Caught part of this Wednesday evening, mostly I guess because nothing in the summer doldrums caught my attention. AFI's website (http://connect.afi.com/site/PageServer?pagename=micro_100landing) lets you take an animated (FLASH) tour of the 100 in groups of 10, clicking titles for more details [click 2nd green button down]. For just a list of the top 90 [top 10 are shown], from this site, you need to register with an e-mail address [1st button].

An interesting show, with good commentary by film insiders. Not sure about CBS's 1080i delivery (true versus upconverted). Only spotted one, Chinatown (top 30), that I know is slated for HD delivery (HDNet Movies, July 1).

Might be interesting to post other upcoming HD airings of highly acclaimed favorites. (Come to think of it, HDNet's monthly movie listings here may have such an AFI category breakout.) [Edit: Correction, that's a National Film Registry breakout, not AFI]. -- John

What would have been really nice: showed all clips in OAR! Well, maybe by the time they do this in another 10 years. :)

Why doesn't CBS at least put this show on in HD? They have the resources and after all it is film. But then they don't broadcast the Tony Awards in HD either. Go figure.

Login if you want to download the list: http://www.bugmenot.com/view/connect.afi.com

Why doesn't CBS at least put this show on in HD? They have the resources and after all it is film. But then they don't broadcast the Tony Awards in HD either. Go figure.

I would agree. They (CBS and AFI) have been churning out these lists every year for the past 10 years. Even two or three years ago they should've made the switch to HD. A 10th anniversary show would have been the best opportunity to do so.

I think one of the excuses (although not legit IMO) is that this year's show included a lot of rehashed interviews (noticed the slight graphic on the top corner: AFI archive). Many of the interviewees have departed. Those are mostly shot in 4:3 and SD. There would have to be a lot of pillars in this year's show, in addition to all the framing issues with various movies in different aspect ratios and so on.

The biggest issue (other than budget) is the framing issues with the movies. Presenting movies in OAR for both 4:3 and 16:9 audiences basically means producing two shows and simulcasting for both audiences. Most of the film clips are generally available in HD (leftover from the Oscars - a show that does this process every year), but it would take basically twice the post-production time (and money). I'm not sure this show rates high enough to offset the extra costs.

Here's a Wikipedia page that compares the changes from the 1997 list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years..._100_Movies_%2810th_Anniversary_Edition% 29