Other studios are bigger and more important but when I look at their list of proposed titles:

Austin Powers 1
Blade
Dark City
Final Destination
Friday
The Mask
The Player
Rush Hour
Sev7en
Spawn

...for catalog titles, I see quite a few I'd buy. I've seen 'em all except Final Destination. It seems like a little somethin' for everybody. I wish somebody else would make a move in this game of "pick up sticks". If HD-DVD is gonna pick up some steam, I'm jones'in for another studio to put some coal on the fire. If Paramount is gonna twiddle it's thumbs, where's New Line at? I'm not clear on New Line's loose association with Warner, but I wish Warner would pull them in.....

Other studios are bigger and more important but when I look at their list of proposed titles:

Austin Powers 1
Blade
Dark City
Final Destination
Friday
The Mask
The Player
Rush Hour
Sev7en
Spawn

...for catalog titles, I see quite a few I'd buy. I've seen 'em all except Final Destination. It seems like a little somethin' for everybody. I wish somebody else would make a move in this game of "pick up sticks". If HD-DVD is gonna pick up some steam, I'm jones'in for another studio to put some coal on the fire. If Paramount is gonna twiddle it's thumbs, where's New Line at? I'm not clear on New Line's loose association with Warner, but I wish Warner would pull them in.....

Your forgeting probably the MOST important titles that could affect sales for HD formats.

Four little letters...

LOTR

I am all over Se7en and Dark City.

The way things are being released, you'll see these first: Austin Powers 2, Blade 2, Next Friday, Son of the Mask and Rush Hour 2. :)

Your forgeting probably the MOST important titles that could affect sales for HD formats.

Four little letters...

LOTR

I don't think it's on their offical, mythical list yet. It slipped my mind that it was a New Line title too. You're right, that would be like giving dope to junkies. ;)

Dark City in HD would be heavenly.

hell, yes!

Dark City in HD would be heavenly.

That's my fav on the list. It's such a dark picture, it seems like it might have alot to gain in HD...? I wanna find out.

I don't think it's on their offical, mythical list yet. It slipped my mind that it was a New Line title too. You're right, that would be like giving dope to junkies. ;)

Yes it would...There were rumors of a fall release of it, but I bet those are all just rumors.

A 2007 release of each EE versions would be sweet....3 disc sets (with 2 discs for the movie if needed and a disc of special features).

Personally, Se7en would be great too!!

Austin Powers 1
Blade
Dark City
Final Destination
Friday
The Mask
The Player
Rush Hour
Sev7en
Spawn

I'd buy 8 of those titles alone! :cool:

Dark City in HD would be heavenly.

It is! And if you can't wait for a disc release, it is being broadcast again in HD on the STARZ-HD cable channel in July. I recorded it the last go-round and watched it in synch with the DTS laserdisc audio. Great home-viewing experience!)

If I remember correctly, the future disc release is supposed to be an unseen "Director's Cut." Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Yeah New Line had the best dvd back in 1997 with The Mask and Austin Power, they were the best transfert out there... Where are they? Funny they haven't announced anything since they are part of Warner Group..

I would buy The Mask, Final Destination, LOTR etc right away!

New Line is putting out new editions of The Lord of the Rings on regular DVD in a few months with new documentaries.

here's the info (http://www.homemediaretailing.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=9277)

The info stated that they would use seamless branching to put the theatrical and extended editions on the same disc (though it seems odd because just the EE's alone should need two discs).

Anyway, I wonder if this new release on DVD is an attempt to get it out once more in standard definition land before a High Definition release? One can hope.

LotR EE
Mortal Kombat 1 and 2
Dark City
Blade Trilogy
Final Destination Trilogy

Dark City in HD would be heavenly.

Actually, Jennifer Connelly has a moustache on the master. Not kidding or making this up...

Cjplay.

Actually, Jennifer Connelly has a moustache on the master. Not kidding or making this up...

Cjplay.

I noticed that on the HD edition, so I believe you. But I just ignored it!

Also want the Nightmare on Elm Street movies! Freddy being my favorite.

And i just saw Running Scared today from Newline, superb movie! It's all I can do to wait for the HD-DVD.

According to this story on HMR, New Line is releasing a brand new special edition LOTR on August 29th!

Remember the rumours thaty they would release HD DVD version at the same time??

I think this is it!!

