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Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans! - Page 2

post #31 of 88
4/17/08 at 9:02pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
I can't answer for Paul but I think that's part of the negative fan and critical reaction to S2. However, another larger part of it is that S2 just isn't as good as S1.

Heroes creator Tim Kring did an interview with Entertainment Weekly a few months ago where he was brutally honest about (and, in some cases, overly critical) and acknowledged the problems with the second year. Apparently, he's been working on a more detailed idea of where he wants to go with the show in future seasons which will hopefully thwart any major missteps in the future.

I thought parts of S2 were very good, but it also wandered a bit too much at the beginning. OF course, we watched it several shows at a time as we had saved them up on the DVR. I plays better that way for us.

I'm glad Universal has announced their Blu-intentions. I a bit bummed that my season 1 will be red and season 2 will be blue. I'm also not fired up about the announcements other than the fact that we now know some of what is coming and when.

More stuff on HD media = good.
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post #32 of 88
4/17/08 at 10:09pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Robertson
..but the real question is-- will they be barebones or include features that take advantage of the format?

Of course I don´t know what extras are included at this point, but why they would be "barebones", when most of those HD DVD-releases at least ported all the extras from the SD DVDs? I doubt, that they´ll think: "Oh well, since HD DVD is gone, let´s release these without extras just to piss people off".

I have faith for Universal.

Btw. About "Heroes". I bought the "S1"-set (HD DVD), but I still haven´t watch it.
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post #33 of 88
4/18/08 at 6:08am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_Stachniak
Wow, that's an awful list. Not even the new Bourne film. Or Apollo 13 - anything decent.

Still, nice to see they're getting underway.

I feel the same way. There's really nothing there I'll be buying, but on the other hand with no announcement yet for "Bourne", it gives the studio time to really give the films a solid Blu-ray release. I don't want them rushed out onto the market. I'm in no hurry.
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post #34 of 88
4/18/08 at 6:35am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

If I missed someone mentioning this in the thread, my apologies in advance, but one thing I can never be reminded about enough with Universal and their Blu-ray releases:

NONE OF THESE WILL BE FRAAKIN' COMBO DISCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo Hoo!
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post #35 of 88
4/18/08 at 7:12am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_Scott
Paul, could part of your disappointment have been due to seeing the show via small doses (with distractions) staggered over weeks and months or do you think the content was honestly less satisfying? Reason I ask is I noticed many reviewers of the season 1 set say how much better they felt it played revisiting it on disc as opposed to watching it unfold week to week. That is something I can easily understand and why I don't miss conventional tv watching anymore. The bugs , the commercials, 40 minutes of plot advancement having to last 7 days or longer is maddening. Think the season might play better if you're watching 3 or 4 hours of it at a clip- or is it just too scattershot , contrived, or otherwise fundementally flawed for that to help?

It may have a bit to do with it, but if it does I don't think it is that much. Granted one of my most memorable TV viewing experiences was catching up on five seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in a 5-days-a-week 'marathon' format on FX, but mostly I will agree with creator Tim Kring and the others that the initial episodes were just sub-par. The story meandered in the begining, too much time was spent with not very interesting new character while neglecting the old ones, the new 'big bad' was telegraphed from a mile away, the stakes weren't high enough, soon enough, and the 'threat' was too similar to S1.

Below is a link to an EW article where Kring outlines some of the missteps with S2. I think he's right on the money. It is refreshing to see a creator accept responsibility for mistakes, and he seems to have a genuine desire to rectify them, which is why I say that, for as big a letdown as S2 was for me, I am willing to give S3 a try.

''Heroes'' creator to fans: I'm super sorry | Heroes | TV News | TV | Entertainment Weekly

I now return you to your regularly scheduled topic...
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post #36 of 88
4/18/08 at 7:13am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn.F
NONE OF THESE WILL BE FRAAKIN' COMBO DISCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo Hoo!
Yeah, that being able to play them on every machine in the house sucks.
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post #37 of 88
4/18/08 at 7:56am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn.F
INONE OF THESE WILL BE FRAAKIN' COMBO DISCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen.
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post #38 of 88
4/18/08 at 11:29am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
Yeah, that being able to play them on every machine in the house sucks.

Not a problem if you have more than one machine.
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post #39 of 88
4/18/08 at 4:07pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Wow, that's an awful list
I agree 110%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing there to earn my $$$!!!
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post #40 of 88
4/18/08 at 6:25pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Yeah, it's good news long in the coming, but not exactly great news due to the somewhat lackluster list of titles mentioned so far.

STILL, what did y'all really expect? It's Universal afterall (and they're still in the business to make $$$ last I checked) -- and the market hasn't changed *that* much just yet. OTOH, didn't they mention somewhere they plan to release some 40 odd titles this year -- apparently w/ just a tad less than 1/2 the year left when the first wave arrives in late July?

