What about those owned solely by Universal, like Jurassic Park and Jaws? Universal has never been - and may never be - neutral. Would it be possible for Universal to release Jurassic Park, Jaws and E.T. on Blu-ray as well as HD DVD just like Paramount will do with War of the Worlds, Minority Report, etc.?

Universal has never been neutral so they could just decline to release any Speilberg movies, if it has to be on Blu-Ray.

Paramount has been neutral so they could easily release movies on Blu-ray eventhough they are now exclusive.

The Fact is Speilberg still has some control over DreamWorks, he has none over Universal.

What about those owned solely by Universal, like Jurassic Park and Jaws? Universal has never been - and may never be - neutral. Would it be possible for Universal to release Jurassic Park, Jaws and E.T. on Blu-ray as well as HD DVD just like Paramount will do with War of the Worlds, Minority Report, etc.?

Interesting question. Would it be possible? Anything is possible. But most likely wont happen. If anything, Spielberg smacked the Look and Sound of Perfect "Spielberg movies coming to HD DVD" in less than 24 hours after it was posted. For some reason or another, Spielberg has be consistenly recognized as being a backer and supporter of Blu-Ray. Hence the disclaimer included with today's news w/ paramount.

I think Universal will just hold those in the vault until they can be HD DVD exclusive (meaning HD DVD wins out the format war), or until Universal goes neutral(not likely), or until BR wins out the war.

Would be interesting to know exactly what / why spielberg has / is against HD DVD.

Interesting question. Would it be possible? Anything is possible. But most likely wont happen. If anything, Spielberg smacked the Look and Sound of Perfect "Spielberg movies coming to HD DVD" in less than 24 hours after it was posted. For some reason or another, Spielberg has be consistenly recognized as being a backer and supporter of Blu-Ray. Hence the disclaimer included with today's news w/ paramount.

I think Universal will just hold those in the vault until they can be HD DVD exclusive (meaning HD DVD wins out the format war), or until Universal goes neutral(not likely), or until BR wins out the war.

Would be interesting to know exactly what / why spielberg has / is against HD DVD.

I think Spielberg may want the heavier copy protection that BD+ affords on his titles.

I think Spielberg may want the heavier copy protection that BD+ affords on his titles.

Ehhh but thats like Fox or Disney wanting region coding...

What is the point? If someone wants a movie exclusive (even just timed) pirates just rip it and put it up on the newsgroups or bit torrent. In fact, there is more of an incentive (for recognition) for pirates to go after the "protected" content....

I just wish Uni would put out JP... ahh well.. eventually.

I think Spielberg may want the heavier copy protection that BD+ affords on his titles.

Considering many(most?) of his movies would be double and even triple dips would that matter at all?

I think Spielberg may want the heavier copy protection that BD+ affords on his titles.

Its got to be something like that because he surely can't say that one is better than the other for pq or aq. He also has to have both formats in his screening room, I mean sure he has film prints of his titles and of any he produces so HD DVD and blu ray are like DVD to him.;)

Mike

The obvious answer to me at least is that Universal and Paramount can release those movies which are completely under their control. They however won't release them in HD due to wanting Spielberg's blessing. This guy is one of the most powerful man in Hollywood and you don't really want to upset him in any way. As to why Spielberg is so "pro" Blu-Ray, I think it is more speculation, until it comes from the horse's mouth. Personally, I think he is like George Lucas, in that they both don't want their movies released in any format until there is mass market adoption of said format and their movies can generate the most revenues.

Yeah, maybe Spielberg just wants his movies released to the biggest market possible, and being released on both formats is the only way to do it. I think there could still be some bad blood between he and Universal as well, but you'd think he would prefer HD DVD over Blu-ray now that both Universal AND Paramount, his former and current distributors, are both exclusive to the format.

Spielberg is seriously peeing me off right now!! First I was mad at the fact he has all this power over his movies and now Universal can't even release 3 of their best movies ever. And now I'm just beyond mad, I'm furious!! There is a reason behind the word exclusive and thats if the damn movie was released on Paramount then the damn movie should release exclusively on Paramount/HD DVD only. And again this is if they release ANY at all. And how come Blu-Ray gets Close Encounter which is so far exclusively on Blu-Ray??

The more I look at the Paramount titles that I will be enjoying on HD DVD I look under the director name and see Spielberg. Lots of the movies that interest me from Paramount are Spielberg movies! :mad::mad:

Spielberg is seriously peeing me off right now!! First I was mad at the fact he has all this power over his movies and now Universal can't even release 3 of their best movies ever. And now I'm just beyond mad, I'm furious!! There is a reason behind the word exclusive and thats if the damn movie was released on Paramount then the damn movie should release exclusively on Paramount/HD DVD only. And again this is if they release ANY at all. And how come Blu-Ray gets Close Encounter which is so far exclusively on Blu-Ray??

