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Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)  

post #1 of 30
4/17/08 at 3:23am
Thread Starter 
According to Reuters there will be an announcement today. Forty titles are expected this year, starting with the Mummy "trilogy" on 22 July.
post #2 of 30
4/17/08 at 3:27am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

According to Reuters news service Universal will make the announcement later today that they are going to start releasing Blu-ray titles starting July 22nd with a total of 40 titles available by the end of the year.

Quote:
Universal's Blu-ray strategy includes plans to release about 40 titles in the second half of the year.

Among them are the studio's five big feature films of the summer, including "The Incredible Hulk," with Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; "Wanted," an action thriller starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie; "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"; "Mamma Mia," the adaptation of the musical starring Meryl Streep; and the sequel "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," with Brendan Fraser and Jet Li.

Universal officially will enter the Blu-ray market July 22 with a trio of films from its "Mummy" action-adventure franchise: "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns," both starring Fraser, and the spinoff "The Scorpion King," with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Also planned for domestic Blu-ray before the year is up are the catalog titles "American Gangster," "Knocked Up," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Miami Vice," "End of Days," "U-571" and "Land of the Dead," among others.

(emphasis mine)

Link
post #3 of 30
4/17/08 at 4:33am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Hell, yeah!
post #4 of 30
4/17/08 at 4:41am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

That's good news! Really looking forward to picking-up American Gangster on Blu.

I wonder how they'll do Miami Vice? Seamless branching between the theatrical and extended cuts?
post #5 of 30
4/17/08 at 6:15am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Gonna be an expensive second half of the year. Time to save those pennies.
post #6 of 30
4/17/08 at 6:46am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

I won't be buying any of the Universal BR titles I currently have on HD DVD unless the BRD has a significant presentation improvement. I hope American Gangster BRD has both versions of the film on it.






Crawdaddy
post #7 of 30
4/17/08 at 6:51am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

It's great to finally see an announcement from Universal. While the majority of the titles mentioned by name are a little too close the 'PS3 demographic' for comfort, I am encouraged nonetheless. I am particularly happy about the news that Universal 'will soon release all its new videos on the victorious Blu-ray rival at the same time as its standard DVDs'.

I was surprised not to see Serenity specifically mentioned, but if Fox is putting out Firefly on BD later this year that title is a 'sure thing'. All in all, I think it is safe to draw some conclusions from these early 'announcements'. Namely, if you were interested in picking up some Universal HD DVD titles that fell outside of the 'PS3 demographic', you've probably got a good year or two's wait before you see them on BD.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dale MA
That's good news! Really looking forward to picking-up American Gangster on Blu.

I wonder how they'll do Miami Vice? Seamless branching between the theatrical and extended cuts?

I was wondering exactly the same thing about Miami Vice, and hoping both cuts of American Gangster received HD treatment via the same means.
post #8 of 30
4/17/08 at 6:54am

Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

I'll definitely grab The Mummy and The Mummy Returns.

I'll be interested in seeing what else they plan for release, because as of now I wouldn't pick up anything else from that list.
post #9 of 30
4/17/08 at 7:02am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Hooray, finally! I'm ready when they are!
post #10 of 30
4/17/08 at 7:16am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
I won't be buying any of the Universal BR titles I currently have on HD DVD unless the BRD has a significant presentation improvement. I hope American Gangster BRD has both versions of the film on it.






Crawdaddy

And let's hope they include ALL the extras on the BD version. The HD DVD did not include all the documentaries found on the 3 disc SD.
post #11 of 30
4/17/08 at 7:16am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

It'll be interesting to see if these titles (or future titles, for that matter) get the lossless audio treatment. Crossing my fingers!
post #12 of 30
4/17/08 at 8:25am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Good news, and some good titles. Can't wait for Miami Vice!
post #13 of 30
4/17/08 at 8:49am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

If I hear the phrase "PS3 demographic" one more time....

It's not the "PS3 demographic." It's the "teen/young adult males that have disposable income to which every company in the entertainment industry caters to, from television to music to home video demographic". It's been around for decades.
post #14 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:44am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Official Press Release and continued discussion HERE
post #15 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:45am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
If I hear the phrase "PS3 demographic" one more time....

It's not the "PS3 demographic." It's the "teen/young adult males that have disposable income to which every company in the entertainment industry caters to, from television to music to home video demographic". It's been around for decades.

That's why I put PS3 demographic in quotes. After all, you have to admit it is a lot easier to type than "teen/young adult males that have disposable income to which every company in the entertainment industry caters to, from television to music to home video demographic".
post #16 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:46am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
If I hear the phrase "PS3 demographic" one more time....

