HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on December 4th, 2007
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Dec 3rd 2007 at 9:19AM
Blu-ray picks up where it left off a few weeks ago on its way to 400 titles by the end of the year with a mix of releases. The first comedy for the blu camp in some time, is Superbad, and the biggest title of the week is long awaited day and date release of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Fox, on the other hand continues to waiver, not only did they drop Independence Day from the release list this week, but for whatever reason they decided not to bring the sixth season of 24 to Blu-ray despite releasing it on DVD. HD DVD has two exclusives this week, first up is the documentary, Arctic Tale and the first season of the very popular Battlestar Galactica. While we can't wait to see how well these titles sell, next week is the big week when the Harry Potter series hits both formats at the same time as the latest installment of Borne and High School Musical.HD DVD 346 vs Blu-ray 377*
Blu-ray
- 20 Million Miles to Earth (Sony)
- Cast Away (Fox)
- Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden (Universal Music)
- Masters of Horror: Season One - Vol. Four (Starz)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Fox)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Buena Vista)
- Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid (Eagle Rock)
- Superbad (Sony)
- Arctic Tale (Paramount)
- Battlestar Galactica: Season One (Universal)
- Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid (Eagle Rock)
* Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously available.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TJ @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:38AM
This week will be tough on my wallet, with Superbad, Pirates, Mr. and Mrs. Smith on BD. I'm hoping to get the Battlestar HD DVD for Christmas.
With Harry Potter 1-5 and Lost on BD next week, it doesn't look any better.
At any rate, looks like the best releases for both formats have been saved for the end of year.
TrentD @ Dec 3rd 2007 9:49AM
Harry Potter 1-5 are on HD DVD as well.
This will be a bad week for HD DVD - the BSG set will sell well, but each $70-$100 purchase of the set will only count the same as a $24.99 purchase of POTC. And obviously, POTC has a heavier appeal than BSG (mainly because most people see the name and the network, and ignore one of the best shows on television).
I'd encourage anyone who likes War Dramas or Sci-Fi to pick up Battlestar Season 1 - you'll be glad you did.
TJ @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:01PM
Sorry, didn't mean to imply that Harry Potter was a BD exclusive. That's just the format I plan to pick it up on.
ceilingfanboy @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:06AM
Bourne
At least with the Independence Day release it was a QA issue and not a delay for marketing reasons. I guess they knew that they needed to not screw up on that release because it is bound to be one of those index titles that people use to show off their systems. Anyone notice that for Blu Ray, the Harry Potter collection has been consistently outselling the individual movie while on HD DVD the individual movie has been outselling the collection? That seems a little odd, but I think it was the same for some other dual format releases as well.
Anthony Pivac @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:10AM
The upcoming Harry Potter's will be huge for high def in general hopefully.
Michal @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:10AM
Oh, I thought Potter was HD-DVD only! Damnit! Doesn't look too good for HD-DVD :(
MAK42868 @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:18AM
Does anyone know if it's confirmed that the Harry Potter 1-5 collection will have empty slots so you can add the upcoming 2 movies to the set? Or has that always been wishful thinking?
mlody11 @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:20AM
Anyone else feel that the blu-ray packaging is a bit more flashing with that blue logo? It also seems like they imprint the logo into the paper sleeve on the front cover while the HD DVD logo is mostly on the plastic box on the front as well. (there are more logos on the sides but they are small)
MAK42868 @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:25AM
Are you serious...(?) You're seriously debating blue vs. red color and paper/vs plastic imprints?.... Really, are you?
John B @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:36AM
Well, why not? The pathetic arrogance of the HDM extremists is all based on the encoding of a 12cm piece of plastic. It only makes sense that they also argue about something as petty as the display of the logo.
mlody11 @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:47AM
Is this a blog or do I have to ask permission to post something completely mindless? Its just an observation about HDM packaging that I noticed... Its certainly better than discussing that same god damn argument of mine shit is better vs your shit. Its like the freaking special Olympics...
"The pathetic arrogance of the HDM extremists is all based on the encoding of a 12cm piece of plastic. It only makes sense that they also argue about something as petty as the display of the logo."