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2&newsid=9277

New Line is also redoing Nightmare On Elm St for it's Infinifilm line, so I would not be surprised to see it sometime somewhat soon on HD-DVD.

According to this story on HMR, New Line is releasing a brand new special edition LOTR on August 29th!

Remember the rumours thaty they would release HD DVD version at the same time?? I think this is it!!

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2&newsid=9277

Unlikely. This is just for standard DVD. If the EE editions ever do come out this year, it would be a great Christmas present. But with no New Line HD discs released yet...I'd doubt it.

I know this is a DVD release, but bear with me for a sec:

For each film, disc one presents both the theatrical version of the film and its extended edition through seamless branching

Sounds like overcompression city, since each EE is over 200 minutes long, and ROTK EE is nearly 300 minutes... They were originally released on two discs for a reason. Thanks, but no thanks.

EDIT: Nevermind, someone reminded me that if they uses DVD18s then they could be just as good as the DVD9-based EEs. Hmmm. Sold. Dammit, I'm so New Line's bitch.

Back on the topic of HD DVD, I'm hoping New Line will at least bring out the theatrical cuts to tide us over until they feel the installed player base is big enough to bring out the Extended Editions. Probably just wishful thinking, though.

Sounds like overcompression city, since each EE is over 200 minutes long, and ROTK EE is nearly 300 minutes... They were originally released on two discs for a reason.I've heard they are double sided, so it's not as bad as you imply.

Yeah, just edited my post to reflect that :) D'oh on me :D

New Line is also redoing Nightmare On Elm St for it's Infinifilm line, so I would not be surprised to see it sometime somewhat soon on HD-DVD.


I'm hoping so too. I was really excited to see that announcement.

If New Line is getting these various projects together, they must be getting masters suitable for HD ready too. They've never been a slacker studio, like some we all know, puttin' out crappolla. Even back in the LD days, New Line did right by me. I cannot think of a DVD I bought from them I wasn't purr-dy satisfied with. Besides Criterion, I can't think of another studio that's been so good to me. There's too much no bueno vista out there... ;)

You got t'a believe that Somebody is setting the table for some HD soon. Shoot, I'd settle for their list first. In fact, I'd root for that! I'm not the biggest LOTR fan. I so wanna believe a big fireworks show is setting up for November....unless, Sony announces even further delays??? :D Myself, I'd like to see the uncommitted studios do both formats by then. Then we consumers could really help decide this thing and not just have Blu-way imposed on us, maybe? I love you Toshiba for raising the bar!

Actually, Jennifer Connelly has a moustache on the master. Not kidding or making this up...

Cjplay.


I see the mustache in the dvd version. So I definately know you arent kidding.

How ever in Dark Water shes an absolute knock out. but a bit to hairy facially (also eyebrows) in Dark City.

Unlikely. This is just for standard DVD. If the EE editions ever do come out this year, it would be a great Christmas present. But with no New Line HD discs released yet...I'd doubt it.
I think I'll remain optimistic. The Warner HD DVD release dates are being announced so close in, sometimes only a week before they street, that it's likely that New Line may simply make an announcement when they are ready.

We all know from posts on the site that they have been working on the HD DVD version for quite a while now.

The only reason that they wouldn't launch at the same time as the DVD version would be to wait for the BluRry version - which I REALLY sincerely hope they don't feel compelled to do! That would be completely unfair to HD DVD owners.

If New Line is getting these various projects together, they must be getting masters suitable for HD ready too. They've never been a slacker studio, like some we all know, puttin' out crappolla. Even back in the LD days, New Line did right by me.

.....

Then we consumers could really help decide this thing and not just have Blu-way imposed on us, maybe? I love you Toshiba for raising the bar!
Thumbs up!

Dare I say it...if and when the LotR trilogy finally does hit the next-gen formats, it will almost certainly be in the same style as these upcoming Limited Editions. Squishing both versions of each film into a single release is the only way to satisfy all the fans (though I doubt they'll go with double-sided HD DVDs or BDs for it--the tech's still not there yet--and honestly that'd be a point in next-gen's favor for me anyway).

Unfortunately it's likely all moot until New Line sees enough of an installed user base in either or both formats to warrant the expense of producing the discs--which would sell hardware in and of themselves if done properly, regardless of format. Just like with nearly all the other marquee names we're fiending for. :(

Unfortunately it's likely all moot until New Line sees enough of an installed user base in either or both formats to warrant the expense of producing the discs--which would sell hardware in and of themselves if done properly, regardless of format. Just like with nearly all the other marquee names we're fiending for. :(
That is likely true, and definitly idiotic. The Lord of the Rings movies will sell players by themselves, they have as much pull as Star Wars.

