From USA Today (http://usatoday.com/life/movies/dvd/2007-10-22-transformers-bay_N.htm):

Bay caused a brouhaha on his blog (michaelbay.com) by voicing his displeasure that Transformers would not be available on Blu-ray and that he was rethinking his plan to direct a sequel. The next day he backpedaled, but he is still upset about the format war.

"It's short-sighted and it has delayed consumers' moving to HD (home video)," he says. "As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Consumers are smart, and they are going to wait it out."

Thoughts?

Well, he's free to have an opinion on this format war isn't he?

By the way, he's upset with Paramount because he thinks they rushed the DVD out too soon.

old news

"upset with paramount" is a sensational headline if ive ever read one.

If 3.5 hours is old, sue me. *rolls eyes*

"upset with paramount" is a sensational headline if ive ever read one.
Doesn't seem that sensational to me. Directors get upset with film studios all the time, but nothing ever becomes of it.

Old news ;)

Yeah, this is new. Clearly all of the hollywood talent that has voiced an opinion is pro Blu-ray, but I can't imagine that will effect anyone's opinions here (nor would it if the situation were reversed).

The "beauty" of the format war is most people have completely insulated themselves from anything that is counter to their opinion.

If 3.5 hours is old, sue me. *rolls eyes*You are correct Sir!

By Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Most directors diplomatically go to bat for DVDs of their films. Filmmaker Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys, The Rock) is just as likely to drop verbal bombs while talking about his DVDs as when he is directing.
Bay's take on the new Transformers DVD, which has sold 8.3 million copies since its release last week: "It's a good DVD. But not as good as it could have been," he says. That sales total made Transformers the year's fastest-selling DVD in North America, according to Paramount Home Entertainment.

Despite setting a record, Bay, 42, says a hectic studio schedule prevented him from being as personally involved in the DVD as he was back in the days of Pearl Harbor. His 2002 four-disc director's cut of that film set the standard for buffed-up special editions.

"I was traveling promoting (Transformers) while they were doing the DVD," he says. "You try to guide people as to what to do (in making it), but ultimately if you rush your date, you are not going to get the DVD as good as it could be. … Studios want to pump this stuff out, and my job is to care about it and try to put the right people on it. They just see it as a show they are selling, and I see it as a movie. That's how your movie lives on, in the DVD format."

An aspect of the DVD that Bay says he personally fought for was having the film be on a disc by itself, with just a commentary. He won that battle in the $20 single-disc version that hit shelves last week along with a deluxe, two-disc $40 version.

The two-disc set has many bonus features:

•Producer Steven Spielberg talks about wooing Bay to direct. "Michael Bay was born to direct Transformers," he says on the DVD. "He was the perfect fit for this concept."

Early on, Spielberg knew that he had made a good choice. "Michael staged huge, logistically complicated scenes of massive destruction and explosions, and even when I was watching those dailies without the actual Transformers there, it was just eye candy," he says.

•Also covered in the filmmaking extras are Bay's dealings with the military, toy company Hasbro and General Motors, which supplied many of the vehicles. An Easter egg on the DVD is a "Bay Bot," a Transformer robot with Bay's face. "(Hasbro) made that for me, but I didn't know it was going to be on the DVD," Bay says.

•An anatomy of a scene details how Bay and the crew created the desert attack by the scorpion-like Skorponok. Filming that scene early on convinced Bay that the Transformers movie could work. "As soon as I saw how violent and vicious it was and we added a rough visual effect to it, I said, 'Oh my, I get it,' " he says.

Transformers is the first major film to arrive on HD DVD ($40) since partners Paramount and DreamWorks joined that side of the high-definition video disc format war. Universal also makes its films available exclusively on HD DVD. Sony, Disney and Fox support rival Blu-ray Disc, while Warner releases on both formats.

Bay caused a brouhaha on his blog (michaelbay.com) by voicing his displeasure that Transformers would not be available on Blu-ray and that he was rethinking his plan to direct a sequel. The next day he backpedaled, but he is still upset about the format war.

"It's short-sighted and it has delayed consumers' moving to HD (home video)," he says. "As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Consumers are smart, and they are going to wait it out."

The HD DVD version also set a new mark. Its 190,000 copies sold is the best debut of any high-def disc.

Bay expects the cast to return for Transformers 2, which is targeted for June 25, 2009. The first film's take recently surpassed $700 million worldwide, and it has reached No. 18 on the all-time U.S. box office chart and No. 28 internationally.

"It just caught on in our culture, and I am excited to do the second one," he says. "There are so many different and innovative ways you could have fun with this movie."

Doesn't seem that sensational to me. Directors get upset with film studios all the time, but nothing ever becomes of it.

Unless your name is Lucas or Speildberg.

If 3.5 hours is old, sue me. *rolls eyes*

Closer to 3.5 months. This is 2007. Newspapers are not the way to get information.

Closer to 3.5 months. This is 2007. Newspapers are not the way to get information.

WTF?? Did you guys even READ the quote? It was clearly in an interview that happened the last few days> They even put his quote into context by saying:

Bay caused a brouhaha on his blog (michaelbay.com) by voicing his displeasure that Transformers would not be available on Blu-ray and that he was rethinking his plan to direct a sequel. The next day he backpedaled, but he is still upset about the format war.

See, they were acknowledging the previous set of stories, and then show that he hasn't changed his mind with the quote from their interview:

"It's short-sighted and it has delayed consumers' moving to HD (home video)," he says. "As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Consumers are smart, and they are going to wait it out."

That would make it new, not several weeks old. And not to point out the obvious, but that was from USA Today's INTERNET SITE.

BTW, it seems really relevant to me that he would say that even on the day that Paramount appears to be announcing lots of sales (and therefore money in his pocket) of his movie. He's clearly pretty pissed.

Closer to 3.5 months. This is 2007. Newspapers are not the way to get information.


His original quote several months ago is different.

But hey, if you don't want to face facts then by all means....

Closer to 3.5 months. This is 2007. Newspapers are not the way to get information.

These are fresh complaints by Micheal about the DVD HD-DVD being rushed and not having enough of a hand in it. The HD-DVD deal put extra money in Paramounts pockets, but Micheal is the one that has to pay for it with them rushing his tittle out to compete with Blu-Ray.
:p

I just went through the 3 newest news blogs on www.michaelbay.com and there is not one mention of Blu-Ray not one. The 190,000 HD DVD figure is mentioned along with the web enabled HD DVD features, the 8.3 million figure for DVD is there, but nothing about Blu-Ray.

