A couple of newbie questions regards Blu-Ray and HD-DVD

[Sly Fly]

Right. So I've just got a TV / PS3 deal, and I'm entering into the foray of Blu-Ray films. Seen the Tesco 3 for 2 thread. Also know of the review site telling you which ones have good PQ quality etc... all good.

What's the best place at the moment for buying Blu-Rays? Is there one place you guys always go to for bargains? Or is it the usual hunt around for whichever site is cheapest at that time?


On a minor note : what's the deal with films coming out on one format or another? On page 2 there's a thread saying that Paramount supports the HD-DVD format. Is it as simple as that? So when Indy is released on HD it'll HD-DVD and not Blu-Ray? Or will it be a few months and then Blu-Ray? What's the score here? Because if LOTR and/or SW is only coming out on HD-DVD I'll be forking out for a HD-DVD player it would seem.

[Naqv]

The best place for Blue-Ray's are:

1) avforums Classified ads (Blue-Ray) section:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-ray-classified-adverts/

2) www.movietyme.com
You should know that most of these blue-ray's are Region A, although region free, so they will play on UK PS3. Make sure you get them from the Region Free list.

3) www.sendit.com

[Naqv]

Have you seen Tesco's 3 for 2 offer on Blue-Ray films? Works out at £35 for 3 films, so £11 something per disc.
http://www.tesco.com/entertainment/e...0&N=4294125879

[Sly Fly]

Movietyme is interesting - almost all of their region-free's are between £12 and £14 - very good prices!

The Tesco's offer is also good. Think I'll be getting a few there also.

Many thanks.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by Sly Fly

On a minor note : what's the deal with films coming out on one format or another? On page 2 there's a thread saying that Paramount supports the HD-DVD format. Is it as simple as that? So when Indy is released on HD it'll HD-DVD and not Blu-Ray? Or will it be a few months and then Blu-Ray? What's the score here? Because if LOTR and/or SW is only coming out on HD-DVD I'll be forking out for a HD-DVD player it would seem.

Okay, this is the current state of affairs.

Universal/Paramount/Dreamworks/Weinstein are HD DVD only.

Warner/New Line are dual-format.

Fox/Sony/MGM/Disney/Lionsgate are Blu-ray only.

Ah, but if it were only that simple. A few important caveats:

1 - Dreamworks films directed by Steven Spielberg are not included in the Dreamwork HD DVD-exclusive deal. What does that mean? Dunno. It could mean they'll never be released as SS & Dreamworks are deadlocked. Or any SS releases will be dual-format. Or BD-only.

2 - SS is in dispute with Paramount/Dreamworks, and it looks like he's leaving and going to Universal. What will that mean? Universal are also HD DVD-exclusive. Dunno.

3 - New Line are dual-format, but tend to release on BD first, then HD DVD oncethe film has ended its cinema run worldwide (as HD DVD is region-free). Good for BD. But better for HD DVD if you want to wait (importing a US copy will probably be the cheapest route, but not possible if you have a UK BD player).

4 - FOX are BD-exclusive, but region code everything, so care is needed when importing.

5 - Weinstein are releasing about as many films on high def as I am.

6 - Films which are distributed by one studio in the US are occasionally distributed by a different one in Europe, so some 'BD-exclusives' are HD DVD-exclusive in Europe (and potentially the US BD may be region-coded).

7 - There are plenty of smaller studios with their own exclusive, non-exclusive, and occasionally bizarre release patterns. One small company (Image, I think) release some things on BD and others on HD DVD. Studio Canal are pretty much HD DVD exclusive, but have released one title on BD.

8 - Star Wars is controlled by George Lucas. Whilst it's technically FOX (and hence BD-exclusive) he's in a similar position to SS, so see number 1 for what a minefield this is.

9 - Lord Of The Rings is New Line, but as it's a catalogue release it will come out on BD & HD DVD simultaniously...if it ever comes out.

10 - By 'Indy' I presume you mean Indiana Jones. Yes, that's Paramount, so HD DVD exclusive. It's never been hinted that George Lucas has similar control on that to Star Wars, but it's not impossible, in which case see Number 1 again.

11 - This is all the current situation. It's possible that any exclusive studio may go dual-format, or even go for a straight swap to 'the other side' at any time. Of course, if the 'format war' is won by one side, everything will go to that format.

Steve W

[Sly Fly]

Blinding answer!

Seems like an absolute minefield - what's worse is there still appears to be no clear favourite to win the HD race. A search in Google for "Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, winner" yields many conflicting reports...

Well.

I guess that until the time there's a few releases on HD-DVD that I can't live without I'll stick with the Blu-Ray on PS3.

I'm surprised that films such as SW, Indy Jones and more importantly LOTR aren't flying onto HD because it's an absolute money-spinner.

Ah well... thanks for the answer Pecker.

[Bribrian]

Just keep checking around as there are bargains to be had on most sites from time to time. Sites like Blah, Amazon, Tesco, Asda, The Hut, Movietyme & Sendit......

