Thoroughly Unthrilled with recent/upcoming releases

[doctorsteve]

I just have to say this... When are the GOOD movies coming out?? I eagerly awaited Reservoir Dogs, I eagerly awaited Usual Suspects. But for WEEKS I've been rechecking the upcoming releases and each week my chronic case of Yawn gets worse! Thank god DVDs look better on my PS3 or else I'd never have anything new and cool to watch (or old and cool as the case may be...)

Here's my wish list:
Apocolypse Now
Blade Runner
Original Star Wars Trilogy
2001 a Space Odessey
Matrix Movies
The Big Lebowski
Love Actually
A Christmas Story
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Boondock Saints
Kill Bill 1&2
Trainspotting
Glengarry Glen Ross
Amelie
(I'd love Children of Men too, but sadly it's HDDVDand DVD only right now)

Dozens of others I'm sure.. I'm sure the studios are putting out a low number of copies of a wide variety of titles to try to have something for everyone right now (instead of pinning a large quantity on a single, sellable title that arguable not all early adopters would buy), BUT WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE A VARIETY OF DRECK!?!?! How about solid titles that an early adopter would just HAVE to HAVE?!?! *Sigh*

I waited what felt like forever for a new, nicely photographed film to come out on BD, just to give me a little hope, and to be honest, my copy of Big Fish on DVD would have been just fine. I thought the BD version looked worse, especialy in dark scenes like outside the Giant's cave.

C'mon Studios!!! Let's have some real juicy movies please!!!!!!!!! Quit cleaning out the crap from under your film racks! Thanks..... Signed, "Just itching to buy something good"

[The Big Blue]

A Christmas Story is already out.

[nhaase]

I was waiting for A Scanner Darkly. I haven't watched all of Big Fish, but I thought the scenes of Spector looked great, among others.

[stevei]

Take a look at what is selling (total sales to date):
1 DEPARTED-BRY 2/13/2007 132.3 WHV $34.99 38,993
2 BATMAN BEGINS-HDD 10/10/2006 205.3 WHV $28.99 34,313
3 SUPERMAN RETURNS-BRY 11/28/2006 200.1 WHV $34.99 30,845
4 SUPERMAN RETURNS-HDD/DVD 11/28/2006 200.1 WHV $39.99 28,440
5 CASINO ROYALE-BRY 3/13/2007 167.0 SPHE $38.96 28,306
6 DEPARTED-HDD/DVD 2/13/2007 132.3 WHV $39.99 23,454
7 FIFTH ELEMENT-BRY 6/20/2006 63.8 SPHE $28.95 21,799
8 UNDERWORLD EVOLUTION-BRY 6/20/2006 62.3 SPHE $38.95 21,797
9 X-MEN-LAST STAND-BRY 11/14/2006 234.4 FOX $39.98 21,504
10 PRESTIGE-BRY 2/20/2007 53.1 DISN $34.99 20,717

(from http://www.thedigitalbits.com/files/...port031807.zip)

People are preferring recent titles to older titles. Like you, I'd rather watch my favourites again in high def, but it seems that most people don't want to upgrade movies they already own on DVD, and are restricting their high def purchases to new movies.

[kknight]

I agree, especially in the sci-fi department:

iRobot, Star Wars, Starship Troopers, Armegeddon, The Island, War of the Worlds, Aliens, Event Horizon, Galaxy Quest, Lost in Space, Red Planet, Rocket Man, etc...

The only somewhat descent sci-fi movie I have is Aeon Flux for Blu-ray. I'm not buying The Fifth Element until a better version comes out... The next few months some killer non sci-fi movies are coming out though.

[doctorsteve]

Oddly, much of what I like isn't scheduled for release soon (or at all). Sure, I saw four of the top ten sellers, but really can't say I'd be clamoring to buy (at some pretty ugly prices) any of the ones I DID see...So again - *Yawn*. Thanks for noting the Christmas Story release, I've never seen it listed before. Can anyone comment on the quality of it? Is there a difference over the DVD version?

[doctorsteve]

Guess I'll just run out and buy me a copy of GI Jane!!! (yes, I am absolutely kidding...and apparently so are the powers that be for releasing that poo before something good like, I dunno...The Muppet Movie. And yes, I'm serious about wanting the Muppet Movie...)

[doctorsteve]

Forgot, how about The Ring?.

[CJS234]

Originally Posted by kknight

I agree, especially in the sci-fi department:

iRobot, Star Wars, Starship Troopers, Armegeddon, The Island, War of the Worlds, Aliens, Event Horizon, Galaxy Quest, Lost in Space, Red Planet, Rocket Man, etc...

I, Robot is coming out in June according to this site. Here's the link and it is in alphabetical order.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?genre=scifi

[KenThompson]

I'd take all the above except for Lost in Space. The original series ,it was a favorite of mine as a kid but the movie just blew chunks.

[Camulus]

Originally Posted by stevei

2 BATMAN BEGINS-HDD 10/10/2006 205.3 WHV $28.99 34,313

How come Batman is not on BD? It's a Warner Title!

