HD releases MIA for Shrek the Third and Silver Surfer

[Tekman]

Fox still isn't talking about its Blu-ray plans since pulling back planned releases this summer. For now it's looking like there may not be a Blu-ray release this year for Fantastic Four- Rise of the Silver Surfer. The studio hasn't announced a release date for it yet, but in an ad in DVD distributor WaxWorks/VideoWorks promo mag Hot Sheet, the studio is promoting the DVD, which it has begun taking retail pre-orders on, without any mention of a Blu-ray release.

Also, it's looking like DreamWorks' Shrek the Third won't get a high def release. The studio confirmed the Nov. 13 release date, without any mention of a high def release.

http://www.videobusiness.com/blog/17...html#510013051

[Shrek]

This is not news I want to hear. Perhaps there is hope yet.

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by Tekman

Fox still isn't talking about its Blu-ray plans since pulling back planned releases this summer. For now it's looking like there may not be a Blu-ray release this year for Fantastic Four- Rise of the Silver Surfer.
http://www.videobusiness.com/blog/17...html#510013051

Yeah, don't count on Fox this year, hopefully Q1 2008. Even though BD+ is finalized, even Sony will not use it this year as we've been told.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Tekman

Fox still isn't talking about its Blu-ray plans since pulling back planned releases this summer. For now it's looking like there may not be a Blu-ray release this year for Fantastic Four- Rise of the Silver Surfer. The studio hasn't announced a release date for it yet, but in an ad in DVD distributor WaxWorks/VideoWorks promo mag Hot Sheet, the studio is promoting the DVD, which it has begun taking retail pre-orders on, without any mention of a Blu-ray release.

Also, it's looking like DreamWorks' Shrek the Third won't get a high def release. The studio confirmed the Nov. 13 release date, without any mention of a high def release.

http://www.videobusiness.com/blog/17...html#510013051

Isn't Shrek the 3rd being released by Paramount? It made a bunch of money, so why wouldn't they. I thought about this when I first heard about it coming to DVD with no Hi Def release announced. Strange.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by monkyman

Yeah, don't count on Fox this year, hopefully Q1 2008. Even though BD+ is finalized, even Sony will not use it this year as we've been told.

I have trouble believing Fox would do something *that* bad for business, missing November-December completely in a year where hi-def will be on the rise.

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

Isn't Shrek the 3rd being released by Paramount? It made a bunch of money, so why wouldn't they. I thought about this when I first heard about it coming to DVD with no Hi Def release announced. Strange.

I believe it is from Dreamworks Animation and they have not committed to either format (Dreamworks that is part of Paramount is neutral though).

--Darin

[Alan Gordon]

Let us not forget that we weren't aware of Fox releasing "X-Men: The Last Stand" until November 2nd of last year, less than two week's before the release date for that title.

Granted that was a "catalog title," but still...

~Alan

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by Musashi

I have trouble believing Fox would do something *that* bad for business, missing November-December completely in a year where hi-def will be on the rise.

Hi-def is still a small market, their big money is still DVD sales and with the mass amounts produced, probibly still make a higher gross margin.

The last thing BD needs now is to put out something that has not been 100% tested and accepted. If it were pushed out to early and found to be flawed, it would be seen as a hugh failure by the industry. We don't need that.

[BluSmoke]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Let us not forget that we weren't aware of Fox releasing "X-Men: The Last Stand" until November 2nd of last year, less than two week's before the release date for that title.

Granted that was a "catalog title," but still...

~Alan

Fox blew it with that one. They could have easily sold an additional 5000 copies at launch. They're run by morons nowadays it seems. The ONLY 2 discs I believe they got right was Flyboys and AVP. Both had BD50, with lots of extras. I don't mind paying more, just make me want it more.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by monkyman

Hi-def is still a small market, their big money is still DVD sales and with the mass amounts produced, probibly still make a higher gross margin.

The last thing BD needs now is to put out something that has not been 100% tested and accepted. If it were pushed out to early and found to be flawed, it would be seen as a hugh failure by the industry. We don't need that.

The other part of my point, I probly should have elaborated more, was the whole paranoia over piracy. Cracked AACS or no, the implications of pirating BDs are just impractical. Hard drives aren't big enough to justify holding 25-50 GBs just for one movie; few computers can put out hi-def signals, atleast, not without really expensive video cards. And the other route, to use a Blu-ray burner..good luck finding one of those. Considering the price of a burner and blank blu-rays, it'd be cheaper for most anyone to just get movies like normal honest ppl.

If it's BD+/added piracy protection Fox wants, they're being stupid to cut into their business to the extent they have already; If it comes to November and BD+ is still in testing, they need to just swallow some pride and relase some blu-rays without it.

[WickyWoo]

Also, it's looking like DreamWorks' Shrek the Third won't get a high def release. The studio confirmed the Nov. 13 release date, without any mention of a high def release.

Katzenberg, who runs Dreamworks animation has stated several times that he sees HD as a gimmick and a niche market too small to bother with, at least at this time.

[jamen6]

http://videobusiness.com/blog/173000...510013051.html

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by jamen6

http://videobusiness.com/blog/173000...510013051.html

Lame. They need to release these concurrent with the SD offering. You have to strike while the iron is hot.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Katzenberg, who runs Dreamworks animation has stated several times that he sees HD as a gimmick and a niche market too small to bother with, at least at this time.

That's funny; the first 2 Shrek's exist in hi-def. I've seen them on TV.

[movies3]

oh that sucks! i hope this changes...

[movies3]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Katzenberg, who runs Dreamworks animation has stated several times that he sees HD as a gimmick and a niche market too small to bother with, at least at this time.

now thats to funny!

[grognard66]

Originally Posted by jamen6

http://videobusiness.com/blog/173000...510013051.html

I guess the first FF didn't sell well enough in Fox's opinion to justify the extra time required to put out the sequel (I happen to have it since my son really wanted it). Just further evidence that this "format war" is far too early to be decided and that both formats may fail to reach critical mass when all is said and done.

Proponents of both formats like to tout their numbers in comparison to their rival, but what is often lost in the hyperbole is that neither format comes even close to a fraction of standard DVD sales while costing them a lot more to format and manufacture. The best selling high def discs would be considered an abysmal failure by standard DVD sales standards.

[Sielle]

Hard drives aren't big enough to justify holding 25-50 GBs just for one movie

People thought the same thing about DVD's when they were just released.

[Iceman_II]

If they had done more than a half assed job on the transfer, the first FF would have sold MUCH better... personally, I read the reviews, and decided to pass, after all, they are trying to get people to RE-purchase when selling catalog titles, if you do a day and date release you are not competing with yourself. I have a feeling that most HD adopters (both blu and red) will avoid purchasing SD and will rent instead.

[CptGreedle]

Just wait. When it becomes the official standard, all these movies will be on BD.