Oh whaaaa! Read the rest of the article, all he does is whine, even about the DVD. I think his protest is a not-so-thinly veiled ego-trip that he would like to see his little masterpiece set some sort of all-time sales record.

This says a hell of a lot more about wanting more sales on the resume for future contract negotiations than any dissatisfaction with the medium itself.

Bay's making James Cameron look like the picture of humility these days.

whore

Thoughts?

Seems like he needs to calibrate his critical eye. Consumers are going to "wait it out?" Not based on the numbers that were reported today. HDM and SD DVD records were broken. "Consumers" stampeded to the stores to pick this title up, while Bay's whining goes unheard by 99.999% of the population and amounts to nothing. He'd do better to log off his blog and log onto the blu-ray.com forum. At least there he'd find someone who cares what he thinks.

That would make it new, not several weeks old.
So it seems.
He's clearly pretty pissed.
Well, his movie is still out in HD DVD, I wish he hadn't directed it, and I hope he doesn't direct the sequel.

Where is the quote to his original drunken after dinner post and then adjusted after the 300 viewing blog posts.

Are we sure this is not one of his first night after the Paramount HD DVD blog comments?

Oh whaaaa! Read the rest of the article, all he does is whine, even about the DVD. I think his protest is a not-so-thinly veiled ego-trip that he would like to see his little masterpiece set some sort of all-time sales record.

This says a hell of a lot more about wanting more sales on the resume for future contract negotiations than any dissatisfaction with the medium itself.

Bay's making James Cameron look like the picture of humility these days.

whore

Setting popularity records is just as important to artists as winning Oscars. I'd be pissed too. Sorry you don't get it. Name recognition is what butters their bread.

The "new" part about this is the revelation that his original blog post represented his true feelings, and still does. This gives credence to the theory that he was pressured into writing his backpedaling second post (http://www.michaelbay.com/blog/files/Michael-Bay-HD-DVD.html), as many people suspected.

These are fresh complaints by Micheal about the DVD HD-DVD being rushed and not having enough of a hand in it. The HD-DVD deal put extra money in Paramounts pockets, but Micheal is the one that has to pay for it with them rushing his tittle out to compete with Blu-Ray.
:p

How did they "rush" out Transformers? How much was it rushed by? The four people that couldn't get it last week, will get it this week.

old news

But hey, if you don't want to face facts then by all means....
WTF are you babbling about?

Setting popularity records is just as important to artists as winning Oscars. I'd be pissed too. Sorry you don't get it. Name recognition is what butters their bread.

LOL

Will you be appearing all week then??

This thread title needs a few asterisks, disclaimers and warnings

"As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Consumers are smart, and they are going to wait it out."

What a moron! He's telling people not to purchase the HDDVD version of his own movie! I hope his next movie bombs as bad as The Island did.

old news
Only half old news, unless you're talking about the Michael Bay is a whiny bastard part.

This is just "Bay being Bay". Nothing new really.

How did they "rush" out Transformers? How much was it rushed by? The four people that couldn't get it last week, will get it this week.

I'm just quoting Micheal Bay. How many DVD's have you produced? It isn't just the Video transfer but the extras and features. And it isn't just the technical details of the extras, but writing all the dialog and directing extra footage for things like PIP. Maybe Micheal is just whining, but that doesn't mean it wasn't rushed to meet the behind doors deal Paramount made with the HD-DVD committee.

The "new" part about this is the revelation that his original blog post represented his true feelings, and still does. This gives credence to the theory that he was pressured into writing his backpedaling second post (http://www.michaelbay.com/blog/files/Michael-Bay-HD-DVD.html), as many people suspected.

That basically says it all.

Only half old news, unless you're talking about the Michael Bay is a whiny bastard part.

Lol, fair enough.

The "beauty" of the format war is most people have completely insulated themselves from anything that is counter to their opinion.

I know about it and could give a crap.

When a director I care about has had their film diced-up because of some small-minded, chuckle-headed studio interference, that's one thing. When they start trying to call the shots on a format war where both formats can give an equally state-of-the-art presentation of their work, they can kiss my a$$.:rolleyes:

"As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Consumers are smart, and they are going to wait it out."

What a moron! He's telling people not to purchase the HDDVD version of his own movie! I hope his next movie bombs as bad as The Island did.

I love it. Love him or hate him, at least he calls it like he sees it. At least he's honest about where he stands.

LOL

Will you be appearing all week then??

I'll be back by popular demand. Is that a request? :D

This doesn't surprise me. Look at it from Michael Bays perspective. Of course Blu-Ray is where the money is at. You see:

HD DVD

Someone has to design all the cutting-edge cool interactive web-enabled IME features that BD can't handle. That's money being paid to someone else that could've been paid to him if it was a movie-only Blu-Ray release.
He'll be lucky to get 1 double-dip out of this on a TL51 disc with lossless sound.


Blu-Ray

Could've made more by removing all the special features (see above)
If/when profile 1.1 is released....double-dip baby!
If/when profile 2.0 is released...triple-dip baby!


Obviously it would better to release on BD, if you're only concerned about "where the money is".

Well, he is right about one thing. Blu-ray is where the money is at. You need to spend more money to get into Blu-ray than HD DVD.

From USA Today (http://usatoday.com/life/movies/dvd/2007-10-22-transformers-bay_N.htm):



Thoughts?

He might be right, unfortunately the public is going to go for whatever gets them into HDM the cheapest, and Blu-Ray has a couple years to go before they get a price point that will be conducive to mass adoption of the format. HD-DVD is much closer.

Setting popularity records is just as important to artists as winning Oscars. I'd be pissed too. Sorry you don't get it. Name recognition is what butters their bread.

Thanks for your scumation of what constitutes achievement for an "artist"

I'm just quoting Micheal Bay. How many DVD's have you produced? It isn't just the Video transfer but the extras and features. And it isn't just the technical details of the extras, but writing all the dialog and directing extra footage for things like PIP. Maybe Micheal is just whining, but that doesn't mean it wasn't rushed to meet the behind doors deal Paramount made with the HD-DVD committee.

Again, how was it rushed and by how much? It couldn't have been by more than a couple of weeks at the very most, unless you and Bay are claiming that they weren't going to release it this year.

This is just "Bay being Bay". Nothing new really.

I feel sorry for all the actors and actresses that have to work with this retard.:mad:

Obviously it would better to release on BD, if you're only concerned about "where the money is".

