Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Where is the best place to go Online for cheap blu-rays?

Here in Canada they are priced very high so I am looking for some deals.

Thanks

I don't know about Canada, but eBay, Amazon.com, and buy.com w/Google checkout (may require some "extra work") are my weapons of choice.

B&M's wildly hit or miss. I was at a Wal-Mart, and saw a few older blu-ray titles (The Terminator, The Italian Job, Rocky, etc.) for $14.99.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Watched a few episodes of the Heroes HD set and it's quite nice. The number of extras added is solid as well. Definitely worth the $60.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

For those with standalone players (or maybe the add-on), how can you get rid of the "U-Control" thing? I was watching 'Heroes', checked out the helix thing (a "U-Connect" feature I guess) and then after going back to the main menu and starting the episode, the little "U" with the circle around it stayed on the screen. I ended up stopping playback and re-starting the disc.

Any help? I have the Toshiba A20 using the packed in remote.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Fox Confirms Delay For 'Master & Commander,' 'Amityville Horror' Blu-ray

As previously announced, Fox had planned to debut 'Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World' and the original 1979 version of 'The Amityville Horror' on high-def this fall (on October 2 and October 9, respectively), as part of its extensive fourth-quarter Blu-ray release blitz.

Now, amidst mounting online speculation, Fox has confirmed that both titles have been pulled from their Blu-ray schedule.

FOX is a bunch of jokers and not supporting hi-def like they should be. I was looking forward to Amityville even though its an older film.

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Top Studio Execs Spar Over Blu-ray, HD DVD

The high-def format war hit new heights yesterday as CEOs representing Disney, Fox, Paramount and Warner all weighed in on the ongoing battle for next-gen supremacy.

Each of the execs made their comments during an investor conference in New York sponsored by Goldman Sachs, and if there was any doubt that the format war wasn't being discussed at the highest levels of these companies, it can be put to rest.

Making the strongest statements were Disney's Robert Iger and Fox's Rupert Murdoch, who each reaffirmed their companies' support for Blu-ray, while criticising Paramount's recent decision to support HD DVD only.

"The public is going to want Blu-ray. The public can tell the difference," said Murdoch. "Paramount switched out the other day. God knows why."

Disney's Iger concurred. "We believe it's a no-brainer that the industry should be behind Blu-ray." The exec went on to state that his company had not taken any money to choose Blu-ray.

Meanwhile, Philippe Dauman, the CEO of Viacom (which owns Paramount) defended his company's decision to support HD DVD only, saying that supporting both formats "creates some inherent inefficiencies, and we would like to see the HD format have success." Dauman refused comment on reports that Paramount/DreamWorks had received $150 million dollars in exchange for its exclusive support of HD DVD.

For its part, Warner emphasized its agnostic stance in the format war, with Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons saying it's still too early to predict which side will win.

"The consumer doesn't care about the format. It's linear penetration that counts," said Parsons. "Our objective is not to take sides on the format but to do what we need to do to get maximum penetration."

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

First Halloween Blu-Ray Review

However, I doubt that you ever have seen "Halloween" quite like on this Blu-Ray Disc from Anchor Bay Entertainment. While the DVD versions did a great job in terms of color reproduction and overall clarity, this high definition transfer adds an entire new dimension of detail to the presentation. It is safe to say that the look removes all signs of age from the movie, making it look as if it were shot yesterday. I swear, if you give it its first look you will not believe that you are watching a film that is close to 30 years old!

The transfer is incredibly sharp and holds every bit of detail, even in murky and underlit conditions. I thought the restored DVD version was amazing – until I saw this Blu-Ray version. Prepare yourself to count the lines on the wallpaper in the Myers house, for example, as every bit of the wallpaper pattern and texture is clearly visible. You will single blades of grass in the shots of Laurie walking home from school and you can count the leaves on the trees. Unbelievably, this transfer adds another level of detail to the presentation that you thought was pristine before. I can't even put into words, how fans of the movie will enjoy this!

To perfectly complement the video presentation, Anchor Bay has put a 5.1 channel PCM track on the disc. Just to reiterate, PCM audio is as good as it gets. This is master quality sound, exactly as it has been mixed down by the sound engineers. Most of you are by now familiar with the 5.1 remix that Anchor Bay did on the film a few years ago, but let me assure you that you will want to here this PCM presentation. It will give you goose bumps.

First Dawn of the Dead BluRay Review

Savini's special effects were, occasionally they do not stand up to the close scrutiny of a 1080p transfer for which they were never designed. If you sit back, turn off that analytic mindset and simply enjoy the movie for what it is, you won't even notice these shortcoming and simply be blown away by the film's new level of detail and look.