I hope your not inferring that I am a HDM extremist... If you are its interesting you would jump to that conclusion based on 2 1/4 lines of text... who would be the pathetic one?
mlody11 @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:49AM
That "your" is suppose to be you're... got button press happy. God I wish you could edit your posts...
John B @ Dec 3rd 2007 10:58AM
@mlody11:
No, no, I wasn't including you. MAK's response linked the two of them together. Since the HDM extremists are apparently beyond the ability for rational thinking, it only makes sense that if they're going to argue about an encoding type that they'd also argue about something as superficial as the disc logo if they think that it will put the other side down.
Why, yes, I *am* sick and tired of these pathetic fanboys who are acting like 4-year-olds in a sandbox. Why do you ask?
mlody11 @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:05AM
Fair enough :). Sorry for the defensiveness, its dog eat dog on this format war... I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir. Wait, I hear the fanboys coming... (play scary sounds of zombies from Dawn of the Dead Here)
John B @ Dec 3rd 2007 11:14AM
I prefer the zombies.
Mike @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:56PM
...brains...!
ben @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:46PM
I thought HD DVD had their shit put together, but I need some more stuff that's worth buying. Media has been blu's shining star in the last few weeks and we've had nothing worth mentioning!
TrentD @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:13PM
All a matter of taste and opinion.
TJ @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:01PM
I do actually like the Blu-ray Logo and case color a bit more, but its not the reason I like the format. If Disney and Fox were on the HD DVD side, I'd be a dyed-in-the-wool red fanboy.
Actually, I prefer the packaging of both formats over standard DVD- its quite space saving by comparison. Now I just need some new shelves for them. Anyone know if there's any high-def media friendly storage units out there?
Kadillac @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:28PM
I have to say since getting my A3 last week, I've totally forgotten about the format war (for the most part). I've enjoyed the hell out of my free movies, and I figure I'll get Blu-Ray down the road when standalones drop in price.
I don't consider myself an HD-DVD supporter, just someone who likes watching movies in HD. I'll take it any way I can get it...
Mike @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:58PM
I got my PS3 that I love so dearly, and that plays Blu-rays so I figure I'm set; if Blu-ray wins, I'll already have my PS3. If HD-DVD wins, well, by the time the format war ends those players will be so cheap that it won't make that much of a difference to me. The blu-rays I buy now will always work on my PS3, so it's not like I shouldn't be buying them now.
JimC @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:42PM
My copy of Harry Potter collection on bluray and latest Pirates movie is ordered!
This week marks the release of one of the few HDDVD titles that I am actually envious about: Battlestar Galactica. I guess I will have to settle for up converting my DVD copy because I don't think it is worth spending money to buy a HDDVD player just for BSG...I hope they show them on UniversalHD anyway.
By the way, My Dad ordered a Samsung BDP-1400 on amazon for $339 + free shipping + 7 free movies. That apparently was his price point. Bluray player prices keep coming down and they're starting eliminate that price barrier....
HD4ME @ Dec 4th 2007 5:04AM
@ JimC
Why wouldn't you just buy a cheap HD DVD player now and get the HD DVD movies you want as well as your PS3?
I mean, WTF, why not, my preference is HD DVD, but in a flash i would buy a cheap BR player if they were available, I would love too be format neutral if it was cheap enough.
Geez, you can get a A3 with 10 movies from amazon for about $200, not much more than half a dozen blu ray movies!!
Spiza @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:07PM
At we don't get those crappy card board box covers on either format.
For those that are not in the HD movie market yet or are thinking about jumping on both sides, Wal-Mart is selling both at a discount this Friday in their secret sale:
Toshiba HD DVD Player (HD-A2) with 10 movies (5 instant/5 mail-in) - $198
Toshiba HD DVD Player (HD-A3) with 12 movies (7 instant/5 mail-in) - $298
40GB PS3 with $50 Wal-Mart Gift Card
HD4ME @ Dec 4th 2007 5:17AM
I thin Tosh are crazy including so many free movies.
Personally, I think they should include a maximum of 2 movies and make the players a lot cheaper.
