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Godfather and Indiana Jones on HD DVD in 2008 (in Norway)

post #1 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
In a recent interview with Norwegian trade magazine release.no, Jon Einar Sivertsen, CEO of Paramount Home Entertainment Norway, stated that they will release the Godfather movies and the Indiana Jones movies on HD DVD in 2008.

Obviously, 2008 also lasts a full year, so it could mean December 2008, but I think it's encouraging to see that they have decided that they will release these movies next year.

I have no idea if they're planning a world wide relase, or if it's local, but since Paramount Norway is basically just a sales office, I seriously doubt that it's intended for the Norwegian market alone. Anything less than a European release would surprise me (still, that's just speculation on my part).

Here's a link to the story, but unfortunately it's only available in Norwegian:
http://release.no/artikkel.asp?ID=4943

The relevant bit is this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by release.no View Post

- Godbiter fra arkivene?
- Ja, både Gudfaren-filmene og Indiana Jones-filmene kommer på HD DVD neste år, sier Paramounts norske sjef.

Translation:

- Any highlights from the archives?
- Yes, both the Godfather movies and the Indiana Jones movies will be released on HD DVD next year.

This is all it says, and there's absolutely no word on whether Indy will be HD DVD exclusive or not.
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post #2 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:32pm
WOW

:
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post #3 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:52pm
It will probably be HD DVD exclusive. Assuming Paramount has worldwide distribution rights? I doubt they would release this on BD because that would defeat the purpose of even releasing it, which would be to increase sales and interest in HD DVD.
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post #4 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:52pm
oh HAPPY DAY!!!
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post #5 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:53pm
Instant blind buys for me. I might even learn norwegian just to watch the Godfather if it is only available there.
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post #6 of 78
11/18/07 at 5:59pm
Just guessing here, but I think it's likely we'll see a statement tomorrow from a Paramount and/or Spielberg spokesperson which flat out denies that they have any plans to bring Indy to HD-DVD.

If I'm wrong... then cool.
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post #7 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by the crane View Post

Instant blind buys for me. I might even learn norwegian just to watch the Godfather if it is only available there.

ok, does blind buy mean you've never seen any of these movies??
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post #8 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:09pm
Just to be clear, UNI never retracted their HD DVD coming soon issue from Japan that showed several Spielberg titles. Bluray.com ran an interview to say it would happen, but never did!

I on the other hand said Dan Silverbergs statement about WB commitment to BD and their dual format stance was going to be refuted by corporate - It was!

Spielberg does NOT control distributership of his movies. You can bet Paramount will do as they please. Spielberg and Paramount are likely headed for a nasty divorce. IMO.

Uni has zero interest backing BD. If Spielberg goes to Fox or Sony, you can bet his titles will be out on HD DVD faster than you can say 'Spielberg'. At Uni, you are dealing with GE
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post #9 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:16pm
If Universal wants to release his movies, they will.
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post #10 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:21pm
I know the chance seems very distant, but if the Indy films were HD DVD exclusive, Blu-ray could not recover.
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post #11 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:23pm
Well, it's about time.
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post #12 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:25pm
I'm a bit skeptical about the Indiana Jones films as those are controlled by Lucas just like Star Wars, but I think Godfather is more probable.
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post #13 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:29pm
In weeks past Amazon.Com had moved the "Indy on HD-DVD", pre order place holder up several spots I think even as high as number 4?
The place holder is on there right now in the top 10 of the HD-DVD best sellers category. They could have had info that Indy is coming soon to HD.
Scarface should be around the corner for HD-DVD as well.
I am excited!

I will buy both sets if/when they come out, but I could do without Godfather III
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post #14 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:30pm
There was an article in the New York Times today about how it is increasingly looking like Dreamworks will part ways with Paramount after all and make a new home at .... Universal.

If the new partnership goes through, I seriously doubt Spielberg will want (or be able to) keep Uni from release stuff like Jurassic Park or Jaws on HD-DVD for another year.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/17/bu...=1&oref=slogin
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post #15 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:31pm
I would guess at least in the US Indiana Jones would be on both formats. These are all Spielberg directed titles. Right?
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post #16 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:34pm
I wouldn't count Lucas out just because he is a friend of Spielberg. He may allow and even want to see Indy on HD-DVD before the Indy 4 film comes out. It would be good marketing and I think Paramount would push hard for Indy 4 on HD-DVD exclusive.
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post #17 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:35pm
HD DVD just needs to keep doing well. Every HD DVD player and title sold adds to the effort!
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post #18 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:42pm
I've seen a lot of articles from second hand sources, and a lot of conjecture from Blu-Ray enthusiasts, but I have seen nothing concrete that shows that Paramount or Universal will be releasing some of their biggest titles on both formats.

Close Encounters was released on Blu because of the studio it was made under, a studio that supports blu.

Very few studios seem interested or willing to work with Speilberg and his group due to the egos involved and the money that Speilberg wants each year to finance his movies. I'd imagine if He inks a deal with Universal again, then the Speilberg titles will be showing up in red cases at some point in the not too distant future.

