Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

don't read anything into first generation Blu-Ray movies because the compression codecs weren't up to par. Movies you should actually take a look at as far as blu-ray is concerned start with Black Hawk Down, move to Kingdom of Heaven ect... Movies that were released around early November. I'll be the first to admit those early release are only the quality of a DVD player.

Has anyone checked out Blu-Wizard in Black Hawk down, thats a cool feature.

Black Hawk Down looks amazing, I only rented it, but I was very disappointed in the release. I have the 3 disc SE, and the movie is so great, but it needs those 2 discs of features. I'll wait for the eventual SE of Black Hawk Down to hit Blu Ray. BHD only having the movie and the making of feature on the Blu Ray release just won't cut a buy from me.

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Sony's really going to get themselves in trouble with all these bare-bones BD releases. I personally don't care much about the extras and will pay for a movie-only BD release because of the improved A/V alone. But I know many others demand more from these discs and studios really need to pack some extras on these releases if they want average joe consumer to shell out a $40 list price on them.

I watched Superman Returns last night on BD. Fan-freaking-tastic. Some have said that the picture is almost too good to the point where it looks artificial, but I didn't think so. As far as the movie goes, I thought Brandon Routh did a great job in the role with the way he captured all of Christopher Reeve's awkward mannerisms as Clark Kent. And I was very pleased that they were able to use John Williams' original theme. All in all, a really good movie.

[backbreaker]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Black Hawk Down looks amazing, I only rented it, but I was very disappointed in the release. I have the 3 disc SE, and the movie is so great, but it needs those 2 discs of features. I'll wait for the eventual SE of Black Hawk Down to hit Blu Ray. BHD only having the movie and the making of feature on the Blu Ray release just won't cut a buy from me.

Yep, the same goes for Kingdom of Heaven, I have it on reg-dvd because of all the SE features. Like History vs. Hollywood and the AE, vinyette on the Crusades. They do need to step their game up on SE features.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Pretty cool link. Has regular version images of LOTR on regular dvd's and then when you mouse over, it turns to the HD DVD version. Very impressive, especially when you look at the faces of the characters.

http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Pretty cool link. Has regular version images of LOTR on regular dvd's and then when you mouse over, it turns to the HD DVD version. Very impressive, especially when you look at the faces of the characters.

http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

Correction:

That's from a HD source, but not off a HD-DVD.

It's taken from a broadcast on either Starz, TNT, or WB. Resolution of the broadcast(s) were probably 1080i.

EDIT: Probably ripped from TNT-HD, as they just broadcasted the trilogy in HD over the weekend.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20061206tnt01

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I'm wondering if LOTR will be announced at CES. New Line hasn't went with either format yet, I'm guessing they'll do both though. Blu Ray could win this war next year if they do one thing, get Star Wars out since Fox is Blu Ray only.

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

If LOTR does get annouced at CES, it's going to be as a distant horizon project. Per IGN a few weeks ago, Peter Jackson has requested access to all gazillion feet of footage they shot for the trilogy with the intention of making a huge documentary about the journey of making the three films.

They also have apparently been saving some of the best extras for the inevitable HD release and they've made it a point to not repeat any extras each time they've released the movies on regular DVD. So while we may be waiting a while, these discs are likely to be so crammed full of worthwhile extras as to be worth the wait.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

can't wait to pick up we were soldiers on hd dvd. i love that movie.

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I was waiting for more HD-DVD news to keep the thread balanced, but the wires have had mostly blu-ray stories this week..

Sony's Ken Kutaragi promises a more AV-centric PS3 (ala the PS2's counterpart, the official PSX)

http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/12/20/ken-kutaragi-sez-i-promise-an-av-centric-ps3/

Sony has patched their BWU-100A drives to play movies

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12/19/sony_posts_bluray_burner_patch/

No Blu-ray laser diodes, Sony? No problem--Sharp starts stand-alone production of lasers

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyid=2006-12-19T040043Z_01_ROB914390_RTRUKOC_0_US-SHARP-BLUELASER.xml&src=rss

[WHAT CAME OUT..YESTERDAY]

Blu-ray

* All the King's Men (Sony)
* Flightplan (Buena Vista)
* Invincible (Buena Vista)
* Lady in the Water (Warner)
* Pearl Harbor (Buena Vista)
* The Sopranos: Season Six, Part One (Warner)

HD DVD

* Casino (Universal)
* Derailed (Genius)
* Jet Li's Fearless (Universal)
* Lady in the Water (Warner)
* The Matador (Weinstein)
* Scary Movie 4 (Weinstein)
* The Scorpion King (Universal)
* The Sopranos: Season Six, Part One (Warner)
* Wolf Creek (Weinstein)

[Total Titles Available]
HD DVD - 145
Blu-ray - 127

[Skerik]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

It's also worth noting that Flightplan is Disney's first VC-1-encoded BD release.

I've also heard that the audio track on Pearl Harbor is totally impressive. I won't be getting the movie, but the attack sequence could serve as good reference disc material for anyone interested.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

It's also worth noting that Flightplan is Disney's first VC-1-encoded BD release.

I've also heard that the audio track on Pearl Harbor is totally impressive. I won't be getting the movie, but the attack sequence could serve as good reference disc material for anyone interested.

I read the same thing, shame it's on such a bad, bad movie.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Well my HD DVD library is growing and I don't even have the dang player yet. We were Soldiers, Italian Job, Bourne Supremacy (for the car chase alone), Goodfellas, Last Samurai and my favorite Christmas vacation so far. Best of all, they were all Christmas presents so they didn't cost me a dime. I wish Black Hawk Down was on HD. Awesome, awesome movie.

[ODogg]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Well my HD DVD library is growing and I don't even have the dang player yet. We were Soldiers, Italian Job, Bourne Supremacy (for the car chase alone), Goodfellas, Last Samurai and my favorite Christmas vacation so far. Best of all, they were all Christmas presents so they didn't cost me a dime. I wish Black Hawk Down was on HD. Awesome, awesome movie.

You need Saving Private Ryan, best war movie ever.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

You need Saving Private Ryan, best war movie ever.

agreed, one of my all time favorites. its on hd dvd?? I haven't seen it listed anywhere.

[ODogg]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

agreed, one of my all time favorites. its on hd dvd?? I haven't seen it listed anywhere.

I don't know, I would hope so as it's one of the first I want to get when I buy the 360 add-on.