No doubt this is about money. Never mind that we're talking a tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars in his pocket...ignoring the tens upon tens of millions he'll make whether this movie is on any format or not.

I seriously doubt this is about money, unless he's a penny pincher and his accountant is pointing it out. I know how much Bay can and does make on films...the HDM royalties are such peanuts compared to everything else it's kind of hard to believe it's about money. Considering the man is probably worth over 100 million dollars.

I love it. Love him or hate him, at least he calls it like he sees it. At least he's honest about where he stands.

I see him more as someone with no public relation skills whatsoever. If he truly calls it like he sees it then why did he recant his original whine in the first place. Seems to me he has bipolar issues.:mad:

This guy is like Kobe Bryant. I love the Lakers, no I want a trade, no change that again I was born a Laker.....

I wouldn't mind if some one did T2 instend prehaps they could find somebody who can make a plot and not worrie about CGI so much.

He might be right, unfortunately the public is going to go for whatever gets them into HDM the cheapest, and Blu-Ray has a couple years to go before they get a price point that will be conducive to mass adoption of the format. HD-DVD is much closer.

Why do people always go with the lower price argument? It's all about content. Why did the ps2 crush the GC, despite the GC launching at $200 and quickly dropping to $99? Content.

Why do people always go with the lower price argument? It's all about content. Why did the ps2 crush the GC, despite the GC launching at $200 and quickly dropping to $99? Content.


Which absolutely does not explain the Nintendo Wii. And please don't say content. Trust me, i own one. Haven't played it in almost 6 months

Why do people always go with the lower price argument? It's all about content. Why did the ps2 crush the GC, despite the GC launching at $200 and quickly dropping to $99? Content.
Well, the only "new" content in this genre is Transformers.

Thanks for your scumation of what constitutes achievement for an "artist"

Methinks you'd have no problem with my analysis if it were Transforms rushed out on Blu-Ray and the same comments made. I generalized to be sure -- but you really don't think name recognition isn't a motivating factor for top tier artists or that they don't think more popularity records translate into more project offers in the future and more people willing to sample their work.

I don't know whether you are petulant, idealistic, or naive.

:rolleyes:

wasn't it after the drunken blog post that he finally saw an hd-dvd and backpeddled?? sounds to me like he really doesn't have a clue about the tech and is probably going off what someone else told him was "best"

wasn't it after the drunken blog post that he finally saw an hd-dvd and backpeddled?? sounds to me like he really doesn't have a clue about the tech and is probably going off what someone else told him was "best"

Yeap Chad473, why dont you tell Mr. Bay about technical aspects and his preference on CINEMA....challenge him to a match of Halo and call him a nub for trying to dual wield needlerz while youre at it....jesus, the arrogance is stunning

I haven't watched Transformers through yet, it's not the kinda thing I usually go for. It looked like harmless fun if you check you brains at the door, so figured in a non-critical frame of mind it would make for a fun HD ride.

I wish I had watched it prior to seeing this thread because now I'll be thinking about what a self-important little primadona the director is.

Which absolutely does not explain the Nintendo Wii. And please don't say content. Trust me, i own one. Haven't played it in almost 6 months

The Wii is a very unique case. People bought into it because of it's novelty. I got a Wii at launch for Zelda: TP, while none of my friends had any interest in the system. However, after playing Wii Sports, all of them immediately wanted one. Within 3 weeks of owning one, they were in the same situation you are.

However, this has no bearing whatsoever on the format war. Neither format has the novelty of the Wii, so it is basically akin to the ps2 vs GC. Both had very similar capabilities. They output similar graphics and had very minor differences on the whole. The primary difference was content.

Yeap Chad473, why dont you tell Mr. Bay about technical aspects and his preference on CINEMA....challenge him to a match of Halo and call him a nub for trying to dual wield needlerz while youre at it....jesus, the arrogance is stunning

I was trying to get clarification..from what I remember he said he had never seen an hd-dvd. Quality response on your part, though.

Well, the only "new" content in this genre is Transformers.

Genre? Are you using the correct word? HDM isn't really a genre, in the traditional sense of the word. Market maybe?

As for new content, yes HD DVD has Transformers, and will have the Bourne trilogy, but Blu-Ray has PotC, SM, and Die Hard, all major blockbusters releasing this year. 9 vs 4, my friend. Of course, there are more movies than just those, but in the end, the overall picture is roughly the same.

Halo 1&2, as great as they were, couldn't overpower the ps2.

I think you HD Fanboys are Morons. If you alienate the artists, the work will lack artistically. For me it is the art that matters. Not you Jerks.

I see him more as someone with no public relation skills whatsoever. If he truly calls it like he sees it then why did he recant his original whine in the first place. Seems to me he has bipolar issues.:mad:
It's pretty obvious that he was pressured by corporate to post that recantation. He has made it clear now that he does in fact prefer Blu-ray.

I was trying to get clarification..from what I remember he said he had never seen an hd-dvd. Quality response on your part, though.

I aim to please.

Tells you how big Transformers is that USA Today is running a 2 month old story regarding Bay and Paramount.

EDIT: How does this story resurface just hours after Paramount releases the sales numbers for the Bay directed Transformers?

I think you HD Fanboys are Morons. If you alienate the artists, the work will lack artistically. For me it is the art that matters. Not you Jerks.

So you think Tranformers and The Island were works of "art"?

I think you HD Fanboys are Morons. If you alienate the artists, the work will lack artistically. For me it is the art that matters. Not you Jerks.

Great guys, now look what's happened. We've alienated Michael Bay. There goes art as I know it.

I don't know whether you are petulant, idealistic, or naive.

:rolleyes:

Idealistic, and Bay isn't my idea of an "artist" in the way the Cohen Brothers, Ang Lee, or even Peter Jackson, who in spite of financial success, and critical notoriety have an ounce of integrity.

Genre? Are you using the correct word? HDM isn't really a genre, in the traditional sens of the word. Market maybe?

As for new content, yes HD DVD has Transformers, and will have the Bourne trilogy, but Blu-Ray has PotC, SM, and Die Hard, all major blockbusters releasing this year. 9 vs 4, my friend. Of course, there are more movies than just those, but in the end, the overall picture is roughly the same.

Halo 1&2, as great as they were, couldn't overpower the ps2.

Maybe you should find out why the word fits instead of bending what I said. It's a good skill to learn.

Great guys, now look what's happened. We've alienated Michael Bay. There goes art as I know it.

:D

It's a mix of new news and "old views". It's obvious that they are quoting his views on P-Day.

