Blu-ray releases on August 5th, 2008
After the 24 new releases last week, just about any other week would be a let down, but this week's measly ten titles don't really have much to get excited about. Of course if you're a big Starship Troopers fan, then you got the trilogy out on Blu today, but we're betting you're not. The other sign it's a slow week is that the biggest title we can find is a foreign film with English sub-titles. Don't get us wrong, we still think it'll be good, we're just saying, we generally prefer not to read while we watch our movies. But we do have to say that the last time Sony brought us an import like this (The Lives of Others) we really enjoyed it. The BBC has a couple of titles that might be worth a shot though-- although we doubt anything could live up to Planet Earth -- most interestingly is Wild China, which is great timing with the Beijing Olympics right around the corner.Blu-ray
- The Counterfeiters (Sony)
- Epic Conditions (Madacy)
- Korn: Live at Montreux (Eagle Rock)
- Lonesome Dove (Genius)
- Nim's Island (Fox)
- Robin Hood: Season One (BBC)
- Starship Troopers (Sony)
- Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (Sony)
- Starship Troopers Trilogy (Sony)
- Wild China (BBC)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave @ Aug 4th 2008 11:29AM
Nice!
xemumanic @ Aug 4th 2008 11:42AM
Compared to last week, or any of other time in recent memory (past few months or so) this is one of the slowest release weeks. Save for the original Starship Troopers (still gonna buy it), whose popularity is suspect at best, don't expect good numbers from this release week.
But the virtual treasure trove from last week should make for a positive upturn. It just goes to show, sales are dependent on the titles released, and nothing else.
Mr. E @ Aug 4th 2008 12:32PM
This is the first week in quite awhile that I don't have any titles on order. I guess that's good.. I need to save money!
Oh, and Ben, "Starship Troupers"?
imonit @ Aug 4th 2008 1:19PM
I swear, endgadget. Ban these idiots who constantly post their Amazon affiliate link (ansi, paul..)
Leonardo DiCrapio @ Aug 4th 2008 1:59PM
The The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection (Blu-ray) also comes out tomorrow. It was incorrectly listed as a new release two weeks ago. The BBC Hi-Def Nat. Hist. Coll. includes Planet Earth, Galapagos, Ganges, and Wild China. The current best price is $105 with 25% coupon code AUBM8 and free shipping at WarnerBrothers.com
squiggleslash @ Aug 4th 2008 3:19PM
More interesting upcoming release:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trainspotting-Special-DVD-Ewan-McGregor/dp/B0014MY1GM
Yes, it's an HD DVD. And you all thought HD DVD was dead *scoff*
Apparently Channel 4 are supporting the format for a little longer because of intense lobbying by HD DVD enthusiasts. A less likely to succeed lobbying effort is under way to have The Dark Knight released by WHV on HD DVD. I somehow seriously doubt that'll go anywhere, but good luck to them.
imonit @ Aug 4th 2008 4:06PM
squiggle - If WHV was indeed paid (anything), then I'm pretty sure there is a clause to keep them exclusively Blu. 0% chance of that happening on any account, but how fun would that be?
You know, I really believe some of the lackluster sales have to do specifically with the END of the format war. Remember how much interest these release posts used to garner when one side was touting 'their side's' releases? I think it's safe to say that *some* people bought movies (on either side) just to support their preferred format. That fanboyism died down quickly. I wonder how many former HD DVD supporters who have since gone Blu would buy the Red version of DK just for the hell of it? I'm sure I'll get flamed for admitting to it, but I'd prob be in that group. Wouldn't hurt to have another reason for having that xa2 eat up an HDMI input on my receiver, ha.
squiggleslash @ Aug 4th 2008 4:22PM
imonit: I don't think WHV was paid. By all accounts they decided they had to choose one or the other. Apparently they were going to go with HD DVD (preferring it as the more capable, finished, lower cost, format), but wanted the HD DVD group to get one of the other studios to commit to them so Warner's decision would end the format war. The HD DVD group tried to get Fox and failed. This was why there was the "big announcement" planned at the CES show that infamously got called off at the last minute.
