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A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment - Page 8

post #211 of 264
3/1/07 at 4:56pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I found this comment of Bill Hunt's most interesting of his posting today:

As of now, all the above titles are HD-DVD only, but we've learned that there's some "executive upheaval" going on in the studio's home video division right now, so things could change.

I would like to hear him elaborate more about this.
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post #212 of 264
3/1/07 at 5:17pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I think that's an overcooked reference to something already discussed herein back around post 176.
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post #213 of 264
3/1/07 at 5:42pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Yeah, that's some baseless shit-stirring and nothing more.

Wait, I'm sorry, I meant "common sense."
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post #214 of 264
3/1/07 at 6:23pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

There are some GREAT stuff in the Universal lineup this spring and summer. Looks good.
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post #215 of 264
3/2/07 at 5:25am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Norman Matthews
Yeah, that's some baseless shit-stirring and nothing more.

Wait, I'm sorry, I meant "common sense."

I think you may be wrong on that. The original reorganisation story is from 2-weeks ago. Bill Hunt uses the present tense "right now". I'm fairly sure Bill would have been aware of earlier events and to tack an old story onto a new announcement makes no sense - even if he did want to upset a few HD DVD supporters (as we can see has happened here).

In other words, changes are still going on. What that means ultimately is anyones guess but it shouldn't be too long before we have an answer - if only because 'upheavals' tend to be relatively short term events.
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post #216 of 264
3/2/07 at 1:35pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I could care less about Hunt's spin. I would like to hear a direct response from Universal via Adam - hopefully soon. If this list is true, Adam should be able to clarify it with them. I've got a feeling that those reading much into Hunt's hyperbole will ultimately be disappointed.
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post #217 of 264
3/6/07 at 9:21pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Sorry been away for a while. I wouldn't read too much into the "right now" comment. ALL the studios that are exclusive today claim they will be forever, but who knows what any of them will do in a year or two. Right now both formats are a drop in the software bucket. I haven't received "official" confirmation (they usually don't do that until there is a release date), but a lot of these titles were hinted at when I was originally speaking with them. I for one an esp. looking forward to Heroes on HD DVD. Based on all the web content on NBC.com I would expect it to be loaded.

All in all this should make for a good EMA show this year. Stay tuned for an annoucement about that
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post #218 of 264
3/7/07 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

For those who are interested, check out the EMA announcements around the forum. They will be hosting us this year. There should be a lot of good info coming out of EMA, and it is always good to meet and give feedback to the studios, and hang out with other HTF members. Attendance is VERY limited so check it out!
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post #219 of 264
3/7/07 at 3:17pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

EMA ? For some reason right now I do not remember who EMA is.

So far I find Universal HD offerings to be good but they could have offered a few block busters.

Universals HD-DVD upcoming releases:
  • Children Of Men 3/27
  • Good Shepherd 4/3 (Want)
  • The Game 4/17
  • The Jerk 4/17 (Want)
  • Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind 4/24 (Want)
  • The Nutty Professor 4/24
  • Alpha Dog 5/1
  • The Hitcher 5/1
  • The Hurricane 5/22
  • The 40 Year Old Virgin 5/22
  • Smokey And The Bandit 5/22
  • The Skeleton Key 5/22 (Want)
  • The Big Lebowski 5/29 (Want)
  • Dragonheart 5/29 (Want)
  • The Frighteners 5/29
  • Lost In Translation 5/29
  • Midnight Run 5/29 (Want)
  • The River 5/29
While there are some titles I want nothing really is a must have. I can actually wait and put off all of the titles on this list. As there are other tiltes from other studios I want alot more at this time. If Universal releases Battlestar Galactica this year I will buy that on release day!
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post #220 of 264
3/7/07 at 3:31pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

What CEDIA EXPO is to hardware, the EMA Home Media EXPO is to software:

http://www.entertainmentmerchantsassociation.org/
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post #221 of 264
3/7/07 at 3:33pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Cool stuff Adam and thanks!
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post #222 of 264
3/7/07 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal will be releasing Battlstar this year. I'm not sure if it is just season 1 or all seasons.
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post #223 of 264
3/7/07 at 3:38pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Thanks for the info Adam very much apreciated!
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post #224 of 264
3/15/07 at 5:13am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Gregorich
What CEDIA EXPO is to hardware, the EMA Home Media EXPO is to software:

http://www.entertainmentmerchantsassociation.org/

I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Universal announce some changes at this show.
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post #225 of 264
3/16/07 at 12:33pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

In the studio's biggest one-day announcement ever for HD DVD, [Universal has] . . . unveiled a two-tier June attack comprised of a lucky thirteen new catalog faves. Among the two waves of titles are: . . .