The more I look at the Paramount titles that I will be enjoying on HD DVD I look under the director name and see Spielberg. Lots of the movies that interest me from Paramount are Spielberg movies! :mad::mad:

Why is it pissing you off? If Uni or Paramount release it on Blu-ray, they will be releasing it on HD DVD(if Spielberg allows it of course). The only BR exclusive Spielbergs are non-Uni or Para titles.

I think Spielberg may want the heavier copy protection that BD+ affords on his titles.

But he is allowing his Paramount/DW movies to also be released on HD-DVD, so.....

I really just think that he expected Blu-ray to walk away with this. The fact that he lets Close Encounters go Blu-ray only and not JP to go HD-DVD exclusive, just probably means that he wanted to chose a bigger userbase of the 2 for exclusives, but it does seem suspicious.

Instead of hating on Spielberg, you guys should be supporting all of his movies on HD-DVD so the numbers go in favor of that format.:D

But he is allowing his Paramount/DW movies to also be released on HD-DVD, so.....

I really just think that he expected Blu-ray to walk away with this. The fact that he lets Close Encounters go Blu-ray only and not JP to go HD-DVD exclusive, just probably means that he wanted to chose a bigger userbase of the 2 for exclusives, but it does seem suspicious.

Instead of hating on Spielberg, you guys should be supporting all of his movies on HD-DVD so the numbers go in favor of that format.:D

If he'd allow Universal to release Jurassic Park I'd buy three copies of it just to give to family and friends.

Spielberg may have it in his contract now that he gets final say in home video releases of his work, but bear in mind that this was not always the case.

As I was made to understand it; Universal could release Jaws tomorrow if they wanted to, and there's not a damn thing Spielberg could do about it, legally.

But 'legally' and 'professionally' are two different things. So it's not an issue of Spielberg having every right to every movie he has ever made -- it's an issue of not wanting to piss off Spielberg, despite the rights you may hold.

Spielberg owns a big stake in CAA; the top talent agency in Hollywood. Were Universal or Paramount to go ahead and do something specifically against his wishes, there is nothing to stop Spielberg from tossing out a general 'No CAA clients will work with Universal or Paramount anymore'.

Legally, he does not have anywhere near the power that some may think. Professionally, he has an iron grip on the golden balls of Hollywood. What's a legal right worth when the man can sink your studio with an under-the-table agreement to cut off A-list talent from your reach?

Just look at the backflips Sumner Redstone is doing now after publicly berating Tom Cruise and giving him the flick...thus incurring the wrath of the 'Berg.

I said this on a blu ray thread talking about Spielberg that I love Spielberg and generally most of his work but does it piss anyone else off the amount of clout this guy has? I mean i like the guy but having to hear his name attached to this just annoys me a bit. I understand everything he has done for hollywood but geez

i do think though universal probably wanted/wants to put Jurassic Park out there but due to spielberg just cant. Which kinda annoys me since id love to have those films

Legally, he does not have anywhere near the power that some may think. Professionally, he has an iron grip on the golden balls of Hollywood. What's a legal right worth when the man can sink your studio with an under-the-table agreement to cut off A-list talent from your reach?


That is absolutely the case. Universal could release all of his films on HD DVD tomorrow, but they risk being blackballed from any future Spielberg cash cow projects.

How can Close Encounters of the Third Kind be coming to Blu-ray...exclusively? :confused:

How can Close Encounters of the Third Kind be coming to Blu-ray...exclusively? :confused:

its columbia tristar

its columbia tristar
Yes, I know, but if Spielberg wants his films to be non-exclusive, what, did Sony just give the middle finger to him and plan to release it anyway? :confused:

Yes, I know, but if Spielberg wants his films to be non-exclusive, what, did Sony just give the middle finger to him and plan to release it anyway? :confused:

No it sounds like he was involved. I wonder if Spielberg movies where required for the BD buy in that Sony did to get them to come over in the first place. Their were rumors in the report that Paramount would have a couple BD releases that would finish Paramounts obligation to BD, maybe these are what they were talking about.

Spielberg wants the Paramount titles to be released on both formats
Fine - just put 'em out already

The obvious answer to me at least is that Universal and Paramount can release those movies which are completely under their control.

Universal has never been neutral so they could just decline to release any Speilberg movies, if it has to be on Blu-Ray.

man does no one read anymore?