Anyway, I will no doubt be buying a few titles from them this year since I enjoy variety for my collection and won't stick my nose up at everything that appeals to the "PS3 demographic". Heck, the wife and I just got around to enjoying The Mummy on DVD again just the other day.

_Man_
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post #41 of 88
4/18/08 at 7:11pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Paul A (and everyone else who chimed in) that was a great overview and covered every aspect I was curious about. Sounds like I'll just be renting this season.
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post #42 of 88
4/18/08 at 7:17pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

If there is one Universal Blu-ray release I am already looking forward to, it is Leatherheads. I saw the movie at the theaters this past Sunday and liked it despite the mixed reviews the critics heaped upon it.

Sadly, with the passing of HD DVD goes the passing of combo discs I liked with them. Many of my Universal HD DVD titles are combo discs.

However, with Universal moving into the Blu-ray field, I look forward to this Roarin' 20s football romp!!!!!! It will be fun in Blu--just like the Duluth Bulldogs' uniforms!!!!!
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post #43 of 88
4/19/08 at 12:10pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

To be honest, the only new film I have any intention of seeing is Mamma Mia, and whether I like it enough to buy the BD, let alone at all, remains to be seen.
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post #44 of 88
4/19/08 at 1:08pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

I don't know if there'll be another Bourne film produced or not, but if so, perhaps Universal is holding back the BD releases of the trilogy until then.

I still think it'll take some time for them to release all of the catalog HD-DVD titles on BD. The titles they announced in the press release either have a movie tie-in (The Mummy series) or they were released theatrically within the last two years (Knocked Up, Land of the Dead etc.). Of course, when they were released on HD-DVD they were new day/date titles. Catalog to me would be Streets of Fire, The Thing, The Pianist, Big Liebowski, Dune, Spartacus, The Deer Hunter, The Sting, etc. Seeing how poorly catalog titles had sold on both formats, they might wait a year or so before they start releasing some of these previously released older titles. Regardless, I'll enjoy the ones I already have on HD-DVD and will only double-dip IF the BD release improves on it in some substantial way.
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post #45 of 88
4/20/08 at 5:37am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Well at least Universal has released the information on what we can exspect to see released on Blu-ray. Now if Paramount will get off there rear end and release title information.

Universal has alot of work ahead of them just to re-release there HD-DVD catalog to Blu-ray. Plus they will have to deal with new releases and catalog titles that need to be preped for HD release. I hope we see some of there big titles in the next two years like American Graffiti, Back To The Future, Jurassic Park, American Gangster, Bourne Trilogy, The Birds, Battlestar Galactica (New Series), ET, Scarface and others. My main gripe was that Universal was not letting us know what we could exspect to see on Blu-ray. At least now we have an idea what is coming to Blu-ray and I am glad they are going to have some titles out soon.
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post #46 of 88
4/20/08 at 7:22am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Not up for pre-order yet but DVDAF is listing the MSRP for the Mummy films at $34.98 which is a bit on the high side for catalogs considering they'll probably be priced around $25.

That'll make me a little more selective on what I want to upgrade to BD.
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post #47 of 88
4/20/08 at 1:44pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

I was wondering what Uni's Blu-ray price-tier would look like. I'm thinking it'll probably be $39.95 for new day/date releases (same as the HD-DVD combos were) and $34.95 for catalog titles. Definitely on the pricey end, but Uni has no experience with blu-ray, so I'm sure this'll all be trial and error for them starting out. Since they did announce Heroes S1 & 2 for August, I do expect them to annouce BSG season sets soon. Hopefully we'll see some of them by the 4th quarter.
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post #48 of 88
4/20/08 at 8:23pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Peter Jackson’s KING KONG would make for another cool Blu-ray release.
Hopefully, it will be another early title from Universal.
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post #49 of 88
4/20/08 at 8:55pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Ang Lee's "The Hulk" would be a sensible release what with The Incredible Hulk coming out this summer.

As for people knocking Heroes S2, it's really hard to say too much bad about it considering the abreviated season was caused by the writers strike. Hopefully it will be priced accordingly.
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post #50 of 88
4/21/08 at 8:40am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Derek M Germano
Peter Jackson’s KING KONG would make for another cool Blu-ray release.

