Universal reveals their first Blu-ray titles

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 17 Apr 2008, 11:53

Universal Studios, once Hollywood's top backer of the doomed HD DVD video format, will soon release all its new videos on the victorious Blu-ray rival at the same time as its standard DVDs.

The studio is set to announce Thursday that the program will kick off in the summer with the recent box office flop "Doomsday."

Universal's Blu-ray strategy includes plans to release about 40 titles in the second half of the year.

Among them are the studio's five big feature films of the summer, including "The Incredible Hulk," with Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; "Wanted," an action thriller starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie; "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"; "Mamma Mia," the adaptation of the musical starring Meryl Streep; and the sequel "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," with Brendan Fraser and Jet Li.

Universal officially will enter the Blu-ray market July 22 with a trio of films from its "Mummy" action-adventure franchise: "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns," both starring Fraser, and the spinoff "The Scorpion King," with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Also planned for domestic Blu-ray before the year is up are the catalog titles "American Gangster," "Knocked Up," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Miami Vice," "End of Days," "U-571" and "Land of the Dead," among others.

Universal had been HD DVD's biggest studio backer ever since the next-generation optical disc format came to market in April 2006. But when Toshiba pulled the plug on the format in February, the studio wasted no time switching its allegiance to Sony's Blu-ray.

source

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Apr 2008, 17:29

Forget all the other posts this IS the big news of the day. Nice work there thanks Eva.

The only one that interests me is possibly Miami Vice but I'll have seen the HD-DVD by then (hopefully

) to know where it's worth getting on BD. The only other one that would interest me is American Gangster, but seeing as it's unlikely to contain the Extended Cut too I won't be bothering. My HD-DVD Combo will continue to be fine. If it does end up using Seamless Branching (unlike the HD-DVD) and include both cuts I'll switch to the BD.

I hope they're new enocdes to make use of BD50s with much better support lossless audio this time!

All we need is Paramount to get on and start re-releasing their HD-DVDs now. Which is very strange, given that they only have a handful of discs to re-release.

Here's the original source who broke the news:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... cbe4f57eb4

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 17 Apr 2008, 17:59

i'll get Doomsday.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 18 Apr 2008, 00:50

Nothing of interest as of yet.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Apr 2008, 01:54

I'd be interested to know how many titles already on HD-DVD Universal were planning to re-release on a monthly basis.

40 titles over 6 months roughly means 7 HD-DVDs a month.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 19 Apr 2008, 00:50

I want to see the TC of The Frighteners and The Thing (amongst others) on BD.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 19 Apr 2008, 08:09

Current rumour:-

Heroes Season 1 and 2 announced for 26 August now too.

source = thedvdforums thread linked in the initial post.

This news would be a big deal for a lot of people. Personally I think that the show is pretty rubbish and wouldn't pay a cent to see it.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 19 Apr 2008, 17:48

I wonder if they'll cost a bomb like the Sopranos does or rather the RRP said it would be.

Ray_Rogers · Post by **Ray_Rogers** » 22 Apr 2008, 11:07

Markgway wrote:I want to see the TC of The Frighteners and The Thing (amongst others) on BD.

Why not just use seamless branching for the TC and DC of THE FRIGHTENERS? No reason for me to buy THE THING on Blu unless if it has an "HD" audio track. Oh, and if all BD's don't use the archaic MPEG2 video codec. VC1 and MPEG4/AVC all the way baby! 8)
Oh, and if they all use DL-50's too. Basically any title I don't already own or is in my wishlist which doesn't have an HD audio track I might consider buying the BD counterpart. Until then, it's a waste of my money.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Apr 2008, 17:44

The Thing looks much better on HD-DVD and does have HD Audio.

With a few possible exceptions:

1. The original Fifth Element
2. Terminator
3. House of Flying Daggers

I'd upgrade most of my SD DVDs to the existing HD Discs.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 22 Apr 2008, 23:54

Ray_Rogers wrote:Why not just use seamless branching for the TC and DC of THE FRIGHTENERS?

That would do.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 02 May 2008, 15:17

Current rumour:-

Well, Universal have apparently announced that they will be turning to DTS-HD MA as their lossless audio of choice, and some catalogue titles (e.g. the Mummy movies) will be getting said upgrade.

