Universal HD DVD: Declining PQ?

Paul Arnette · 06-21-2007, 12:36 PM

So, I've been keeping an eye on High-Def Digest's reviews of Universal's 6/12 slate of HD DVD releases because, with the announcements of Blockbuster and Starz Home Entertainment backing BD, I'm really starting to get leary of HD DVD and decided to cancel some of my upcoming pre-orders. So far this week they've reviewed five titles with the following PQ scores:

Daylight

Liar, Liar

Sneakers

Born on the Fourth of July

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Aside from Born on the Fourth of July, no title was better then par according to their review system, and each reviewer took Universal to task for taking what they preceived to be a quantity over quality approach with these offerings. The review of The Meaning of Life greatly disappointed me as a Python fan, which precipitated this thread. I have seen us touch on this discussion this week, but I felt it needed greater exposure, and I would like to hear other thoughts from BD and HD DVD proponets alike.

So here are my questions.

Is this a trend? It seems to be related to the source material used and mainly catalog titles.

What is Universal's strategy here? It seems to be simply to keep pace with the number of titles BD has released with little regard to what title and in what condition that title is released?

I'm sure these are 'watchable', and, no, I haven't personally watched any of them. I was using the reviews at High-Def Digest and here to try and determine whether they were worth my dollar given my failing confidence in HD DVD. But I have to wonder whether this strategy is really helping HD DVD.

Thoughts?

ppltd · 06-21-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

So, I've been keeping an eye on High-Def Digest's reviews of Universal's 6/12 slate of HD DVD releases because, with the announcements of Blockbuster and Starz Home Entertainment backing BD, I'm really starting to get leary of HD DVD and decided to cancel some of my upcoming pre-orders. So far this week they've reviewed five titles with the following PQ scores:

Daylight

Liar, Liar

Sneakers

Born on the Fourth of July

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Aside from Born on the Fourth of July, no title was better then par according to their review system, and each reviewer took Universal to task for taking what they preceived to be a quantity over quality approach with these offerings. The review of The Meaning of Life greatly disappointed me as a Python fan, which precipitated this thread. I have seen us touch on this discussion this week, but I felt it needed greater exposure, and I would like to hear other thoughts from BD and HD DVD proponets alike.

So here are my questions.

Is this a trend? It seems to be related to the source material used and mainly catalog titles.

What is Universal's strategy here? It seems to be simply to keep pace with the number of titles BD has released with little regard to what title and in what condition that title is released?

I'm sure these are 'watchable', and, no, I haven't personally watched any of them. I was using the reviews at High-Def Digest and here to try and determine whether they were worth my dollar given my failing confidence in HD DVD. But I have to wonder whether this strategy is really helping HD DVD.

Thoughts?

The last four titles I received released by Universal were good to very good, but a large step below what I have come to expect on both formats. I wish Universal would take the time to remaster some of these catalog titles before releasing them to disk.

Opps, I did not notice the Monty Python rating. Maybe I can cancel my order before it ships.

Paul Arnette · 06-21-2007, 01:02 PM

Yeah, Thomas, I was so looking forward to some Python in HD. I understand that one review can be off so I would like to see some others before making my final decision, but I'm still

at the moment.

Jordan_E · 06-21-2007, 01:03 PM

I think the Sneakers transfer is about as good as you can realistically expect this side of a total restoration. Didn't disappoint me at all.

ppltd · 06-21-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

Yeah, Thomas, I was so looking forward to some Python in HD. I understand that one review can be off so I would like to see some others before making my final decision, but I'm still

at the moment.

I have found Highdef Digest to be pretty right on on their reviews. This is disappointing.

**HTF Ads**

Neil Middlemiss · 06-21-2007, 01:10 PM

Look for HTF reviews of several of those titles in the next few days. I reviewed daylight and a 3 is about right for PQ. Will be watching Sneakers tonight (I love that film) so we'll see how that one fares!

Paul Arnette · 06-21-2007, 01:13 PM

Jordan, I am genuinely happy to hear that you were satisfied with Sneakers, though your comment regarding a total restoration bring up an interesting point. If a movie such as Sneakers doesn't 'deserve' a total restoration in Universal's eyes, why is being released now, at such a critical time during a format war?

These releases strike me as akin to the releases Universal released through Image way back in the day. Obviously, they are not 'that bad', but I see them as filler, designed to 'cash in' on an HD content drought and be sold to a demographic that will buy them because they're starved for that content. Are we already seeing seeds being planted for double-dipping on HD? The realist in me says why should it be any different than before, but the wised part of me that has been through this before is also saying, "Pass".

ppltd · 06-21-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan_E

I think the Sneakers transfer is about as good as you can realistically expect this side of a total restoration. Didn't disappoint me at all.

I am not sure if the 3 star rated releases totally disappoints me, as I found Daylight release a nice upgrade from my SD DVD. But the quality from Universal has just not been up to par, and that concerns me. If the quality does not come up, I see little reason upgrading my SD library.

I personally would rather see less high quality remaster than what we are currently getting.

As a side not, this problem with Universal is a pretty new issue. Maybe it will clear itself up. Anyway, here's hoping.