Speilberg much like GL has the final say NOT Paramount (read it again until it is understood). They are (perhaps including J Cameron but I highly doubt it) the only two directors with that much "stroke" to do that.

IN otherwords that little badge that says Paramount is just the DISTRIBUTION channel. The movie IS a Speilberg controlled film meaning if SS wants to go blu only. HE CAN and Paramount can not do one thing to stop him.

Though SS and GL don't care about which format is better. In the end they care how they get even more money by DIPPING again and re-releasing the 30th anniversary super special uncensored director's edition on BOTH formats.

ANd if VHS, DVD was any indication.

I would not hold your breath on any product actually hitting the shelves ANYTIME soon about any of those films. Announcements.. oh you will here this and that. They did the same with DVD and Indiana Jones..........for FOUR years!

I say let Spielbergs titles wait in the vault. Paramount and Dreamworks both have an extensive enough library with movies that rock.

So we won't get Saving Private Ryan :(
But Gladiator and Braveheart aren't Spielberg :) there are other good directors in the world :)

I don't think most people would care as long as the movie gets released one way or the other. Even if it is blu exclusive, I can garuntee - people will make the switch.

Hell I bought an HD-DVD player yesterday, just so I could see Transformers. By the time JP comes out, you'll find yourself spending less than 199 to go see it.

I say let Spielbergs titles wait in the vault. Paramount and Dreamworks both have an extensive enough library with movies that rock.

So we won't get Saving Private Ryan :(
But Gladiator and Braveheart aren't Spielberg :) there are other good directors in the world :)

No Indiana Jones, Jaws or Jurassic Park as well.

Your signature is amusing. I think it's more like...

Universal > Sony
Paramount < Fox (debatable, but i'm a sci-fi fan)
Dreamworks < Pixar
Weinstein = Lionsgate
Ummmm? <<< Disney

Universal has never been neutral so they could just decline to release any Speilberg movies, if it has to be on Blu-Ray.
.

if this is totally accurate then I wish Universal woul release these tittles on both platform and not be exclusive in this case.

I doubt legally Spielberg has much control over any of this films. Possibly his latest work, particularly for Dreamworks since he co-owned Dreamworks. But I doubt he has any rights over anything else, including early stuff like Jaws or Close Encounters. Or even Jurassic Park in all likelihood. It's up to the studios to choose what to do. And in this case, Paramount is also his current employer. So it looks like they agreed to nothing regarding Spielberg films, effectively removing them from the deal to appease Spielberg in the hopes he keeps working for them. What actually happens to these films remains to be seen.

I doubt legally Spielberg has much control over any of this films. .

Unfortunatly he does. The nice thing about creative control and when you get to be as "big" as both SS and GL are.

All we know is that Spielberg has expressed that he is a big supporter of Blu-ray. There is no reason why given. He doesn't even say that he dislikes HD DVD. It would seem that his special arrangement with Paramount/Dreamworks could mean dual format releases. His Sony/Columbia releases being exclusive to Blu-ray is a given, but it is Universal that makes this interesting.

As director, Spielberg has a clause in his contract requiring his approval on all theatrical and home video releases. That is the reason the Universal titles were retracted and the Paramount HD DVD exclusivity deal has an exception written in for him. Could Universal release Blu-rays of his movies? They can't be forced to, they can simply be denied permission to release them on HD DVD. Universal would have to go blu or neutral before they will be allowed to release any Spielberg titles unless he changes his mind. For the time being, the CE Blu-ray is the ONLY Spielberg-directed title in the pipeline.

I doubt legally Spielberg has much control over any of this films. Possibly his latest work, particularly for Dreamworks since he co-owned Dreamworks. But I doubt he has any rights over anything else, including early stuff like Jaws or Close Encounters. Or even Jurassic Park in all likelihood. It's up to the studios to choose what to do. And in this case, Paramount is also his current employer. So it looks like they agreed to nothing regarding Spielberg films, effectively removing them from the deal to appease Spielberg in the hopes he keeps working for them. What actually happens to these films remains to be seen.

Spielberg doesn't have an employer. He IS Amblin Entertainment, and they make films and license them to the studios. He has as much control over his films as any filmmaker can have.

Right, Paramount isn't his employer, they're his distributor.

Um, has he even done anything good in the least few years? Since Minority Report? WoW was fun to watch, but the movie wasn't all that, and next he's treating us to Geriatric Jones 4 and Borassic Park 4?

Except for some of his older stuff, It doesn't bother me which format they're coming out on, since I won't be watching them anyway.