He's likely changed his tune.. all the way to the bank.

Thoughts?It is nice to see that he supports Blu-ray but Paramount is a big studio and considering they have already made an 18 month business deal (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/technology/21disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) to remain HD DVD exclusive there is little chance that he will be able to change anything during that time. Here is hoping though that he will be able to get Paramount to start supporting Blu-ray again once the business deal ends.

It's a mix of new news and "old views". It's obvious that they are quoting his views on P-Day.

He's likely changed his tune.. all the way to the bank.

It seems he said it again before he found out it sold damn near 200k the first week. Expect another retraction, and maybe Guillermo Del Toro as the Transformers 2 director.

Again with the 18 month conspiracy theory? Man, is that all you guys have left?

Well, I guess after seeing the numbers for Transformers there's not much left to hang on. I'm starting to find it sad though.

It is nice to see that he supports Blu-ray but Paramount is a big studio and considering they have already made an 18 month business deal (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/technology/21disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) to remain HD DVD exclusive there is little chance that he will be able to change anything during that time. Here is hoping though that he will be able to get Paramount to start supporting Blu-ray again once the business deal ends.

What a lame attempt to inject buy-off FUD. Subtle, very subtle.

Maybe you should find out why the word fits instead of bending what I said. It's a good skill to learn.
Sorry, I guess I just didn't understand what you were trying to say. I'm not trying to start any fights here.

Did you mean that Transformers is the only movie in the big-budget action film genre coming out any time soon?

Some elaboration would be nice.

It seems he said it again before he found out it sold damn near 200k the first week. Expect another retraction, and maybe Guillermo Del Toro as the Transformers 2 director.

It would be a better movie anyway.

Anyone who is responsible for Pearl Harbour, Bad Boys II and The Island has long ago forfeited any right to have an opinion. On anything.

Tells you how big Transformers is that USA Today is running a 2 month old story regarding Bay and Paramount.
Try reading the entire thread again. This is a brand new interview that reveals Bay actually does still prefer Blu-ray, contrary to his blog post in which he claimed to have been convinced about the merits of HD DVD.

What a lame attempt to inject buy-off FUD. Subtle, very subtle.The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.

It's a mix of new news and "old views". It's obvious that they are quoting his views on P-Day.

He's likely changed his tune.. all the way to the bank.
Uh, no. This is clearly a very recent and entirely new interview. Bay likes Blu; it's a confirmed fact now.

Thread name = when did Sony open a bank.

Did they?

The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.

and true or false your mention of it here and now was because???

I love how all the same people who just rushed out and bought Transformers, the "savior" of dud, are now bashing the movie's director. Classic! Please, continue!

The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.

Of course, your grasping onto a flimsy story with "unnamed sources" doesn't change that fact that it doesn't appear to have happened.

But unfortunately, it seems to be what you need to sleep better at night. :rolleyes:

I love how all the same people who just rushed out and bought Transformers, the "savior" of dud, are now bashing the movie's director. Classic! Please, continue!

Hey, it's easy to enjoy mindless fluff like Transformers, but more than a little absurd when it's director acts as if he's the second coming.

I think he did recant his first statements about HD DVD because of studio pressure, but is his willingness to do that more to be pitied or scorned? Nobody forced the man to waffle, that he did it himself.

Oddly enough, I imagine the strong HD DVD sales are the what motivated this little outburst. He see the numbers shooting for DVD & HD DVD, and thinks "What about Blu-ray! More! More! More! Mine! Mine! Mine! Booh-hoo-ha-ha-ha!"

I love how all the same people who just rushed out and bought Transformers, the "savior" of dud, are now bashing the movie's director. Classic! Please, continue!
It's also quite damning when the director of your format's biggest seller to date makes public statements against said format.

Bay is fast becoming the biggest loser in Hollywood.

It's pretty obvious that he was pressured by corporate to post that recantation. He has made it clear now that he does in fact prefer Blu-ray.

He should have just stuck to his guns in the first place then. Now he looks like a hypocrite.

Unnamed sources say 18 months

Alan Bell the V.P. of Paramount Pictures says the commitment is indefinite

Which one is more believable :rolleyes: I wonder if the unnamed sources were dobyblue and supermans

Clearly Michael is a technically oriented director and can see that Blu-ray Disc is superior to HD DVD in almost all the critical ways someone dedicated to his art form cares about (capacity and bandwidth, with interactivity in the next few months).

I think eventually, once a BD version is released in a little over a years time, we'll see the kind of difference BD can make for a high profile title like this: perfect video and perfect audio, not a compromise between the two.

It's also quite damning when the director of your format's biggest seller to date makes public statements against said format.

Not really, he's already back tracked on this once, he's prone to diarrhea of the mouth.

Clearly Michael is a technically oriented director and can see that Blu-ray Disc is superior to HD DVD in almost all the critical ways someone dedicated to his art form cares about (capacity and bandwidth, with interactivity in the next few months).

I think eventually, once a BD version is released in a little over a years time, we'll see the kind of difference BD can make for a high profile title like this: perfect video and perfect audio, not a compromise between the two.

lol.

He should have just stuck to his guns in the first place then. Now he looks like a hypocrite.
Better that he came clean and admitted the truth, rather than letting the corporate-mandated lie stand forever.

It's also quite damning when the director of your format's biggest seller to date makes public statements against said format.

Not when the first time this jackass shot off his mouth, he was called into the office and returned with a "change of heart" the next day.

Credibility zero.

I love how all the same people who just rushed out and bought Transformers, the "savior" of dud, are now bashing the movie's director. Classic! Please, continue!

Big deal! Michael Jackson's a freak but I still like some of his songs. Tom Cruise is a cult hypnotized weirdo but but I still love many of his films.

Of course, your grasping onto a flimsy story with "unnamed sources" doesn't change that fact that it doesn't appear to have happened.
Try again. Try two anonymous Viacom executives (Viacom owns Paramount, FYI). And of course they'd speak anonymously: the conditions of the contract probably disallow a public disclosure that such a contract even exists. And are you saying the report for the NY Times didn't verify his sources credentials? I could understand being skeptical of ONE Viacom executive, but this reporter appears to have done his homework and received confirmation from TWO execs with Viacom.

It's time to move past this: Paramount was bribed to switch to HD DVD exclusively, it's the only thing that remotely makes sense given the sales (2:1 or better for their BD titles over their HD DVD titles) and climate of the market at the time they switched (BD generally gaining more ground with not just the PS3, but also set top players).

I don't understand.