I think there is more impact at $99 or even $129 with 2 movies then $200 with 10 movies.
All tosh are doing is stopping a lot of people from purchasing movies as they come with a library included!
I think cheaper hardware prices with maybe a half price movie offer/BOGOF would sell more hardware and improve Nielsen rankings at the same time.
ryan @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:26PM
I don't think this will be a great week for HD DVD stats on neilsen, not that those figures mean anything anyway.
LA26 @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:32PM
Another strong showing for Blu-Ray.
I'm kinda disappointed though because I wanted BSG for Blu-Ray but I'll mostly likely settle for the DVD version and pick up the final PotC installment along with Superbad.
andy @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:30PM
I guess HDDVD just needed a breather this week?
/sarcasm/
Truth Teller @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:47PM
I wonder how many of this lot of supposed 'Blu-ray exclusives' will be available on HD DVD thanks to international distribution & publishing deals?
JimC @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:59PM
Truth Teller :
Wouldn't the extra shipping you pay for those Int'l versions kind of negate the lower cost of the player? Just pondering...
andy @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:01PM
FYI, it's only like 5 bucks extra to import from France, Germany, and Great Britian, which is where the majority of imports come from.
Yoshi @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:59PM
Here's a link
http://www.amazon.de/Fantastic-Four-DVD-Michael-Chiklis/dp/B000UP7SIM
Shipping runs around $10-15
you can find a lot of Blu-ray exclusives and you'll rarely pay more than $60-65 a piece after shipping
Mike @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:00PM
You know, when Paramount first announced exclusivity to HD-DVD, I started really wondering if Blu-ray was done for, if this was the beginning of the end (studio support was Blu-ray's strongest point). But it seems like all the deal did was really spur Blu-ray into pushing out tons of titles. Add to that the fact that the Paramount deal isn't for 100% of their titles (like Spielberg's stuff), and I start to think that it wasn't really that bad at all.
TrentD @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:19PM
I'm not sure the Spielberg rumor has been confirmed by anyone but rabid format fanboys. I"m not saying it's not true, but I haven't seen, personally, any legit news source publish this information.
JimC @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:18PM
Funny story about Walmart. I went there over the weekend and checked out the HD offering and they had an end cap with both Bluray and HDDVD mixed together. I'd say 70% were bluray (just by eyeballing it) and then I noticed around the corner a fairly good sized HDDVD display, all red and HDDVD-glorious but when I went to check out what titles were in there, it was filled with Bluray titles and again about 70% were bluray....I was worried there for a moment....
MAK42868 @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:23PM
That's OK. When I was at WalMart, they had a PS3 endcap and a bunch of HD-DVD movies in the display. :) So your eyeballing kinda means nothing.
Bob P. @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:32PM
Doesn't take much to confirm it. Just google Speilberg and Blu-ray.
Spiza @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:33PM
Wal-marts got overstocked on some of the titles they sent out for the PS3 secret sale a couple weeks ago. No one wanted to the cheap titles and instead got the good ones that they then restocked. Wal-Mart could also be holding back titles for the HD DVD secret sale give away this Friday.
Strap @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:27PM
I officially declare that Blu-Ray has won the format war.
Philihp @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:22PM
Paging Nfinity...
EEL @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:22PM
@ ALL (ESPECIALLY BEN AND "SYBIL")
THIS IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTACK ON BLU:
Devils Advocate posted a couple of links over the weekend under Ben's post, "How many HD DVD players does Toshiba need to sell to just break even?", to push his point on the picture quality of special features on the Blu edition of the new Harry Potter. I pointed out that he didn't mention the sound quality. HD-DVD is offering Dolby Digital (PCM 5.1), Digital Plus and True HD, while Blu is only offering Dolby Digital (PCM 5.1).
