Michael Bay "drinks the Kool Aid," now supports HD DVD

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 22nd 2007 at 2:49AM

Ha, so much for standing up to the boss-man. Michael's latest post now says that, "I drank the Kool Aid" blah blah blah "so I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!" Whatever, wuss.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, HD DVD

Tags: blu-ray, hd dvd, HdDvd, michael bay, MichaelBay, paramount, transformers

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highest Ranked

Samisin @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:54AM

You (EngadgetHD) are such Blu-ray-supporters ;) Wusses.

Highest Ranked

Region Free HD @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:18AM

"Michael Bay HD-DVD post
08/21/2007 07:51 PM
Last night at dinner I was having dinner with three Blu-Ray owners, they were pissed about no Transformers Blu-Ray and I drank the kool aid hook line and sinker. So at 1:30 in the morning I posted - nothing good ever comes out of early am posts mind you - I over reacted. I heard where Paramount is coming from and the future of HD and players that will be close to the $200 mark which is the magic number. I like what I heard.

As a director, I'm all about people seeing films in the best quality possible, and I saw and heard firsthand people upset about a corporate decision.

So today I saw 300 on HD-DVD, it rocks!

So I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!

Michael Bay"

Did you even RTFA?! Did you think we wouldn't?!

The Kool-Aid in question was clearly BLU!

Highly Ranked

colinhunt @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:19AM

I thought I was reading Engadget HD, but it seems I've inadvertently entered Blu-ray.com!

Besides... Bay had already lost Transformers 2, way before the Paramount HD DVD deal was made. That kinda puts his earlier temper tantrum in a new light, wouldn't you say? His retraction is basically begging Paramount to let him direct Transformers 2. Too bad Paramount can just as easily hire Brett Ratner or Tim Story, and be guaranteed an equally crap movie.

Highly Ranked

Region Free HD @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:33AM

At least change the blatantly misleading headline!...wuss...

Highest Ranked

nigel @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:39AM

Please Engadget, just once, lead with a HD DVD story that you don't slander with you obvious one eyed blu ray slant.... or should that be blu eyed?

Low Ranked

hohum @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:48AM

I don't own both formats and I'm still sticking with DVD... I praised Michael Bay because I thought he had the guts to stand up for what he likes but this one made me really think that he's just an ordinary sucker at the end of the day. He lost his own sense of integrity there and definitely he won't be on my list of respected directors anymore. A wuss indeed.

Highest Ranked

Jake @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:37AM

Wow, bitchy much?

I'd like to mark it that I predicted this turn around in my comment to the first post. I thought it would take a day or two longer, but whatevs.

I'm no HD-DVD fanboy (I'm sitting the war out, thank you very much), but even I spot the disdain and subterfuge in this post, particularly the headline. I expect better of the Engadget properties than blatant sour-grapes fanboyism. Poor form.

On another note: isn't it remarkable that a big-name Hollywood producer/director was so ill-informed about the differences between the formats that he instinctively pitched a fit, rather than thinking back to his considered opinion following exposure to both formats?

Neutral

bilbravo @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:26PM

Dude you just said "whatevs".

Highly Ranked

pnzrfckr @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:38AM

Drink the kool aid? How is this relevent to the topic. No one is pointing a gun at Michael Bay's face telling him to drink cyanide. He probably just came to his senses and realized it wouldn't be prudent not to make a sequel with the potential of making over half a billion dollars. Such fan boi-ism for blu-ray at the engadget blogs. Try to keep in context.

Highly Ranked

zargon @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:48AM

I love it, news about HDM everyday!

More press, the better, get more people to know about it and possibly invest.

I am a dual format supporter, but I can't stop laughing at the role reversal of the Blu-ray and HD-DVD zealots. BDA is really getting a taste of their own medicine and I am sure they don't like it. I on the other hand, will get to enjoy my HDM either way!

I also can't wait for this holiday season, should be very interesting to see what happens. I never thought the BDA FUD of HD-DVD being dead was realistic at all, but now, it defiantly isn't.

Highly Ranked

Xyzzy @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:02AM

Members of the jury, here we have exhibit 1,385,348,385 of how EngadgetHD is really EngadgetBD in disguise.

Pathetic. The headline doesn't match the article in the LEAST (as was pointed out, he said he was drinking Blu Kool-Aid), and the author (as all here are) is obviously slanting it towards BD. Pathetic.

