gandda]

Transformers is easily 10 times more watchable than Spider-Man 3.

I would rather own X-Men 3 on Blu-ray, if I had to own either at all. That's saying a lot.

I would rather stand through another Peter Jackson movie than watch another Sam Raimi movie. That, also, is saying a lot.

Warner going HD-DVD exclusive would make the purchase of a Xbox 360 that much easier to bare. I'm just waiting for the announcement to make sure it's set in stone; better safe than sorry.

:lol @ people getting their hopes up about Warner going Blu-ray exclusive. Toshiba's going to moneyhat them like crazy.

 

[AlteredBeast]

Transformers is easily 10 times more watchable than Spider-Man 3.

I would rather own X-Men 3 on Blu-ray, if I had to own either at all. That's saying a lot.

I would rather stand through another Peter Jackson movie than watch another Sam Raimi movie. That, also, is saying a lot.

Warner going HD-DVD exclusive would make the purchase of a Xbox 360 that much easier to bare. I'm just waiting for the announcement to make sure it's set in stone; better safe than sorry.

:lol @ people getting their hopes up about Warner going Blu-ray exclusive. Toshiba's going to moneyhat them like crazy.

I just want this war to end...if Warner goes HD-DVD exclusive, it will just extend it a LONG time. Toshiba would have to give them a lot of money for an exclusivity period. Then, of course, the two formats would be pretty equal studio support wise and then dual-format players would become the standalone norm.

 

[gandda]

Toshiba will give Warner way more than what Paramount got. Too much money has already been spent for it to all go to waste now.

Microsoft supposedly has a vested interest in prolonging the format war. What better way for Microsoft to prolong it than to even up the studio support?

Paramount was just a stepping stone.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Wow, you seem to know what dozens of journalists and insiders don't!

 

[gandda]

It's called being able to see the moves before the pieces are played.

You should try it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a Hulu invitation to attend to, just like Microsoft intended.