Paramount Titles Going Blu-ray
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Animation, Drama, Family, Science Fiction, Comedy, Technology,
After declaring loyalty to HD DVD last year, Paramount has unfortunately been forced to switch gears thanks to the format’s demise. Here are a few Blu-ray titles the studio now plans to release in the upcoming months:
May 20
- Bee Movie, Face/Off, Next
June 3
- Cloverfield, There Will Be Blood
June 24
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
Reuters
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Toshiba Stops HD DVD Production
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Picturehouse, Universal, Corporate Shakeups, Home Entertainment, Technology,
It’s official. HD DVD is DOA.
Toshiba finally announced Tuesday what had been rumored for days—it is pulling out of the high-definition market. Although the HD DVD system preceded Sony’s product, Blu-ray sales have steadily outpaced its competitor.
In the past few months, major studios have aligned themselves with the Sony brand. Even though Paramount and Universal continued to offer their titles on HD DVD, it was clear the Toshiba format was being crippled.
Recent decisions made by Wal-Mart and Netflix helped drive a nail into the HD DVD coffin. The companies announced they would no longer be making the high-def option available to its customers.
Shipments of the Toshiba systems will wrap up by March.
Hollywood Reporter
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: February 05, 2008
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Adaptation, Classics, Documentary, Drama, Foreign, Music, Musicals, Religious, Satire, Comedy, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, New Releases,
As the 80th Annual Academy Awards inch ever closer, some of us are still scrambling to see the contenders in question before the big night. Those anxious to see their favorites before the inevitable acceptance speech or scowl-behind-forced-smile have the chance to watch a few in high-def this week.
On HD DVD is Elizabeth: The Golden Age, nominated for Cate Blanchett‘s performance and the opulent costumes. On Blu-ray are Across the Universe, nominated for its costumes, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, nominated for Casey Affleck‘s supporting performance.
Look for other nominees, brought to you in crystal clear high definition, throughout the month.
Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: February 05, 2008
Thousands Sign Petition to Save HD DVD
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Paramount, Universal, Warner Bros, Corporate Shakeups, Home Entertainment, Technology,
Impassioned high-definitionites are still fighting to save their precious HD DVD with an online petition. Beginning January 5, the outcry had hoped to urge Warner Home Entertainment to reconsider its recent decision to go Blu-ray, after long-time indecisiveness regarding the format war.
Petitioners also hope the two remaining studios, Paramount and Universal, will see that HD DVD has many supporters and shouldn’t be relegated to history along with Betamax.
Many people have left comments vilifying Warner for allegedly choosing money over consumer choice. Some even swore to never buy another Warner-related film. To be sure, the decision dealt a mighty blow to HD DVD owners; it is clear they feel passionately.
As of this writing, the petition had topped nearly 14,000—not bad considering its short existence—though one wonders what it would take to convince a monolithic conglomerate like Warner.
If you want to do your part to keep HD DVD alive, or if you simply like the competition, sign the petition. Or if you’re ready for the format war to end— eschewing consumer choice and embracing monopoly—you can always sign the Let HD DVD Die Petition.
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Lionsgate, New Line, Adaptation, Documentary, Drama, Independent, Religious, Satire, Comedy, Home Entertainment, New Releases,
Alright, yes—this article should have been written yesterday. But despite my lack of punctuality, I’ve decided to go ahead and post it anyway as part of a New Year’s resolution to write more. And this is a slow time for film in general, so I think I deserve a reprieve.
To be perfectly honest, little jumps out at me this week. We have the hilarious, slightly esoteric The Ten, helmed by some The State alumni and starring, well, just about everyone. Is there anything else worth mentioning? Could Girls Gone Wild: Baby Bash—Live and Uncensored be the best Blu-ray title this week? That seems a bit sad, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, HD DVD patrons—if you were looking for some girl-on-girl action, hold out until February 12th when it releases in your format.
I can’t wait for these sluggish few weeks to pass.
Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 15, 2008
HD DVD Owners Lose New Line, HBO
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: New Line, Warner Bros, Home Entertainment, Technology,
Just days after Warner Home Video announced it was abandoning HD DVD owners, others have chosen to jump ship.
HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment will both be following their distribution partner’s lead and go completely Blu-ray. Up until now, the two companies had been releasing high-definition titles under both formats.
Those with the Toshiba system should probably make a point of purchasing The Sopranos (Season 6) and Pan’s Labyrinth to keep in their HD DVD time capsule.
Hollywood Reporter
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 08, 2008
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Foreign Language, Horror, Independent, Science Fiction, Sequels, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, New Releases,
This week marks the release of the first batch of high-definition DVDs since on-the-fence Warner landed decidedly on the Blu side; I must admit, as an HD DVD man, the day feels a bit colder than normal. But no matter—the format war is far from over.
On a lighter note, both formats have some exciting titles to speak of, including the Blu-ray release of one of my favorite movies from 2007, Sunshine; Roman Polanski’s Oscar-winning film, The Pianist, on HD DVD; and the long-awaited special edition of David Fincher’s Zodiac, also on HD DVD. The DVD release from July contained nary a special feature, so this two-disc director’s cut ought to please those Fincher fans waiting for a decent version.
Check out the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: January 08, 2008
Warner Titles Go Blu-ray
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks, Disney, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Corporate Shakeups, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Technology,
Warner Home Video - the last major studio to spread the love between both Blu-ray and HD DVD - has finally chosen to consolidate. Unfortunately, its a decision owners of the Toshiba system aren’t going to like. As of May 2008, high definition titles released by the company will be Blu-ray exclusive.
This a major blow for the HD DVD camp which is now fighting a lopsided battle. Although Paramount Studios (with Dreamworks) announced back in August that it was joining the underdog’s team, it is now only one of two major studios (Universal being the other) on that side of the fence. Meanwhile, owners of the Sony product have selections from Walt Disney, Sony, Fox and Lionsgate to choose from.
Although Toshiba claimed to be ‘surprised’ by the announcement, Warner says its decision was simply based on consumer demand. Blockbuster cited this same reason when it Blu-ray only back in June.
Hollywood Reporter
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: November 6, 2007
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Buena Vista, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Short Films, Drama, Family, Foreign, Foreign Language, Period, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases,
Disney/Pixar’s quaint animated story about Remy the rat and his penchant for the culinary arts releases on Blu-ray this week, shortly after taking the US and UK by storm. And with no other major title to contend with (Chuck & Larry do not count), Ratatouille is sure to take high-def home entertainment by storm too.
Other titles worth noting include a cross-format The Aviator from Warner, South Korean cult film Old Boy from Tartan, and some modestly-priced box sets from Warner and Disney.
Check the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: November 6, 2007
This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007
Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Paramount, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Documentary, Drama, Family, Foreign Language, Independent, Music, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases,
This past fortnight, the HD DVD release of Transformers made high-definition history with over 100,000 units sold in the first day—a record that supplanted day-one sales across both formats. But this week Sony will inevitably pull the warring robots off their high horses—likely with a quick tug on some carefully aimed webbing.
The hugely profitable but ambivalently received Spider-Man 3 releases Tuesday and will undoubtedly be a smash hit for Blu-ray. And for those who can’t justify said purchase, the film will also release in a high-def trilogy.
Universal and Warner also have some decent contributions this week, but the real content explosion comes from DVD International and their HDScape series. Finally, I can sit in my tiny condominium and watch a high-definition fireplace, an exotic aquarium, or the slow but steady thaw of Antarctica.
Check the full list of high-def releases after the jump.
Click to continue reading This Week on HD DVD and Blu-ray: October 30, 2007
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