The Dark Knight storming onto Blu-ray on December 9th
Filed under: Blu-ray
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DEEZNUTZ @ Sep 29th 2008 3:50PM
I know I'll find it cheaper, but I would definitely pay $30 for this.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Sep 29th 2008 4:04PM
Yawn.
Yet another movie aimed primarily at the adolescent male market.
You know instead of cheering this kind of stuff on as if it is a good thing people might like to consider the proposition that ultimately this very narrow approach (which the stream of films very much like this one typifies) is another major part of why Blu-ray is going to have a really hard time taking off.
The PS3 demographic strikes again. Great. Not.
StrainedSky @ Sep 29th 2008 4:08PM
Wow ...just wow
DEEZNUTZ @ Sep 29th 2008 4:31PM
Perhaps, but when trying to sell folks on the benefits of HD, it makes sense to showcase movies with the most eye candy.
When classic movies are released in BD, the majority of folks are unimpressed because of film grain (which is supposed to be there) and because it doesn't look as "pristine" as newer titles. TItles like this are the titles that will best kickstart the format. It's really rather simple from a marketing perspective.
h0mi @ Sep 29th 2008 4:56PM
This is the biggest movie in the US since Titanic. This is not a movie that merely appealed to the "ps3 demographic" or adolescent males.
Evan @ Sep 30th 2008 8:10AM
Normally I would share Multiformat's sentiment. I rolled my eyes when Transformers was released. And I haven't even watched the free disc of Spiderman 3 than came with my PS3 (nor have I bought a game for it). But The Dark Knight is not that kind of film. If you can ignore about 5 minutes of campyness during the brief bat motorcycle scene, the rest of the movie is anything but an adolescent movie. The scenes with the Joker are almost Hannibal Lecter creepy. You really should make an exception and see it.
But, why did they put the bat motorcycle on the cover? It appeared for at most 5 minutes of the movie. It wasn't even important. I think they should have used the "why so serious" poster as the cover: http://www.impawards.com/2008/dark_knight_ver4.html
The Fuzz 53 @ Sep 29th 2008 4:07PM
Why only 5.1 and not 7.1? I feel like buying those 2 rear speakers was a big waste of money.
Mike @ Sep 29th 2008 4:55PM
it was a waste of money.
The Fuzz 53 @ Sep 29th 2008 5:29PM
At least I got them for only $35 a piece (Infinity Primus 152s, or something like that)
J.Goodwin @ Sep 29th 2008 8:41PM
How do you even lay out your seven speakers?
Five across the front like SDDS or three down each side the way that Dolby would want you to? 7.1 is weird.
plonk420 @ Sep 30th 2008 2:30AM
seconded at them being a waste. most theatrical mixes are 5.1. 7.1 is either synthesized or remixed as an afterthought. good job at stimulating the economy, though!
The Fuzz 53 @ Sep 30th 2008 10:55AM
The 3 across the front, 2 on the sides of the couch and 2 behind the couch.
The Fuzz 53 @ Sep 29th 2008 4:09PM
You're right. The box office gross for this movie was pretty shitty. They shouldn't even bother releasing a home version of it at all.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Sep 29th 2008 4:27PM
That's not what I'm saying.
I'm saying that gearing the movie business so heavily to the adolescent males who tend to go to cinemas the most often may well be a profitable approach for Hollywood but it narrows the content made & available considerably.
We're talking about a home movie system.
That surely ought to mean going after those who don't bother going to the movies anymore (partly because of those adolescent males).
Young guys mightn't care about having a constant diet of shallow nonsense with shiney lights and effects going on constantly but there are many of us who prefer thought-provoking adult themes & stories with properly rounded characters.
We also like films with real women in them instead of the highly suspect (gay?) 2d cartoon types these kinds of movies seem to prefer to offer up.
DEEZNUTZ @ Sep 29th 2008 4:42PM
@ Multi-format ( you sound eerily similar to Truth Teller...)
You mean like:
- No country for old men
- The Godfather
- Casablanca
Don't get me wrong, I understand what you're saying, but studios have to be sure BD is going to be profitable before investing the time/money into restoring some of their catalog titles and classics. WB for one has committed to restoring and releasing some great classics on BD. These flashy titles will pave the way for the rest of the titles. Just gotta give it time.
