Universal's "Charlie Wilson" goes to the front line of the format war
by Steven Kim 
posted Feb 6th 2008 at 1:08PM
Good news has been hard to come by for HD DVD lately, but Universal is putting up a beacon... somewhere on the horizon. The studio has announced that "Charlie Wilson's War" will appear sometime in April in both combo HD DVD / DVD and DVD-only formats. Other than that 2-month out promise, no word on what exclusive features will be coming to the HD DVD version, though. We wonder if more "war" is what this format needs right now. Still, the release of a combo disc fits with a strategy positioning HD DVD as the format for those who still want or need to have DVD discs, and it's a definite sign that Universal hasn't thrown in the towel. All in all, an interesting play -- not as interesting as if Universal sent out the combo disc format only (no DVD release), or even shipped the combo disc in advance of the DVD release; but interesting still. We only wish we didn't have to wait until April to see the outcome.
Filed under: HD DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
whoelse @ Feb 6th 2008 1:20PM
Wow, this is a bit HD DVD biased.
I don't think 1 release can change anything.
Blake H @ Feb 6th 2008 1:25PM
It's not biased; it's factual. Scheduling the release of a feature film that is still two months away from being released sends the message that Universal has no intention of dropping HD DVD support. The article never claimed that this "changed" anything at all.
Take your head out of your butt and READ.
CassilineKnight @ Feb 6th 2008 1:28PM
Good point Blake...
Still though I wish they would just release HD DVD only discs as well DVD.
Mr. E @ Feb 6th 2008 2:58PM
Paramount had Blu-ray copies of Blades of Glory already manufactured and recalled them when they switched to HD DVD exclusive and refused to release them. Announcements like this don't actually prove anything.
Truth TelIer @ Feb 6th 2008 3:32PM
@CassilineKnight
The HD-DVD and DVD combos are a good idea. If HD-DVD does die you can always play the DVD part. You can also lend it to a friend with a SD-DVD player. The kiddies in the Blu camp can only wish they could do this.
Truth Teller @ Feb 7th 2008 12:09PM
S'funny how Warners non-delayed HD DVD releases are not getting a mention either.
Note too thet 'The Brave one' is not only NOT delayed but it is also out on combo disc (which IIRC Warner said they were dropping at the end of 2007).
Looks like after only a few weeks in Warner's desire to be 'decisive' is fading already.
Pretty funny that.
I wonder what other post-dated promises there are?
Did they take $500 million off of Sony and promise 'not to **me in their mouth' too?
......and Sony believed them!?
Truth Commenter @ Feb 7th 2008 12:27PM
TruthTeller: "Warner's desire to be 'decisive' is fading already"
If you're going to state a conclusion
like that, don't you think you should
at least TRY to support it with an
arguement that make some sense?
GT_06 @ Feb 6th 2008 1:27PM
This is a SERIOUS blow for Blu-ray. Forget Transformers, American Gangster or Bee movie.. This will be it!
JimC @ Feb 6th 2008 1:44PM
I hope you're kidding....
John B @ Feb 6th 2008 3:28PM
That's really sad that you even have to question if he's kidding.
Truth TelIer @ Feb 6th 2008 3:37PM
This movie may not turn the tide. But maybe it will cause some people to take a second look. The longer HD-DVD lingers the better. Plus it drives the kiddie PS3 crowd crazy.
Nfinity @ Feb 6th 2008 10:28PM
That's right Truth,
The longer HD DVD remains on the market and with support of still quite a few companies, Blu-Ray has no chance of winning and the more time passes buy, economic forces will drive everyone to HD DVD not over the top expensive, unfinished Blu-Ray.
Jeebus @ Feb 19th 2008 8:46PM
I guess Toshiba disagrees with that.
CassilineKnight @ Feb 6th 2008 1:27PM
I freaking hate this whole "combo" HD DVD/DVD crap of theirs though...
Its just so retarded.
Yet another reason why bluray is sorta better.
