Stopping DVD purchases or upgrading dvd library to High Def. (1 Viewer)

[Pat Frank]

I don't really know the answer, but I do know this: I'm going to be very reliant upon forums like this one to find out whether these things are worth it.

It seems to me that while the business of getting a good film-to-video transfer has really improved the last couple of years, there's still a large grey area where the studios feel they can get away with poor-to-mediocre transfers because so many consumers have small sets or just don't care. I realize there are now good transfers out there that don't carry "Special Edition" type labels, but I'm very leery about this HD-DVD stuff, and I'm going to want some serious word-of-mouth before I buy *squat*.

In the end, it's not the technology that matters, but the image and sound quality. Period.

But that's what these forums are great for. The very first time some studio bean counter authorizes an original-Unforgiven-like transfer onto HD-DVD, the hubbub will be enormous. Thank god for HTF.

Just my two bits, of course.

 

[CraigF]

Agree with Pat.

There are some older movies that I almost certainly won't upgrade to an HD format, strictly because I'm satisfied with the way they are (proper format, lookin' good, etc.), but I'll have to see if new elements/restorations happen before deciding. There's a few that aren't going to look much better with higher resolution, unless the studios are really holding out on us... I'd likely buy new movies that are *properly* transferred and that are of great interest in HD. For casual interest, I'd stick to DVD if there's a significant price premium for HD, assuming I'd have that choice. But for me it'll be at least 2-3 years. I've been around too long to buy a player for a new format at the beginning...they improve too quickly, and the first generation are always "an experiment"...the "good stuff" is usually the second generation before they become mass-market and get drastically cheapened. I only mention the HW because it's necessary to the scheme.

 

[Kevin Deselms]

Funny you should post this, a few days ago I went through my current list and figured out what I would be upgrading to HD, and what I'd leave in standard-def. When it was all said and done, I figure I'll be replacing about 20% of my collection with HD versions...although for a lot of that, I'm sure it'll take quite a bit of waiting. I doubt much "catalog" type material, aside from the big names, will come out in HD for quite some time.

 

[Tim BBB]

Kevin,

I did the same thing a few weeks ago, right after I saw the list for the first batch of HD-DVD's. That's why I was curious as to what others were thinking.

For me, I got it down to only upgrading about 35 titles (I have around 150 movies). The rest I can keep on regular DVD. I figured any comedy doesn't need an upgrade. No films before 1995 (and some after) need an upgrade, with the exception of Star Wars because the quality of the pictures have been upgraded. Lastly, it has to be a movie I watch enough to care about an upgrade. No reason to upgrade a DVD that I watch once every 2 years.

The only DVD's I'm not sure about upgrading are a few Pixar movies.

 

[Ron Boster]

Some of it may depend on the new batch of players ability to scale SD signals. I have been very pleased with my Pioneer 59avi's ability to scale, so I review the titles in Widescreen Review of the dvd vs d-vhs...I'll do the same when hd resolution dvd's come out. I assume that WR will compare the new HD titles and the SD titles at least until HD resolution discs become mainstream.

Ron

 

[Kevin Deselms]

That was generally my rationale, too. Basically, I want to upgrade the movies that would actually benefit from being in high-definition, or my well-worn favorites. Also, I reckon that once the HD format is launched, they'll be putting out all the major new releases in HD as well - so from that point on, I expect I'll just be buying HD discs and abandon standard-def. My collection right now is at the point where I'm pretty much only buying new releases, anyway.

I have the Momitsu scaling player and I like it, but of course even with a Superbit title, the fine detail and sharpness just isn't anywhere close to HD. I've had the unfortunate burden of seeing a lot of film work done in HD, with the DS Nitris and Discreet Fire...so I know what the stuff CAN look like. I remember an editor I know was doing the online for Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon A Time In Mexico trailer, on an HD linear system - watching that footage (way early, at the time) was what sold me on HD. I was pretty blown away. Even people watching broadcast HD haven't seen what it CAN be, because that's often being compressed so heavily...same effect of doing most of my show work in Digibeta and then seeing the end result on broadcast TV. The two are worlds apart, PQ-wise.

So I'm just hopeful that the HD disc formats get us close to what I have seen at work, because that's really awe-inspiring.

 

[Dave H]

I own just under 200 titles --- I have no doubt I will be replacing each one of these at some point in time on HD -- if some of them are even re-released. I'm sure some rarer titles will never get released on HD -- and many will take years to come out as is this case now with standard DVD.

 

[Adam_WM]

I figure I'll upgrade for things I watch on a pretty regular basis and that have substantial upgradability. Off the top of my head, Star Wars, LOTR, Alien movies...