It's not completely idiotic--if you're a beancounter. Generally speaking, all the titles for both HD DVD and BD have either been modern 'classics' or bright splashy films that didn't do that well at the box office. They're using them to iron out the kinks in their production processes, and perhaps more importantly to squeeze a little extra money out of us AV geeks while the market's still truly theirs:

Suits: "Okay, guys, you can get the spiffy neato next-gen hardware, but you have to play either Swordfish or Hitch on it!"
Us: "WTF?"

The really good stuff (and to be fair, a massive chunk of the stuff we really want has already been double-dipped to death with current generation hardware) is being held until they can maximize their investment of time and money into producing the releases themselves. You'd think they (and I mean both format camps) would at least drop one or two truly major titles now, when they're actively competing against each other for market shares and mindshares, but noooooo...

I'm sorry, I'm dragging this afield a bit. (What, me cynical?)

New Line, if you have some intern lurking out there reading this: we know you're not going to release LotR until you can squeeze every last dollar out of us. You know you're not going to release LotR until you can squeeze every last dollar out of us--and not a minute before. So can you please cut us a break and at least give us something like, say, Dark City or Se7en? Or, if you have to go for the make-more-money-off-a-bad-film thing, please try to avoid Bones or Dumb and Dumberer. Thank you.

Well, with WB just announcing Dukes of Hazzard has made me realize that no company wants to give us the top movies.

That falls into the "bright splashy films" category, though of course it still reinforces their current general unwillingness to delve too far into the A-list libraries (for one or more of the above listed reasons).

Going back to New Line specifically--best case, I imagine we'll see at least one of the Blade or Rush Hour films appear on next-gen disc before LotR. Worst case, we'll get Son of the Mask...

Dukes is a good sign. I think well see Shawshank soon as well as Batman and Harry Potter in the next 2 months

Add "American History X" to that great (wish) list...!!!

Nightmare on Elm Street is being released in an Infinifilm version and it's killing me to find out if it will be an HD DVD title. Maybe they're waiting for a new box set sometime next year.

All I can say is: FREDDY VS. JASON!

Dukes is a good sign. I think well see Shawshank soon as well as Batman and Harry Potter in the next 2 months

Sorry, Shawshank won't be this year, I'm told.

Cjplay.

All I can say is: FREDDY VS. JASON!
Let me continue that sentence: "...was one of the largest genre turds released in the past 10 years." :D

Sorry, Shawshank won't be this year, I'm told.

Cjplay.

Reeeeaally? :eek: SUNAFA!

Then they lie in their pamphlet that comes with the HD discs. I thought is said coming this summer or 2006, no?

Yeah it's in the Warner inserts with " On Warner HD DVD this Summer!" directly below it. I personally have never seen the movie and it is a must buy the day it comes out, due to it being near the top of all spielberg list, hopefully it will indeed be this summer.

Reeeeaally? :eek: SUNAFA!

Then they lie in their pamphlet that comes with the HD discs. I thought is said coming this summer or 2006, no?

Marketing/packaging starts when the disc is in the planning stages. Don't sweat them for that, but it happens... The first DVD inserts were wrong a couple times, so they stopped putting them in!

Cjplay.

Nightmare on Elm Street is being released in an Infinifilm version and it's killing me to find out if it will be an HD DVD title. Maybe they're waiting for a new box set sometime next year.

All I can say is: FREDDY VS. JASON!
Wrong, Freddy V.S Jason rules, it's you who sucks. :D

Jackson has said he wants to be involved in the preparation of the HD versions of LOTR, and he's still working on the Kong EE DVDs, so probably not till 2007, I'd guess.

OK, so where the hell is New Line or new WB titles (V4V) for that matter!?!? New Line has some great movies that I'd consider replacing with HD-DVDs. Those mentioned above are a great start.

If they make them, we will buy. Throw us a friggin bone will ya....

OK, so where the hell is New Line

Go to the official promotional site for HD DVD: www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com

Click "movies on HD DVD" then look at the coming soon section (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is on that list).

