Disney reveals four blockbusters coming to Blu-ray in 2008
While it was only a matter of time before Walt Disney brought one of its famed animated classics to BD, today the company has finally revealed what that first title will be: Sleeping Beauty. The disc will include a "virtual castle and multi-player activities," both of which utilize BD-Live technology, and if that wasn't enough, the studio also announced that it would be bringing Finding Nemo and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Blu-ray next year. Finally, National Treasure will be the outfit's "first BD-Live" title to hit the market when it lands next summer, sandwiched between Narnia in the spring and Finding Nemo / Sleeping Beauty in the fall.[Via MovieWeb]
Filed under: Blu-ray
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nin @ Aug 17th 2007 2:47PM
And the countdown to the end of the format war begins......... in 2008
Zodiac @ Aug 17th 2007 2:57PM
Well, hopefully a little while longer so theprices will drop more
DeadPlasmaCell @ Aug 17th 2007 3:00PM
I love how Disney always says "Get *Generic cartoon story featuring different characters* now before it's locked up in the Disney vault forever!" then they release it again the next year or so.
will @ Aug 17th 2007 3:17PM
i wonder whats going to happen when universal decides to release a classic like scarface,jaws or jurassic park because their due for a classic to be released and i dont know if this is true or not but i was at circuit city last night and one the guys that worked there said its a rumor floating around on the internet that lionsgate might start releasing films on hd dvd and its suppose to be a big annoucement at some type of electronics show he also said microsoft is about to release an xbox called the ultimate xbox with the bulit in hd dvd drive if this is true or false please reply. remeber this was told to me u bash me am bashin back
Segarsj @ Aug 17th 2007 3:24PM
I haven't heard anything about the Lionsgate deal, but I have heard about the "Ultimate" 360, but at this time it's nothing more than a rumor. It would be nice though.
Here's a link to the site (it's in French) where I first read about it: http://www.hdnumerique.com/actualite/articles/2283-une-xbox-360-ultimate-dotee-d-un-lecteur-hd-dvd-integre.html
domerdel @ Aug 17th 2007 4:01PM
Ultimate xbox 360 sounds a bit late as HD-DVD is falling behind. After the billion M$ lost in extended warranties for the high margin of 360 failures, I see this as A) unlikely B) High risk cost factor (but all depends on volume).
Lionsgate, it wouldn't suprise me if they did. They are on the contributors list of BD (not board of directors). They have some cool nitch market movies I would be opposed to going neutral...
undawater @ Aug 17th 2007 3:30PM
The first classic animated title will actually be Jungle Book on Oct. 3, assuming this post from today is true: http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=408
Xyzzy @ Aug 17th 2007 3:36PM
More FUD from the BD camp. No release schedule other than "in 2008." With Disney and Fox, I'll believe it when it's on the shelf. They had hundreds of movies announced at CES last year, and 99% of them were pulled.
Eric M @ Aug 17th 2007 3:50PM
Lion King please.
Mike @ Aug 17th 2007 3:58PM
What 4-10 year old cares if they watch these movies in HD or upconverted...who cares.
I hope the ultimate 360 is true...I would get it
Mike @ Aug 17th 2007 4:06PM
BTW...4 blockbusters in the headline is a big strech
Naria...blockbuster...lol
National Treasure...blockbuster....lmao
SB..more of a classic..doubt it would do well in theaters in todays world.
Nemo...never saw it..so can't comment on it.
anotherdave @ Aug 17th 2007 5:59PM
Look like blockbusters to me.
Worldwide box office for each
Nemo - $864M
Narnia - $744M
Treasure - $347M
Beauty - $59M (Domestic only, in 1959, inflation adjusted would be $478M, #28 all time)
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
mcrexx @ Aug 17th 2007 4:17PM
So far away for Nemo and Narnia :(
Liqwid @ Aug 17th 2007 4:17PM
Sad... only two BD players support BD-Live. The Samsung player and the PS3.
Patrick @ Aug 17th 2007 4:17PM
I don't think Disney being exclusive to Blu-ray is as big a deal as Universal being exclusive to HD DVD. C'mon, who's the target audience for these Disney cartoons? That's right, moms and children...hardly the same demographic who cares about seeing movies in hi-def. I really can't see tons of PS3 owners running out to buy The Lion King, but that's just me.