 

[Patrick McCart]

Everything can benifit from HD.

Personally, I anticipate the HD version of Metropolis, since the digital restoration was performed at 2K.

 

[Des Easthom]

There will the small group of got to have it types. But my read at the present HDDVD will be only for the Laser Disk type fans. The VHS group will stick to DVD. The fact the SD DVD has got this far this fast is a wonder. I went from VHS to DVD as soon as they came out. But not too interested in HDDVD even though I have HDTV and HDTV Channels.

 

[Neil Joseph]

I won't be in a hurry to upgrade any older films I have on DVD, if ever. Also, I will play a waiting game. I have a distinct feeling that many titles that first come out will come out later in special edition versions, but that's just my own strange thoughts ont he matter.

 

[Bob_Hammond]

I think that the big question is the cost. How quickly will they move down in price to be near the price of today's DVDs?

Bob

 

[Andy_MT]

i think the big question is quality. if the studios don't deliver the "wow" factor, then my migration over to the new format will i'm sure take a bit longer (if at all). down on paper, hd-dvd is looking a little anemic. picture and sound are going to be the main driving force for people to re-invest and i hope hd-dvd can deliver. if not, i hope blue-ray kicks it's .....

i have my doubts though as to whether this "wow" factor is a realistic dream. the "studios" haven't really shown a commitment to high, consistent quality over the last few years (as far as delivering the highest technical quality out of dvd). are they really going to change ? i would hope so, but i'm not getting my hopes up.

 

[Esten]

When the players are under $100, and HDTVs are around $250. Meaning, when it gets as big as regular DVD. (i.e.: When people making little more than minimum wage can afford it)

 

[Rutgar]

Wow! Ive been interested in High Def "DVD" ever since I first heard about HDTV (at least 15 years ago). Of course, at the time I didn't know the format would be "DVD". The point is, HD source material on a convenient, personal playback medium, that can be viewed on High Definition Television, has been something I've been looking forward to for many years. I guess I just don't see how anyone could be a fan of DVD's and HDTV, and NOT be looking forward to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.

 

[Glenn Overholt]

I'm voting for Esten. That is the ONLY way they are going to make it.

It won't be quality for people that don't have an HD TV. Although I do look forward to getting an entire TV season on 1 or 2 disks, I have an icky feeling that season sets won't go down in price because of the costs paid out.

A set today sells for $40 only because of the rights and royalities, not the disks and packaging.

The players will have to be at today's prices, with the same outputs that we have today, and they are going to have to phase out the current format. I just hope that they do this in the correct order.

Glenn

 

[Marko Berg]

Not to mention markup. I'm with Glenn -- I don't see prices of TV-on-HDDVD sets going down just because the discs will hold more and large sets will ultimately be cheaper to produce. Studios will want to keep the difference in cost for themselves.

 

[Adam_WM]

I disagree with that. Some things could get worse with HD. I imagine some movies relied on the "imperfections" of film to hide their special effects. For example, look at GHOSTBUSTERS. When GHOSTBUSTERS was remastered for DVD, the shots of the dog in the hallway stuck out like a stop motion sore thumb against the only somewhat cleaned up movie. Basically, the point I'm making is that if you make some movies HD, they may actually look worse. Right?

 

[Chad A Wright]

I agree completely. I got pretty excited when I saw the list of titles announce for HD-DVD. I would rather have Blu-Ray win, but just the thought of movies in HD got me pumped. Then I find out about this HDMI crap. My HDTV of course doesn't have HDMI. I'm looking at getting a Mits WD-52525 this week, which has the HDMI. The thing I don't like is, it costs about $400 more than the WD-52327 which is almost exactly the same except for the lack of a tuner and HDMI plug. I would rather save the $400, but now I have to spend it. I normally wouldn't, but this TV better last a LONG time at this price, and I don't want to be wishing I had HDMI 4 years from now. I can't believe people aren't rioting in the streets over this. Let's flip some DVD players over and set them on fire.

 

[Paul.S]

It's speculation to be sure but maybe, just maybe, the brighter side/silver lining of Universal's recent standard def SE re-release frenzy (Thing and Born On the Fourth streeting last October and announcements in the recent months of re-releases of 12 Monkeys, Casino, Apollo 13 and, announced just last week, Jaws which means Steven has to be in on some of this long-range planning) is that U will be one of the more aggressive HD-DVD supporters, announcing a second slate of titles before other studios not engaged in such SD re-release mania right now . . .

Who else's nipples get a little firm thinking of a hi def t-rex attack in lossless DTS 6-channel surround? Hooah!

-p