[Broadsword]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Okay, this is the current state of affairs.



snip



Steve W

Corking post!

[ani4ani]

One of the "cheapest" sources at the moment is Amazon.com [that deliver internationally] and run buy one get one free all the time [i.e. as of today], many titles are less that £10 [at today's exchange rate] and every second one is free. If you are clever, you can pick up 2 discs, delivered for around £7-8 each

[catisfit]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Okay, this is the current state of affairs.

Great post! I'd add that current means this can all change fairly rapidly. For example:

- It is rumoured that Warner are going to decide at the CES (next week) to support a single format (they have been saying for some time that they would wait and see what happened over Christmas in terms of sales etc before making a decision). The format in question is unknown, but there have been several rumours of them announcing blu-ray exclusivity over the past few months. We will have to wait and see what, if anything, happens.

- It is rumoured that Paramount and Dreamworks went HD-DVD exclusive on the back of a $150m payoff by Toshiba and/or Microsoft. Even Michael Bay has been saying this, adding some credence to the rumours. It is also strongly rumoured that it is an 18-month deal, so they may renew, go cross-platform, or go blu-ray exclusive in February 2009, depending on the market conditions at that time.

Conversely to these rumours (and note that they are all rumours, but often mentioned ones), Disney and Fox have been blu-ray exclusive from day one (and of course so have the Sony studios Columbia and Tristar, and MGM which as far as I know is distributed by Sony). Universal have been HD-DVD exclusive from day one. You can guarantee that Columbia and Tristar, and probably MGM, will stay blu-ray indefinitely, as Sony has put a lot of stock into blu-ray. Conversely, no studio is in the same position for HD-DVD.

Here is a breakdown of the big 6 studios and their subsidiaries, for info.

[Greg]

Thread moved to the HD Movies forum.

[Bald Monkey]

Originally Posted by catisfit

Even Michael Bay has been saying this, adding some credence to the rumours.

I wonder why anyone would deny themsleves either format, both have so much to offer, and both will be around for a long time. Ignore childish format war waffle and get some great HD movies on both formats and enjoy!

Originally Posted by Greg

Thread moved to the HD Movies forum.

Oh joy!!

[philbam]

Originally Posted by Bald Monkey

I wonder why anyone would deny themsleves either format, both have so much to offer, and both will be around for a long time. Ignore childish format war waffle and get some great HD movies on both formats and enjoy!





Oh joy!!

Coudn't agree more!!!
Best decision I made. Started with the PS3 (blu-ray) at beginning of September 2007, and was so impressed by the massive quality improvement over SD DVD, decided to go dual format with the Toshiba EP35 at the end of November 2007.
I have spent an absolute fortune on high definition discs since, and now have over 150 titles- not one of which (that I have watched so far) has failed to impress me immensely.
The only drawback is that it is now a lot harder watching SD Dvd's!
My advice is go for both, if you can, and start enjoying the huge benefits that 'both' HD formats have to offer.

[andythescientis]

Originally Posted by catisfit

Great post! I'd add that current means this can all change fairly rapidly. For example:

- It is rumoured that Warner are going to decide at the CES (next week) to support a single format (they have been saying for some time that they would wait and see what happened over Christmas in terms of sales etc before making a decision). The format in question is unknown, but there have been several rumours of them announcing blu-ray exclusivity over the past few months. We will have to wait and see what, if anything, happens.

To be fair, it was rumoured for 6 months before the last CES (by a certain EX member) that Universal would go neutral last CES.. it never happened. Anyone can and has started rumours on this and many other boards, very few come true.

Seriously if you were going to dump your girlfriend would you do it at a party with all your respective friends?

Deals might be done at CES, they already might be done now, but i very much doubt there will be any big announcements.

Hell so far Warners is only really involved in the HD-DVD promo group stuff if you look at the schedule, does that mean their going HD-DVD only? Personally i highly doubt that either for the same reasons as above.


To answer the OP, yes basically support is split, if you want to watch all movies you need both players, or a dual player. Personally i think CES will be awash with Dual player announcements. Other than that the best you can do is look at a list of films you'd like to see and go for the format which gets you the most from that list.

[Pecker]

Latest additions to the Warner rumour mill are that (A) Warner are booked in as part of the HD DVD presentation at CES but not Blu-Ray Disc, and that (B) the Warner film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford initially appeared at Amazon, Best Buy, etc on both HD DVD and Blu-ray, but now only shows as HD DVD; the Blu-ray having mysteriously disappeared.

I can't find anything at Amazon - it's only up as SD DVD and HD DVD at Best Buy and Circuit City - no Blu-ray Disc showing.

Personally, I think Warner are going nowhere. But the rumour merely underlines the fact that things can change rapidly.

Whatever you buy, you have no rights on any of the studios. If you buy HD DVD for Universal, and they go BD-exclusive tomorrow, that's just tough. If you buy BD for Disney and they go HD DVD, that's just tough, too.

You pays your money...

Steve W