It's not the "PS3 demographic." It's the "teen/young adult males that have disposable income to which every company in the entertainment industry caters to, from television to music to home video demographic". It's been around for decades.
Hey, if some of us can use the term Joe6Pack for non-HT enthusiasts then HT enthusiasts shouldn't be offended with the term "PS3 demographic" which is a lot more pleasant sounding term to me?




Crawdaddy
post #17 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:53am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette
That's why I put PS3 demographic in quotes. After all, you have to admit it is a lot easier to type than "teen/young adult males that have disposable income to which every company in the entertainment industry caters to, from television to music to home video demographic".
:p
post #18 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:55am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Some of us who own PS3s and are in that demographic do not conform to the stereotype. I know I don't.
post #19 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:57am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
Some of us who own PS3s and are in that demographic do not conform to the stereotype. I know I don't.
What stereotype are you talking about???? Then some of us shouldn't be using that other term to describe non-HT enthusiasts because many of them don't conform to that stereotype.




Crawdaddy
post #20 of 30
4/17/08 at 10:36am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
Some of us who own PS3s and are in that demographic do not conform to the stereotype. I know I don't.

Yes, clearly it is not 'fair' to everyone. Afterall, what stereotype is? The point is that the studios believe that Blu-ray Disc's customer base consists mostly of teen/young adult males, so that is what they're going to gear their offerings towards. The PS3 gets 'blamed' because it is geared toward those same teen/young adult males, and it exasperates the format's perception as such because it currently the best BD player on the market for the money.

I seem to remember DVD going through this phase also in 1999, when I adopted that format, even without a video game console being the primary player. Although I believe it was starting to tail off by then. If BD wants to break out of this mold it will need to offer some fully spec'ed, affordable players by 2009. I think they will.

My 'PS 3 demographic' comment is really born of a lack of anything better to call it. No offense is intended. In fact, I even own a PS3 as my secondary BD player. I'm merely grousing that Universal's offerings are a bit of 'cold water in the face' to how far the format has to grow before it can begin to approach the selection I have become accustomed to receiving from DVD.
post #21 of 30
4/17/08 at 10:51am

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

The studios might target other demographics more if they, overall, bought more stuff.

Let's face it - men over 30 buy less stuff than men under 30. And women of all ages buy less than men. It all comes down to what sells, and The Mummy is gonna outsell The Sting, especially with a brand new sequel in theaters.

Not to say they won't eventually get to The Sting. But I know if i was trying to build the market I'd go with releasing The Mummy first. That's called "smartly catering to your largest customer base".
post #22 of 30
4/17/08 at 12:12pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

I'm a huge fan of Judd Apatow so it's nice (but hardly surprising) to see The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up coming out. I'll also pick up Land Of The Dead too.
post #23 of 30
4/17/08 at 1:09pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
And women of all ages buy less than men.

You've never met my mom and dad. My dad hates shopping, even for groceries. My mom loves it.

Maybe it would be wise to try and grow more customer bases as well as satisfying an existing one.
post #24 of 30
4/17/08 at 1:45pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MatthewA
You've never met my mom and dad. My dad hates shopping, even for groceries. My mom loves it.

Maybe it would be wise to try and grow more customer bases as well as satisfying an existing one.
Women buy less media than men as a whole. Of course, there are always exceptions. But one needs to only see the demographics of message boards based on Home Theater to see the disparity on home entertainment interests between men and women.
post #25 of 30
4/17/08 at 1:48pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Nice to to Universal coming into the Blu Ray fold. I'll double dip "Heroes" so I can have the whole series on BD; plus I will probably buy the Mummy/Scorpion king films July 22 even though I have the HD DVD's already.
post #26 of 30
4/17/08 at 4:47pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein
Official Press Release and continued discussion HERE
looks like this thread beat the "breaking news" topic by 6 hours.

maybe a merge.

anyway it sure took awhile now were is paramount, dreamworks.
post #27 of 30
4/17/08 at 5:30pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Person(s) who use the stretch mode so their pan & scan DVD's can fill up the screen on their brand new 16X9 HD TV's = Joe six-pack and Jane wine-in-a-box

Person(s) Universal initially targeted to appeal to bitchin explosions or dick jokes with titles like Mummy The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 Land of the Dead = The HD DVD Demographic

Person(s) who make derogatory statements towards PS3 owners = Home Theater Bigots



post #28 of 30
4/17/08 at 5:33pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

post #29 of 30
4/17/08 at 7:04pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

Recommend conversation contiues in the other thread since the mods will likely close this one..
post #30 of 30
4/17/08 at 9:48pm

Re: Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)

This conversation has moved to HERE.
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Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › Reuters: Universal Official Blu-ray Title announcements later today (4/17)