Agathos @ Aug 17th 2007 4:41PM
Patrick I think you're forgetting that about a certain other major studio called Sony exclusively supports BD, you know like Spider-Man, Pirates, etc. ,etc etc.
Agathos @ Aug 17th 2007 4:45PM
And for naysayers who say this isn't big news for BD because they represent "kids" movies let me set you straight now: They're high volume selling movies, and Disney has a lot more of them.
I'm an adult w no kids and I'll gladly pay to own Nemo (although I would really like Incredibles, Monsters Inc or others) to watch on BD, it looks great and they were great movies.
National Treasure was crtically a huuuge success, regardless of your personal opinion it made lots of money and is one more of Disney's many many high seller titles that are trickling now exclusively to BD.
The 2:1 sales news, and list of more and more quality exlusive titles are definitely starting to point in the direction of BD...
SimbaDogg @ Aug 17th 2007 5:04PM
think about your comment, moms and children. and GUY that is really into a family viewing experience would probably want to have the high def player that plays all his movies, plus his kids/wifeys movies when they wanna enjoy one together. to be quite honest, if i were neither a hd dvd fanboy, or a blu ray fanboy i'd def want to have the format that plays all my kids movies. cuz 1) watching the same movie 9 times in a month is bad, but 2) having to watch it in 480p on your swank HD tv is ever worse.
zik @ Aug 17th 2007 5:15PM
Why the early announcement? The timing of this announcement is rather curious. They aren't going to release anything for at least another year or so right? Are the Blu-Ray backers getting nervous about potential HD-DVD sales moving forward and especially around christmas time? Seems like this could be a pre-emptive announcement by Disney. Do they know something we don't?
Oh BTW, 2:1 sales lead when your lead in players is 5:1 is pathetic. I wouldn't be so happy if I were a Blu-Ray backer. Player for player blu-ray is getting a serious trouncing when is comes to movie sales.
Patrick @ Aug 17th 2007 5:01PM
@Agathos
Good point, but I was referring strictly to the Disney cartoon offerings, as this was the title of this thread.
Also, I acknowledge that right now things are pointing to BD, as you put it, but it's by no means a blow-out. It's no VHS vs. Betamax. 2:1 in sales is nothing considering the number of Blu-ray players out there (PS3's included) and its purported better technology. I think that lot of BD movie purchases are by PS3 owners whose Blu-ray capabilities were shoehorned into their household but really don't give a damn about the format war in the long run. HD DVD still makes sense in many ways...region-free, cheaper, better use of disc space (?).
Patrick @ Aug 17th 2007 5:24PM
@SimbaDogg
You're forgetting that both HD DVD and Blu-ray players can play regular DVD's.
Watching movies in 480p on an HDTV isn't THAT bad. The wife and kids especially wouldn't give a damn. And chances are I wouldn't be watching these Disney flicks with my wife and kids. If my kids are watching Finding Nemo, chances are I'm using it as a cheap babysitter than a family bonding experience (I'm talking home viewing, not going to a theater).
aaron @ Aug 17th 2007 5:11PM
so basically by the end of 2008 bluray should match the initial batch of titles on the xbox live video marketplace... ;)
DeadPlasmaCell @ Aug 17th 2007 6:02PM
True
Kevin Murphy @ Aug 17th 2007 5:17PM
Frankly, by the end of 2008, Disney (and everyone but Sony) will be format-neutral.
G @ Aug 18th 2007 10:56AM
Keep dreaming.
curitiba @ Aug 17th 2007 5:29PM
LOL I don't get how right now blu-ray is leading in sales and all of these hd dvd fanboys keep coming in here saying how they are still going to win? The thing they don't get is at this point there aren't that many exclusives for blu-ray. With holidays coming up you are going to start seeing those movies come out. What will happen when that happens?
Oh yah....the only 2 top 20 grossing movies this year are exclusive to hd dvd and one of those "Borne Ultimatum" will actually sell well.....so let me get this......18 of the top 20 grossing movies you can get on blu-ray. SO how the hell do you see hd dvd winning?
