M:I III the first Day and date blockbuster release for both Blu-ray and HD DVD
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Oct 28th 2006 at 8:37PM
We all knew this would happen eventually, a blockbuster movie would be released on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray at the exact same time and that movie is Mission Impossible III which will be released on Monday October 30th. Paramount might just be hedging their bets here, but it does bring a new interesting twist to our favorite format war. What makes it more interesting than the previous Warner titles released on both discs is the fact that both formats are supporting 2 disc sets. HD DVD of course uses VC1 and Blu-ray is sportin the old favorite MPEG2, the interesting part is what our friends over at HiDefDigest have to say about the comparison between the two formats. Peter M. Bracke says this is one comparison that makes a pretty good case for MPEG-2. It seems clear that, with enough bits behind it, the codec isn't ready to be put out to pasture just yet then goes on to say both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD of 'M:I III' packed equal punch for me. Head over and read the full review.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Monte @ Oct 28th 2006 9:17PM
Where's Huey Lewis to sing us out for this? ("Gotta go back in time...")
Erick @ Oct 28th 2006 9:33PM
Not even back in Time, October 3rd was a Tuesday...So, who knows what they mean? Come on Ben, check your dates...and update the google calendar...I don't see this release on there...
Thanks! Ever so much closer to having a XBOX HDDVD drive and/or the PS3...almost ready for the next gen DVDs here!!!
peters @ Oct 28th 2006 9:47PM
While the picture may be close, from what I've seen the HD-DVD still has a "slight" edge in sharpness. However, it is getting very close, I agree.
However, of more important note is the lack of interactivity in the BD title vs. the HD-DVD title. This is only due to the fact that HD-DVD mandates a layer of interactivity for all players, and BD does not - ergo Paramount decided not to implement any rather than have upset customers complaining.
Andy @ Oct 28th 2006 10:16PM
Actually it's Monday Oct 30th, I'm getting the blu-ray Mission Impossible:Impossible Missions Collection, which is a 4 BD disc collection of all 3 movies and a special features disc.
Ben Drawbaugh @ Oct 28th 2006 10:40PM
Sorry I just typed the wrong date, I fixed it.
Juice @ Oct 28th 2006 10:51PM
I think that the fact that both the HDDVD and Blu Ray are two discs and both have the same picture quality speaks highly in the HDDVD format as this once again proves that there is no advantage to using Blu Ray, which is both more expensive to manufacture hardware and software. Blu Ray doesnt need to equal HDDVD, it needs to surpass it when it is twice the price. If you think this is a success for Blu Ray, I dont think you understand economics or engineering, because I know at university when im studying engineering, success goes to inventor who can make something not only work, but also do it at the cheapest price possible.
Xyzzy @ Oct 28th 2006 11:16PM
Peters is correct -- the HD-DVD version has more HD features than the BD version. Pay the same amount (or less - Amazon had it available for presale for only ~$55), and get less, that's the BD motto (along with, "In the future we'll be good so buy us now." Yet another strike against BD.
ColourSource @ Oct 29th 2006 12:34AM
I really don't understand the rational for MPEG-2 over VC-1. I've been underwelmed by the quality of MPEG-2 titles on Blu-ray thus far, and because MPEG-2 is taking up more room, we're seeing less content/features on Blu-Ray vs HD DVD, even when the 50GB Blu-Ray discs are used. What's wrong with this picture?
Addex @ Oct 29th 2006 7:03AM
Juice:
It's the same pq with a single layer BD-disc using MPEG-2 vs. dual layer HDDVD with VC1.
Ben @ Oct 29th 2006 8:11AM
Paramount is not "hedging their bets" if they wanted to hedge their bets they're release it only on DVD and save money from making the other versions...what can the hd-dvd/blu-ray market be, .01% of the consumers??? cmon...
popdex @ Oct 29th 2006 9:36AM
So a 25GB MPEG-2 Blu-Ray is capable of delivering great picture quality when the disc doesn't contain LPCM sound and extras as in the first Sony releases. I wonder why Paramount decided to release the Blu-Ray version in two 25GB discs instead of one double-layered disc. That would be a significant advantage for Blu-Ray in my opinion - 2 disc packs are a bit of a hassle, not very next-gen.
Juice @ Oct 29th 2006 9:21AM
who cares if its single layer or double layer, it doesnt change the price, and it still isnt better. In the end the PQ is the same, yet I can buy an HDDVD player for half the price. Until Blu Ray has better looking titles why should anyone even consider it?
James @ Oct 29th 2006 10:08AM
Actually the LAKE HOUSE was the first movie to be released on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-Ray on the same day.
H. M. @ Oct 29th 2006 10:52AM
Yeah what about the lake house? there's been a lot of things messed up since hdbeat switched to engadget, I don't like this.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/09/28/the-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-release-of-lake-house-suffers-on-both-for/
and why not mention the exclusive hd dvd features while you're at it. maybe the highdefdigest forums are better.
