A light-blu cat here who is waiting 'til his March birthday to get his first, blu player (wife can't say no on my birthday, right?)

So I decided to let the clock run out on the 90 days to return my $98 A2. I plan to pick up some titles that I wouldn't expect to see on blu-ray for quite awhile. If there is a thread for this, please point me to it. Otherwise your opinions of said titles would be much appreciated.

The Blu Ray Forum!

EDIT: My bad misunderstood your question!

Everything Universal has put out.

Everything Paramount/Dreamworks has put out since the summer.

Everything Universal has put out.

Everything Paramount/Dreamworks has put out since the summer.
Thank you.

I posted the same question at HiDefDigest. Here is an example the kind of answer I was looking for...

Originally Posted by Arpeggi View Post
older catalog titles from Warner and universal that didn't sell well on HD DVD.

Forbidden Planet, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Sting, The Deer Hunter, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Transformers

Transformers
:D

I own it, thanks.

Casablanca.....ever.

Caddyshack, V for Vendetta, and lots of imports like Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, original The Fog, etc.

Lots and lots of catalog, it just doesn't move well enough to make studios be in any hurry to blow the money and reprint in blu.

Superman Return on HD, aren't they different, well on the audio side..DD plus vs True Hd...


Djoel

Without naming others that have already been named (i.e Matrix):
Hot Fuzz
Bourne trilogy
Children of Men

Hot fuzz
Star trek TOS
Batman begins (who knows when its out in blu)

Also "The things" is a great title for Carpenter Fans.

Everything in this post, and movies Universal and Paramount have put out since then.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11711769#post11711769

Also "The things" is a great title for Carpenter Fans.

The title you mean is John Carpenter's The Thing

A light-blu cat here who is waiting 'til his March birthday to get his first, blu player (wife can't say no on my birthday, right?)

So I decided to let the clock run out on the 90 days to return my $98 A2. I plan to pick up some titles that I wouldn't expect to see on blu-ray for quite awhile. If there is a thread for this, please point me to it. Otherwise your opinions of said titles would be much appreciated.

This is the hd-dvd forum. R u lost? Universal will not be putting out anything on bd for while if ever.

Thank you.

I posted the same question at HiDefDigest. Here is an example the kind of answer I was looking for...

Heya Sketcha. Not sure how old you are and what sort of movies you like to watch but if you are interested in older movies then it may be smart to concentrate on the Warner catalog titles first. Unless they have publically made a commitment to release everything released so far on HD DVD near-term it could be a long time before they bother to release them on Blu Ray (especially if they exceed 25 GB).

This is the hd-dvd forum. R u lost? Universal will not be putting out anything on bd for while if ever.He's not lost. Can U read? He has an A2 that he's going to hang onto and wants to know what HDDVD titles to buy now that he can't get on blu.

Caddyshack, V for Vendetta, and lots of imports like Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, original The Fog, etc.

Lots and lots of catalog, it just doesn't move well enough to make studios be in any hurry to blow the money and reprint in blu.
This is, essentially what I am looking for. I think, specifically the HD DVD catalogs that have not sold well. If there isn't a list, maybe there could/should be for those of us that lean blu, but are film enthusiasts first and will continue to support HD DVD in order to be sure they can access as much of the good stuff as possible.

Thank you Hound, and thanks to all of you so far who have contributed helpful posts to this thread.

Heya Sketcha. Not sure how old you are and what sort of movies you like to watch but if you are interested in older movies then it may be smart to concentrate on the Warner catalog titles first. Unless they have publically made a commitment to release everything released so far on HD DVD near-term it could be a long time before they bother to release them on Blu Ray (especially if they exceed 25 GB).
Some of those are certainly on my mind such as "...Bounty." I'm guessing there may be a list of the HD DVD-only Warner titles. Can anyone point me in that direction? I'm not so familiar with this forum? :)

This is, essentially what I am looking for. I think, specifically the HD DVD catalogs that have not sold well.

I can't really suggest what titles anyone else should buy, but if something is on red right now and isn't on blu, I buy it on red. I just bought Batman Begins on red today, and I'm 1000% certain it will be released on Blu by the time The Dark Knight is released on blu.

