The Thing HD DVD cover art

They changed the Cover art, and now it's a Combo..

Will it maintain it's DD TruHD + DD Plus 5.1? Anyway all the extra will be on the DVD side so..

AWESOME!!! Come on OCTOBER!!!!!!!

Goddamn combos! This isn't even a day-and-date release.

Wasn't too interested at first, but being a COMBO I'll definitely consider it now. I just wish Spartacus (which I really want to get) was a COMBO.

I ONLY buy combos. I refuse to buy anything else. Buying just the HD DVD is a complete waste of money. All of my SD DVDs are combos as well. It's the only sensible way to go.

Yes, now THAT is a cover!!! Smart move.

Hmmm. Combo huh. That will be VERY interesting if it is still TrueHD. I also wonder what the sampling rate/bit depth is of the Universal TrueHD soundtracks compared to what Warner has been delivering. Mainly, I wonder if they have 48/24 masters to work with.

Aren't the new combo discs suppose to be 30/9's?

Brad

Maybe it's the first ombo with HD DVD30 and DV9.

yes Combos are going to start to be 30/9 per Amir

I have no problem at all if that is the case

I think this could be the most exciting release for me so far

Carpenter, Russell, old time Cinemascope and a true classic

-Gary

I'm glad some rational minds prevailed and they went with the original poster art instead of the rather ugly artwork that was on the last DVD release. It's a shame some of it has to be covered up with those white/silver contours, but it's really not that big of a deal. I don't really spend time looking at the covers anyway.

If this is a 30/9 combo, I won't be as angry. I still like having artwork on my discs, though, as well as not having to flip the disc to watch extra features.

How can you differentiate HD DVD combos from SD DVD combos. By definition, if you have one, you have both.

Doesn't bother me that it's a combo now but I preferred the previous cover art.

I personally prefer the new cover art. I like when studios use the original poster artwork.

Indeed, usually they go for floating heads. The "frozen in ice" artwork wasn't that bad, but I'm glad to see the original back.

Combo, though...liked that concept until I found out it chops the storing space in half...here's hoping the 30/9 ones come along sooner rather than later.

back to the poster art? Cool. A combo? (shrugs shoulders) Eh, would rather it not but in the end, I could care less. Just give me the film and make sure the extras are in the release somewhere.

Just having The Thing, one of my all-time favorite movies, on HD DVD is enough. DD+ is so damn good I'm not too bothered by TrueHD being cut, if in fact it is. And so far it is only a RUMOR that TrueHD 5.1 is being unlocked in the next upgrade so it would be useless now anyway.

And it is VERY cool they went back to the poster art. I remeber seeing it hanging on the outside of the Orpheum theater in Westwood Village and having no clue what the movie was about, but that it looked really scary.

By all means go ahead and care less.

Art

I don't get it. Why is it a combo? Is there something new in this edition to warrant another DVD release so soon after the previous one?

I don't like combos at all. I'm buying HD DVDs now, not DVDs. I shouldn't be forced to pay extra for a disc I don't want in the first place. And yeah, I don't get ricwhite's comment either.

Combo are a great way for CE to make even more money on the disc. the dvd is all paid for since years and it cost them almost nothing to put them on, so them make even more money on Catalog..

I don't have any problem with HDDVD15, Unleashed is Prestine.

The Thing would be 2.35:1 at 12mbits AVG VC1 it would be 9.2GIG + DD+ (600meg) + TruHD 3.5 GiG approx... so it would fit..

Anyway Universal has been very constant with HD DVD so far so don't worry

I'm not worried about quality, I'm worried about the artificially inflated pricetag. Combos are stupidly expensive.

Exactly. Apparently 15 GB is enough room for great-looking HD transfers, particularly with the extras usually on the DVD side. But I hate the $39.99 price tag most of these combo discs have. I would've picked up Kiss Kiss Bang Bang a long time ago had it been priced like a normal WB HD-DVD title.

Why didn't they bundle them with VHS tapes when the first DVDs came out??? It would have been the same "smart ass" concept...

Perhaps, just perhaps, Universal is going to release both versions of the Thing -> Combo and HD-DVD only! That way it would be a real eye opener for all the studios when they see actual sales figures in comparison. Give us HD-enthusiasts a choice not to pay a premium for an inferior version as "extra feature"! Next time they include an UMD/iPod version on the disc and force us to pay for it as well - "think of all those people who want to watch the movie on the go" BS. And why not bundle it with the VHS tape, Laserdisc, D-Theater tape, CD soundtrack, audiobook, comic book - don't we all agree there are lots of people who want to watch the newest HD releases on their old equipment as well. GREAT concept. " Buy a fancy new Ferrari but you have to accept that it comes only bundled with a VW Golf for just a little premium - but don't worry, it is more practical for all your downtown shopping trips after all"

How are we going to get the studios to stop doing this? I'm guilty of buying two combos so far (promising myself both times that it was the last time).

If they release combos for old favs like this, it's going to be hard to refrain enough to make them rethink this...

It actually doesn't bother me so much right now because until I go back to school I make over 2 grand a month. Besides, I've got a friend who hasn't gotten HD DVD yet that I loan these to.

Unfortunately there are not enough players out (it's still only a few thousand) plus the title appeal is not broad enough to give any meaningful info.

At least they changed the cover back to the original poster art! I can deal with the combo.