Isn't transformers now the highest selling (non pack in / single format) high def disc out there ?


Sure if they bundled it in via the hd dvd add on or via the ps3 or just in the box of stand alones it would sell better. I'm also sure if it was on both hd dvd and bluray it would sell better. But doesn't this beat out 300 bluray as the biggest selling disc on a high def format ?

Better that he came clean and admitted the truth, rather than letting the corporate-mandated lie stand forever.

I don't think it's smart to bite the hand that feeds you. HDDVD owners purchased almost 200000 copies of his movie, I mean thats at least enough for him to add another room to his mansion.

Plus, what if HDDVD wins this war? I guess he'll have to face the repercussions.

Finally, if he was really a man of honor he would have admitted the truth before the HDDVD release of Transformers.

Frankly as far as Bay is concerned I think South Park last week had him pegged to a tee.

Frankly as far as Bay is concerned I think South Park last week had him pegged to a tee.

heh :D

"Those aren't ideas, those are just special effects."
"I don't understand the difference."
"We know!"

God, I love South Park...

Where is the quote to his original drunken after dinner post and then adjusted after the 300 viewing blog posts.

Are we sure this is not one of his first night after the Paramount HD DVD blog comments?

I'm waiting for the update tomorrow. Maybe it will go something like this.....;)

I just want to apologize for my comments yesterday that the Transformers DVD could have been better. I should have known better. You see I was out with some friends and I had too much wine.........Ok let's face it, I just sold 8.49 million copies of my movie in 1 freakin week. Do you have any idea how huge I am?..........So after my buddies and I finished doing body shots off the stripper I got this call from this dude Mike from USAToday. He says, "Are you excited about the Transformers DVD?" So I tell him "Nah, they messed with my artistic vision man. It could have been so much better, and HD DVD, don't get me started. How am I gonna play that disc in my PS3?"..........So in closing I just want to say that I'm really sorry for making statements drunk, again.

It's time to move past this: Paramount was bribed to switch to HD DVD exclusively, it's the only thing that remotely makes sense given the sales (2:1 or better for their BD titles over their HD DVD titles) and climate of the market at the time they switched (BD generally gaining more ground with not just the PS3, but also set top players).

Yes, you should move past this.

In the absence of any real facts, announcements or statements by the principals, comments from "anonymous sources" are essentially hearsay and hold no weight.

If there ever even was a "source", it may have been anything from a disgruntled executive to a Blu-Ray supporting janitor.

By being unable to confirm either the source or the evidence independently, the fact of the matter is no one except the executives of the companies in question know what really transpired to cause the switch and all reports from secondary sources are not reliable.

Just because one version of the story fits with what you personally may want to hear does not in truth mean that it has to be what really happened.

For all we know, Toshiba may have given Paramount anything ranging from nothing at all to several hundred billion dollars and the first-born child of every Toshiba employee.

But until either Toshiba or Paramount decides to publicly announce the terms of their agreement no one will ever really know for certain.

I don't understand.

Isn't transformers now the highest selling (non pack in / single format) high def disc out there ?


Sure if they bundled it in via the hd dvd add on or via the ps3 or just in the box of stand alones it would sell better. I'm also sure if it was on both hd dvd and bluray it would sell better. But doesn't this beat out 300 bluray as the biggest selling disc on a high def format ?

BD version of 300 is now around 270k units...

Marek

Not when the first time this jackass shot off his mouth, he was called into the office and returned with a "change of heart" the next day.

Credibility zero.
Sorry, but this is pretty sad for HD DVD. News breaks that a movie released on HD DVD has set a new sales record, and then later on that very same day, despite the sales success, the director of that movie openly expresses his preference for Blu-ray.

You can try to minimize it all you want, but it's still not pretty for HD DVD, especially considering that no director has gone against Blu-ray the way Bay has now gone against HD DVD.

I'd also like to point out that Bay has now joined Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott in choosing Blu-ray. How many directors have chosen HD DVD?

Yes, you should move past this.
I have, it's HD DVD fanbois that seem to think this is all some made up fiction.

In the absence of any real facts, announcements or statements by the principals, comments from "anonymous sources" are essentially hearsay and hold no weight.
Beg pardon? I'm sorry, but the reporter very likely VERIFIED these people were who they claimed to be (this is pretty much standard operating procedure for reporters dealing with anonymous sources). This also isn't a criminal trial, there's no such thing as hearsay when dealing with factually sourced comments by TWO Viacom executives.

If there ever even was a "source", it may have been anything from a disgruntled executive to a Blu-Ray supporting janitor.
Again, move past this, we're talking about a report with the New York Times. Do reports mess up from time to time? Sure, but this one appeared to have done his homework by getting the info from not one but two Viacom executives. See above about verifying your sources as well, I sincerely doubt this was some janitor (and someone claiming to be that which they were not would be VERY simple to verify).

But until either Toshiba or Paramount decides to publicly announce the terms of their agreement no one will ever really know for certain.
You'll be waiting a long time for a public announcement: as I've mentioned in the past, the contract very likely has a clause regarding public disclosure of the deal or the terms within. Hence why these two executives had to speak on condition of anonymity. This doesn't make it any less factual.

At any rate, this, again, isn't even really up for debate. It's a matter of fact at this point.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sony Pictures is funding Bay's next movie.

Why do people always go with the lower price argument? It's all about content. Why did the ps2 crush the GC, despite the GC launching at $200 and quickly dropping to $99? Content.

Well, if you want to discuss content, there's the interactivity and web enabled features of HD-DVD. :)

Well, if you want to discuss content, there's the interactivity and web enabled features of HD-DVD. :)

...that a good bit of the population couldn't care less about.

Also, I'll take the exclusive PotC over the exclusive extra features of 300 any day.

People are smarter than Bay thinks, they download movies and TV series from the Internet, that's where Bay's money really is :D

I wonder if Paramount and Michael Bay will have to have another talk? :)

...that a good bit of the population couldn't care less about.

Also, I'll take the exclusive PotC over the exclusive extra features of 300 any day.


If a good bit of the population didn't care, then the movie studios would not bother with them. The fact that the movie studios bother with all of the extras, outtakes, deleted scenes, commentary, attests to the fact that a good bit of the population enjoys them.

You want to criticize about why I mentioned the price issue, but then you regurgitate this old argument that has no basis in fact beyond what Blu-Ray supporters think (and obviously they think that because they don't have access to the extras).

C'mon, get real. If it didn't matter, then Blu wouldn't be pushing for interactivity at some point in the future.