Looks like Universal might take this Blu thing seriously after all.

source

EDIT:- Got the proper source.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 02 May 2008, 15:29

As 80% of Blu Ray owners own a PS3, and a few % of them have the capablity to even play that sound on an amp, its pretty damn worthless still to most people

(but its not aimed at normal people anyway

)

I know I cannot play it thats for sure, barley any difference on the Full soundtracks tracks anyway from what I have heard so far, I would get excited if I had a brand new sound set up and thought the sound mattered that much. Pictures where its at for me still

I would rather just get the HD DVD version for £2.99 instead of shelling out 5+ times that price for almost an identical Blu Ray.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 02 May 2008, 15:50

romerojpg wrote:As 80% of Blu Ray owners own a PS3, and a few % of them have the capablity to even play that sound on an amp,

Boohoo, buy a HDMI v1.3 amp that fully supports the necessary codecs then, you're hardly poor.

PS3 support DTS-HD Master now too.

its pretty damn worthless still to most people (but its not aimed at normal people anyway )

Yes, most people would likely be happy with SD DVD quality bitrates.

I would rather just get the HD DVD version for £2.99 instead of shelling out 5+ times that price for almost an identical Blu Ray.

Me too, I've bought loads of cheap Universal HD-DVDs. I can't be arsed buying them again, 1.5Mbps tracks are good enough.

Some titles I'm fine putting off until BDs come along, like The Bourne Ultimatum. Right now my priorities are to scoop up some of the rarer Studio Canal releases and acquire the superior Paramount HD-DVDs with higher bitrate audio than their BD counterparts (of only films that'd I'd want of course, not of EVERY release).

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 17:19

Thanks Eva.

romerojpg wrote:As 80% of Blu Ray owners own a PS3, and a few % of them have the capablity to even play that sound on an amp, its pretty damn worthless still to most people (but its not aimed at normal people anyway )

Incorrect:

1. Universal used to use TrueHD which is equally as worthless
2. For users with Legacy Amps they'd get DD5.1 1.5Mbps, DTS 1.5Mbps but possibly DD5.1 640Kbps (depending how the Player/Amp handled it) they now are guaranteed Full-rate DTS 1.5Mbps

romerojpg wrote:I know I cannot play it thats for sure, barley any difference on the Full soundtracks tracks anyway from what I have heard so far

Likewise loads of people over at AVS Forum who can play all formats say Lossless audio sounds much better.

romerojpg wrote:I would get excited if I had a brand new sound set up

It does. The majority of Universal's HD-DVD only have 1.5Mbps DD+

romerojpg wrote:I would rather just get the HD DVD version for £2.99 instead of shelling out 5+ times that price for almost an identical Blu Ray.

Well that's a different argument.

We don't know if they'll be identical. The Mummy doesn't have TrueHD for one and if Universal intended to put DTS-HD MA on ALL titles that will be excellent news.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 02 May 2008, 17:50

bradavon wrote:
romerojpg wrote:I would get excited if I had a brand new sound set up
It does. The majority of Universal's HD-DVD only have 1.5Mbps DD+

What? That reply makes no sense in relation to what you've quoted.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 17:55

Mummy hd-dvd at £2.99 vs Mummy blu-ray at £15?tough choice......

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 18:00

saltysam wrote:Mummy hd-dvd at £2.99 vs Mummy blu-ray at £15?tough choice......

I agree. That is a different argument to Romero's original one though. That said I'd personally now wait (for title Universal have announced). The £15 RRP won't last and BD is more future proof.

EvaUnit02 wrote:What? That reply makes no sense in relation to what you've quoted.

It does make sense. Romero asked for:

"brand new sound set up"

Maybe not "brand" new but DTS-HD MA is New for Universal over their usual DD+ stance. As you know most tiles only have DD+.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 02 May 2008, 18:04

By "brand new setup" he meant buying new home theatre hardware!