--Oh, and seriously, removing the guns in ET and then saying it's okay in WoW because they're shooting at aliens is the lamest bit of crap I've heard. Wasn't ET an alien?--

(The above represents a personal opinion. You may really like The Terminal and Munich. More for you then.)

I dont think he directed JP3. Lord, JP3 sucked...

I thought WotW was quite good. Yes, it has the same problem most Spielberg movies suffer from (annoying kids - ET an exception), but had some really great film moments.

That said, I was an early adopter on DVD as well, and Spielberg played the same annoying games there too. People forget that his movies took a LONG time to come on on HD. Hell, I owned the LD transferred Asian copies of the Raiders trilogy (second movie source film should be burned) and I got those ages after DVD went mainstrem. Heck, Indy didn't hit until the end of 2003 for crying out loud. Spielberg and Lucas are kind of douchy that way...

MEC2

From http://www.spielbergfilms.com/dreamworks/1505
It's a safe assumption that many of our readers and fellow Spielberg fans are either just starting to consider or have been seriously considering making the jump from standard definition DVD to high definition video for their home movie collection.

With the very exciting announcement that the classic "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is on its way to Blu-ray in an anniversary set to be released on November 13, and Blu-ray titles selling at a rate of 2-to-1 over the competing HD-DVD format, it seemed like now was finally a great time to make the investment in high def video.

Or at least it was up until yesterday.

Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation jointly announced an industry-rattling commitment to release their films exclusively to the flailing HD-DVD format, something that certainly gave fans ready to invest in Blu-ray, "Close Encounters" and hopefully a long line of Spielberg classics on high definition video serious pause. With largely complete libraries of all of Steven Spielberg's films on standard definition DVD, it's been a wait-and-see time regarding in which format fans would be able to safely build a cornerstone of their high-def libraries.

Universal and the HD-DVD group prematurely touted that they'd be releasing Spielberg touchstones like "Jaws" and "Jurassic Park" to HD-DVD late last year, but the announcement was quickly quashed for reasons still unexplained publicly.

Now, with the announcement that Paramount and DreamWorks would be releasing their libraries exclusively to HD-DVD, it seemed as if a major wrench were thrown into the format fray from a Spielberg fan's perspective. Thankfully, Paramount's press release regarding their abandonment of Blu-ray did include one very important and carefully worded sentence at the very end of the release:

"Today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format."

In essence, and despite his own studio's commitment to HD-DVD, Spielberg has reserved the right to release his films on both formats, or perhaps whichever one he chooses as the format war wages on.

For further clarification, we talked with DreamWorks spokesman Marvin Levy via e-mail this morning, and he told SpielbergFilms the following revealing information.

"Steven is a supporter of Blu-Ray but is not exclusive to either format."

So where exactly does that leave Spielberg fans after yesterday's announcement? Quite possibly in good stead to chose either format, with knowledge that the market and consumers (and not studios swaying to incentives from hardware manufacturers) will eventually decide which high definition format will be the de facto standard, and that Spielberg is personally supporting Sony's Blu-ray format. At this writing, "Close Encounters" is only slated for release on Blu-ray, given Sony's ownership of both the format and the film, while October 9th's release of the minor Spielberg work "Twilight Zone The Movie" will be released on both Blu-ray and HD-DVD through Warner Bros.

Spielberg films owned or released through DreamWorks and Paramount — the "Indiana Jones" series, and all of Spielberg's directorial efforts from "Amistad" on with the exception of "Munich" — have the possibility of release to both high-def formats given Spielberg's stance. It's unclear if Spielberg's prerogative on releasing to both formats will extend to the HD-DVD-only Universal, home of Spielberg essentials such as "Jaws," "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List" and more, but it's a fairly safe assumption that Spielberg's views on the matter are as important to Universal as they are any other studio in town.

The consumer confusion over high definition formats is far from over thanks to this new development with the studios, but it's at least good to know where a filmmaker with the caliber of work as Steven Spielberg stands.

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" will be released on Blu-ray in an anniversary set containing all three major versions of the film this November 13.

"Twilight Zone The Movie" will make its digital debut on both Blu-ray and HD-DVD on October 9.

Stick with SpielbergFilms.com for more news regarding Steven Spielberg's film's future in high definition video as the format continues to grow.

Talking about Dreamworks, doesn't Katzenburg have a say? Who is the big cheese for Dreamworks, S, G or K? I thought it was Katzenburg. Why is everybody talking only about Spielberg?

(The above represents a personal opinion. You may really like The Terminal and Munich. More for you then.)