You can try to minimize it all you want, but it's still not pretty for HD DVD, especially considering that no director has gone against Blu-ray the way Bay has now gone against HD DVD.

Oh please, "I was gonna buy one of them thar HD DVD players til I heard Michael Bay don't likes it."

Maybe you can tell me why Bay waited nearly a week after the DVD and HD DVD release to spit this up? Maybe because he at least wasn't so dam stupid as to hurt his sales before-hand, when it could have made a difference. With the sales numbers high and plenty of great reviews of both the DVD and HD DVD out there, he figured the coast was clear. My hero. :rolleyes:

Lets be honest, blu-ray supporters are trying to make a mountain out of a mole-hill as damage control because this title set a HD sales record. Lotsa luck.

I think you HD Fanboys are Morons. If you alienate the artists, the work will lack artistically. For me it is the art that matters. Not you Jerks.

Most of the time you would be right, but this is Michael Bay we're talking about. The further you can separate him from the film the better.

You can try to minimize it all you want, but it's still not pretty for HD DVD, especially considering that no director has gone against Blu-ray the way Bay has now gone against HD DVD.


People speak as if opinions like Bay's have an effect on the real world. Face it, the only people who care about this are fanboys, in the real world, where the average consumer lives, no one gives a flying turd about it.

Now go convince the rest of the world that lives outside this bubble that HD DVD is doomed. :rolleyes:

Who takes Michelle Bay seriously?

She was probably suffering from cramps....

Seriously though, he is an Idiot and the only reason they let him direct it is he is cheap. Do you know how much James Cameron or SS himself would cost?

So the profit margin is higher.

The thing with Bay is that he acts and speaks like he is some big time Hollywood director. The guy was practically a nobody before Transformers, and if he keeps biting the hand that feeds him, he'll quickly become accustomed to directing Indie movies.

But I wonder how if he feels about the sales of Transformers, now that it's known. Damn fool... He'd fit right in with the BDA.

Show me the blog!

Try again. Try two anonymous Viacom executives (Viacom owns Paramount, FYI). And of course they'd speak anonymously: the conditions of the contract probably disallow a public disclosure that such a contract even exists. And are you saying the report for the NY Times didn't verify his sources credentials? I could understand being skeptical of ONE Viacom executive, but this reporter appears to have done his homework and received confirmation from TWO execs with Viacom.

It's time to move past this: Paramount was bribed to switch to HD DVD exclusively, it's the only thing that remotely makes sense given the sales (2:1 or better for their BD titles over their HD DVD titles) and climate of the market at the time they switched (BD generally gaining more ground with not just the PS3, but also set top players).

What do people do when it's a money thing? They go back and say "I'm being offered more money to leave, you gonna up the offer?" They don't just defect overnight. I don't believe it was a decision based on money, or Sony surely would have offered $160M if not more as Paramount would have contacted them. Money is secondary to Sony, their first priority is winning this war. Paramount defected because the HD DVD is a more mature spec, the heritage of the DVD Forum, HDi, online mandatory spec for every player, lower costs, more appeal, etc. They worked with both formats and knew first hand which is better. BDA lost a valuable and important studio, people can focus on the $150M all night and day but the fact is they are now HD DVD Exclusive. All the debate in the world won't change that.

Besides neither Disney, MGM (which was bought out by Sony and a Sony lead consortium for the sole purpose of pushing BD), or Fox made public statements regarding payments. That one line by Iger is too specific to be taken seriously. Fine, Disney didn't get paid to choose Blu-ray but did you get paid after that? What about as of today? Did you receive any in-kind payments? Marketing deals? licensing fee discounts? cash? His carefully chosen words were too specific, and outspoken diva Murdoch, why so silent after Iger's words? Do you think if they weren't paid, would he not say anything? They are accusing Toshiba/Paramount of these acts, and yet they are not vindicating themselves of it.

Are we suppose to believe Disney or Fox were not paid either in cash or soft incentives for their exclusivity? I think not. Besides Sony is known for paying people, besides the revenue deal with Hastings for exclusive support, they also paid a "jaw-dropping" sum to Target for exclusive hardware presence and end caps in the retail stores. Though it's only set to last until Christmas, at least. Sony is not a charity, and believe me they do cut some mighty big checks when it suits their agenda.

About NYT, the article nor the two disloyal Viacom executives, ever state "Toshiba paid us to drop BD." They said it was a $150M incentives. Here are two quotes from Jeffrey Katzenberg regarding the matter, when AP asked him for a comment about what Disney's Iger and Fox's Murdoch stated regarding a payout:

"It's somewhat disingenuous for other companies (Disney and Fox) to suggest that they were not compensated for endorsing Blu-ray via either up-front payments, in-kind marketing deals or other incentives. Both companies are known as being fiscally responsible, and Blu-ray is not a charity."

The thing with Bay is that he acts and speaks like he is some big time Hollywood director. The guy was practically a nobody before Transformers, and if he keeps biting the hand that feeds him, he'll quickly become accustomed to directing Indie movies.

But I wonder how if he feels about the sales of Transformers, now that it's known. Damn fool... He'd fit right in with the BDA.

Well his resume doesn't seem all that bad... Seems the HD-DVD Red Camp is just pissed off at his comments again.. then don't buy his movie...... I say....

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000881/

Helvetian: I heard Bill Gates is a Emperor in new clothes, too bad he is busy trying to fix Vista.... ;) doh! I still think it was a payoff...... HD-DVD should be a more mature spec, it came out first, too bad they dropped the ball and been running in circles since, otherwise this format war would have been over months ago....

http://members.aol.com/dhtreptow/bay.jpg
Don't be fooled by the brave front Bay is putting on at this Transformers DVD, HD DVD release premiere, he's clearly all torn up inside.

Brave soul, brave soul.:(

Helvetian: I heard Bill Gates is a Emperor in new clothes, too bad he is busy trying to fix Vista.... ;) doh! I still think it was a payoff...... HD-DVD should be a more mature spec, it came out first, too bad they dropped the ball and been running in circles since, otherwise this format war would have been over months ago....

Vista works fine for me :) I don't think it was a pay off, and HD DVD launched what three months earlier? It's not like it's had years. On the other hand, BD had the initial advantage with every studio except Universal, PS3 and yet still has failed to seal the fate of HD DVD. I guess it wasn't enough, consumers aren't buying and PS3 remains the best BD player to date, and yet it stands at #3 in a three place race. PS3 was suppose to be Sony's trojan horse but has turned out to be the Achilles' Heel in a war they said would end before it ever began. Too bad they can't get it together, hope now rests on the fate of a new SKU: PS3 Lite which is still very high.