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 18:08

bradavon wrote: I'd personally now wait (for title Universal have announced). The £15 RRP won't last and BD is more future proof.

i know we've had this out before but i really can't get my head around your motives for getting a combo if you are happy to wait until hd-dvd titles are re-released to BD

best get yourself that good looking panasonic,flog your hd-dvds and await their 2nd coming on BD

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 18:26

@ Eva: Good point. I misread it.

i know we've had this out before but i really can't get my head around your motives for getting a combo if you are happy to wait until hd-dvd titles are re-released to BD, best get yourself that good looking panasonic,flog your hd-dvds and await their 2nd coming on BD

Do I really have to repeat myself "yet again"? I've already been clear about my reasoning several times. It's as valid as your reasoning.

1. I'm getting a Combo as I want to play both formats
2. HD-DVD is dead but BD will be with us 5 years+
3. I will certainly possibly only own one Combo. I've owned 5 DVD Players over the years. I doubt the Combo will be my last Player and my next one will likely be a BD Player. I'm talking about the future hear not the next 2-4 years. As new technologies come out I'll likely want them.

To give you an example:

HDMI is now THE connection type but my first three DVD Players only had Scart. HDMI didn't exist when I bought them.

4. As to flogging my HD-DVDs. The number of HD-DVD Exclusives is considerable, it will take Universal a long time to re-release them and the Studio Canal ones may not even get a re-release. Studio Canal themselves haven't re-released any of them on BD. I've checked their website.

I do plan to change Batman Begins and (probably) Good night, and Good Luck to the BD but my other HD-DVDs (mostly Universal) I won't be upgrading.

5. Like Eva I really have no interest in owning every HD-DVD just because it's cheap. I own all (AFAIK) the £5 and less HD-DVDs I want. So waiting for the BD isn't really big deal when I'm in no rush to own them anyway. The Orphanage being a good example of not being in any particular rush to own it.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 20:25

bradavon wrote:@ Eva: Good point. I misread it.

i know we've had this out before but i really can't get my head around your motives for getting a combo if you are happy to wait until hd-dvd titles are re-released to BD, best get yourself that good looking panasonic,flog your hd-dvds and await their 2nd coming on BD
Do I really have to repeat myself "yet again"? I've already been clear about my reasoning several times. It's as valid as your reasoning.

1. I'm getting a Combo as I want to play both formats
2. HD-DVD is dead but BD will be with us 5 years+
3. I will certainly possibly only own one Combo. I've owned 5 DVD Players over the years. I doubt the Combo will be my last Player and my next one will likely be a BD Player. I'm talking about the future hear not the next 2-4 years. As new technologies come out I'll likely want them.

To give you an example:

HDMI is now THE connection type but my first three DVD Players only had Scart. HDMI didn't exist when I bought them.

4. As to flogging my HD-DVDs. The number of HD-DVD Exclusives is considerable, it will take Universal a long time to re-release them and the Studio Canal ones may not even get a re-release. Studio Canal themselves haven't re-released any of them on BD. I've checked their website.

I do plan to change Batman Begins and (probably) Good night, and Good Luck to the BD but my other HD-DVDs (mostly Universal) I won't be upgrading.

5. Like Eva I really have no interest in owning every HD-DVD just because it's cheap. I own all (AFAIK) the £5 and less HD-DVDs I want. So waiting for the BD isn't really big deal when I'm in no rush to own them anyway. The Orphanage being a good example of not being in any particular rush to own it.

if i hadn't bought into hd-dvd before it crashed i wouldn't be buying discs now simple as.btw it's may,when are you taking delivery of your player?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 20:42

No offence but I'm really not going to repeat that one. I've told you so many times I've lost count

.

As to HD-DVDs: That's fine. I'm choosing to buy HD-DVDs. The Studio Canal ones in particular will likely take years to be seen again. There is some excellent films there.

p.s - Why did you quote my entire post? Yours follows mine.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 20:55

bradavon wrote:
p.s - Why did you quote my entire post? Yours follows mine.

because i like reading your repeated waffle

as for your mythical buying of a combo,i hope you don't buy one in May otherwise i'll lose a bet i have with 2 members here

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 20:59

You're going to win

. I won't be buying one this month. I've explained why enough times. Of course I could just make it up, for all you guys would know

.

How much is the bet for? Who with? What month did you say? You should've made it a public bet, instead of a sneaky PM one. There is nothing mythical, having no money is I can assure you is very real.