If you're planning on returning your A2 though, I wouldn't buy anything!

I can't really suggest what titles anyone else should buy, but if something is on red right now and isn't on blu, I buy it on red. I just bought Batman Begins on red today, and I'm 1000% certain it will be released on Blu by the time The Dark Knight is released on blu.

If you're planning on returning your A2 though, I wouldn't buy anything!
Past the point of "no return."

And if I have a choice, I will pick the blu version unless it's not likely to be released for some time.

I can't really suggest what titles anyone else should buy, but if something is on red right now and isn't on blu, I buy it on red. I just bought Batman Begins on red today, and I'm 1000% certain it will be released on Blu by the time The Dark Knight is released on blu.

If you're planning on returning your A2 though, I wouldn't buy anything!

I think that Sketcha and I are thinking older catalog titles or classics if you will. I would expect that Warner will be giving priority to newer catalog titles such as Batman Begins, The Matrix, etc.

Here is a list of the older Warner catalog titles Sketcha that I own ( I'm not sure which of these are already on Blu Ray but I'm confident you can do that separation easy enough):

Battle of the Bulge (good transfer but special effects look almost silly)
Blazing Saddles
Casablanca (highly recommend)
Deliverance
Dog Day Afternoon
Excalibur (not a particularly good transfer IMO)
Forbidden Planet
Mutiny on the Bounty
Omega Man
Rio Bravo
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Cowboys
The Dirty Dozen (I havent opened this one yet)
The Getaway
The Searchers (highly recommend)
The Wild Bunch
Unforgiven

I'm happy with all of these except Excalibur.

Hey there, Sketcha--

I too am enjoying my A2 in addition to my Panny BD30, so that I can just access the most titles possible--without all this HD-DVD versus Blu-ray nonsense. I think you'll find--as a fellow MOVIE lover and not just a FORMAT lover--that you won't regret having both.

I agree whole-heartedly with the "Casablanca" recommendation. It's a fantastic disc, and definitely represents the kind of catalog title that I wish they'd make more of a priority... but I guess sales figures don't lie, and people just aren't buyin' them.

I also have to throw in:
"Casino" (great looking transfer; amazing cinematography)
and even:
"Dune" (okay... guilty pleasure, for sure. But no way they're going to get around to a Blu-ray version for a LONG time to come)

Overall, I think the list of older catalog titles in LonnyE's post are a great place to start.

Enjoy!

I think that Sketcha and I are thinking older catalog titles or classics if you will. I would expect that Warner will be giving priority to newer catalog titles such as Batman Begins, The Matrix, etc.

Here is a list of the older Warner catalog titles Sketcha that I own ( I'm not sure which of these are already on Blu Ray but I'm confident you can do that separation easy enough):

Battle of the Bulge (good transfer but special effects look almost silly)
Blazing Saddles
Casablanca (highly recommend)
Deliverance
Dog Day Afternoon
Excalibur (not a particularly good transfer IMO)
Forbidden Planet
Mutiny on the Bounty
Omega Man
Rio Bravo
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Cowboys
The Dirty Dozen (I havent opened this one yet)
The Getaway
The Searchers (highly recommend)
The Wild Bunch
Unforgiven

I'm happy with all of these except Excalibur.
That's it, Lonny. There is a chance that some of the HD DVD catalogs may NEVER get a blu transfer, regardless of what happens with the war. AND these titles may never get reprinted so once they're gone...

These titles would be my first priority.

Thanks!

Hey there, Sketcha--

I too am enjoying my A2 in addition to my Panny BD30, so that I can just access the most titles possible--without all this HD-DVD versus Blu-ray nonsense. I think you'll find--as a fellow MOVIE lover and not just a FORMAT lover--that you won't regret having both.

I agree whole-heartedly with the "Casablanca" recommendation. It's a fantastic disc, and definitely represents the kind of catalog title that I wish they'd make more of a priority... but I guess sales figures don't lie, and people just aren't buyin' them.

I also have to throw in:
"Casino" (great looking transfer; amazing cinematography)
and even:
"Dune" (okay... guilty pleasure, for sure. But no way they're going to get around to a Blu-ray version for a LONG time to come)

Overall, I think the list of older catalog titles in LonnyE's post are a great place to start.