Let me continue that sentence: "...was one of the largest genre turds released in the past 10 years." :D

Movie preference is a personnal thingy... i mean i hate with passion any movies that Quantin Terentino makes (except Kill Bill Vol1) but that doesn't mean it's bad for another person. Too each is own..

I just finished mixing a film for NL.... and I met with somebody who is what I will call pretty high up in the NL home video dept... I asked about HD or BR, and according to him, NL is taking a wait and see approach... And in discussing the DVD release of this feature, he even mentioned that this might be one of their first, which would mean next spring....

I expect to speak with them again in the next couple of weeks, and will see if their position has changed or their are any updates....

So no LOTR before the end of the year? :(

So no LOTR before the end of the year? :(

I just knew that news to the contrary was too good to be true.

:(

The Lord of the Rings movies will sell players by themselves, they have as much pull as Star Wars.

Exactly. It would seem that some type of deal could be worked out with Toshiba and New Line, since Toshiba knows that getting the LOTR trilogy out on HD-DVD could have a definite impact on the format war. Of course, there may be legal issues involved.

if i was New line i would release LOTR next year X-mas. would make much more sence market wise. more HD drives sold by that time and then x-mas after that two towers then after x-mas after that return of the king ;)

but that would be just me . hopefully new line is nicer and release whole 3 movies same time :)

LOTR Trilogy on HD DVD is listed at Amazon as a "not yet released" title.
Anyone interested in this title should let them know by entering their email address to be put on the "notify me when available" list.
Same goes for the other yet to be released titles.
Maybe if they get alot of interested buyers, it will help hasten it's release :)
I'm on notice for almost all the listed titles.

if i was New line i would release LOTR next year X-mas. would make much more sence market wise. more HD drives sold by that time and then x-mas after that two towers then after x-mas after that return of the king ;)

but that would be just me . hopefully new line is nicer and release whole 3 movies same time :)

You should be drawn and quartered for even breathing such a horrendous idea! :)

It's not completely idiotic--if you're a beancounter. Generally speaking, all the titles for both HD DVD and BD have either been modern 'classics' or bright splashy films that didn't do that well at the box office. They're using them to iron out the kinks in their production processes, and perhaps more importantly to squeeze a little extra money out of us AV geeks while the market's still truly theirs:

Suits: "Okay, guys, you can get the spiffy neato next-gen hardware, but you have to play either Swordfish or Hitch on it!"
Us: "WTF?"

The really good stuff (and to be fair, a massive chunk of the stuff we really want has already been double-dipped to death with current generation hardware) is being held until they can maximize their investment of time and money into producing the releases themselves. You'd think they (and I mean both format camps) would at least drop one or two truly major titles now, when they're actively competing against each other for market shares and mindshares, but noooooo...




Pretty much exactly what I posted in a different thread. I mean when a studio spends tens of millions on a movie and it makes 5 million at the box office and on DVD sales they need to find a way to make back their money. So, they think Hmm there is this new format with 0 content lets sell this awful movie that people will buy becasue they are SO starved for ANY content. Would they normally buy this if there was ANY other choice? No, but in the case where there is nothing else......

-Kaediil

Um, Hitch did well over $100MM at the box office, so I hope you are putting it in the "modern classics" category? Swordfish was a dog of a story, but a pretty HD-DVD, and Halle Berry didn't hurt, either.

guys,

don't be too bummed if it takes a little while to get LOTR out on BD or HD DVD.

Though none of us want to wait years, a little time would be good to allow the studios to get more experience mastering/authoring BD/HD DVD media so that it's a disc worth keeping and not something that then needs to be replaced with a "decent copy" a year or two later.

Think of all those early DVDs that look so bad by today's DVD standards...

guys,

don't be too bummed if it takes a little while to get LOTR out on BD or HD DVD.

Though none of us want to wait years, a little time would be good to allow the studios to get more experience mastering/authoring BD/HD DVD media so that it's a disc worth keeping and not something that then needs to be replaced with a "decent copy" a year or two later.

I would rebuy LOTR in a year or 2....bring it on now.

I would rebuy LOTR in a year or 2....bring it on now.

Ditto.

