Universal dropped HD-DVD?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

We've all heard the VC-1 encoding horror stories. Seems like Universal just went on auto-pilot to crank out quantity over quality. This is sad for all Hd optical consumers. The industry continues to shoot itself in the foot with HD optical.

The HD DVD fans are starting to mumble like people were doing with Sony titles at BD launch.

No outright hostility yet, but if the quantity doesn't result in some wins this summer, that's pretty much it for HD DVD's ammo. Universal will have blown through all the titles they are willing to risk.

Gary

[bluflu]

Universal will go neutral when they tire of taking bribes.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The HD DVD fans are starting to mumble like people were doing with Sony titles at BD launch.

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on. Like I said a few weeks ago, the exclusive-window release of The Matrix is likely the high water mark in the life of the HD DVD format.

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

No outright hostility yet, but if the quantity doesn't result in some wins this summer, that's pretty much it for HD DVD's ammo. Universal will have blown through all the titles they are willing to risk.

Universal has a good catalog, but what good is it if they put no effort into it? I think the end has begun. It's too much of a co-incidence to have had Universal so close to nuetral earlier this year. Then right around the same time, they come out with a statement they are HD DVD only...WB announces The Matrix, and shortly thereafter prices get cut again on players. Now we get the PR from Toshiba on how great players are selling, with their apples&oranges comparisons (standalones only on players sales, but include the PS3 in attach rates ). They've tried one last time to prop up the format heading into the 2nd half of the year. The second half of this year is going to be interesting. No doubt BD is going to win big, just how big is what I'm waiting to see.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on...

It's good, though, that even they're starting to get upset. If 3/4 are, as you say, idiotic and ridiculus, and now they are starting to get fed up w/ the crap titles and transfers they're receiving, they're getting ever the slightest bit closer to coming over to blu-ray. If their mumblings grow and they begin thinking about getting a BD player, they pricing now helps things out.

If the "idiotic" ones are coming to grips w/ reality, and not touting or supporting sub-par releases just because it's their format, it can only bode well for Blu-ray.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Quite honestly Gary, I'm at the point where I really couldn't care less what most of these HD DVD supporters think/write. 3/4 of them are downright idiotic and ridiculous, and in thier own world. Let them mumble , I suspect they're going to be mumbling more and more as time goes on. Like I said a few weeks ago, the exclusive-window release of The Matrix is likely the high water mark in the life of the HD DVD format.

It should have been. But, it turned out all it did was stop a total masacre for that week. I'm not sure it didn't do more harm than good.

Originally Posted by Esox50

Universal has a good catalog, but what good is it if they put no effort into it? I think the end has begun.

They have a great catalog. But, if this is the effort they put into things when you imagine they have all the backing they could possibly hope for, what are the odds that when those BDs finally come they won't be simply Warner-style ports?

We all should be mumbling. MS NBC Universal is clearly more about 720p low-bitrate downloads than high quality HD discs.

Everyone cross their fingers that GE does sell off the studio to those that give a damn.

Gary

[theknub]

^^ wichful thinking of course, but if sony buys it the war is over

[GasCat]

Originally Posted by Wheelman1970

I was speaking with the local Sony Store Manager today and he was telling me something along the lines that Universal just broke their agreement with HD-DVD?

Is this true? Does this mean the war is almost over?

Please respond.

They have a captive audience for their films. If you own HD-DVD you must buy their product. In a sense they are running a monopoly.

I do not see them going Blu-Ray until the shareholders see other studios turning in large profits.

[JTK]

I don't see any press releases, so...no.

[DrinkMore]

JP
IJ

Children of Men? Are you serious? You would really buy that? Had enough trouble watching it.. its like somone with a crack pipe made a movie and didnt know where the hell to go with it and then just dropped the ball. Movie could have been so much better - but it bombed.

[donricouga]

Never believe anything until its official. Universal is releasing a slew of catalog titles, albeit, not many well known ones or blockbusters. Regardless, they are still releasing very many titles. So there are only two conclusions that we can draw from this.
1) Universal is showing is strong support of HD-DVD
2) Universal is milking HD-DVD owners so that they can go neutral later then
re-release on blu-ray.

Until we hear something official, I won't guess

[degas]

Wow, some of you amaze me...
I could easily come up with hundreds of movies I would want, from all of the majors.
If we're talking about films not released yet, that is...

[Longshot]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

JP
IJ

Children of Men? Are you serious? You would really buy that? Had enough trouble watching it.. its like somone with a crack pipe made a movie and didnt know where the hell to go with it and then just dropped the ball. Movie could have been so much better - but it bombed.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen. Oh, and that was after the HD DVD would not play I watched in sd dvd. Two hours of my life I can't get back.

[Blu Tiger]

Originally Posted by DrinkMore

JP

Children of Men? Are you serious? You would really buy that? Had enough trouble watching it.. its like somone with a crack pipe made a movie and didnt know where the hell to go with it and then just dropped the ball. Movie could have been so much better - but it bombed.

Are YOU serious? That movie is SO sick. I thought it was excellent. One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I like that Universal releases a lot of older movies too. Some of the movies I like are Happy Gilmore, Dazed & Confused, Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick, Smoking Aces, The Rundown, The Breakup, 40 Year old Virgin, Half Baked, The Thing, Serenity, etc. Oh, and Heroes.

[Chad Varnadore]

It's my understanding that Disney still has the rights to the first Sin City. But Weinstein has number 2.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by calgarymarc

That article is dated Jan 10th 2007. Old news.

and i had to laff at the most stupid articule comments ever that followed that articule. now thats entertainment

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by Chad Varnadore

It's my understanding that Disney still has the rights to the first Sin City. But Weinstein has number 2.

After the bomb that was Grindhouse, they've put Sin City 2 on permanent hold.

[Blu Tiger]

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

After the bomb that was Grindhouse, they've put Sin City 2 on permanent hold.

Why? Did Grindhouse suck? It looked fun. It got an %80 at Rotten Tomatoes, and Rolling Stone gave it 3 1/2 stars out of four. I hope it's good. I really want to see it.

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

Why? Did Grindhouse suck? It looked fun. It got an %80 at Rotten Tomatoes, and Rolling Stone gave it 3 1/2 stars out of four. I hope it's good. I really want to see it.

It bombed in theaters. Horribly. I dont know how good the movies were, but i was in no hurry to see them and still am not.

[phranctoast]

people dont like sitting in the theatre for 3.5 hours.

[jrchisholm]

I liked both films. I thought it was a fun throw back to double feature films. I enjoyed Planet Terror a little bit more, but both were fun to watch. I will definitely by this if it comes to Blu-ray.

The fake trailers were awsome as well.