Enjoy!
Thanks, breeze!

Great username, BTW.

Shine On!

Casablanca.

But, in truth, I wouldn't be surprised to see this hit Blu at some point. It is just too good to leave out.

I think that Sketcha and I are thinking older catalog titles or classics if you will. I would expect that Warner will be giving priority to newer catalog titles such as Batman Begins, The Matrix, etc.

Here is a list of the older Warner catalog titles Sketcha that I own ( I'm not sure which of these are already on Blu Ray but I'm confident you can do that separation easy enough):

Battle of the Bulge (good transfer but special effects look almost silly)
Blazing Saddles On Blu
Casablanca (highly recommend)
Deliverance
Dog Day Afternoon
Excalibur (not a particularly good transfer IMO)
Forbidden Planet
Mutiny on the Bounty
Omega Man
Rio Bravo On Blu
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Cowboys On Blu
The Dirty Dozen (I havent opened this one yet)
The Getaway
The Searchers (highly recommend)
The Wild Bunch On Blu
Unforgiven

I'm happy with all of these except Excalibur.

Don't forget Grand Prix


Gary

I think this title will make it to Blu but for some reason I'm thinking it will be awhile, but that is pure speculation, and the title is Band of Brothers.

Serenity...don't forget Serenity.:D

There is a big rumor floating around since yesterday in U.K forums regarding Gladiator getting HD DVD release in France coming May.

BrotherHood of the Wolf
Equilibrium
Lucky # Slevin

There is a big rumor floating around since yesterday in U.K forums regarding Gladiator getting HD DVD release in France coming May.

If it had english for a soundtrack option this would be my first import.

If this movie came it at $19.95 in the U.S. (not list price, but what you pay - maybe $28 list) it would sell a ton.

Topped for some more opinions now that the landscape has changed a bit

Topped for some more opinions now that the landscape has changed a bit

Sketcha I was wondering if you were going to resurrect this thread based on Warners announcement that they would be making the effort to get all exisiting HD DVD releases over on Blu Ray.

It was a no brainer for me on what to do - I'm not planning on jumping in to Blu Ray immediately. I'm personally quite patient - I didnt buy into HD DVD until the end of June. So I rounded out my collection of Warner titles a short time after their announcement of intent to go BR exclusive.

It probably is a harder call for you having the ability to play either format.

*Why buy anything on HD DVD that is announced/available on BR?
*If you are itching to see a particular title then why not buy it? Your HD DVD player hasn't exploded and your existing HD DVD titles haven't crumbled into dust have they - after all its just polycarbonate right?
*You'll likely be able to get it on HD DVD on the cheap
*I'm not sure you are going to get anything more on those titles you and I specifically discussed previously on Blu Ray. Could they find some lost interview or something like that - I guess so.
*Some of those titles were slated for 2009 right?
*It would not be unreasonable to consider the track record of being able to release some catalog example: Independence Day. That should of course be balanced against when the new replication lines will come on line.

I'm sure there are other equally valid points and counterpoints. There is no right or wrong answer here.

Since Universal and Paramount were so quick to announce for Blu-ray my thoughts on this topic have changed, but I think the following will still be a longtime coming:

Darkman
Willy Wonka
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Caddyshack
The Contract
Constantine
The Perfect Storm
The Dukes of Hazzard
Poseidon
Smallville Season 5
Troy: Theatrical Cut with IME (They already released the director's cut on BD)
Best of GetOut! Volume 1
Best of GetOut! Volume 2
Best of World Report Volume 1
Best of World Report Volume 2
Anything by Weinstein

You can always go to HD DVD Stats (http://www.hddvdstats.com/index.php) and filter for exclusivity. Then vet that against the announced (http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=937) Warner BD releases for 2008 and 2009 to find the Warner titles that look to remain exclusive for a while. I'm actually surprised that Constantine didn't make that list.

Paramount and Universal will be hit or miss because they have not announced BD release dates, but I still think obscure Universal catalogs like the aforementioned Darkman will take a while.