That said, I don't see Warner as being particularly likely to put out an HD DVD release just to keep some fans of the format happy. With Channel 4, it's slightly different, they're far less corporate and almost certainly see it as a matter of ensuring they get the maximum sales out of a title too. Having Warner release something on HD DVD means people at all levels of the corporation have to make a decision to reverse a previous policy, and then determine the bounds of that reversal.
It would certainly be cool though.
(On that note: Personally I'd prefer Fox not to be on board with any format I was supporting. Fox are the most dishonest bunch of crooks in the business, frequently mislabeling content and being the first to adopt the crooked BD+ system. Scumbags. Shame so much good content is tied to their rotten hands.)
DrXym @ Aug 4th 2008 4:52PM
"All major retailers have this week removed Trainspotting and Shallow Grave from their release schedules confirming the titles won't be coming out on HD-DVD."
http://www.ukhddvd.blogspot.com/
Either Amazon.co.uk knows something no one else does, or they just haven't taken the listing off their site. Not surprising if it doesn't appear. I doubt there is much reason to master and print disks for what would be a handful of orders.
imonit @ Aug 4th 2008 6:24PM
Right, squiggleslash, I was not insinuating that Warner had received payment. I'm aware of the theory of how things went down prior to this year's CES. I really don't have an opinion on whether or not they received compensation, though it befuddled me why they did not try going exclusively Red to see if that would indeed swing the tide in the format war. I know there were lame excuses as to why Warner put out titles such as Batman Begins and the Matrix exclusively on HD DVD, but they obviously showed a preference to the format. I just find it hard to believe that Warner, themselves, didn't believe that going Red would be the momentum HD DVD needed. Sony/Fox would have been left holding the bag with Universal, Paramount, and Warner on the opposite side.
One thing I feel many fail to remember regarding the end of the format war was the discrepancy in standalone player sales. Warner had announced that player sales during the 2007 winter holiday would be a deciding factor in regards to their future support. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Blu had favorable numbers in this department, even with the Toshiba's price slashing and momentum of netting Paramount. How do those screaming 'backroom payoffs' and 'corporate greed' explain that one? I remember being shocked at those numbers and made Warner's decision a no-brainer for me after their statements leading up to that point.
squiggleslash @ Aug 4th 2008 6:45PM
DrXym - nope, Channel 4 initially announced the titles were cancelled, and then reversed themselves. Hence your posting is dated middle of last month.
squiggleslash @ Aug 4th 2008 6:50PM
imonit - I would imagine that they didn't see much point in trying a "See if HD DVD-only will tip the balance", as there was more of a risk it would protract the war than "See if BD-only will tip the balance".
I'm not convinced sales of either format really made much difference. BD was always going to have a head-start due to the PS3's use of the technology, and WHV would have been blind not to see that. As neither actually had anything approaching a real market, it wasn't as if Warner was going to look at, say, Blu-ray and say "Hey, it's commercially viable right now!"
Ultimately it came down to the fact Warner wanted one format, feeling, rightly or wrongly, that the war was reducing DVD sales.
imonit @ Aug 4th 2008 7:14PM
@squiggle - That's the thing. I was referring to the standalone sales numbers (those that did not include the PS3) that I found to be shocking. I couldn't bring myself to believe that Blu was actually winning the war on that front.
If sales were not a significant factor, I'd be really interested to know what event caused the turnaround in format preference. Perhaps, there is some truth in regards to the exit of a top executive and it's timing of the decision to go Blu? Who knows.
DrXym @ Aug 5th 2008 4:02AM
Squiggleslash, I suggest you find a cite because it sounds extraordinary and unlikely they would bother considering the cost and effort required.
DrXym @ Aug 4th 2008 4:39PM
A crap week. While some titles are okay, I fully expect a sales dip accompanied by the usual braying from those who think this means much.
Joe T. @ Aug 5th 2008 8:59AM
The sequels are crap, but the original Starship Troopers is great. I'll be replacing my Superbit DVD.