http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Warner/Disc_Announcements/Warner_Brings_Blood_Diamond_to_Blu-ray,_HD_DVD/583

Is this a sign that Warner is giving up on waiting for BD-J? They have announced Blood Diamond on HD-DVD and Blu-ray. While the Blu-ray version will street a few weeks earlier, the HD-DVD version will have more extras, including IME's. Both will have the same MSRP.

Maybe. Isn't that about the time that THD is supposed to show up from Warner?
J

Makes sense to me. Warner wants to get the movie on the market sooner rather than later, presumably because they'll sell more now than if they wait 6 or 7 months and the movie has faded from consumers buy target. The movie will sell itself, the IME are more "nice to have" than anything.

Sony put its customers (content owners and consumers) in this position by twisting its thumbs on the BD J issue.

Personally, extras are just that, extras. If I were neutral and wanted to see Blood Diamond, I would rent what ever came out first.

For my tastes - we can toss out all this BD J and HD DVD extra feautre crap...Just give me the movie in pristine HD with pristine sound!!!!

I used to feel that way about extras and all that stuff....that was until I watched Batman Begins and Harry Potter GOF with IME. Now I really enjoy them. GBFreek you ought to give IME a try, it's great. :)

I hope so. I just want the movie. They could strip off everything besides the movie and PCM/THD soundtrack, and I'd be very happy.

Makes sense to me. Warner wants to get the movie on the market sooner rather than later, presumably because they'll sell more now than if they wait 6 or 7 months and the movie has faded from consumers buy target. The movie will sell itself, the IME are more "nice to have" than anything.

Sony put its customers (content owners and consumers) in this position by twisting its thumbs on the BD J issue.


Agreed, I don't get why they can't both be on the same date, doesn't seem like a few extras should take longer in the vast scheme.

It seems like BDJ and BD+ are causing studios to take it on a per-title basis rather than erecting any clear policy. Something like Blood Diamond is a rather small prestige picture that could easily get lost if they don't strike wile the iron is hottish.

Personally, extras are just that, extras. If I were neutral and wanted to see Blood Diamond, I would rent what ever came out first.

For my tastes - we can toss out all this BD J and HD DVD extra feautre crap...Just give me the movie in pristine HD with pristine sound!!!!

Agreed, I don't get why they can't both be on the same date, doesn't seem like a few extras should take longer in the vast scheme.

It seems like BDJ and BD+ are causing studios to take it on a per-title basis rather than erecting any clear policy. Something like Blood Diamond is a rather small prestige picture that could easily get lost if they don't strike wile the iron is hottish.

if they two are released at the same date, no one who owns both HD DVD and BD player will buy BD, period! that is why i assume the HD DVD version is releasd a month later. By releasing BD earlier, atleast the chance for 2format owners to double dip is there. :p cant wait a month, get the BD version, then to try the live web enabled feature, get the HD DVD version a month later :p

if they two are released at the same date, no one who owns both HD DVD and BD player will buy BD, period! that is why i assume the HD DVD version is releasd a month later. By releasing BD earlier, atleast the chance for 2format owners to double dip is there. :p cant wait a month, get the BD version, then to try the live web enabled feature, get the HD DVD version a month later :p


That's too bad, usually Warner isn't sleazy about this stuff.

I hope so. I just want the movie. They could strip off everything besides the movie and PCM/THD soundtrack, and I'd be very happy.

Same here. Just give me awesome PQ and SQ and I'm happy :D

I hope so. I just want the movie. They could strip off everything besides the movie and PCM/THD soundtrack, and I'd be very happy.

Indeed. It worked for Paramount how many months ago with MI3? All extras but IME, which noone cares about after the 1st viewing (if even then) anyway...

Indeed. It worked for Paramount how many months ago with MI3? All extras but IME, which noone cares about after the 1st viewing (if even then) anyway...


I tend to lean toward not using a lot of extras, but I know that's not the way of the industry.

Frankly, like them or not I think it will be hard to spread HDM to certain audiences until they are commonplace, because plain old DVD has had'em since day one. In one of my genre-forums people piss and moan about every DVD that comes out naked, even when the film is 75-50 years old! "I heard so-and-so is still alive, why no commentary, why no trailer, ....?

I do want trailers, and all these studios have cartoons, so with older films they could cough up toon more often. My favorite part of the Hellboy special-ED was the 50's Tell-Tale Heart cartoon they buried on disk two. That's the kinda value-added content I go for, but if you've seen one green-screen demonstration, you've seen them all.

Warner giving up on BD-J?

I hope not. The longer they withhold titles from BD (while waiting for BD-J) and release them on HD DVD the greater chance HD DVD has to sell more discs and players. :D

I tend to lean toward not using a lot of extras, but I know that's not the way of the industry.

