HD DVD Announces New Release Schedule and Hardware Price Red

Post by **Shane** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:45 am

The top studios backing HD DVD, including Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Paramount Home Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Genius Products, and Eagle Rock Entertainment today announced more than 70 specific titles and release windows through July 2007. With movie titles like Smokin' Aces, The Complete Matrix Trilogy, and DreamGirls, HD DVD continues to deliver on promises made to fans of high definition. Additional titles for the remainder of 2007 will be announced this summer.

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/03/hd_dvd_announce.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

AlanBrown · Post by **AlanBrown** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:03 pm

Can someone please explain to me why there is so much relative crap on this HD DVD release list? Are these really the titles these studios think will attract early adopters and inspire enthusiasm among commited and moneyed movie fans?

This list is pitiful! Surely these studios have more siginificant works of cinematic art than: 'Smokin' Aces', 'A Scanner Darkly', 'School For Scoundrels', 'Smokey & The Bandit', etc., etc. Are these the biggest ticket sellers in their catalog? Did any of these receive award nominations for cinematography?

There may be a sensible and logical explanation. Until then, I'm baffled and dissappointed. Perhaps I need to switch to Bluray. This reminds me of the fact that one of the very earliest releases on DVD was 'A Boy And His Dog.'

Best regards and beautiful pictures,
Alan Brown, President
CinemaQuest, Inc.
www.cinemaquestinc.com

"Advancing the art and science of electronic imaging"

Post by **Shane** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:25 pm

The answer I got was that they didn't want to practice on the good stuff. I'm not sure that was meant for quote, so I won't cite a source. Sounds logical, even if slightly disappointing.

This applies to both HD DVD and Blu-ray.

- Shane

AlanBrown · Post by **AlanBrown** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:50 pm

Thanks, Shane. That makes a nice story. They know their business better than I do, at least on the production side. I certainly question their marketing strategy.

film11 · Post by **film11** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:23 am

You kidding. This is a far-better listing than ANYTHING I see announced for Blu-Ray (Heck, BR hasn't even come forward with the Bond titles) and is one reason I'd select HD-DVD over BR.

Good mix of older classics (BATTLE OF BULGE, DOG DAY AFTERNOON,UNTOUCHABLES) to cult films (FEAST, DARKMAN), the long-anticipated new cut of PAYBACK, as well as more mainstream fare. Not to mention the visual extravaganzas like THE MATRIX series. I'm especially tickled by MYSTERY MEN. Yes I know...far from a great film...but it's always kind of been a guilty pleasure. And it's the sort of thing one would not expect to see on HD for years! (And yes...I'd buy A BOY AND HIS DOG!) My big question...will Peter Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS be the expanded version or the theatrical cut?

AlanBrown · Post by **AlanBrown** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:04 am

I not kidding. What many of us are concerned about here is the success or failure of not just one format or the other, but the continuing useability of the equipment we've invested in. There will always be a small percentage of film fans who appreciate the more obscure works. That's great for them, but why not issue the titles with wider appeal at the outset? I would prefer the studios supporting HD DVD give us their premium catalog first.

film11 · Post by **film11** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:06 am

Actually, what I was trying to saym is that i think the studios are doing a better job of mixing "wide-acceptance" title, with classics and more-obscure titles. For example, the first two SUPERMAN films have been relased on HD-DVD. Hear any announcement of the SPIDER-MAN films on BR?

I'd consider the Collector's edition of FLAGS, the MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE films, 40-YEAR OLD VIRGIN, the Jim Carrey titles, etc. etc. as fitting in to the wide-acceptance category. Sure, there are other titles I'd like to see. Be nice if New Line got in with the LOTR films. (And even if they did, I'll bet they'd only offer the theatrical versions instead of the expanded ones at the outset anyway.) But I'm betting there'll be a bigger push during the holiday season, as usual! I just feel that the title selection for HD-DVD is more diverse and appealing than what BR has offered so far.

stevekaden · Post by **stevekaden** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:13 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a lot of studio-producer-agent politics/contract clauses going on in the choices as well.