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...g_for_June/522
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post #226 of 264
3/16/07 at 4:50pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Good to get some dates for these! Pretty good list.
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post #227 of 264
3/24/07 at 1:27pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Any news on the Hitchcock HD DVDs yet? So far I have only heard that Psycho is going to be released.
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post #228 of 264
3/25/07 at 3:23am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

nice list but can't see any titles that would really help to shift players (like matrix, pirates, cars etc.). maybe i'm reading too much into this, but it doesn't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling that universal is 100% confident in this format (i.e. by not releasing any really big guns in june like warner or blu-ray studios). maybe there's more to come ... we'll see.
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post #229 of 264
3/25/07 at 7:39am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Well, Universal doesn't have many huge recent hits, and most of its big-gun catalog titles are Amblin' co-productions, which means they need Spielberg's OK.
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post #230 of 264
3/25/07 at 7:47am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

that's a good point. i was trying to think what other big hitters universal has and really can't think of any to hand that aren't amblin/speilberg. that's a bit of an eye opener. wonder why universal is in this situation ?
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post #231 of 264
3/25/07 at 5:52pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I didn't think about the amblin/speilberg thing ether, very interesting. It makes me wonder what is going to happen when those titles come to HD? Since Speilberg is involved with DTS and has included DTS soundtracks on so many of his DVD releases. While Universal has only released Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby True HD titles so far. Will Speilberg insist on the use of DTS-HD Master Audio? If so we could see the first use of DTS-HD Master Audio on HD-DVD. Or maybe Speilberg might be the one to bring Universal to offer Blu-ray as well with DTS-HD Master Audio? I know there is alot of if's and maybe's there but who knows what will happen in the next year?
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post #232 of 264
3/26/07 at 1:45am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Since Spielberg is involved with DTS and has included DTS soundtracks on so many of his DVD releases.

I thought similarly re DTS on Spielberg titles, posted same and another member opined that Spielberg may have sold his shares in DTS.

The fact that DTS hasn't appeared consistently on DreamWorks titles since circa 2003 might lend credence to this. Even Munich doesn't have a DTS track. And Universal hasn't been putting it on many other titles either.
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post #233 of 264
3/26/07 at 2:06am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
Well, Universal doesn't have many huge recent hits, and most of its big-gun catalog titles are Amblin' co-productions, which means they need Spielberg's OK.

Hear hear. This is the list of the Universal/Focus films released in 2001-2006 that have grossed over $50 million domestically (that's not too much is it), and that haven't been released on HD DVD yet:

8 Mile
A Beautiful Mind
Along came Polly
American Pie 2
American Wedding
Cat in the Hat
Curious George
Inside Man
Jurassic Park III
Kicking and Screaming
K-Pax
Love Actually
Meet the Fockers
The Bourne Identity
White Noise
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post #234 of 264
3/26/07 at 7:16am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy_MT
wonder why universal is in this situation ?
Like MGM, it seems like they've been changing owners every few years, with NBC the first situation that was actually stable, deep-pocketed, and interested in concentrating on film (some of their previous owners were far more interested in Universal's music holdings).

I think it also comes down to a bit of bad luck, too - a few years ago, it seemed like they were trying too hard to build a Star Wars or James Bond-style megafranchise with tons of cross-media tie-ins: Van Helsing, Hulk, Chronicles of Riddick (they expected that to be HUGE: Before it opened, they were talking three movies and a tie-in series on Sci-Fi along with the game and animated prequels they released), Serenity. All of them were some sort of commercial disappointment or outright disaster, but if Riddick had lived up to half its expectations, for instance, the second/third Riddick movie could have been getting the press that Casino Royale is getting right now. But, these things apparently can't be forced; they have to just happen.

In the end, only the Bourne movies really managed to have legs, and they didn't have a new one last year.

Also, I think Spielberg and Zemeckis no longer working on the lot is hurting them in more ways than just not having the films they direct - Uni doesn't really have any production partners right now who do what Bruckheimer does for Disney or Joel Silver does for Warner.
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post #235 of 264
3/27/07 at 8:56pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

The cuts to Riddick didn't help things. There are things in the theatrical cut that make no sense, or are left for the viewer to guess about, that are fleshed out in the director's cut. I thought it was overall a big disappointment until I saw the Director's Cut.