There are several imports that may take while to see a release on BD such as The Elephant Man and the 1976 version of King Kong. Then there are several films that have already been released on BD, but are available on HD DVD with some improvement or another:

300 (IME, DL Content, Combo Format)
Pan's Labyrinth (IDL Content)
Harry Potter 4 & 5 (IME)
Underworld: Evolution Import (better PQ)
Total Recall Import (better PQ, but worse AQ)
Terminator 2 Import (better PQ)
Superman Returns (better AQ, combo)

It is also likely that the import versions of Reservoir Dogs and Saw are better in the PQ department than their American BD versions if only because it would be hard for them to be any worse.

Topped for some more opinions now that the landscape has changed a bit
I would look at Amazon and plug in titles of what you are interested in. Example, Casablanca on hd-dvd was not available directly from Amazon but they listed other sellers. I started checking over well known retailers and it was out of stock. This was before Toshiba's official announcement.
Catalog titles that are of interest to you that you must have buy now. If it comes out on Blu and you want it in that format also you'll have 2 discs of the same movie in two different formats. Wait and it could be no movie at all. Having seen titles that were on VHS and Laserdisc and never made it to DVD I have been through this. And it's not always obscure titles.
To make a long story short if you like the classics from Universal and Warner's get them if they appeal to you.
Happy hunting!

This thread is very relevant now.

I would agree that the movies selling in small number on HD DVD would be the least likely to show up on BD anytime soon.

fistofosuth pretty much outlined the rest.

Are there figures somewhere that show number of copies printed and number of copies sold thru?

In other words, if, say Warner printed up 5000 Bountys, but only sold 500 thru so far, I might be more inclined to wait and find them in the Wal-mart bins. But if they are running out, I'd wanna' grab 'em before it's too late...

and so forth.

Thanks

Timecop
Galaxina
Last Starfighter

Wake me up when Forbidden Planet ends up on BD,or Robin Hood.I need the rest.:):D

Art

Wake me up when Forbidden Planet ends up on BD,or Robin Hood.I need the rest.:):D

Art
Yeah... I'll be sure and do that.

Thanks Art. The thread seems to agree with your picks. They are in my cart.

Cheers

I dont think blue will see any Paramount titles for a while, Or very little will trickle out at best. Para 's statment about going back to blue didn't sound like they were to thrilled about it and it points to them dragging there feet with releasing movies.

I dont think blue will see any Paramount titles for a while, Or very little will trickle out at best. Para 's statment about going back to blue didn't sound like they were to thrilled about it and it points to them dragging there feet with releasing movies.
Well that's certainly possible, though that position would lose them a revenue stream, at least for their big titles. They could likely make a few bucks releasing Transformers for the PS3 game crowd!

But... whatever. It's their decision to make.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Well that's certainly possible, though that position would lose them a revenue stream, at least for their big titles. They could likely make a few bucks releasing Transformers for the PS3 game crowd!

But... whatever. It's their decision to make.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Its not a revenue stream yet, Thats why I think they are going to drag their feet and only a few titles will trickle out such as transformers and movies that appeal to the gamer crowd, I could be wrong. I just took from the statements they made when they dropped blue and this new statement about going back and it seemed like they are eating a little crow and not to thrilled about it. It seems that they are not in a rush is how I'm reading it.

Well that's certainly possible, though that position would lose them a revenue stream, at least for their big titles. They could likely make a few bucks releasing Transformers for the PS3 game crowd!

But... whatever. It's their decision to make.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Having players for both formats and Transformers, I wouldn't hold my breath on it coming out until they figure out how to port all the HD DVD 1.0 features to BR 2.0. The only other option is for them to just include all the HD DVD web based content on the disc and publishing it as a BR 1.1 title.

Its not a revenue stream yet, Thats why I think they are going to drag their feet and only a few titles will trickle out such as transformers and movies that appeal to the gamer crowd, I could be wrong. I just took from the statements they made when they dropped blue and this new statement about going back and it seemed like they are eating a little crow and not to thrilled about it. It seems that they are not in a rush is how I'm reading it.
Well you could be right, but big titles will sell! Transformers would be a no-brainer. They could probably sell another 100K pretty quickly. Now at an average say of 30 bucks or so, that's $3Mil gross so around $1-2Mil in profit. I would hope that a company of that size could leave their emotions at the door for their shareholders.