[phranctoast]

they are waiting util they can do similar work with BR-J as they did with iHD.

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by stevei

Like you, I'd rather watch my favourites again in high def, but it seems that most people don't want to upgrade movies they already own on DVD, and are restricting their high def purchases to new movies.

I too am finding it difficult to upgrade my existing collection. I have surpassed the 600 DVD mark (and lost count) and can't see myself upgrading them. Some will be definate upgrades, i.e. Spiderman and the Pirates of the Car. and others on a case by case basis. But overall new movies will be purchased only.

It's kind of amazing how much money I have thrown into DVD! The average DVD I bought was approx. $18. X 600+! that's alot of money! Plus however many DVD players I have bought in the past! 5 i can think of off the top of my head.

[doctorsteve]

Yeah, I don't plan on rebuying everything. But I have a 27" tube TV and I definitely notice a difference between my flics on DVD vs. Blu-ray. I've got somewhere around 180-200 DVD's but many of them I watch over and over (and over), so I like the added clarity, even on a tube TV. It's just a shame that Stuff like White chicks is getting a bluray release before movies that I feel would evoke the "Wow!" factor again. Stuff that was really well done and innovative, true "classics" as opposed to some real stinkers. Sure, everybody has an opinion and all that noise, but I wonder about the "wisdom" of not getting more "mainstream" must-haves out earlier to get more early adopters. You know, stuff that would not just "sell" but stuff thsat actually would fly out of the stores...

[buckshot]

I ranted about my dissappointment in another thread on here about the horrible releases like little man, norbit (coming soon), etc. It seems like a lot of releases are just completely missing the target. example: I love kevin smith movies. but instead of dogma, clerks, mallrats, or chasing amy. they release jay and silent bob strike back? I bought it (for $8) but would not have paid more than that for it.

G.I. jane? how about striptease? I would buy that.

the haunted mansion? how about any pixar movie. or the lion king. or anything in the universe other than the haunted mansion.

[jermwhl]

I do agree w/ you buckshot. I understand alot of people like movies like white chics (not a big fan myself) but again, to each his own. I find it harder to purchase comedies than I do action movies at a higher price. Don't know why!!! I would also agree that there are tons of movies I would rather see in HD than the current movies that are being released! But progression to a new format will be slow and we have to wait it out. Eventually there will be a surge.
I seem to remember the same thing with DVD in the days of VHS, DVD, and DIVX. I would look for a title on DVD and wouldn't be able to find it. But eventually it took off and nearly every title is now on DVD.
We have to remember, this is still a VERY new format, and it has to be accepted by the masses before they start releasing tons of titles. The only way that will happen, is if the small handful of us that have already made the commitment keep buying! So keep buying and we'll keep seeing more and more titles released!

[JTK]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

I do agree w/ you buckshot. I understand alot of people like movies like white chics (not a big fan myself) but again, to each his own. I find it harder to purchase comedies than I do action movies at a higher price. Don't know why!!! I would also agree that there are tons of movies I would rather see in HD than the current movies that are being released! But progression to a new format will be slow and we have to wait it out. Eventually there will be a surge.
I seem to remember the same thing with DVD in the days of VHS, DVD, and DIVX. I would look for a title on DVD and wouldn't be able to find it. But eventually it took off and nearly every title is now on DVD.
We have to remember, this is still a VERY new format, and it has to be accepted by the masses before they start releasing tons of titles. The only way that will happen, is if the small handful of us that have already made the commitment keep buying! So keep buying and we'll keep seeing more and more titles released!

Thank you for helping to inject some reality and common sense in some of these needlessly whiny complaint threads.

The follow up to this is, of course: If you don't like it? Don't buy it. End of problem.

[Gremal]

Guys, this is the nature of early adoption. Like it or not, you are early adopters and you went into this knowing that blu-ray was a new technology. You knew that not all studios are releasing BD titles and the studios that are releasing them are dribbling them out slowly. You knew specs and standards each studio has for releases are still changing and being ironed out.

So...what's the big mystery? It's like deciding to have a baby and then being upset when the baby can't walk at 2 months old.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by the number of titles I have wanted to get on BD. So far about 12, including several of my all-time favorites like Goodfellas. As an early adopter of SACD I know there can be frustrations with boarding the train that the average consumer is not going to board for several years if ever. You just have to grin and bear it and be happy for the titles offered that you do like.

[ethanrom]

I agree they need to bring out the big guns, like Braveheart/Saving Private Ryan/Band of Brothers/Lost -stuff like that.

[Scorxpion]

They will bring the titles we are dreaming of guys just wait,dont expect everything is going to see the daylight its better to wait and not get everything now.We have already gorgeous titles out there and more on the way so dont expect a miracles release of all titles .Just Give them an opportunity to release them .On the otherhand,i only blame Warner for not releasing Batman on BD but still postponing it Because if it is already released Batman Begins will outsold HD-DVD far away than it is now.

HD_DVD for me it is a dead format