This is old stuff. Bay already said he had "drunk the Kool-aid" from Blu-Ray dinner partners when he made these uneducated comments. He has retracted them. Please close all "Michael Bay" threads as they are no longer relative.

Michael Bay, you're my hero. :)

Well, if you want to discuss content, there's the interactivity and web enabled features of HD-DVD. :)
Amen, if this were released on Blu-Ray, you'd get a stripped down piece of content with perhaps a slightly higher video bitrate offering no discernible quality improvement and the same lossy audio (Paramount didn't bother with lossless on Blu-Ray when they were neutral)...and you'd be short of all the special features, WHICH MAKES THE PREMIUM FOR HDM truly worth it.

Uh, no. This is clearly a very recent and entirely new interview. Bay likes Blu; it's a confirmed fact now.

It's also quite damning when the director of your format's biggest seller to date makes public statements against said format.

Better that he came clean and admitted the truth, rather than letting the corporate-mandated lie stand forever.

http://members.aol.com/dhtreptow/bay.jpg
Don't be fooled by the brave front Bay is putting on at this Transformers DVD, HD DVD release premiere, he's clearly all torn up inside.

Brave soul, brave soul.:(

These and many other posts: the inspiration for my sig this week. Thanks to all who posted. :)

Well, he is right about one thing. Blu-ray is where the money is at. You need to spend more money to get into Blu-ray than HD DVD.

Only if your into buying stripped down economy models. That business model really worked for Yugo.:rolleyes:


"HD DVD, the Yugo of the Hi-Def world"

Sounds like a winner.:p

Michael Bay should really stay off the booze before making public statements. (And that includes public blogging.)

Didn't this nimrod go into prima donna mode once before and pull this stuff and Paramount\DW basically came along and told him to STFU? Lets see what happens in the next few weeks...

Wow ... from the article:


"I was traveling promoting (Transformers) while they were doing the DVD," he says. "You try to guide people as to what to do (in making it), but ultimately if you rush your date, you are not going to get the DVD as good as it could be. … Studios want to pump this stuff out, and my job is to care about it and try to put the right people on it. They just see it as a show they are selling, and I see it as a movie. That's how your movie lives on, in the DVD format."


It seems he just thinks the DVD could be better in general. He's not referring to HDM at all. The section where they talk about his blog is at the end and really has nothing to do with the main point of the article.

This sounds like it's just more sour grapes and an attempt to deflect from the records Transformers in Breaking in HDM.

It is nice to see that he supports Blu-ray but Paramount is a big studio and considering they have already made an 18 month business deal (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/technology/21disney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin) to remain HD DVD exclusive there is little chance that he will be able to change anything during that time. Here is hoping though that he will be able to get Paramount to start supporting Blu-ray again once the business deal ends.

Wow ... you *really* do take every opportunity to bring up an '18 month deal' don't you? The grapes must be *really* sour.

The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.

Here we go again ... I think we're all sure there was some sort of deal. Duh.

Whether or not that deal was the primary reason for *dropping* Blu-ray is still left to be decided -- and we'll likely never know one way or the other until this whole thing is over and I doubt anyone would care by then.

fwiw, Richard and I just had a [another] discussion on this topic in the BD+ thread. I imagine he's interjecting it everywhere else he gets an opportunity. I *really* wish they'd just let this go. :rolleyes:

I guess it is now part of the HD DVD talking points to use "Wow" as much as possible to express disbelief and wonder at how the BD side could possibly believe and behave as we do.

I guess it is now part of the HD DVD talking points to use "Wow" as much as possible to express disbelief and wonder at how the BD side could possibly believe and behave as we do.

So you think it's completely logical to continue bringing up a Paramount Deal in a thread that really is just 'bait' as the crux of the article has nothing to do with HDM at all?

It just makes it seem like people need to repeat this over and over so it can be true ... so they can sleep better at night maybe? so their house of cards doesn't come crashing down? so they can justify not spending $200 on an HD DVD player to watch a record breaking movie with Tier 0 PQ/AQ? It just seems sad to me.

So you think it's completely logical to continue bringing up a Paramount Deal in a thread that really is just 'bait' as the crux of the article has nothing to do with HDM at all?

It just makes it seem like people need to repeat this over and over so it can be true ... so they can sleep better at night maybe? so their house of cards doesn't come crashing down? so they can justify not spending $200 on an HD DVD player to watch a record breaking movie with Tier 0 PQ/AQ? It just seems sad to me.

Some people repeat over and over that BD does not yet support secondary video streams.

Some people repeat over and over that the combined BD and HD DVD software sales are still tiny compared to DVD sales.

Some people repeat over and over that the Transformers HD DVD is selling a lot of copies.

And some people repeat over and over that the only reason there is not a Transformers BD selling many more copies than the HD DVD is because of the Paramount deal.

Only if your into buying stripped down economy models. That business model really worked for Yugo.:rolleyes:


"HD DVD, the Yugo of the Hi-Def world"

Sounds like a winner.:p

It's worked great for Honda (70/80s), Kia and Hyundai. What does that have to do with Bay? He makes the same amount of money off of a disc either way.

Michael Bay, you're my hero. :)IMO, he is the hero of all "blu-bloods" throughout the world.

That is, those that accept the Sony dogma as gospel truth regardless of the realities.

I guess it is now part of the HD DVD talking points to use "Wow" as much as possible to express disbelief and wonder at how the BD side could possibly believe and behave as we do.

Wow!

Some people repeat over and over that BD does not yet support secondary video streams.

That's because they advertise and market that it already does. ;)


Some people repeat over and over that the combined BD and HD DVD software sales are still tiny compared to DVD sales.


That's true, these numbers are sad. 200k HD DVD compared to 8.3 Million SD DVD? Put another way, Transformers sold more copies in SD DVD in ONE DAY than HDM has sold combined over the last 18 months. One Title, One Day ... handily beat out over 600 titles over 18 months. It's truly pathetic really. *shrug*


Some people repeat over and over that the Transformers HD DVD is selling a lot of copies.


Well, this is new news. And it is breaking records. *shrug*


And some people repeat over and over that the only reason there is not a Transformers BD selling many more copies than the HD DVD is because of the Paramount deal.