Matthew Berg @ Feb 6th 2008 1:43PM
So you want to have to buy a movie twice to watch it in your HD and SD players?
Kinney @ Feb 6th 2008 5:15PM
Why would you hate it? If I have multiple TVs in my house with one HD-DVD player and the rest having standard DVD players, I simply buy one combo disc and I can watch it anywhere in the house.
If you can explain how Blu-ray not offering anything like that is "better," I'd be interested in hearing it.
rmatt22921 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:04PM
so every player you have is blu ray because i only have one hd dvd player and six dvd players so i like the combo disc give me the ability to enjoy my movies anywhere unlike your blu ray only movies guess you have fat pockets to go with that fat ass
CassilineKnight @ Feb 6th 2008 1:27PM
I freaking hate this whole "combo" HD DVD/DVD crap of theirs though...
Its just so retarded.
Yet another reason why bluray is sorta better.
Nfinity @ Feb 6th 2008 10:26PM
No point arguing with a tool. Logic is absent with everything Blu.
Yeah, you just go ahead and rebuy everything 3 times so you can say you have Blu-Ray. Freakin' idiot.
It's really fascinating how much better HD DVD is. I mean EVERY SINGLE ASPECT. Picture quality, audio quality, interactivity, online accessibility, cheaper manufacturing, $120-$150 price, consumer friendliness where, at least when you buy a $30 movie you get a SD DVD copy with it too so you can watch it in the rest of the DVD players.
Blu-Ray is dead man walking in essence. Once, HD DVD goes over 2+ million dedicated players, watch studios come flying back and dropping Blu-Ray like a bad habit.
I'll bet you Warner extends and extends and extends their HD DVD support until it says, well you know what, let's go and just publish HD DVD. It certainly looks like it with Dirty Harry collection being planned for both formats. When they get to a point where they say, we spent all of Sony's money and we are now fine. Let's go and publish on a REAL mainstream format.
Glen @ Feb 6th 2008 10:43PM
@Nfinity
"I'll bet you Warner extends and extends and extends their HD DVD support until it says, well you know what, let's go and just publish HD DVD"
I've mentioned in many previous postings, in threads where you've posted after my comment.
You ALWAYS make made-up claims about how you know XXX will win, or YYY was paid to drop HD-DVD, or how you GUARANTEE that ZZZ will happen.
Now, you're sure Warner will not drop HD-DVD, and you want to bet.
OK. Put your money where your mouth is. Come on. How does $1000 sound? I'll take you up; Warner ends HD-DVD support.
You've claimed to have all this inside information, you've claimed to KNOW, you've offered guarantees, now you've offered to BET.
I'm calling you to the floor. BET NOW OR S*T*F*U
****
Any other readers, please help -- if nfinity does not have the balls to respond, then in any other thread, remind him to put up or SHUT UP.
Or, does your momma's lunch-money that she gives you for your daily happy-meal not leave enough left over to bet me?
Nfinity @ Feb 6th 2008 11:14PM
Glen...I feel sorry taking money from deluded fanboys.. it's more then enough that Sony rips you off like nobody's business.
Warner, extends HD DVD support and not only Warner, but Disney starts publishing in HD DVD sometime before Q3 2008. I think they are already in negotiations with Toshiba. All they really waited for was triple layer 51gb. Now when it's a reality their first title will be on it.
When Disney goes, of course we know that Lionsgate is not far behind cause they need every penny considering their financial situation.
By year's end, not only that Warner will continue publishing in HD dVD, but HD DVD will get 2 more studios.
Just watch and please, when it happens, I want you to publicly come out and say "Nfinity, I solomely swear that I will never say a bad thing about you and you are genious, all knowing and always right! I love you like a god!"
There you go... all I want, you can save your $1000.
Glen @ Feb 8th 2008 7:02PM
Wait... nfinity... you've been making predictions that have failed OVER AND OVER.
Then, you say "I bet".
So, I called you on it. I'll bet you.
You say you don't want to take my money (IE - YOU ARE FUCKING AFRAID TO PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS)...
