criterionforum.org

Posted: **Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:58 pm**

Blu-ray is finally coming out with some titles I'm interested in: The Lives of Others, Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Day of the Dead, and the Die Hard trilogy, among others. As soon as a Blu-ray drive is available for less than $150 I'll pop one in my HTPC and be ready to go. For now the drives cost just about as much as a stand-alone player ($470).

I really, really hope that these formats don't become niche markets. They look so fantastic, and I would love to see more of my favorite films appear in either format. I really wish Universal would get on the ball and put out some of their Hitchcocks ... or at least Back to the Future, for god's sake ... on HD.

Posted: **Sat Sep 08, 2007 7:01 pm**

Newly listed classics on HD DVD on Warner's Hi-Def website:

Bonnie and Clyde
The Cincinnati Kid
Clash of the Titans
Cool Hand Luke
all of the Dirty Harry series
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Omega Man
Poltergeist (sort of a classic

)
That's Entertainment (separately or as a Trilogy Giftset)
The Wizard of Oz

Plus a few not-yet-classics:

Heat
L.A. Confidential
Twister

(and of course, the previously announced Kubrick films, Elvis flicks...)

Most are also listed for Blu-Ray, some are not.

Posted: **Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:35 pm**

"Clash of the Titans" seems an awfully strange choice. Won't all that split-screen, etc. have given the actual film little more than an "SD" quality resolution?

Wizard Of Oz is great news, though. I've held off buying Casablanca and Adventures Of Robin Hood because I don't watch my SDs all that much, so it doesn't seem worth the upgrade. But, Wizard Of Oz, if they include all the extras from the 3-Disk set (I only bought the 2-disk in Aus.) will be a must-buy for me.

Posted: **Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:44 pm**

pointless wrote:Newly listed classics on HD DVD on Warner's Hi-Def website:

If WB is in fact planning on putting these out, that's a strong release calendar. I remain impressed with Warner for bringing A-list catalog titles to hi-def (just like they did with DVD) while other studios are content to test the waters.

(I also note that currently HD-only titles (Robin Hood, Casablanca, Matrix, Batman) are listed in the Blu-ray section.)

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:46 am**

Wow, Warner went all out. I expected The Aviator and Twister but I'm very surprised to see The Wizard of Oz and Batman. Very nice, a ton of titles I plan on picking up.

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:10 am**

Curious how that list also includes titles not even in theaters yet, and some very odd prices. I get the feeling that isn't a fully finished page and a fair number of things shouldn't be on it. Still, there are loads of titles I'll be buying!

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:04 pm**

51GB HD DVD approved for production

The DVD Forum approves 51GB version of HD DVD discs making it ready for production.

This means that the specifications and tests are over. It will be a triple layered disc with 17GB on each layer.

This disc will close the storage gab between Blu-ray and HD DVD. Blu-ray's max. capacity per disc is currently 50GB.

China chooses HD DVD

The Chinese government has chosen a HD DVD based format as their HD format of choice.

They hope to have it in place before the 2008 Olympics which will be held in Beijing.

The format will not be 100% identical to the US HD DVD format but will use the same optical technology.

This means that a Chinese produced Disc will not play in a HD DVD player from the US. However, a Chinese player will play their HD format as well as regular US and EU HD DVD releases.

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:38 pm**

Les 400 coups (The 400 Blows) is now listed on HD DVD format at amazon.fr for release October 24th.

Posted: **Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:50 pm**

Warner is currently considering "a lucrative offer" to go HD-DVD exclusive

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:44 am**

Gigi M. wrote:Warner is currently considering "a lucrative offer" to go HD-DVD exclusive

I'm not registered at the LA Times, can you post the article or the relevant excerpts.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 5:24 am**

No need. The info is out of date.

Okay... we've got just a quick update for you on the Toshiba thing from yesterday's post. Apparently, this story in the L.A. Times (also carried in Newsday) was based on information that's a couple weeks out of date. This "offer" from Toshiba that the piece speaks about was apparently the one made the week Paramount and DreamWorks went HD-DVD exclusive. Our sources are telling us that Warner rejected that offer, preferring to stay format neutral. This offer thing being reported today is apparently old news.

We'll try to have more on this in the next day or two, but despite appearances - and the latest PR spin - there's no been no change in Warner's policy with regard to either high-def format. So for the third time: Ugh.

Posted: **Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:23 pm**

Gigi M. wrote:China chooses HD DVD

The Chinese government has chosen a HD DVD based format as their HD format of choice.

The One Child Policy is now the One Format Policy.

Posted: **Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:10 am**

Another Criterion goes High Def...

[quote]'The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At Monterey (The Definitive Edition)' On HD DVD

Universal Music has indicated that we can expect The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At Monterey (The Definitive Edition) released on single-disc HD DVD in the United Kingdom, this October 29 (day-and-date with the single-disc DVD).

This special edition DVD/HD DVD features all of the existing film footage from Jimi's incendiary June 18, 1967 concert newly transferred to high-definition specification from the original 16mm camera reversal original. Re-edited and presented in its original performance sequence, this DVD/HD DVD showcase of a legendary performance is completely unreleased. The DVD soundtrack, also available on CD and Vinyl, features a new 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo mixes by Eddie Kramer, Jimi's original engineer.