Frankly, like them or not I think it will be hard to spread HDM to certain audiences until they are commonplace, because plain old DVD has had'em since day one. In one of my genre-forums people piss and moan about every DVD that comes out naked, even when the film is 75-50 years old! "I heard so-and-so is still alive, why no commentary, why no trailer, ....?

I do want trailers, and all these studios have cartoons, so with older films they could cough up toon more often. My favorite part of the Hellboy special-ED was the 50's Tell-Tale Heart cartoon they buried on disk two. That's the kinda value-added content I go for, but if you've seen one green-screen demonstration, you've seen them all.

I have to admit, outside of deleted scenes, and alternate endings, I'm not overly interested in extras, but I know of many who are, and watch every single extra second on super multidisc versions of movies.
J

The studios believe that PQ and AQ alone is not enough for 'most' people to buy a HDM over their existing DVD. Hence while brainstorming, they probably hit on this idea that the interactive stuff, live downloads, live voting, immersive experience thing will be the killer app. Someone in the room probably mentioned targeted advertising and post production merchandising as well to sweeten the pot.

For me, I wonder if that is what 'most people' really want. Some days, I look at HDTV sales and wonder if people will migrate from VHS to the $20 royalty-free chinese players and stay there for the rest of the next decade.

Other times, I see these really cheap HD LCDs selling in the stores and wonder if enough people can be convinced to buy them. I can believe the 'wanting' is there, as who wouldn't want a big piece of colorful changing glass hanging on the walls of their house? But people are just so da*n cheap these days. Come on guys, it's only $2000 for a decent HDTV, and only $600 for an awful teensy one that sort of works too!

But right now, I'm thinking that until the analog tap is turned off and people are facing channel after channel of white noise, the mad scramble to HDTV just won't happen.

I do know if the problem is the crowd with channel flipping remotes and $20 player is Warner's target, the IME stuff will be a big joke to them, and this is wrong allocation of resources. Still, when you're grasping at straws, interactivity does sound like a good idea and differentiator. Why not play HDM to a standard def CRT? It's got this interactive stuff that everyone just can't wait to get their hands on. Yep. That's probably it.

I have to admit, outside of deleted scenes, and alternate endings, I'm not overly interested in extras, but I know of many who are, and watch every single extra second on super multidisc versions of movies.
J


I'm the same. I haven't watched a single extra on either format.


I barely have time in my day to watch the dang movie.

I used to feel that way about extras and all that stuff....that was until I watched Batman Begins and Harry Potter GOF with IME. Now I really enjoy them. GBFreek you ought to give IME a try, it's great. :)

Same here. Up until recently, I never put two thoughts into the extras on discs, but the Batman Begins stuff was really cool - and that's just the beginning of IME, it's gonna get even better. I'll wait a month for the IME on the HD DVD version, but if it was 6 months, I might rethink.

The studios believe that PQ and AQ alone is not enough for 'most' people to buy a HDM over their existing DVD. Hence while brainstorming, they probably hit on this idea that the interactive stuff, live downloads, live voting, immersive experience thing will be the killer app. Someone in the room probably mentioned targeted advertising and post production merchandising as well to sweeten the pot.
That sounds about right, but just how wrong are they really? Special editions tend to sell really well, no matter how cheesey. OTOH, things like the Criterion Collection sell, but to a select, limited audience. Superbit anyone?

For me, I wonder if that is what 'most people' really want. Some days, I look at HDTV sales and wonder if people will migrate from VHS to the $20 royalty-free chinese players and stay there for the rest of the next decade.
Yea, that sounds about right.


But right now, I'm thinking that until the analog tap is turned off and people are facing channel after channel of white noise, the mad scramble to HDTV just won't happen.
They won't get white noise. They'll just pay their cable/sat. company a (high) fee for a box with a converter. The rest will buy a converter to work with their TV. Congress has already set aside money so that everyone can get a $40 voucher for a new converter when the time comes. I don't think the transition will be as dramatic as some think.

I do know if the problem is the crowd with channel flipping remotes and $20 player is Warner's target, the IME stuff will be a big joke to them, and this is wrong allocation of resources. Still, when you're grasping at straws, interactivity does sound like a good idea and differentiator.
I'm not convinced that is the case. I know quite a few movie fanatics, that love any and all extras. It seems to be about a 50/50 split to me. The point, is to just get more people interested, the demos certainly don't do it.

BTW, as a side note, Universal has an ad for HD DVD on their DVD of Black Dahlia.
It discussed PQ, AQ, and interactive features.
J

The studios believe that PQ and AQ alone is not enough for 'most' people to buy a HDM over their existing DVD. Hence while brainstorming, they probably hit on this idea that the interactive stuff, live downloads, live voting, immersive experience thing will be the killer app. Someone in the room probably mentioned targeted advertising and post production merchandising as well to sweeten the pot.