Having players for both formats and Transformers, I wouldn't hold my breath on it coming out until they figure out how to port all the HD DVD 1.0 features to BR 2.0. The only other option is for them to just include all the HD DVD web based content on the disc and publishing it as a BR 1.1 title.
I don't think lack of 2.0 would make a microscopic dent in Transformers' Blu-ray sales.

Then there's the opportunity for double dipping. Doesn't thrill any of us, but sure wouldn't hurt their bottom line.

I don't think lack of 2.0 would make a microscopic dent in Transformers' Blu-ray sales.

Then there's the opportunity for double dipping. Doesn't thrill any of us, but sure wouldn't hurt their bottom line.

Add to that the authoring for Transformers on Blu-ray is already done. It should be available soon in my opinion (aka in a couple of months top).

I would hope that a company of that size could leave their emotions at the door for their shareholders.

It's because of their shareholders that they will not rush to release. Paramount was getting subsidies to produce it's releases and now those are gone. Why should they lose money releasing in the current puny market. Of course, Transformers is the exception. You'll get that on blu-ray. Maybe they can substitue downloadable ring tones for U-Control.

There's a guy on blu-ray dot com who's reporting that he's spotted Bee Movie at the Walmart (warehouse).

It doesn't seem like bs but who knows. I think a lot will come out within the next two weeks on what Paramount and Universal plan on doing on Blu-Ray.

This will mean that they authored the discs before Toshiba's announcement.

Source. (http://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=660243&postcount=93)

Hard to imagine with all the current sales, but it's interesting to think that some of these titles could actually fetch a premium in the not so distant future.

I would expect the Weinstein titles to be HD DVD only for a while. I think some sold so poorly that I can't see Weinstein having any rush to release them in Blu-ray if/when they decide to release BD titles.

Galaxina and the Bob Hope movies from BCI may also be HD DVD only for a long while.

Since Toshiba funded the HD transfer for Star Trek :TOS and work has currently been stopped on it, i wouldn't look for that particular set/series to appear on BlueRay for a good long time.Either Toshiba will continue to fund it and release it on BR eventually in conjuction with and under the CBS label or CBS will have to continue funding themselves.Right now they have said they are takign a wait and see stance on BR and likely won't consider releasing anything until the format's specs are finished and players featuring them are permeating the consumer marketplace.

Sorry BR Trek fans.Looks like you'll be waiting AWHILE.:(Oh well.At least my hopes for Jericho on HD are realized on VOD and XBL.

Either Toshiba will continue to fund it and release it on BR eventually in conjuction with and under the CBS label or CBS will have to continue funding themselves.

Somehow I doubt Toshiba would fund something to be released on Blu-ray, but I could be wrong;)...

I often see Forbidden Planet and Casablanca mentioned... The HD transfer has been done, the extras are in place (they come from the SD release IIRC), so I don't think they'd cost too much to WB to re-release them on blu-ray. It's not like they'd have to start from scractch. btw, I already have the "red" ones, but I like them so much I know I'll get them on blu for sure! Especially Forbidden Planet.

You guys are looking at the majors. You need to look at the smaller stuff.

Weinstein titles are a good start.

Porn:
A lot of the porn from Wicked, Zero Tolerance, Club Jenna and others will likely not get re-released on Blu-Ray. Of course, they will likely release new stuff. However, I wouldn't expect them to go back and re-release older stuff.

Music:
Music stuff from Rhino, Surround, Image and MVD are a few examples. I wouldn't expect them to go back and re-release older stuff. Opus Arte is an exception.

Small indies:
The Contract plus Channels would probably fall into the category of least likely to get re-released on Blu.

Sports, television and other special interests:
I don't expect to see "Picture This" re-released on Blu. There will likely be a "Digital Video Essentials" released on Blu (if it's not delayed AGAIN). However, it certainly won't be a combo. The HDNet stuff? I'm not so sure.

O.K., I took the plunge. Thought I'd do my part to help out the Nielsen numbers for HD DVD this week. :)


Here's what's on the way from Deep Discount. Some of these may be out on Blu before too long, but the prices were tough to beat! Plus... some of them I just want now!...

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