Where do I apply to write posts with an HD DVD slant to make it even, errr, less lopsided? Here's my application (since I'm sure nobody on this site will post the article I submitted last night):

---------------------------------------------------
Want to know some inside information on why Paramount decided to support HD DVD? PC World interviewed their CTO to get the inside scoop and it appears that not only are interactive features considered important (what?!), but so are finalized standards and easy-to-use programming languages! Looks like the BDA made things overly complex, as these are similar complaints in the PS3 vs Xbox 360 war. He also notes that the agreement is "indefinite" - and not the 18 months that has been rumored on the interweb. Will other studios read this and decide to make the plunge towards HD DVD as well? Let's wait for CES to find out, but in the meantime be an informed customer and see what else he had to say.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136253-c,dvdtechnology/article.html

Neutral

joe @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:04AM

Weather or not you like one device over the other, Micheal Bay made it a point to call out Paramount on something he felt strongly about. I'm pretty sure he came to the realization that losing the transformers franchise wasn't worth standing for what he believed (another hollywood tool)

Highest Ranked

Bourkie @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:26AM

Engadget = Sony?!

Neutral

Bourkie @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:27AM

Mark my words - this is the day Engadget lost all credability whatsoever.

Report FACTS, not FUD.

Highly Ranked

WASD John @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:28AM

My question is where is Bay when it comes to other studios that only support one Format (Fox, Universal, Disney)??? No negative they suck comments on those studios? And those childish, "no blue-ray, no transformers 2 for me" comments were threats that no one should have actually believed. Almost any man will do just about anything if the money is just right. To say I'm not going to do what I do for a living because my movie won't end up on Blu-ray is just asinine!

I love movies, I love movies in HD even more (they just pair so well with my HDTV, go figure) and I chose HD-DVD as my format of choice, but I'm format neutral as I recently picked up a PS3 as my Blu-ray player (Did I mention I love games as well?) I don't think that either format is going to lose, and it's time to face the fact that we are in a dual format world and it's going to remain that way I think for the entire life cycle of these formats. In the end the only real loser is the consumer because we are going to be forced into either 2 players (my combination Xbox 360 w/ HD-DVD addon, and a PS3) or dual format players. Being forced into 2 formats the consumer will just have to realize what movies are on which format before they purchase if they don't have the capability to play both. Like I said the only loser of the war is the consumer. On the bright side prices have dropped a good bit real fast, but that is about it. That fact that these formats are so close to one another in actual specifications makes this format war even more asinine than what it already is.

I guess what it comes down to is that the greed of the studios, CE companies, and anyone else that has anything to do with either format coming to market has the interest of their own pocket books in mind and not the interest of the consumer. I hope the next generation of physical movie purchasing does not have the problems of this generation (If there even will be another physical format).

Highest Ranked

Anthony @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:33AM

Michael Bay has adopted the Viacom way of business.

He flip-flopped faster than Viacom went neutral on HD-DVD.

I imagined the convo went like this:

Exec:hey mike i was just informed about your blog post

Michael:Yeah I'm pissed we should stay neutral.Let the people decide.

Exec:Oh really?Well I'm just finishing up at the office.Last task on my desk was to get preliminary talks about Transformers going and we wanted you to direct the sequel too.

Michael:Ohh...

Exec:But I was told higher up that given your current stance we'd might have to pitch the movie with Rodriquez at the helm if Steven didn't wanna jump in and do it.

Michael:Oh man I was just trying to get some site hits.I'll go fix that right now!

Exec:Thanks Mike.We'll be in touch.

Highly Ranked

Bourkie @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:34AM

Precisely John - and where is Engadget on these same issues?!

It definitely confirms that Engadget is pro-Blu-ray; otherwise a certain writer will be out of a job tomorrow ;-)

Highly Ranked

Bourkie @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:43AM

So much for balanced and considered journalism...

Thomas Ricker = blatent Blu-ray lap-dog.

Highly Ranked

Kevin Murphy @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:10AM

So, what flavor of Kool-Aid does Engadget have in its cooler, anyway? Pretty sure it's blu, whatever it is.

Note to blu supporters: you guys come off like religious nutjobs and do your cause no end of harm.

Highest Ranked

Xyzzy @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:17AM

"Weather or not you like one device over the other, Micheal Bay made it a point to call out Paramount on something he felt strongly about."

You know what's more likely? That he was at dinner with some Blu-Ray fanboys (Sony execs?) and he had a bit (lot) too much to drink, was all spun up, then got home that night and posted something he regretted (while heavily intoxicated). When he woke up, he realized what he did and went, "Crap!"

Neutral

edgar pynn @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:56AM

just watch the pirates movies on blu-ray to see why its the better format....enough said

Neutral

Bourkie @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:56AM

edgar pynn:

The Pirates movies take 3 minutes to load on my Sony player - what a joke!

And then the special 'features' don't work either LOL!

Proof:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9gQG4OFgrpA

Neutral

eddie @ Aug 22nd 2007 11:02AM

Endadget keep up the good work. If you wrote unbiased articles, where would people direct all their misplaced rage?