For me, I wonder if that is what 'most people' really want. Some days, I look at HDTV sales and wonder if people will migrate from VHS to the $20 royalty-free chinese players and stay there for the rest of the next decade.

Other times, I see these really cheap HD LCDs selling in the stores and wonder if enough people can be convinced to buy them. I can believe the 'wanting' is there, as who wouldn't want a big piece of colorful changing glass hanging on the walls of their house? But people are just so da*n cheap these days. Come on guys, it's only $2000 for a decent HDTV, and only $600 for an awful teensy one that sort of works too!

But right now, I'm thinking that until the analog tap is turned off and people are facing channel after channel of white noise, the mad scramble to HDTV just won't happen.

I do know if the problem is the crowd with channel flipping remotes and $20 player is Warner's target, the IME stuff will be a big joke to them, and this is wrong allocation of resources. Still, when you're grasping at straws, interactivity does sound like a good idea and differentiator. Why not play HDM to a standard def CRT? It's got this interactive stuff that everyone just can't wait to get their hands on. Yep. That's probably it.


correcto :D

regular consumers most probably do not have the equipement to able them to see and hear the differences as compared to standard dvd. However, when it comes to interactivity, consumers WILL DEFINITELY see the upgrade from standard DVD even on a 21in CRT TV ;)

yupe - HD DVD tackle the part where it matters ;)

Don't know if Warner is giving up on BD-J ... but they can as far as I'm concerned. Extras are one thing. I now and then look at them. But "Interrupting The Movie Experience" is not something I want or would ever put up with.

I have both formats ... and I'm happy that they both give me the movie in HD picture and sound.

But "Interrupting The Movie Experience" is not something I want or would ever put up with.


I guess that's a knock against IME.

For the life of me, I can't understand the flak it gets. Do you guys hate commentaries, too? Because IME is simply a video commentary. They both "interrupt" the movie if you interpret it that way.

it's only $2000 for a decent HDTV

For most people who are not enthusiasts, this is a crazy amount of money to spend on a tv. And for many people, they simply cannot afford to spend "only $2000". It's not a trivial amount.

The studios believe that PQ and AQ alone is not enough for 'most' people to buy a HDM over their existing DVD. Hence while brainstorming, they probably hit on this idea that the interactive stuff, live downloads, live voting, immersive experience thing will be the killer app. Someone in the room probably mentioned targeted advertising and post production merchandising as well to sweeten the pot.

Other big thing was - uptodate trailers of upcoming movies.

This whole HiDef format is done wrong. It is made for Studios/CE bu Studios/CE. Consumer - who PAYS for all this - is an after thought. Sometimes I think these formats deserve to fail. :(

..... Sometimes I think these formats deserve to fail.

I can say I'm not shocked to hear this line come from a Microsoft employee. It is no secret that MS wants digital distribution to rule using MS's codecs.

I guess that's a knock against IME.

For the life of me, I can't understand the flak it gets. Do you guys hate commentaries, too? Because IME is simply a video commentary. They both "interrupt" the movie if you interpret it that way.Yes, a benign, non-agressive, yet sarcastic knock against IME.

Everyone's entitled to their opinions and preferences. I don't like it when TNT or INHD takes the bottom 10% of the screen to interrupt what I'm enjoying to tell me what they'll have on in one hour. And IMO, a lot of people feel that way. There's no IME at the commercial movie theater.

I simply want to enjoy the film on it's own ... without all this added stuff. So I don't care about IME and I can't imagine using it.

I have to admit, outside of deleted scenes, and alternate endings, I'm not overly interested in extras, but I know of many who are, and watch every single extra second on super multidisc versions of movies.
J

I do to, and I guess I get why. On a catalog tile like KING KONG (33) for instance, the DVD probably represented the third or fourth time they bought a movie that they've seen over a dozen times on video, TV, and theaters. How do ya keep even a great movie fresh? Extras. New commentary, floor sweepings from the editing room, stills, interviews....

I'm sure there are some who watch the extras, then maybe the feature. In some ways they serve as a kind of memorabila.

Other big thing was - uptodate trailers of upcoming movies.

This whole HiDef format is done wrong. It is made for Studios/CE bu Studios/CE. Consumer - who PAYS for all this - is an after thought. Sometimes I think these formats deserve to fail. :(
So we are getting into what is right for the consumer, hmmm, lets take a look at a little thing called GFW. DX10 requires Vista, so even though I have a DX10 compatible card (8800GTX) I will need to spend another £120 upgrading to Vista Home Premium. How pro-consumer is that?