Agreed. "Extended cut" would be also great. Since "Kong" was one of the first HD DVD-releases, it´s possible that they´re willing to upgrade now (when it´s coming to Blu at some point).
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post #51 of 88
4/21/08 at 9:53am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

The extended version of King Kong with TrueHD would be very nice.
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post #52 of 88
4/21/08 at 11:29am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric F
Ang Lee's "The Hulk" would be a sensible release what with The Incredible Hulk coming out this summer.
Maybe they'll release it at the same time that the sequel hits Blu Ray and DVD?
Quote:
As for people knocking Heroes S2, it's really hard to say too much bad about it considering the abreviated season was caused by the writers strike. Hopefully it will be priced accordingly.
If the number of episodes on the Lost: S3 discs is any indicator, the entire season should fit on three discs so I'm hoping it's fairly priced too.
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post #53 of 88
4/21/08 at 12:08pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
Maybe they'll release [The Hulk] at the same time that the sequel hits Blu Ray and DVD?
I don't know... I'm not planning to upgrade because I've got a perfectly good HD DVD, but I sort of get the feeling that Universal and Marvel are trying to sell The Incredible Hulk as though Ang Lee's film doesn't exist, and they might actually want to hold it back to avoid confusion.
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post #54 of 88
4/21/08 at 12:51pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Well being the cautious one I waited the format war out, until there was a clear winner, more cost effective in that aspect, and after reading that list, I can see some of Universals, tailoring the release list that way. As for Catalog items, does ten years or last year count as a catalog item? I can also see them doing the Movie tie-ins’. ‘But lets take a look at the bigger picture, first they are coming in to the blu camp late, so now they have to make selective choices, to catch up, and it seems as if they are going with what did really good on SD and HD in the past. But for those in the industry if you are reading this, this is the general break down

1930’s Universal Horror
Dracula / Frankenstein / Invisible Man / Bride/ Wolfman (this should be a no-brainer with the new version coming out! And Creature from the Black Lagoon Restored/Re-mastered/sound corrected, and if that rumor of the missing footage that was found is true then put it back in and give us the road show version .By all that I mean what WB does in there Ultra- Resolution Process

This is the one series that has constantly made money for the studio and is the most enduring to the fans; give it the right treatment,


Sparatacus, yes I know an HD version was released, but compared to the SD release by Criterion, it is lacking in some additional features. You have one Kubrick title, his fans are rabid to say the least, do this right. Myself included.


And as the joke goes , you have one of the Holy Trilogies, well now that star wars is no longer a trilogy, and neither is Indiana jones then I guess you have it.

Back to the Future, Box Set, and single disc releases, of each film, the sd version was nice, but this set deserves more and with Zemeckis’ involvement would be a way to usher in you new HD format
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post #55 of 88
4/21/08 at 12:57pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
I don't know... I'm not planning to upgrade because I've got a perfectly good HD DVD, but I sort of get the feeling that Universal and Marvel are trying to sell The Incredible Hulk as though Ang Lee's film doesn't exist, and they might actually want to hold it back to avoid confusion.

That's the feeling I get as well. I'm virtually certain that this is the reason it didn't get announced with the initial slate that included the Mummy movies.

It should be interesting to see how The Incredible Hulk's box office success or lack thereof affects the propsects for Ang Lee's Hulk making it to Blu-ray Disc. If I were a betting man, I'd say The Incredible Hulk is going to tank too, and you'll see both on BD this fall as a result. At that point Universal won't care who is 'confused'.
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post #56 of 88
4/21/08 at 4:37pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

I don't know I think I'm underwhelmed by the whole Format thing. I have about 30 HD-DVD's and about an equal number of Blu Ray, and I've been spending more time of late going back and watching DVD Titles. I'm also converting them over to My Apple TV and to tell you the truth they look pretty dang Spiffy upconverted to 1080p from a good H264 encode, watched Juno the other Night and it looked great, got the DVD for $10, maybe I'll be more enthused on Blu when it hits the same price point. But Maybe not, having my Library available on my Network is proving to be very Enticing.
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post #57 of 88
4/21/08 at 5:09pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

There are only a few Universal HD-DVD titles that I will replace with Blu-ray because of the lack of lossless audio. I will keep the rest of my Universal HD-DVD's as they are good enough and I do not feel the need to replace them. I am however ready for some new titles from Universal on Blu-ray and will add those to my HD collection as soon as they are released.
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post #58 of 88
4/21/08 at 8:18pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Originally Posted by dana martin
1930’s Universal Horror
Dracula / Frankenstein / Invisible Man / Bride/ Wolfman (this should be a no-brainer with the new version coming out! And Creature from the Black Lagoon Restored/Re-mastered/sound corrected, and if that rumor of the missing footage that was found is true then put it back in and give us the road show version .By all that I mean what WB does in there Ultra- Resolution Process

I concur, Universal Horror classics need to be on Blu-ray. The titles would need a trip through Lowry/DTS for cleanup to look truly amazing. CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and its sequels need to go wide screen for Blu-ray. Also, THIS ISLAND EARTH should be wide screen and could use something akin to the Ultra-Resolution process to bring back the IB Technicolor look on Blu-ray.
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post #59 of 88
4/21/08 at 9:12pm

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Widescreen, nothing; Creature needs to be returned to its 3-D glory.
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post #60 of 88
4/22/08 at 1:11am

Re: Breaking News: Universal Announces Blu-ray plans!

Quote:
Universal Horror classics need to be on Blu-ray.

It's going to be awhile. Classic titles like that don't move enough unts to make their release worthwhile yet.
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