A fine piece of reporting.

When will people realize Blu-Ray is the superior technology for all of the world and Sony really is just trying to buy the world a Coke? You HD DVD supporters are so misled, come to our side. We will love you unconditionally.

This message was in no way paid for by Sony Corp or any of its affiliates.

Highly Ranked

joe @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:37PM

His first comments were really far more worthwhile.
He was blasting EVERY studio that was exclusive. He happened to be associated with Paramount at the time so his comments about them strongest.

His first post was about how it sucks that studios are locking out movie goers over a stupid format war, and how he didn't like that.

He retraction was about how this is a good business decision for Paramount. Pretty much implying that he hadn't thought about it from that side before and maybe movie goers don't matter to him as much as he thought.

Neutral

Interested watcher @ Sep 14th 2007 8:16AM

Seems like everyone is coming around to the fact that at worst HD DVD is only equalled by Blu-ray.
At best HD DVD leads Blu-ray in image and sound quality as well as being a finished format with a range of players etc etc.

Have to agree about Bay's brat-like comments......as if his rep is so amazing they wouldn't/couldn;t (easily) replace him anyways?
(and I'd also agree either way that Transformers2 is liable to be just as superficial and forgettable as the 1st one, still the kiddies like that kind of thing I guess).

Interesting times for HD DVD .....and by all accounts more to come at CEDIA in a couple of weeks - Warner to go back to being HD DVD exclusive?
Fox?
(did anyone else find it weird that the Fox press release specifically mentioned Fox wasn't going neutral..... when no-one had seriously suggested any such thing?
Interesting Lionsgate & Disney have kept quiet tho?)

Highly Ranked

h0mi @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:13PM

When Bay went on his rant (at 1am, as he explained) he'd just had dinner with some bluray fanboys who were pissed. Not knowing anything about the format war, I'm sure they spewed all sorts of FUD about HD-DVD and that eventually fueled Bay's remarks.

Someone at Paramount must've been pissed off enough to show him how a quality HD-DVD would look, ergo showed off 300 to him where he realized that HD-DVD is just as good as bluray.

Highly Ranked

andres @ Aug 22nd 2007 9:56PM

damn it. It was such a good day. We Hd owners got a victory with paramount and Michael said he wasnt going to do Transformers 2
now this happens.

Neutral

zik @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:11PM

The least engadget and Thomas Ricker could do is to explain how they came up with such a misleading article. WOW!

Neutral

will @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:08PM

i said it a couple of days ago that enagadget was undercover blo rot cheerleaders. now when blockbuster said they were only renting blo rot in there stores all u heard the whole 2 weeks were hd dvd has suffered a big blow. guess what this i think is bigger than that because from my understanding dosent viacom own blockbuster and paramount?any blo rot girls on here have that answer

Neutral

Wizard99 @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:02PM

Well Thomas posted this at 2:49 am. Probably had the same problem that Bay had with his original rant. Too much alcohol and not enough sleep.
Still sleeping off the drink no doubt since he has not responded to everones posts let alone revised his clear incorrect (a 3rd grader could find the lie) headline.

Highly Ranked

RockinOscar @ Aug 22nd 2007 6:37PM

does anyone know how big that check was?

Neutral

Region Free HD @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:10PM

I'd like to know, too. Thomas, just how big was your check?

Neutral

Suly2k @ Aug 25th 2007 4:45PM

Et, tu Bay?!

Neutral

pnzrfckr @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:09PM

Guys... don't you know the HD format war was over weeks ago. Engadget reported BJ's Wholesale Club was going Blue-ray exclusive. Nail in the coffin for for Toshiba, Microsoft, & Universal. It's inivitable, they are just supporting a dying format. ROFLOMGWTFBBQ11!!!juan!!1one!1111

Neutral

ssantos11 @ Aug 25th 2007 6:51PM

Thank you Xyzzy for posting the link to the PCW article. It was a very good read; but I know all the Blew Ray fanboys will gloss right over it.
Anyhow here is just one highlight.

PCW: Will this exclusive period extend for a limited time, or is this an indefinite arrangement?

Bell: At this moment in time, it's an indefinite commitment. The core of this announcement comes from our experience, and what our consumers are looking for. We hope this will influence consumers' choices.

So a 2nd major studio and the #1 Box office studio of 2007 says they are with HD DVD for an "indefinite commitment" That does not say only 18 months.
Plus the article quotes how much easier it is to program HD DVD's and How they can do more and do it more reliably with HDi. Gee they also said it was nice to have a FIRM FULLY SPECED market ready standard! Something Blue Ray still can't say! Paramount knows the back lash on Blue Ray is coming when thier early adopters are left with 1,000 dollar door stops because the players cannot handle the Blue Ray java disks.

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