Asterra @ Oct 30th 2006 2:49PM
Unfortunately for that reviewer, there are going to be people with enough money to own both formats, and enough morbid curiosity to take snapshots of the same frames on both discs. And then we will see the validity of the somewhat ambiguous "equal punch". I'll say in advance that it's a shame that the theoretical result of 50GB MPEG2 vs. 30GB VC-1 is in stark disagreement with the review.
Ben Drawbaugh @ Oct 29th 2006 12:52PM
Your right I forgot about the Lake house, I wonder how I could have done that. ;)
hmurchison @ Oct 29th 2006 5:30PM
I'm betting that Paramount could have included TrueHD on the HD DVD side. They used 1.5Mbps DD Plus compared to Blu-rays 640k DD. TrueHD would have been really nice. I guess we'll have to see how much space is left over on the 30GB
Daniel @ Oct 29th 2006 8:45PM
I was at work at Best Buy today and I noticed a box back in inventory that was open, so I took a peek inside and I found both the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray versions of MI3. It's nice to see movies being rolled out so fast in the new formats :).
Ed @ Oct 30th 2006 7:48AM
Like I said before, are there people out there still waiting for Blu Ray win this? Blu Ray is having so much problems companies has been juming ship and into the HD DVD wagon, I hope comsumers are fooled by $ony like they did with Betamax. November 7 is just around the corner, Xbox 360 HD DVD is only $199 reserves yours NOW before it's gone.
Ed @ Oct 30th 2006 7:49AM
Like I said before, are there people out there still waiting for Blu Ray win this? Blu Ray is having so much problems companies has been jumping ship and into the HD DVD wagon, I hope comsumers aren't fooled by $ony like they did with Betamax. November 7 is just around the corner, Xbox 360 HD DVD is only $199 reserves yours NOW before it's gone.
Dave @ Oct 30th 2006 9:07AM
Blu-Ray is way better and more supported, i dont know what is the point of this DVD upgrade called hd dvd...
Short timer format?
Xyzzy @ Oct 30th 2006 10:15AM
Dave, how is Blu-Ray better and more supported? They may currently have more exclusive studios, but who has the better quality movies (both in PQ and in quality movies). In addition, many studios are sitting on the fence, and will either support HD-DVD alone or will do both (like Paramount).
As for more supported by consumers, currently HD-DVD is blowing BD out of the water. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the next two months or so, but if they stay the same (even with the PS3), then I think BD will be a dead format for movies.
TV @ Oct 30th 2006 12:42PM
popdex,
I think customers (not me) 'feel' that they get more with multiple discs, even if everything could fit on one disc.
Dave sounds like he works for Best Buy. ;)
Juice @ Oct 30th 2006 11:47AM
Dave I dont know why you think Blu Ray is better, at the moment it is more supported in terms of companies but HDDVD has more movies so I guess you could actually say at the moment HDDVD is more supported. It also has better movies, and when looking at all titles has better PQ, and has outsold Blu Ray titles by a huge margin thus far. On amazon the best selling Blu Ray is MI3, and MI collection for HDDVD, the Blu Ray has a sales rank of 1200 while the HDDVD version is 160. In fact the top 10 HDDVDs are all ranked higher than Blu Rays highest, and after MI3 all the Blu Ray movies sales plummit. If you think Blu Ray is better becasue of support your just a pawn to Sony. If you want to have any real judging power atlest give an argument on why Blu Ray vs HDDVD is better to the consumer. They both support the same 1080p resolution, the both support Mpeg2, Mpeg4, VC-1, Dolby True HD, and DTSHD. While Blu Ray has more room and Higher bit capacity it as shown no visible or audible differences, so in essence when at there best they are the same, except HDDVD is cheaper. The only true argument you could have is that you can have more extras on a BD50 vs a HD30, this doesnt hold true for current BD50s becuase of Mpeg2 space requirments but will hold true for titles like Kingdom of Heaven which will be a BD50 with Mpeg4 and DTSHD. So we could bring the MI3 two disc set down to a single disc. So what is a truely better product? one that gives you great PQ/AQ and great extras (iHD, Ucontrol, etc) at $500 or one that gives you great PQ/AQ and even more great extras (50GB)at $1000, Im sorry but at $500 savings I would rather deal having to have 2 disc sets and use the $500 saved to start my collection by buying 20 HDDVD titles (20 x $25 =$500), not to mention the three I now get free with a HDDVD player purchase.
Ed @ Oct 30th 2006 6:23PM
OUCH!!! YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR STUFF. I JUST RESERVED MY XBOX HD DVD FROM AMAZON. COME TO PAPA!!!! If you think about it it's only $99 if you apply for the Amazon Visa you get an extra $30 off. Since the remote it's free ($29.99) and so is King Kong ($39.99) and free shipping ($10) you actually pay $99.99. TAKE THAT BLU RAY LOVERS!!!