Seriously, good to see some more HD DVD release being planned from Universal, although there aren't many must-buys on this list for me personally. Of these, I would buy:
The Game (maybe) The Big Lebowski Monty Python's The Meaning of Life The Bourne Identity Legend (maybe) Darkman (maybe) Heroes: Season One (maybe, would be a blind-buy) Battlestar Galactica: Season One
Edited to add:
OK, WTF, I just peaked at the SD DVD Universal releases, and I saw this:
August - Flash Gordon: Savior of the Universe Edition
Why the hell isn't this being offered on HD DVD!!!!!?????
This is good news for HD-DVD. But there might be a glimmer of hope for BD fans also...
From the rumor mill posting at the Bits:
"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."
It remains to be seen if he is talking about new information that he has an inside scoop on, or if he is just talking about old news and making guesses anyone one us us here could also make.
The news about Universal's new leadership is several weeks (or is it more) old. And during all this time it has been said that the head of the home video division remains where he is.
Maybe something new that hasn't been reported yet is going on, but I wouldn't assume anything until more information comes out.
I do think it would be a good thing if Universal decided to release on BD as well as HD DVD. I think at that point, the format war would be over from most consumers' perspectives.
Back to the original information, though. I think these titles will make about 60ish releases through September (including the ones already released/announced this year). So if they plan on hitting the 100 titles promise, they should be releasing about 40 additional titles October through December.
I wonder if there will be additional titles in August besides Heroes: season one?
Well I'll definitely be picking up Heroes and BSG. I've purposely been waiting for BSG in HD. Any idea if this is strictly the first season or will it contain the miniseries as well? The other titles don't interest me too much. At least not right this minute.
Some truly nice HD DVD films on that list. I counted about 12-15 that could easily be in my collection. Time to sell some of my plasma.
Can't wait for :
Bruce Almighty Liar Liar The Frighteners!!!!! Big Lebowski The Game Dragonheart The Bourne Identity!!!! Breach Battlestar Gallactica Scent of a Woman In Good Company Heroes S1 Sea of Love
I find these title of most interest. Looks like 2007 is going to be a costly as 2006 . And this is just the Universal releases. Still have Fox Disney Paramount and Disney to contend with.
The Good Shepherd Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind The Nutty Professor Smokey and the Bandit Midnight Run The Frighteners (Can't wait for this) The Big Lebowski Born on the 4th of July Daylight (Maybe) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Meet Joe Black Mallrats Being John Malkovich Mystery Men Dante's Peak The Bourne Identity Streets of Fire Darkman Shaun of the Dead Heroes: Season One The Last Starfighter Legend Battlestar Galactica: Season One Patch Adams Cat People (original Yes, remake no)
You can scratch it off your list then because it's the remake. To me, that's the weirdest title on that list. Were that that many people thinking "Man, I can't wait to get ahold of the Cat People remake in high def!"
Dude, why don't you give Bill the benefit of the doubt. If he really wanted to sabotage HD-DVD. He could do a lot more than making up this comment. Also, if he was to make up a comment such as this...I would have to think someone from Universal would be coming down on him hard.
He posted nothing new in that little aside at the end. It's the same idle speculation done countless times on many forums by every uninformed guy who's read an article about Universal recently.
If he actually knew more, he would have either posted more or less, depending on the circumstances. He wouldn't have posted a comment that just makes him sound like any Joe Schmoe on the internet a week ago.
I mean, just look at the comment. "Things could change." Of course they could change. Anything could change. The sheer weaselly imprecision of it screams that there's no solid information of any kind behind it. He doesn't even tease you to come back soon for more information when he has it or is allowed to release it.
Given his none-too-shy opinion on the format war, both recent and long past, and given what he actually said in that aside, rather then what some people may want him to have said (which was the whole point of the comment; I'll give him that much, it served its purpose), I think my response is entirely called for.