So I decided to take a closer look at the site. Here's the link for cover art of all titles and from there you can go to its home page:
http://dvd.themanroom.com/dvd-covers.php
According to its website, the new Pirates release will only play in Dolby Digital (PCM 5.1)!!! Disney's Meet the Robinsons in PCM 5.1! Terminator 3 is only PCM 5.1 on Blu (website did mix up the info between that and The Game Plan). Oddly, Spiderman 3 is not listed but I understand that it at least has Dolby True HD (please confirm). I find this shocking, especially considering how so many times Red is getting pounded over the head with arguments on lossless audio. We all know that the studios can re-master the sound quality of these movies to an advanced format like Dolby True HD and DTS-HD. Can anyone think of an HD-DVD THEATRICAL release that didn't have at least Dolby True HD?
It appears that releases going forward like Superbad, The Simpsons Movie, Sunshine and The Brave One will have at least Dolby True HD and probably DTS-HD.
So I guess what I'm asking is WHY? Despite what Blu and Red fanboys believe, why would Blu NOT offer Dolby True HD and DTS-HD on their audio tracks?
Is it because of Profile 1.0 and it could be corrected until Profile 1.1 was confirmed?
Is Blu cutting mfg. cost at the expense of its supporters?
Why haven't any of the fanboys here ever complained about it?
SERIOUS REPLIES ONLY, SO NO BLU OR RED TROLLING B.S.
mcrexx @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:34PM
Ummmm you kinda have it wrong.
Harry Potter on Blu-Ray has UNCOMPRESSED PCM 5.1, this is lossless audio.
Same thing with all 3 Pirates movies.
Spidey 3 has Dolby TrueHD AND UNCOMPRESSED PCM. Both lossless formats, where TrueHD is a compressed lossless format.
Terminator 3 BD only had Dolby Digital (@ 640Kbps), although the HD-DVD has Dolby Digital Plus for T3, it's also @ 640Kbps. So there is no difference in audio.
Philihp @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:28PM
DTS 5.1 is a lossy audio codec, and is not the same as Uncompressed PCM.
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Joshua_Zyber/High-Def_FAQ:_Blu-ray_and_HD_DVD_Audio_Explained/1064
DTS 5.1 is the audio codec used for standard DVDs. You can up the bitrate to 1.5 Mb/s, but it's still lossy. You should notice no difference between TrueHD and Uncompressed PCM. Both will decode to the same thing. The advantage with TrueHD is that it consumes less space on the disk, while it requires more processing power to decode.
EEL @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:56PM
@ Philihp
Thanks for the weblink. Great article. I have to admit though that I prefer to listen to DTS at home, regardless of the technical standard pointed out in the article. Sometimes Dolby Digital is just TOO familiar.
EEL @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:38PM
@ mcrexx
Good to know. But for that kind of money, wouldn't you want Dolby True HD instead?
mcrexx @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:42PM
Not really, cause they're all the same. PCM, TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are all lossless. I believe every HD-DVD and Blu-Ray player can decode TrueHD and pass through PCM.
DTS-HD MA is the biggest problem so far since no player can decode it, you need a player that can bit stream it to a receiver that can decode DTS-HD MA, this adds on too much cost to decode DTS-HD MA. So it's better to have PCM or TrueHD cause it's most economical.
EEL @ Dec 3rd 2007 4:57PM
@ mcrexx
Not to twist what you wrote but if this is an economical issue for the consumer, then why choose Blu over Red?
Philihp @ Dec 4th 2007 1:23AM
@EEL
You're welcome, I'm glad it came in useful :). With my current receiver, I'm stuck with either DTS 5.1 or 2-channel PCM, but I have no complaints... but at least I know that if I really wanted it, all I would have to do is buy a new receiver that has HDMI inputs.
mcrexx @ Dec 3rd 2007 5:00PM
Mostly due to more studio support and CE support.
But DTS-HD MA isn't just a blu-ray thing. It's also on most, if not all, European HD-DVD imports. Again, you'll need a player that bit streams out DTS-HD MA and then a receiver that can decode it. I guess you're screwed either way lol
Devils Advocate @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:19PM
EEL,
Uncompressed PCM is (in theory) the best sound experience that can be offered, since its basically the same thing as the studio master.
From my understanding is that any reciever than can handle 5.1 plus through HDMI can handle uncompressed PCM.
Also, I do have to wonder what the purpose of putting a TrueHD track and uncompressed PCM on the same is.