If LOTR came out and wasn't purr-fect, whoa, lo' and behold the outcry on this forum would drown out the Vienna Boys Chior turned up to 11. Does each film have to be on 2 discs? Aren't the second and third ones longer, or even longer? They may not want to tackle long movies just yet? ...until they really get good at the authoring, that seems logical and plausible to me. They may not want to even address "flipper 'babies' "or 2-disc sets yet in fear of evoking another round of I hate flippers and I'm not gonna take it anymore, like back in the early DVD dayz just yet? I'd be rich if I gota nickel for every expletive directed at flippers on this forum, back when. You never heard more whinin'! ,,,,mostly from folks who never had a Laserdisc player I presume, eh watson! ;)

I think we're gonna have to wait for ex-tree long movies for awhile whilst "they" decide how to author them and on how many discs. 'An I mean all the studios. They all act like they're wearing training wheels, eh. As much as I wanna see Ben Hur, it might be off the menu for awhile on length too.....? I broke off that dream, I'll grow another one!

I would rebuy LOTR in a year or 2....bring it on now.

I would too, but there would be tremendous outcry by many people that New Line is ripping them off by double dipping and how they, as consumers, are being forced to buy the new version so soon and how it's wrong for studios to make decent profits.

It may sound cynical, but I hear this from people on Home Theater Forum all of the time.

Sorry, Shawshank won't be this year, I'm told.

Cjplay.

How the hell did i miss this!?!?!? Screw LOTR. THIS is a movie i want.

I would too, but there would be tremendous outcry by many people that New Line is ripping them off by double dipping and how they, as consumers, are being forced to buy the new version so soon and how it's wrong for studios to make decent profits.

It may sound cynical, but I hear this from people on Home Theater Forum all of the time.

No, I think the difference being that they CAN do a good job on these right now....its not like the technology isnt there.

Just give me the exact special features on the EE sets and the EE in hd with lossless sound. Id be happy....if they revisit in the future with all new hd content and upgraded transfer (due to some new fangled technology yet to be revealed), then I wont complain about it.

If LOTR came out and wasn't purr-fect, whoa, lo' and behold the outcry on this forum would drown out the Vienna Boys Chior turned up to 11. Does each film have to be on 2 discs? Aren't the second and third ones longer, or even longer? They may not want to tackle long movies just yet? ...until they really get good at the authoring, that seems logical and plausible to me. They may not want to even address "flipper 'babies' "or 2-disc sets yet in fear of evoking another round of I hate flippers and I'm not gonna take it anymore, like back in the early DVD dayz just yet? I'd be rich if I gota nickel for every expletive directed at flippers on this forum, back when. You never heard more whinin'! ,,,,mostly from folks who never had a Laserdisc player I presume, eh watson! ;)

I think we're gonna have to wait for ex-tree long movies for awhile whilst "they" decide how to author them and on how many discs. 'An I mean all the studios. They all act like they're wearing training wheels, eh. As much as I wanna see Ben Hur, it might be off the menu for awhile on length too.....? I broke off that dream, I'll grow another one!

Rachael,

I have posted on the forum but have never responed to you directly. I have seen your posts and I agree with you. I had never heared of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but bought the HD DVD and enjoyed it immensely. I agree, let them duke it out (Blu Ray.) Looking forward to Bataman Returns, Lord of the Rings (I actually spell them out.)

I would too, but there would be tremendous outcry by many people that New Line is ripping them off by double dipping and how they, as consumers, are being forced to buy the new version so soon and how it's wrong for studios to make decent profits.

It may sound cynical, but I hear this from people on Home Theater Forum all of the time.

I hear it all the time too. Doesn't make them right. Nobody is forcing them to buy anything.

I hear it all the time too. Doesn't make them right. Nobody is forcing them to buy anything.

I agree. There is that big "consumer victim" mentality over there for whatever reason.

I agree. There is that big "consumer victim" mentality over there for whatever reason.

Exactly. Interesting phenomenon. If they were happy with the original release, why feel "compelled" to purchase the re-release?

Sometimes I feel like I am the only person on the planet who did not repurchase The Fifth Element when it was released on Superbit. If I did buy the Superbit title, I wouldn't feel the need to bitch about the studio releasing it for the second time with the goal of providing slightly better picture and sound.

In any event, as stated before, since we all know the history of how these things work, those who become upset about "double dipping" could simply not buy the original release in anticipation that they will eventually be re-released and possibly improved on.

No, I think the difference being that they CAN do a good job on these right now....its not like the technology isnt there.

Just give me the exact special features on the EE sets and the EE in hd with lossless sound. Id be happy....if they revisit in the future with all new hd content and upgraded transfer (due to some new fangled technology yet to be revealed), then I wont complain about it.