I know that this example hits a little close to home for you nat, but the point remains; everything in this world today is built for the large companies, the consumer is always going to be an afterthought. That, unfortunately for us, is the way it is and no amount of boycotting/petitioning is going to change that. Legislation could, but the big companies have so many government officials in their pocket (I think they call it lobbying in the US, but that is just a fancy way of saying bribe. Here in the UK it is a little bit more sophisticated, but still essentially bribery.), it will never happen.

Big companies have realised that if they build it, we will have no choice but to come. It is one big cartel. If all the companies in the world decided tomorrow to stop making DVD players and DVDs, but instead decided to make HD DVD players but sold them for more money, what choice would we have? This is the way it is going, look at computing, I don't have a choice in getting Vista, it is forced on me (if I buy from Dell, HP, Sony etc...). Do I want Vista, like a hole in the head, but if I get a new computer you can be sure that it will come with Vista.

So really the whole system is set up against the consumer and for the big companies, it has always been that way. Sure we have consumer bodies we can go to who will fight for small cases and win a few small battles, but by and large the system is set up so that big companies can continue to rip us off for as long as they please.

If WB can release Blood Diamond early on BD why can't they do the same for The Matrix?

Personally, extras are just that, extras. If I were neutral and wanted to see Blood Diamond, I would rent what ever came out first.

For my tastes - we can toss out all this BD J and HD DVD extra feautre crap...Just give me the movie in pristine HD with pristine sound!!!!

Just by that response, I can tell you are BR owner. Only BR owners complain about not wanting to have extras or "I don't need extras" just give me the movie, simply because BD-J isn't fully ready. HD-DVD owners welcome all extras and features in their discs. Especially for the same price as a BR disc. The good thing, is all the extras come at no expense on PQ and AQ. Extras are just that, "extras" in addition to the excellent PQ and AQ of HD-DVD. The only reason you say if you were neutral and to rent whatever comes out first, is because you knew Blood Diamond was coming out on BD first, hence make statements that favor BR. If it came out on HD-DVD first, you probably wouldn't have made that statement. For BR who claims to be "technically superior", they can't even get something simple as interactive extras right after almost a yr later.

If I were format neutral, I would buy the discs that gave me more features for my dollar, in that case HD-DVD. I have a PS3 and could buy it on BR, but going to wait and see all what all this fuss is about with Blood Diamond and the internet interactivity. It's nice to know I have that option on HD-DVD whether I use it or not. In my PS3's case, I don't have that option. That's why I primarily use my HD-DVD, the options outweigh the non-options of BR.

I can say I'm not shocked to hear this line come from Microsoft. It is no secret that MS wants digital distribution to rule using MS's codecs.

i am reporting you for your ill intention in this post. Nataraj CLEARLY and EXPLICITLY said in his signature that :


" his posts are strictly his personal view and not of MS" :rolleyes:

If people don't like IME then they don't have to access it. But many people do enjoy it. Thats kind of the beauty of it, you can take it or just ignore it. I NEVER watch IME the first time. After I have seen the movie a couple of times, then I access it and watch the movie. It really gives you insight on what the film maker was thinking or how they did certain stunts etc. BTW, it is MUCH easier to watch IME than watching the film with just the audio commentary on. You can still hear the movie a little bit. The PIP box is on the bottom of the screen. It is surprisingly good.

If WB can release Blood Diamond early on BD why can't they do the same for The Matrix?

My guess is because they know The Matrix is going to be blockbuster and want to include interactive features on it since The Matrix is a technological type of movie. Think of WB including an interactive extra like choosing between the "Red" or "Blue" Pill. Blood Diamond is more for the movie and probably is not going to sell quite the volume The Matrix is going to do. That way BR owners don't have to buy 2 versions of The Matrix, one with interactivity and one without. That's just my guess.

i am reporting you for your ill intention in this post. Nataraj CLEARLY and EXPLICITLY said in his signature that :


" his posts are strictly his personal view and not of MS" :rolleyes:

fixed it with my original intent :) You are however wrong, there is no ill intention towards Nataraj from me regardless of his past personal attacks on me.

fixed it with my original intent :) You are however wrong, there is no ill intention towards Nataraj from me regardless of his past personal attacks on me.

:D

So we are getting into what is right for the consumer, hmmm, lets take a look at a little thing called GFW.

I'm clearly not interested in your OT rants. We all know you hate MS - don't make me / my posts your target because of that.

I'm the same. I haven't watched a single extra on either format.


I barely have time in my day to watch the dang movie.

I mostly agree, but the LoTR extras and the cool docs on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are bodacious! ;)

I'd be lying if I said this *currently* isn't a small feather in HD-DVDs cap (although I think BD-J will surpass Hdi once the hardware guys sort out the spec). That said, I don't have time for all the stuff they throw on these discs - to me it's of minor consequence. Give me a 50GB encode with lossless audio any day; I don't even need a menu (god, I hate some of the interactive menus on DVD).

time