I'm hoping we see some good horror releases in October, like some of their Hitchcock and Carpenter titles.
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post #236 of 264
3/28/07 at 4:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Most of this has been announced, but here is a press release that went out this afternoon:


HD DVD Studios Confirm Spring and Early Summer Schedules
for New Releases, Catalog Titles and Concert VideosTitle line-up and strategic hardware price reductions


[FONT=[/IMG]
[i], showcases the format’s global appeal and[/size][/font] unmatched technology features. Effective April 1st, Toshiba is implementing strategic retail price reductions on its full line of HD DVD players for the U.S. market. The entry level HD-A2 will have a suggested retail price of $399.99; and the new HD-A20, with 1080p output, will be introduced at $499 (available in stores in April). The top of the line HD-XA2 was already repositioned to $799.99 on March 1st.

“The spring is ramping up well for HD DVD, with an incredible list of movies and the best priced hardware on the market,” said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president, HD Strategic Marketing, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “Our consumer base continues to buy movies at rates that outpace DVD in its early years, which shows the willingness of consumers to make the transition to high definition.”

“HD DVD continues to perform exceptionally well for Warner Home Video, and we see this continuing as more titles from the HD DVD studios roll out and more hardware hits the market,” said Steve Nickerson, senior vice president of market management for Warner Home Video. “Fans of high definition have a lot more to choose from with the release of long-awaited blockbusters like The Complete Matrix Trilogy on HD DVD.”

“As hardware prices continue to fall, this is a great time to experience HD DVD,” said Chris Saito, vice president, marketing, Paramount Home Entertainment. “Our HD DVD line-up for Spring and Summer 2007 has something for every audience, with hits ranging from Dreamgirls to Flags of Our Fathers.”

From the six studios, the following schedules were released:
March



·Children of Men
·Happy Feet
·March of the Penguins
·National Geographic: Relentless Enemies





April




·Good Shepherd (C) (day & date)
·Smokin' Aces (C) (day & date)
·Payback: Straight, The Director’s Cut
·A Scanner Darkly
·Dog Day Afternoon
·School for Scoundrels
·The Game
·The Jerk
·Feast
·Freedom Writers (day & date)
·Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
·Nutty Professor
·Failure to Launch






May






·The Ultimate Matrix Collection
·The Complete Matrix Trilogy
·Dreamgirls (day & date)
·40-Year Old Virgin Unrated
·Flags of Our Fathers: Special Collector’s Edition
·The Hitcher (C) (day & date)
·Mission: Impossible
·Mission: Impossible 2
·Black Christmas (2006)
·Harsh Times
·The Battle of the Bulge
·The Road Warrior
·The Fountain
·Smokey & the Bandit
·Alpha Dog (C) (day & date)
·The Skeleton Key
·The River
·Midnight Run
·The Frighteners
·Dragonheart
·The Big Lebowski
·Lost in Translation





June




·Bruce Almighty
·Liar Liar
·Coming To America
·Born on the 4th of July
·Daylight
·The Meaning of Life
·Freedom: Vol.1
·Yes Live in Montreux
·Santana: Hymns for Peace
·Deep Purple: They all Came Down to Montreux
·Sneakers
·Trading Places
·Meet Joe Black
·Being John Malkovich
·Mystery Men
·American Me
·The Watcher
·Bulletproof
·Mallrats








July




·Shaun of the Dead
·Billy Madison
·Cat in the Hat
·The Untouchables
·The Warriors
·Dante’s Peak
·The War
·The Wedding Date
·The Bourne Identity
·In Good Company
·Streets of Fire
·Nutty Professor 2
·Scent of a Woman
·Darkman
·Sea of Love
·Deliver Us From Eva




(C) Denotes combo disc format with an HD version and a standard DVD version on the same disc
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post #237 of 264
3/28/07 at 4:29pm

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Good stuff Adam. Some dual format releaes but many exclusives that are good ones.
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post #238 of 264
4/1/07 at 8:26am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Happy Birthday Adam!
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post #239 of 264
4/6/07 at 10:08am

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

where are harry potters man
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post #240 of 264
4/6/07 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Quote:
where are harry potters man

You would need to ask Warner Bros.
Quote:
Happy Birthday Adam!

Thanks!

Off topic...has anyone here looked into attending EMA in Vegas this July? we still have a few slots available. You will have VIP/Press access to the trade show, meetings, seminars all not available to the general public. Additionally, several studios (not allowed to say which) are planning special events for us. It will be a great time, one you wont want to miss! Here is more info: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/vegas/main.html
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