It has been transferred in a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio on this release and absolutely faithfully reproduces the movie's somewhat pastel shades and seventies acid fashion colors. As a result of the incredible color reproduction you will notice that blood squirts will also have renewed energy to themselves, but also that the blue-ish facial make-up does look a tad artificial at times. But, no sweat, we love the movie with all its shortcoming because overall it is simply a towering achievement.

The Blu-Ray version comes also with an uncompressed 5.1 channel PCM audio track, offering you the best possible presentation ever, as well as a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix and the original mono track. Comparing the original track to the 5.1 remix in its PCM form, you will be amazed how much the film oftentimes benefits from the spatial integration of effects and the creepy music. Granted, "The Goblins'" psychedelic synth clusters are totally outdated for today's standards and yet they manage to bring the message home and lend contemporary credibility to the film.

Also included on the release is a commentary track that is culled from the DVD Ultimate Edition and features writer/director George A. Romero, Tom Savini, assistant director Chris Romero and DVD producer Perry Martin.

"The Dead Will Walk" is a featurette, also from the Ultimate Edition DVD, that has also been carried over. Further you will find the Monroeville Mall Tour, the Monroeville Mall Commercial, On-set Home Movies and a variety of trailers, and spots on the disc.

As a Blu-Ray exclusive the disc also features a "Fast Film Facts" trivia track that holds a lot of information about the movie's production and participants. Most of it has been relayed in countless interviews and featurettes over the course of the years, of course, but it is nonetheless nice to have all the tidbits together accompanying the film.

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It sounds like Starz (Anchor Bay) has done a great job on the transfers. I think that I'll be picking these up.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Watched Dawn of the Dead on HD-DVD. Pretty impressive transfer. Audio was particularly good.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Watched Dawn of the Dead on HD-DVD. Pretty impressive transfer. Audio was particularly good.

Wrong Dawn of the Dead. The Blu-ray version is the original, you saw the remake (Which I believe is the superior film, shh, don't tell anyone).

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Wrong Dawn of the Dead. The Blu-ray version is the original, you saw the remake (Which I believe is the superior film, shh, don't tell anyone).

Yeah, don't tell me about that one. While the remake was good, nowhere near as good as the original.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Superbad coming to blu-ray in December.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Sony/Disc_Announcements/Superbad_Bound_For_Blu-ray_this_December/989

$43.95!? WTF Sony!

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Superbad's MSRP is only a few bucks over the average HD DVD & Blu Ray MSRP (typically $39.99). No one in their right mind pays MSRP for DVDs, blu-rays, or HD DVDs anyhow.

Wrong Dawn of the Dead. The Blu-ray version is the original, you saw the remake (Which I believe is the superior film, shh, don't tell anyone).

Blasphemy.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Superbad's MSRP is only a few bucks over the average HD DVD & Blu Ray MSRP (typically $39.99). No one in their right mind pays MSRP for DVDs, blu-rays, or HD DVDs anyhow.



Blasphemy.

Oh, I know, but there's no reason for them to jack it up 4 to 9 bucks over the average MSRP release. It has 2 discs, so have other releases. Just like the ridiculous Spiderman 3 $49.95 MSRP.

I love the original Dawn of the Dead, but for some reason, I had a ton of fun and watch the remake more often. Just was a fun movie for me, without the "life lesson" that Romero tries to sneak into his movies.

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Very true. I guess Sony wants to milk its biggest titles for all they have.

I'm all about overanalyzing stuff, so maybe that's why I don't mind "life lessons", but I agree that the remake is a fun movie.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Very true. I guess Sony wants to milk its biggest titles for all they have.

I'm all about overanalyzing stuff, so maybe that's why I don't mind "life lessons", but I agree that the remake is a fun movie.

In reality, other than the mall and the amount of people, the Dawn of the Dead remake could have just been another movie in the series. Maybe Dusk of the Dead? LOL

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Oh, I know, but there's no reason for them to jack it up 4 to 9 bucks over the average MSRP release. It has 2 discs, so have other releases. Just like the ridiculous Spiderman 3 $49.95 MSRP.

I love the original Dawn of the Dead, but for some reason, I had a ton of fun and watch the remake more often. Just was a fun movie for me, without the "life lesson" that Romero tries to sneak into his movies.

In reality, other than the mall and the amount of people, the Dawn of the Dead remake could have just been another movie in the series. Maybe Dusk of the Dead? LOL

The remake was very well done for Dawn and I wish there was a sequel to it based off of the island that they sailed to. They did a good job taking elements from the original and incorporating new ones taking a risk with the direction. The head security guard did remind me a bit of Captain Rhodes character from Day of the Dead.

Also in the remake of Dawn, I really like how they link their movie to Romero's Night with the explosion of the gas station which is running during the news reports in the first movie.

I hope that the remake of Day of the Dead turns out to be good.

Night of the Living Dead 3D with Sid Haig should be releasing soon, I've read some good stuff about that one so lets see.