There are titles I would love to see on BD right away, but at the same time, I prefer they take their time with releasing them on BD, then spit out shitty transfers from shitty masters on BD that don't offer much over their DVD counterpart.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Sep 29th 2008 5:12PM
After today's news from Congress it's all academic.
Anyone launching anything for the next 3 or 4 years can forget it.
Seriously, there's a real doozey of a recession coming, the like of which hasn't been seen in about 80yrs.
Hold on to your hats boys - and if you have a mortgage start praying real hard.
A video system is the least of (y)our concerns!
Mr_Fizzlepop @ Sep 29th 2008 5:56PM
Seriously, one of my movie buff pals that is 54 and definitely more of an old movie/non-violent movie fan has seen Dark knight in the theater 3 or 4 times already; that's way more than me.
He has already mentioned going to see the IMAX version more than once; this movie really does appeal to a wider range of audience than the 12-26 male as some would have us believe.
It is a very popular movie that does have some great effects while at the same time touching on some serious issues. For some people looking beyond a "Comic" character to see their real human issues may be tough, but there is a huge part of society that doesn't have that problem and can see this movie for what it is and will be, a Classic.
J.Goodwin @ Sep 29th 2008 8:43PM
Multi-format, apparently you're not familiar with the typical boom in entertainment, particularly local and home entertainment, that normally accompanies a recession. The movie industry as it existed for decades was a product of the film boom that came with the great depression. The success of the PS2 was not in small part due to the consumer electronics boom that accompanied the September 11th attacks and the accompanying recession.
If anything, a long and deep recession is Blu-ray's best chance for success.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Sep 30th 2008 12:26PM
@ J Goodwin
"you're not familiar with the typical boom in entertainment, particularly local and home entertainment, that normally accompanies a recession."
That would be fair comment but it does not apply to something like Blu-ray. It only really applies as far as people making the most of their existing home possessions goes.
If they already had BD it might be correct but they don't.
It certainly does not apply to people shelling out on the relatively large sums on a new player nor the large HD TV & audio kit required to make the most of Blu-ray.
It's still the case that non-HD & 720p/1080i panels outsell 1080p panels which means the difference Blu-ray offers is less visible (not invisible but less visible).
"According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in Arlington, Va., shipments of true 1080p hi-def TVs through July 2008 were 5.1 million units, accounting for $6.6 billion in sales. In comparison, the shipments of flat panel televisions of lower resolutions, such as 480p, 720p and 1080i, amounted to 8.4 million units or $4.6 billion dollars".
http://blogs.computerworld.com/lower_res_tv_sales_outpace_1080p_hurting_blu_ray
If you honestly imagine the looming slump is going to be good for Blu-ray I'd suggest you're kidding yourself.
Confidence (so essential in the financial markets) evaporated yesterday.
Start praying really hard if you have a mortgage or bank loans (and if you rent you better pray your landlord doesn't owe the banks much either).
If this slump is like the one in the late 1920s- early 1930s it'll go on about 10yrs.
It's going to be mean, painful and bloody.
McLovin @ Sep 29th 2008 4:15PM
Nobody gives a crap about this!!!!!
RockinOscar @ Sep 29th 2008 5:08PM
i've had enough of you son! you are going with your auntie and uncle in bel-air.
Ron @ Sep 29th 2008 4:32PM
My 2nd fav movie of the summer, cant wait!
XDragon @ Sep 29th 2008 4:48PM
Awesome movie and a must buy on Blu-Ray!
Give me Lord of the Rings and Gladiator and then I'll have all my faves on Blu!
I can't wait to see The Dark Knight's sales figures; this should be the biggest spike yet for Blu sales.
MasterCKO @ Sep 29th 2008 9:54PM
Damn straight I'm buying this. Great news Engadget. 8^D
DrXym @ Sep 30th 2008 6:36AM
The Dark Knight was a great film but I thought the ending was very muddled. I personally think the Blu ray disk is going to sell insane amounts and may represent to Blu what The Matrix was in its day for DVD.
LonnieDvD @ Nov 18th 2008 8:11PM
No doubt, very tough economic times are here, and it will only get worse after Christmas.