I actually did, but that replacing the guns with walkie-talkies thing is as bad as Ted Turner's colorizing IMO, as well as Greedo firing first.. South Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hat) had it exactly right...

And how come Blu-Ray gets Close Encounter which is so far exclusively on Blu-Ray
Honestly...Close Encounters???? who cares. I'de rather sit with my face in a pile of mashed potatoes for 2 1/2 hours than watch that again. Just a matter of time, a waiting game....

He didn't direct JP3, but he produced that and JP4 is coming. I kid you not. :(

JP4 is coming. I kid you not.
Yeah I hear the Dinosaurs are government trained to operate weapons....should be a good one for sure...so so sad.

All this hate towards Spielberg and Michael Bay is hilarious.

Honestly...Close Encounters???? who cares. I'de rather sit with my face in a pile of mashed potatoes for 2 1/2 hours than watch that again. Just a matter of time, a waiting game....

Blasphemy!:D This movie is one of my all time favorites.

All this hate towards Spielberg and Michael Bay is hilarious.

Not as halarious as all the hate towards Paramount and MS.

Not as halarious as all the hate towards Paramount and MS.

Well that's understandable. Paramounts decision to go HD DVD exclusive would upset any HD enthusiast who has invested in blu-ray. They have some good movies in their vault. But this is funny because HD DVD supporters were excited that 'Transformers' was going to be exclusive. Now all i hear is "Bay is a horrible director. I'd be happy if he didn't direct the 2nd one." One even said, "I walked out during the movie." :p

Good god folks read what it says. He supports BD, but not EXCLUSIVELY!!

People keep twisitng his words around to say he ONLY supports BD.

Good god folks read what it says. He supports BD, but not EXCLUSIVELY!!

People keep twisitng his words around to say he ONLY supports BD.


Agreed. The main reason why CE3k is a Bluray exclusive is that he likely has no say over how it is released. I do not believe he has directed any films for Columbia/TriStar/Sony in the recent past whereas he has and is with Paramount/Dreamworks and likely requested this approval for home video release as a condition of his employment as a director on current/future films, and more likely requested a cut of the returns as well. The point being that if he has a financial incentive on the release, he would obviously prefer as wide a release as possible, especially on catalog titles.

Spielberg doesn't have an employer. He IS Amblin Entertainment, and they make films and license them to the studios. He has as much control over his films as any filmmaker can have.

Isn't this similar to Lucas and Lucasfilms? I'm under the impression that Lucas can go with either format despite being distributed by Fox. I for one hope to see Lucas and Spielberg's films on both formats and find the exclusive supporters
as being rather petty.

Well that's understandable. Paramounts decision to go HD DVD exclusive would upset any HD enthusiast who has invested in blu-ray. They have some good movies in their vault. But this is funny because HD DVD supporters were excited that 'Transformers' was going to be exclusive. Now all i hear is "Bay is a horrible director. I'd be happy if he didn't direct the 2nd one." One even said, "I walked out during the movie." :p
But it isn't a serious amount of people saying things like that about Spielberg and Bay, only a few. Its not like it was an epidemic. Besides, there are plenty of people who didn't like Transformers before the announcement. I've never seen it so I will refrain judgement. As for CE3K, well I love that movie, but I could see how people might find it boring, in todays world of cinema. (ADD bastages):D No, I'm actually really surprised how well that movie held up over the years.

I personally don't care what the directors think. The studios would probably like to see the format decision settled one way or the other because it is costing them money. There are a lot of people waiting to see which will win before they buy anything, and the sooner one format wins and all the studios realize this, the sooner those consumers will actually buy a player and movies.

If anything a director wanting both formats is greedy and shortsighted because they lose the rest of the consumers mentioned above, and on top of that for them to have any support for one format (Bay, Spielberg for BD) means that's really the only format they support.

You can't read this any other way. They have to know that when the format is decided they will make more money than being format neutral and having a lower combined installed base. And if they insist on a movie being on one format, even if it is on the other, what they mean is that said format is the only one they want.

Unless they're just greedy shortsighted primadonnas.

I actually did, but that replacing the guns with walkie-talkies thing is as bad as Ted Turner's colorizing IMO, as well as Greedo firing first.. South Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hat) had it exactly right...

Look if a director wants his movies produced on any and all formats, I can respect that and support such a decision. However when a director wants to push his format on the rest of us thats when it crosses the line.
Spielberg has done great things for film and with film, dictating formats to the consumer is goes beyond his scope as a director.

Spielberg is begging to be the subject of another South Park


About the previous entry quoting spielbergfilms.com, it should be noted that despite the name it is a fan run, fan site and not from the horses mouth.