Then, make the same, lame predictions, that you are afraid to bet on.
Wow.
whoelse @ Feb 6th 2008 1:28PM
Im sorry Blake H. Are you having a bad day today?
Blake H @ Feb 6th 2008 1:31PM
No. Great day actually. It's just annoying how people like you have a reflex to say something negative about a completely objective post simply because it concerns HD DVD. I think it's called trolling.
HiFiFreak @ Feb 6th 2008 1:29PM
Please be honest.
Are there any Blueray exclusive supporters or fence sitters that are thinking about taking advantage of the plummeting HD DVD player prices just to get your HD fix for Paramount/Universal movies?
For example; Charlie Wilson War isnt even coming out until April, assuming HD DVD dies and Universal starts to release on Blueray what are the timelines for Universal to re-release Charlie Wilson War (or all earlier titles) on Blueray. I would assume they would focus on releasing only newer upcoming titles and take some time before they went back to re-releasing previous HD DVD titles.
I think that with the current price drops it makes it a hell of lot easier to view it as a temporary transition to the final outcome of Blueray winning and get full enjoyment of all the movies coming out in HD (Blue or Red).
JimC @ Feb 6th 2008 1:45PM
I see no point, I'm not interested in most HDDVD titles anyway (except for Battlestar Galactica but even that was nerfed on HDDVD)
Mr. E @ Feb 6th 2008 3:06PM
Well, my perspective is undoubtedly unusual, since I pretty much stopped buying DVDs at the beginning of 2006, in anticipation of future HD versions. Since I threw in with Blu-ray in the form of a PS3 I've caught up by buying around 30 titles to date. There are a number of Universal and Paramount releases I'd really like to have, but right now it's more important to me that the format war be decided once and for all, so mass adoption of HDM can truly begin, and we can ensure a future for HD on disc. Until that time, I'll continue to wait for those movies.
So I guess the answer is: right now I wouldn't buy into HD DVD at any price. Even if the hardware were free, I wouldn't want to buy movies and contribute to continuing the format war.
ccweems @ Feb 6th 2008 10:20PM
Mr. E I think it's time for you to leave this forum. Your posts reflect honest and temperate consideration of what is really a straightforward matter. You fail to disparage any one's heritage, parentage or sexual orientation, nor do you resort to $pelling naughty words through the use of special characters. Those with room temperature I.Q.'s (of which there are many) have no use for you so please bid us our leave and lock the door firmly behind you.
Mr. E @ Feb 6th 2008 11:22PM
Heh heh, thanks ccweems... I think.
David B @ Feb 7th 2008 1:05PM
I see the hardware price drops every day and have such an urge to buy an HDDVD player, but like others I don't wish to a) buy into a dying format this late in the game and b) don't want to contribute to bloggers seeing sales numbers and claiming a resurgence of HDDVD!
Nonya @ Feb 6th 2008 1:35PM
Can they please stop releasing these crap ass combo sets???
Of the 4 I have rented 3 have either failed to play at all or have started pixelating during the movie.
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 6th 2008 1:36PM
Isn't this a given? I mean both Universal and Paramount should be putting all new releases on HD DVD if they are truly supporting red.
Denis @ Feb 6th 2008 1:38PM
It would be nice if they would just release the HD-DVD/DVD only and then reduce the price to about the price of the standard DVD. Then everyone the buys the movie would be getting the HD version and the standard version. If they would release all of their future titles this way then some consumer may be tempted to buy the HD-DVD player since they will already have library of discs to play on it.
JimC @ Feb 6th 2008 1:47PM
This should have been their strategy from Day 1 but that may have risked DVD sales if it weren't marketed as DVD version with added HD bonus.....
Devils Advocate @ Feb 6th 2008 1:48PM
This will NOT happen for a long while and Im frankly baffled that it even gets brought up.
Studios are NOT going to risk dvd revenue by making the film combo only.
Wont happen.
