The Sting, save your money !

This is sad to hear, I've got a extra set of parts for my XA2 (Everything but the case) to keep mine going for as long as possible but I've been trying to replace with Blu-ray versions when they are equal or better then the HD-DVD.

Why can't they at least be cheap enough to just copy over the HD-DVD version and make it compatible? Why do they keep making things worse?

Well it fits Universal's typical approach.

I wonder if the mainstream media sources that so dutifully parroted Universal's PR about "restoring" their classics for the 100th anniversary bash will follow up with reports on how generally pathetic these efforts have turned out so far. Hahahaha, who am I kidding?

They parroted the Yellow Submarine bogus PR.

Maybe not "mainstream media" but there is the chance that the New York Times will eventually do a story. That is probably the best shot for coverage of a controversy like this. Considering how long it has been since the Patton controversy, it can no longer be considered part of the learning curve-unless you want to try to argue that Universal's learning curve started much later than the other studios.

What is really sad is that Universal might think that they are catering to customers, thus improving sales. Well, it's much too late in the life of Blu-ray for a company to think that way, even if it was true that customers might like a particular look. Sony, Warner, and Fox have established the acceptable "look" for the format, and Universal might as well follow their example. Sales numbers are what they are. People aren't going to suddenly change their buying habits, and new customers are not going to appear on the scene either.

Universal should be focusing on preserving rather than "polishing" these releases.

What was bogus about the new YELLOW SUBMARINE BD? It looks and sounds terrific! Like seeing (and hearing) it for the first time. Easily better than the last Laserdisc/DVD edition.
Arer people seeing problems with this new release????

You can debate it's auto filtering looks great in it's thread.

Thanks for the information art . A GREAT film like this deserves a better transfer.

I am so glad I kept my HD DVD's.

Tom

If they **** Jaws up, let's get together and kill some Universal employees! Haha! Just kidding, that would be krRazy!

Can't understand why Art is complaining. Oh, Come on, it is a Universal release.

What's interesting too is, supposedly several insiders have had conversations with Universal about their mastering issues since 2008, but still nothing changes.

I refrained from buying this release because I was fearing it would be inferior to the HDDVD. Thanks Art for confirming my fear was founded. I still have the HDDVD, and two players to play with till the end of time (well, almost...). All I can say about Jaws is: Brace for impact!

The change was a bigger promotion push with the same crap.

Are the same people around that were at Universal in 2008? We know the ownership has changed. What influence has that had?

Glad I still have my HD DVD copies of The Sting and The Thing, as well us U-571

Same here! And I am a few years late to the party but I found out last week that Sneakers is available on HD DVD (not sure how I missed that one). Picked it up for $3.00 shipped!!!

Well, before it was pretty much exclusively old HD masters+DNR. This past year we've had several anniversary releases with new HD masters+DNR, though I'm not sure it's a change for the better (because it just means we won't see proper editions for an even longer time.)

Any further discussion (bickering/fighting) about the Format war will result in a suspension.

I've still got over 110 HD DVDs, including the 3 titles you mention. I've never felt the slightest need to switch to Blu-ray versions of any of my HD DVDs. In fact, as others were dumping them I was picking up HD DVD bargains for $3 - $7 each.

I even keep my Blu-rays and HD DVDs intermingled on my shelves. Red and Blu both make me happy!

Mark

I would say it's more of a mix, Animal House (relatively recent) and DragonHeart (recent) appear to reuse a master that was on the other format plus of course DNR.
Apollo 13 does appear to a new master. I will reserve judgment on The Sting until I see a direct comparsion.

However I was referring to Universal's attitude and approach not changing, just putting out bs PR instead.

I would say Caddyshack would be worth getting the BD version of.

Both the BD and HD DVD have the same VC-1 encode. Granted, the BD has DTS HD MA but it's not been rated any higher than the DD + audio on the HD DVD.

Besides, Caddyshack isn't exactly a movie that cries out for triple dipping (DVD, HD DVD and then Blu-ray). My HD DVD will serve me fine.

Mark

No, it's not. The HD DVD was one of Warner's jaggy garbage discs like The Fugitive. The BD is a newer scan without the jaggies.
Here's the discussion thread (comparison pics are no longer active, though): http://www.avsforum.com/t/1256616/caddyshack-comparison-and-discussion

That's true of other WB titles but Caddyshack is the exception.

Thanks for the heads up. I just purchased a new HD-DVD for the first time in a very long time. I never picked up The Sting before, and there were only 2 left on Amazon. Now there is only one.

Another issue with the Sting blu-ray... Watching the beginning of the movie, the left side of the image has an obvious image flaw for several minutes... Looks like the optics used in the transfer was flawed. There is an optical distortion on the left half of the screen...

Since I don't have The Sting on any format, I bought the blu. Should be here in the next couple of days. I'm looking forward to watching it, flaws and all.

Tough luck, Lonnehan. But that's what you get for playing with your head up your ass!
The name's Lonnegan! Doyle Lonnegan! You're gonna remember that name or you're gonna get yourself a new game! You follow?

Excalibur is also superior to the HD-DVD.

Only different framing, superior if one prefers people to look chunky I guess. Debatable at best.