I would say it was because of the Paramount defection. We don't know for sure if the money was the only thing that made them move. Sony's subsidy ended and they were getting pushed to the back of the line. I find it hard to believe that Sony didn't try to match/beat any "bribe" that may have occured if that was the route taken, so that would skew any numbers.

Besides, even if it sold more on Blu-ray, we have no idea if Paramount would have made more money on it or not. It would have taken a BD50 since it's larger than 25GB. If costs are higher and Sony wasn't going to subsidize ...

Sell 200k at a profit or 400k at a loss? Hmmm ... tough choice.

Regardless, it's all moot ... we're beating a dead horse [again].

The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.Of course a business deal happened. Does anyone think they just shook hands and said "welcome aboard"?

But you know absolutely nothing about the "business deal". Was it joint marketing and promotion money? Was it bundling of Paramount/Dreamworks titles with players? Was it IP discounts? Was it tied to future HD DVD success? Was it assistance with HDi development, web site hosting, or title authoring?

No one outside the deal knows how any deal was structured. IMO, however, it absolutely was not suitcases full of cash.

It does not preclude the fact that developing software for both formats is a lot more expensive than developing for one format. And that blu-ray is much more difficult, immature AND expensive for authoring and replication. And that blu-ray players are more expensive.

It really is a simple reality that blu-ray supporters refuse to believe.

The NYT and WSJ reported on it and neither Paramount or Dreamworks will deny it so it looks like a fact to me. Of course if you want to close your eyes and cover your ears and deny that a business deal happened you can do that. Of course that won't change the fact that it did happen.

You mean no one will deny it except for the people that have denied it.

Does not look like a recent quote to me. Plus if he does care about the extras, he is probably not aware that BD does not have the same level of interactivity and web content that HD DVD has. His busy schedule prevented him from being well informed enough....well when BD gets their specs in order, then BD will have a valid talking point from a capabilities perspective. For now, BD does not offer what HD DVD does.

The BD folks who are getting all excited about this, Hang on to your hats!

It seems he said it again before he found out it sold damn near 200k the first week. Expect another retraction, and maybe Guillermo Del Toro as the Transformers 2 director.

seriously :)..unfortunately for Paramount, Guillermo Del Toro signed a $100 mil contract with Universal ;)

to be honest, i really dont think Michael bay knows the difference...

to be honest, i really dont think Michael bay knows the difference...

I agree with you. I think his first movie out on high def was Pearl Harbor so he probably got hooked on bluray because of that, like "hey, my movie looks good in bluray". I dont think he realizes that HD DVD can provide the same level of PQ/AQ.

Clearly Michael is a technically oriented director and can see that Blu-ray Disc is superior to HD DVD in almost all the critical ways someone dedicated to his art form cares about (capacity and bandwidth, with interactivity in the next few months).

I think eventually, once a BD version is released in a little over a years time, we'll see the kind of difference BD can make for a high profile title like this: perfect video and perfect audio, not a compromise between the two.

lol x 2

"As a director, my critical eye is that Blu-ray is where my money is. Who cares???:rolleyes:

Once again, Bay has retracted his comments. Once again, he has been shown to be irrelevant.
J

One thing that stands out to me is that so many people say BR is better, Bay says its where his money is, yet TILL TODAY there is still no compelling evidence that BR is so much better than HD DVD as we are supposed to believe. The best of HD DVD stands toe to toe with the best of BR so what exactly is the attraction for all these people to BR? Is it the name? HD DVD is doing things BR still is currently unable to yet all we hear is BR is better.

If Transformers was released on BR all the extra content on the HD DVD would not be available so how is this format better?

One thing that stands out to me is that so many people say BR is better, Bay says its where his money is, yet TILL TODAY there is still no compelling evidence that BR is so much better than HD DVD as we are supposed to believe. The best of HD DVD stands toe to toe with the best of BR so what exactly is the attraction for all these people to BR? Is it the name? HD DVD is doing things BR still is currently unable to yet all we hear is BR is better.

If Transformers was released on BR all the extra content on the HD DVD would not be available so how is this format better?

Because it costs twice as much so it has to be better. Duh.

Funny how fast people forget that bay said "300 on HD DVD rocks!"...

Who cares anymore???? It's all said and done. The movie is out. It's the largest and biggest selling movie in any of the HD formats and Mr. Bay is still richer than probably all of us combined. Michael said what he said and then explained his rational for it after. The studio released a quality product and the consumers has shown their appreciation. Next...

P.S. I hope both format survives until the next great thing comes along.

He's clearly pretty pissed.


Clearly pretty pissed? I don't know how you read that from those comments. Perhaps you were thinking of the previous comments he made a few months ago.
You could say he was disappointed that Paramount put the DVD out so soon and he was unable to do much for it, but that is all you could say.

So when does he start directing for Sony Pictures? I wonder how many movies Sony promised him?

One thing that stands out to me is that so many people say BR is better, Bay says its where his money is, yet TILL TODAY there is still no compelling evidence that BR is so much better than HD DVD as we are supposed to believe. The best of HD DVD stands toe to toe with the best of BR so what exactly is the attraction for all these people to BR? Is it the name? HD DVD is doing things BR still is currently unable to yet all we hear is BR is better.It's the PS3. The few millions that bought it don't want it obsolete.

That's all the BDA has left.

Folks do realize if he is pissed that he could not do everything he wanted with the DVD. He could not have done 50% of the extras he had on HD DVD on BD. To say nothing of the far more difficult task of using Java with sloppy development tools.

It was Trasnformers and the difficulty in working with BD that turned Paramount. Sony was working on this title and could not deliver. That is what I believe....

For whatever, Michael Bay was trying to do with extras or packaging, HD DVD would have been the better format.

FWIW, I believe the quote here is dated and propbably in response to a leading question asked by a pro BD reporter. Remember BDA is very much a FUD, propaganda and media driven format. They did BD+ before web or IME....

Egads (I guess we're not supposed to use "wow" any more)... the BR zealots must need to buy Pepto by the case with all the sour grapes they're chewing.

I don't see HD-DVD fans writing "Oh yeah? Well if Spiderman 3 was on HD-DVD it would be selling XXX copies!"

Format-exclusive titles... WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Try again. Try two anonymous Viacom executives (Viacom owns Paramount, FYI).

I stopped right there. Thanks for proving my point.

Bay is a big time director, he prefers Blu Ray, so what?!

147 posts to try and refute and explain one man's opinion? Are folks here really that desperate?

Bay is a big time director, he prefers Blu Ray, so what?!

147 posts to try and refute and explain one man's opinion? Are folks here really that desperate?

I think so!

time