However, it is possible that they could delay the DVD version in the future like they did for the Matrix back in the infancy of DVD.
andy @ Feb 6th 2008 2:39PM
JimC and Devil's advocate, I don't think you can make a claim like "releasing a DVD with HDDVD included at the regular DVD price will kill DVD sales" without something to back that up; at least something bordering on logical reasoning.
Where did you guys pick up that talking point anyway?
JimC @ Feb 6th 2008 2:58PM
It isn't valid now but the idea is that they release DVD version as normal and just add a "free" bonus HDDVD version for fun. The niche HiDef crowd would still get their HD version and regular DVD consumers would build up a HD library ready for transition to HDDVD but that didn't happen and won't help now...
Mr. E @ Feb 6th 2008 3:09PM
There's a simple reason this won't happen: Studios view HDM as a new revenue stream. To tie it to DVD (with dwindling sales) simply wouldn't make sense to them. They also don't want to lower their profit by producing a more expensive disc and selling it for the same price.
The price of HD media will eventually drop just as DVD has, but it will take a few years for that to really happen.
Devils Advocate @ Feb 6th 2008 1:46PM
What does Charlie Wilson's war have to do with anything that can "help" HD-DVD?
They are releasing the film on HD-DVD and DVD in April.
So what? How is that different from ANY day-and-date film they've release?
Ron @ Feb 6th 2008 2:00PM
I am going to buy an HD DVD player just so I can see this movie.
Wait...no I am not.
GT_06 @ Feb 6th 2008 2:06PM
My guess is, since the HD DVD camp keeps complaining about Engadget HD only reporting good news for Blu Ray, Engadget went out looking for good HD DVD news.. this is what they came back with.
Truth TelIer @ Feb 6th 2008 3:43PM
@GT_06
There is goods all around for HD-DVD. The format will last at least until summer. By then the BluRay profile 8 players will be dirt cheap. You bought
BluRay now? Sucka.
rg23 @ Feb 7th 2008 9:59AM
EngadgetHD always post positive news for Blu-Ray (even international Blu-Ray vs HD DVD news). They don't always post positive news for HD DVD, like the Italian movie distributors choosing HD DVD. It would have been a better post to at least sound like format neutral.
Truth Commenter @ Feb 7th 2008 11:30PM
TruthTeller-Dave: "The format [HD-DVD] will last at least until summer. By then the BluRay profile 8 players will be dirt cheap.
That's not a bad buy-in strategy for HD disks.
If you don't want to go the PS3 route, wait till
BD profiles settle down and enjoy whatever HD-DVD
can muster in the interim. Afterall, it's the HD
movie experience, not the format, that is the point.
wysiwyg @ Feb 6th 2008 2:18PM
I used to not like combos. But lately, I glad I have it. One disc can be played in my TV room, bed room, and living room with only one HD DVD player and 7 dvd players in the house. So far, none of the combos I bought have any problem at all. Netflix ones have slight problem but only if they were scratched. But it's not a problem limited to HD DVD since if DVDs are scratched, it will skip too so I'm not too worried about it.
andyj @ Feb 6th 2008 2:23PM
Will this disc come with a brand new "white flag" of surrender?
Big Wizz @ Feb 6th 2008 2:27PM
Yawn...
I know the movie is nominated for an Oscar, but c'mon. Is this really a "game-changer" for HD-DVD?
andy @ Feb 6th 2008 2:37PM
no, but is IS the first GOOD news for HDDVD since the deceit was revealed.
(I say deceit because they lied about it before Christmas)
Truth TelIer @ Feb 6th 2008 3:49PM
@Andy
What deceit? Nobody lied to you. We all thought Warner and Fox would go red. So after some backroom cash traded hands, they went Blu. HD-DVD still has life. It will be around a little while longer. Just be glad you didn't buy an obsolete profile 1.0 blu for twice the price.
Truth Commenter @ Feb 7th 2008 12:09PM
TruthTeller: "It [HD-DVD] will be around a little while longer."
Wow, acknowledging HD-DVD's days are indeed numbered.
In terms of embracing reality, that's progress!