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Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

#1
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3/3/08 at 8:05am
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'Atonement' Concludes Universal's HD DVD Support HD DVD, Blu-ray | TheManRoom The Man Room

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'Atonement' Concludes Universal's HD DVD Support
March 03, 2008

Universal Studios Home Entertainment's support of HD DVD finally has an end date of March 18. Ironically enough, the studio most loyal to the now defunct high definition format will close its multi-hundred run of releases with Atonement.

Previously we were led to believe Charlie Wilson's War would bring a close to HD DVD at Universal after the studio had released cover art and disc specs prior to an official title announcement. Now Universal has removed any sign of an HD DVD version of Charlie Wilson's War from their website, passing the last title honors to Atonement.

Universal's decision may have been influenced by Paramount's move last week. Rather than draw out HD DVD for another month or two, Paramount chose to abruptly end their support with Things We Lost in the Fire and Into the Wild on March 4. Other planned HD DVD titles such as Bee Movie, Sweeney Todd, The Kite Runner, The Jack Ryan Collection, There Will Be Blood, and Cloverfield were canceled. It's widely believed all these titles will appear on Blu-ray Disc by this summer.

Universal has dropped no hints as to when they'll announce their first Blu-ray Disc title, other than to say they will be supporting Sony's high definition format and are working on getting titles ready for release. We'll be sure to inform you of the big announcement once it's made.
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#2
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3/3/08 at 8:20am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

I guess the sales numbers on American Gangster weren't enough to make them go to May like Warner.

\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert

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#3
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3/3/08 at 8:32am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

I'm actually shocked Warner is sticking with that commitment, but it shows just how much more in tune Warner is with its customers than many of the other studios are.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to reviewing Atonement and then on to Blu!

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#4
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3/3/08 at 8:57am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

I still wouldn't be surprised if Warner's plans change. May 31st is a long ways off, and you can rest assured they aren't releasing these last titles out of the kindness of their hearts. If they project a loss, they'll be canceled.
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#5
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3/3/08 at 9:09am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

Call me cynical, but I think the only reason Warner Bros. is sticking with their HD DVD releases is that not doing so somehow leaves them open to a lawsuit from Toshiba. Afterall, Toshiba has already indicated they considered slapping Warner Bros. with one after CES 2008.
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#6
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3/3/08 at 11:30am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

Oh, I've got no doubt Warner's acting more out of obligation than anything else, and those HD DVDs are going to have some tiny runs. That being said, I would still have appreciated it if Universal and Paramount had continued putting new releases out on HD DVD until they were geared up for BD, just to have a hi-def option available alongside the DVD.

It probably only affects me for Charlie Wilson's War and There Will Be Blood (unless this goes on long enough to not have Cloverfield come out day-and-date), but American Gangster shows that there's some money to be made from it.
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#7
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3/3/08 at 11:57am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

Quote:
Call me cynical, but I think the only reason Warner Bros. is sticking with their HD DVD releases is that not doing so somehow leaves them open to a lawsuit from Toshiba. Afterall, Toshiba has already indicated they considered slapping Warner Bros. with one after CES 2008.

+1

I was hoping that we would see CWW on HD DVD. I wasn't expecting this to be a big seller, so I am afraid that it might get skipped over for HDM release for the immediate future since I doubt a BD could be ready in time for day and date.

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#8
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3/4/08 at 5:41am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

At least they end HD DVD-support with a truly great movie.

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#9
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3/4/08 at 6:31am
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

So they've decided to release Charlie Wilson's War after all?
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#10
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3/5/08 at 5:12pm
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

Atonement has shipped (along with Justice League).
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#11
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3/5/08 at 5:20pm
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Re: Atonement to be last Universal HD-DVD

WOW...this format has not been thrown under the bus...it got tossed in front of the entire Greyhound Fleet!!!

Even when RCA closed down the CED VideoDisc format, titles were pressed for months afterwards. So much for support after the fact.
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