In addition to the legendary Monterey performance, this Definitive Edition DVD/HD DVD features a multitude of special bonus features including:

*AMERICAN LANDING
A brand new documentary which traces Jimi's remarkable transformation from obscurity to his triumphant U.S. â€˜debut' at the Monterey Festival.

*THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: LIVE AT MONTEREY: A SECOND LOOK
A unique feature that allows viewers to switch between multiple, previously unseen camera angles to view several of Jimi's celebrated performances like never before.

*MUSIC, LOVE & FLOWERS:THE MONTEREY INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL
This is a behind the scenes glimpse of the festival's origins, operations and lasting impact brought to you by legendary composer, producer and Monterey Festival co-founder Lou Adler.

*EARLIEST KNOWN UNRELEASED PERFORMANCES
As an extra special bonus to the DVD, watch the earliest known film and sound recordings of The Jimi Hendrix Experience in concert from February 25, 1967 before a packed audience in Chelmsford, England. Songs featured are â€œStone Freeâ€

Posted: **Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:28 pm**

I recently picked up a PS3 because of a nice deal over at amazon.com. Buy one and get three free blu-ray titles, plus with the blu-ray summer offer you get five more. Granted, most of the free titles offered through Sony's summer deal are crap, but in any event they're free.

I don't plan on using my PS3 for much else than playing BD movies for now, I already have an XBOX 360 and it seems to have the better games at the moment.

Posted: **Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:32 pm**

I just hopped over to Amazon because I recently made the step up to a 1080 plasma, and a PS3 is next on the agenda (as a gamer with the other two systems already, it seemed like a convenient time to complete the trifecta), but I didn't see the 3 extra DVD deal. Perhaps it's over?

Posted: **Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:23 pm**

I do think its over.

Posted: **Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:19 pm**

davebert wrote:I just hopped over to Amazon because I recently made the step up to a 1080 plasma, and a PS3 is next on the agenda (as a gamer with the other two systems already, it seemed like a convenient time to complete the trifecta), but I didn't see the 3 extra DVD deal. Perhaps it's over?

Yes but you can still get the blu-ray 5 free movies summer deal. Most of them are crap but free is free, right?

I tried Warner's website to look at upcoming blu-ray titles but it wasn't working for me. Are there any "classic" titles coming out soon on the format? I wish they had put Casablanca out on blu-ray as well.

Posted: **Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:08 am**

Casablanca was announced for BLU release in Italy a few weeks ago. I believe we will see an announcement in the remaining weeks before Christmas.

The offer for the 5 free Blu-Ray discs is still in effect until 9/30 here.

The PS3 promo for the 3+ free Blu-Ray discs is now dead.

Ciao,
Pro-B

Posted: **Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:05 pm**

Report Predicts Blu-ray, HD DVD to Co-Exist

Can someone explain to me the difference in the codecs for compression. I thought Blu-ray stopped using the MPEG-4 codec that is inferior to VC-1. I notice, however, that most of the new Blu-ray releases are still encoded with MPEG-4.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:43 am**

denti alligator wrote:Can someone explain to me the difference in the codecs for compression. I thought Blu-ray stopped using the MPEG-4 codec that is inferior to VC-1. I notice, however, that most of the new Blu-ray releases are still encoded with MPEG-4.

Yeah, can someone clarify this issue. I want to get a player for the upcoming Kubricks and Blade Runner.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:52 am**

denti alligator wrote:Can someone explain to me the difference in the codecs for compression. I thought Blu-ray stopped using the MPEG-4 codec that is inferior to VC-1. I notice, however, that most of the new Blu-ray releases are still encoded with MPEG-4.

I believe its the MPEG-2 codec that is inferior to VC-1. I've read various reviews of movies encoded with MPEG-4 where the PQ is identical to VC-1.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:55 am**

That's correct... MPEG4 and VC-1 are basically identical.
Incidentally, most of Warner's DVDs use the same VC-1 encode on both the HDDVD and Bluray version...

As for which player to get... check your computer capabilities (cyberlink has a downloadable program to check this) and if it's fast enough, I'd very strongly recommend getting an X-Box HDDVD drive as the cheapest option (you can always add a Bluray drive later, and end up with an affordable dual-format player)

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:01 am**

Or this for Blu-ray playback on a PC or HTPC. I had no idea such a drive was available for this price. Here's hoping they drop another $100 by Xmas and I'll pick one up.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:18 pm**

denti alligator wrote:I notice, however, that most of the new Blu-ray releases are still encoded with MPEG-4.

If I understand correctly, VC-1 is proprietary Microsoft technology, so if you're not dual releasing on HD DVD (which requires VC-1), open-source MPEG 4 would be less expensive option for Blu-ray.

Posted: **Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:23 pm**

Apparently Toshiba released a firmware update today that gives their A20 (and one other model, forget which) the ability to output 1080p24. Can someone tell me what that is and how it is different from the 1080p that I'm currently outputting.

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