Agathos @ Aug 17th 2007 5:30PM
In response to several posters concerns on the ratio/numbers of players (zik) I really don't think it's a concern in this case where the PS3 is involved versus a typical player vs player sales match and attachment rates.
It certainly isn't "pathetic" in this case where yes it would be in a traditional player vs player comparison.
I should prolly back out now and just state that I really don't think ANYone can rationally argue that HDDVD is winning this and that most evidence continues to point to BD although I personally expect both formats to be around so long as any studio can make some $$ off of both, even if it's significantly more on one vs the other.
Alex @ Aug 17th 2007 5:50PM
wow apparently a lot of pre-teens own PS3s!
G @ Aug 18th 2007 10:58AM
And alot of delusional hd-dvd owners that still think their format will win. LOL.
joe @ Aug 17th 2007 6:29PM
zik- it's not really worth ging you a unique response so enjoy a cut and paste.
No actually a lower attach rate is an indication of a more mature format. There were 7 million 300 DVD's sold. Given there are more than 100x DVD players than BluRay you can claim,by your logic, that BluRay is doing better than DVD's.
So no attach rate does not equal success. You Fail.
Mr_Fizzlepop @ Aug 17th 2007 7:05PM
First,
@zik,
If you Sell Gas, you don't care how many Cars are on the Road, you care how much Gas you sell. Blu-ray Cars buy more Gas.
---------------------------------
Why Anyone would buy an XBOX 360 considering How horrible the returns have been for it, I'll never know.(I do own one..too late '.' ) The Elite system, with a 120 gig HD and NO Wifi and NO HD DVD drive sells for 449.00, but a PS3 with Wifi, 60 Gig and Blu-ray drive build in, 499.00. If you want Wifi your XBOX 360 Elite is up to 500.00+ in cost and still has no HD DVD drive.
The XBOX 360 Elite on Amazon---> http://www.amazon.com/360-Elite-System-Console-120GB/dp/B000OYMSL6/ref=sr_1_1/105-0586423-5333268?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1187391195&sr=1-1
Currently, the XBOX360 is behind the Wii and PS2 in Sales, and on Amazon the PS3 is seling better than the 360.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/videogames/ref=pd_ts_pg_1/105-0586423-5333268?ie=UTF8&pg=1
Don't dismiss the PS2, it, unlike the original XBOX still is releasing Games and Makes Sony Profit. As MS Stopped game releases for the XBOX and basically screwed their costumers by forcing them to upgrade to the 360, which is now Costing them Billions in returns, they have NO profit from Gaming, whereas Sony has the PS2 making money for them right now, and into the future.
XBOX customer "Damn I need to upgrade to the 360"
PS2 customer "What game should I buy this month?"
Mr_Fizzlepop @ Aug 17th 2007 7:10PM
Oh, so the point is, the 360 better be selling better than the PS3 with the Sony customers not really needing to upgrade since the PS2 is not a dead product like the original XBOX.
tobin92 @ Aug 18th 2007 1:31AM
While Disney is a great ally to the Blu-Ray camp....I doubt too many kids and soccer moms are running to buy Finding Nemo
visionrider @ Aug 18th 2007 5:32AM
Main problem is Blue-ray Java at present no machine can run it if PS3 is to run it it will need 1gig hard memory and uprated graphic card that can handle to streams at same time dont no if they can do this with firmware update main point clearing old models after 1st October all blue ray machines will have to be able to run new finalised blue ray spec there are a lot of dealers dreading october when people start takeing machines back that will not play all new features on new release discs like Cars from Disney with picture in picture that is not run from two films on same disc with java it will have to run from software to gain interactive features.
artifex @ Aug 18th 2007 11:46AM
What's BD-Live? The next Nuon?
I tried to click the BD-Live link, but it just sent me to a list of tagged stories, not to anything useful.
Mike @ Aug 19th 2007 5:41AM
Unlike someone else..I will watch disney movies with my son...but i'm fine with upconverted toy story.
I think someone else was on to something...Disney has put this out to slow HD DVD momentum. Sony lied about PS3 release to slow XBOX 360 sales ..so of course their group is going to pull stunts like this.
Josh @ Aug 23rd 2007 10:05PM
Didn't Disney side with BetaMax?