Regardless, until I see proof stating otherwise, Indy Jones is an HD-DVD exclusive release, because we do know for a fact that paramount has those titles under their logo and paramount is HD-DVD exclusive.
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post #19 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigjsouth View Post

I wouldn't count Lucas out just because he is a friend of Spielberg. He may allow and even want to see Indy on HD-DVD before the Indy 4 film comes out. It would be good marketing and I think Paramount would push hard for Indy 4 on HD-DVD exclusive.

Once we see the numbers for Close Encounters next week it may put some of this stuff into its proper perspective. HDM (of late anyway) has been about new releases, not catalog titles; not even big catalog titles.
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post #20 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman View Post

I would guess at least in the US Indiana Jones would be on both formats. These are all Spielberg directed titles. Right?

I would assume it would be released on whatever format that studio supports. If its Paramount...then HD DVD. Close Encounters is owned by Sony, right? Thats why its on Blu-ray.
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post #21 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by b.greenway View Post

Once we see the numbers for Close Encounters next week it may put some of this stuff into its proper perspective. HDM (of late anyway) has been about new releases, not catalog titles; not even big catalog titles.

I can't imagine Close Encounters sold more then 20-30k last week. However its not anywhere near what Indiana Jones or Godfather would sell. No sense in releasing any big catalog title when the stand alones sales are as low as they are (for both formats).
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post #22 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD View Post

I can't imagine Close Encounters sold more then 20-30k last week. However its not anywhere near what Indiana Jones or Godfather would sell. No sense in releasing any big catalog title when the stand alones sales are as low as they are (for both formats).

I don't know, it was touted as a "big" title, who knows; maybe not big enough. fwiw I think even those 20-30k numbers may be optimistic.
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post #23 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by b.greenway View Post

Once we see the numbers for Close Encounters next week it may put some of this stuff into its proper perspective. HDM (of late anyway) has been about new releases, not catalog titles; not even big catalog titles.

Catalog seems to be a bust for HDM. Cars only managed about 25k discs and I suspect that Close Encounters might not get into double digits (k). This entire deal is about selling catalog (again) and it hasn't shown much promise up to this point.
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post #24 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slim GoodBooty View Post

Catalog seems to be a bust for HDM. Cars only managed about 25k discs and I suspect that Close Encounters might not get into double digits (k). This entire deal is about selling catalog (again) and it hasn't shown much promise up to this point.

Yes, but this is different. This is Indiana f***ing Jones, man!
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post #25 of 78
11/18/07 at 6:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Damnationdoormat View Post

Yes, but this is different. This is Indiana f***ing Jones, man!

Yes, but the studios aren't going to set the rules by the exceptions, and if HDM isn't succeeding Lucas won't let them be released anyway.
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post #26 of 78
11/18/07 at 7:07pm
Catalog sales of Indy would be different. The top ten catalog titles you could think of will do big numbers for HDM one day but we wont see them just yet. When more people have HDM players then we will see the big name films come home to HD. But Indy and Godfather sets on HD-DVD are still likely to happen in the near future.

Star Wars
LOTR
Titanic
Gladiator
E.T.

Ok, these big name films are going to come to HD but only when player sales are up.
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post #27 of 78
11/18/07 at 7:23pm
wow, that kind of title might put catalog imports above some domestic catalog sales.
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post #28 of 78
11/18/07 at 9:19pm
I believe Lucas is on record as saying that he will not release his movies until there is a single HD Format. Now if there are two formats in 2 years - then he will have to re-think this statement.

Just take a look at the release dates of both E.T and Star Wars in relationship to the SI date for DVD (3/97). I think you will be surprissed as to how long these movie moguls waited before they were released . . to a single format.
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post #29 of 78
11/18/07 at 9:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by plazman View Post

Just to be clear, UNI never retracted their HD DVD coming soon issue from Japan that showed several Spielberg titles. Bluray.com ran an interview to say it would happen, but never did!

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=11339

A spokesperson for the HD DVD Promotions Group Oct. 8 confirmed that a slide presentation by Universal Studios Japan at last weekend's CEATAC confab incorrectly portrayed that Steven Spielberg titles would be coming to HD DVD.

The slide displayed forthcoming releases of Steven Spielberg-directed classics Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park, and Spielberg-produced movies Casper, Back to the Future and Babe as coming to HD DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

In January, the HD DVD Promotions Group was forced to issue an apology to Universal and Spielberg when it inadvertently announced on its Web site the pending HD DVD releases of Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park.

In a statement from Universal, the studio said reports coming out of Japan relating to Steven Spielberg titles being released on HD DVD were inaccurate.

Universal has not made any formal announcements regarding Spielberg catalog titles coming to HD DVD at this time, the studio said.
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post #30 of 78
11/18/07 at 9:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by the crane View Post

Instant blind buys for me. I might even learn norwegian just to watch the Godfather if it is only available there.

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