I agree with this too. I think they are capable of doing a very good job on these titles right now. I have seen them in HD on cable, and they look stunning. No reason to believe that they wouldnt look at least as good on HD-DVD.

Rachael,

I have posted on the forum but have never responed to you directly. I have seen your posts and I agree with you. I had never heared of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but bought the HD DVD and enjoyed it immensely. I agree, let them duke it out (Blu Ray.) Looking forward to Bataman Returns, Lord of the Rings (I actually spell them out.)

Don't worry, I don't bite, well, atleast not too much :)

I just finished mixing a film for NL.... and I met with somebody who is what I will call pretty high up in the NL home video dept... I asked about HD or BR, and according to him, NL is taking a wait and see approach... And in discussing the DVD release of this feature, he even mentioned that this might be one of their first, which would mean next spring....

I expect to speak with them again in the next couple of weeks, and will see if their position has changed or their are any updates....

Any further info to report FM?

Any further info to report FM?

Not yet.. :)

Is NewLine still HD-DVD EXCLUSIVE?

for LOTR I read somewhere that Peter Jackson wants to wait and be involved with the transfer of the movie....

Also for LOTR they could be waiting to fine tune the 45GB discs thus giving that little bit of extra space....

Is NewLine still HD-DVD EXCLUSIVE?

New Line Cinema never really was HD DVD exclusive.

Since Warner Brothers is their parent company, most assume they will release on the high def formats similar to how WB releases. Along those lines, WB releases on both formats, so NLC is likely to release on both as well.

But NLC hasn't officially announced titles for either format yet. I suppose we will know more of what they plan on doing early next year.

I don't recall hearing that the 45 gig disc spec was moving forward with being into the official HD DVD spec. Without that provision, it's a moot choice.

I believe Amir stated on another thread that sometime next year they will be able to squeeze 20% more out of the VC-1 codec.....this being the case i would imagine its better waiting and seeing improvements in the authoring tools than have them release films which are too long for the format and having them compress too much and lose finer detail.....King Kong apparently looks great at 3 hours 8 minutes but if they can squeeze another 20% running time within the next six months then they would fit each movie onto 1 disc without needing to go to another disc ( remember there is about fifteen minutes of fan titles at the end of each movie which might not be shown on the HD DVD versions )

I think its better to wait for improvements than rush into releasing such a lengthy movie and screwing it up especially since the original extended editions of the first 2 movies on ntsc DVD region 1 were filtered, had edge enhancement and in my opinion sounded compressed as well ( whether u chose dts or dolby )

I just don't see why New Line has to wait and wait. Why can't they pick a handful of films, make VC1 encodes, release to one or both fur-mats. Are they waiting for people to train to do encodes? What are they waiting for, really? An Austin Powers film could be a good starter....then, they could work their way up to that lengthy trilogy that so many await....

Is the water too cold? ...or what? If they can only afford to do 2 or 3, can't they handle even that?

It's ok. Think about how much DVD authoring improved over the years since 1997. Just because New Line isn't ready to cash their LOTR chips just yet on HD is no cause for alarm. Obviously, when they do it they'll do it right!

dave :)

We have to be realistic. I doubt LOTR will be here before 2008. However, I would run out to buy Dark City if it came out tomorrow.

I just don't see why New Line has to wait and wait. Why can't they pick a handful of films, make VC1 encodes, release to one or both fur-mats. Are they waiting for people to train to do encodes? What are they waiting for, really? An Austin Powers film could be a good starter....then, they could work their way up to that lengthy trilogy that so many await....

Is the water too cold? ...or what? If they can only afford to do 2 or 3, can't they handle even that?

Yes, it IS too cold. They said so explicitly in their press release about no LotR before 2007. They are a small studio, and sales on both formats suck. They aren't going back to the golden goose until there are enough installed users that it's in their best interest. My personal guess is we will only see LotR on one format, becaues by the time they announce it'll be obvious which one is going to win.

Now everyone can go back to pretending they know which format that will be...

I'm not quite sure I get the- wait until there are enough players thing. Don't you think actually SEEING a title like LOTR would entice people to jump into the format?

Well, my threads gone, so I may as well put the notice here:

The petition to New Line has started in the poll thread over here http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=834226&page=1&pp=30

Full contact details and a sample letter - send to all three places.

I would suspect New Line would be none-too-pleased if they had fewer letters come in than Warner did! :)