More Warner HD DVDs in October - Art & Specs added
12-10-2006 20:47 | 6869 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
Warner Home Video have announced the HD DVD release of 3 films for 31st October 2006. Priced at $28.99 SRP each are the Wachowski brothers interpretation of V for Vendetta, director John Boorman’s fantasy tale Excalibur and Steven Seagal’s angry chef in Under Siege.
V for Vendetta makes its HD DVD debut with In-Movie Experience (IME), the interactive feature allowing viewers to enjoy new ways of accessing interviews and other material -- while the movie is running. The IME for V for Vendetta features the "Director's Notebook: Reimagining a Cult Classic for the 21st Century."
All bonus materials on the Standard Definition versions of these titles will be included on the HD DVD releases.
Details follow...
V for Vendetta
Main Feature:
In-Movie Experience – Director’s Notebook: Reimagining a Cult Classic for the 21st Century - Director James McTeigue (joined by stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving and other creative team members) traces in detail the V saga from graphic novel origin through the movie’s execution.
Additional Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
Excalibur
Main Feature:
Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
Under Siege
Main Feature:
Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
V for Vendetta makes its HD DVD debut with In-Movie Experience (IME), the interactive feature allowing viewers to enjoy new ways of accessing interviews and other material -- while the movie is running. The IME for V for Vendetta features the "Director's Notebook: Reimagining a Cult Classic for the 21st Century."
All bonus materials on the Standard Definition versions of these titles will be included on the HD DVD releases.
Details follow...
V for Vendetta
Main Feature:
- 1080P 2.40:1 Widescreen
- Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1
- Dolby Digital-Plus: English 5.1, French 5.1
- English, French and Spanish subtitles
In-Movie Experience – Director’s Notebook: Reimagining a Cult Classic for the 21st Century - Director James McTeigue (joined by stars Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving and other creative team members) traces in detail the V saga from graphic novel origin through the movie’s execution.
Additional Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
- Designing the Near Future
- Remember, Remember: Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
- England Prevails: V For Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics
- Freedom! Forever!: Making V For Vendetta
- Saturday Night Live Digital Short
- Cat Power Montage
- Theatrical Trailer
Excalibur
Main Feature:
- 1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
- Dolby Digital-Plus:English 5.1, French 1.0, Spanish 1.0
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
- Commentary by Director John Boorman
- Theatrical Trailer
Under Siege
Main Feature:
- 1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
- Dolby Digital-Plus:English 5.1, French 5.1, Spanish 2.0
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Extra Features are presented in Standard Definition and are identical to those found on the DVD release:
- Theatrical Trailer
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Originally Posted by colderclimate:
Given the rise of NTSC discs being released in the UK and the fact there's little point re-encoding NTSC HD masters to PAL and having that old egg of PAL speed-up resurface, can anyone confirm whether the first wave of UK HD discs are indeed NTSC or PAL?
Amir from Microsoft has said on the AVS Forums that everything from Studio Canal is 24p, which I would imagine bodes well for the other studios. Of course, until the discs are actually available there's no 100% guarantee.
I'm all over V for Vendetta, especially for the In-Movie Experience. I wish I'd had the sense to hold out instead of buying the standard def release when it came out. Might pick up Excalibur too - I've been meaning to see it for some time.
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Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
Amir from Microsoft has said on the AVS Forums that everything from Studio Canal is 24p, which I would imagine bodes well for the other studios. Of course, until the discs are actually available there's no 100% guarantee.
Is this the same Amir that said that Blu-Ray 50 discs were impossible due to the fact the entire conception of the technology was going against the laws of physics?!
Kind of hard to trust a guy after that statement. Especially after your comments of Sony's "lies". In fact they were/are simply all delays!
;)
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Originally Posted by RisingSun:
Is this the same Amir that said that Blu-Ray 50 discs were impossible due to the fact the entire conception of the technology was going against the laws of physics?!
Kind of hard to trust a guy after that statement. Especially after your comments of Sony's "lies". In fact they were/are simply all delays!
;)
Hence the phrase "Of course, until the discs are actually available there's no 100% guarantee." In any event, VC1 encoding is this guy's domain. I'd be a lot more willing to trust what he says regarding that than what he says about Blu-ray discs.
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Originally Posted by colderclimate:
Given the rise of NTSC discs being released in the UK
Really? Many older TVs still can't handle NTSC but granted all LCD/Plasmas should.
Originally Posted by colderclimate:
can anyone confirm whether the first wave of UK HD discs are indeed NTSC or PAL?
AFAIK NTSC and PAL are a thing of the past with HD content. Neither are encoded in NTSC or PAL.
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Originally Posted by bradavon:
AFAIK NTSC and PAL are a thing of the past with HD content. Neither are encoded in NTSC or PAL.
That's correct. As far as I'm aware none of these discs will be compatible with PAL-only screens. Which is fine anyway, because there's no such thing as a PAL-only HD display!
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But there's region coding, still none for HD-DVD as far as I can tell, but Blu-ray will start region coding this fall. I cannot find any titles that this will affect though. Does anyone know when region coding for HD-DVD and Blu-ray will become a fact? (It's only a matter of time I guess)
I am also a bit curious about Warners HD-DVD slate for Europe - still no announcements or prices...
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Originally Posted by valmont_74:
But there's region coding, still none for HD-DVD as far as I can tell, but Blu-ray will start region coding this fall. I cannot find any titles that this will affect though. Does anyone know when region coding for HD-DVD and Blu-ray will become a fact? (It's only a matter of time I guess)
As far as I'm aware, Blu-ray region coding will definitely be happening, before too long. For HD DVD, talks are being held regarding implementing it - the studios are pushing for it, surprise surprise - but nothing has been decided for definite at this point. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before region coding becomes a reality, so in my opinion it would be prudent to pick up an HD DVD player (if you want one, that is) before something is decided on. It is known for a fact that there is no way of forcing a firmware update to implement coding: they'll no doubt make such things available, but they can't make you download them. As such, the current generation (and the next as well, probably) of players can remain completely region free provided you don't mind not updating the firmware beyond a certain point.
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Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
That's correct. As far as I'm aware none of these discs will be compatible with PAL-only screens. Which is fine anyway, because there's no such thing as a PAL-only HD display!
Thanks
Are there any NTSC only HD displays? I'm guessing PAL is still an issue in the States.
Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
so in my opinion it would be prudent to pick up an HD DVD player (if you want one, that is) before something is decided on.
I'm not worried I'm confident it will become the joke DVD regional coding has become. Even the likes of Dixons have sold Multi-region DVD players for years now.
Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
It is known for a fact that there is no way of forcing a firmware update to implement coding: they'll no doubt make such things available, but they can't make you download them.
Well you wouldn't be able to play Dolby True-HD without a firmware upgrade which could've also introduced regional coding ;)
My Pioneer HD/DVDr by default downloads and auto-installs new firmware. Well in theory it's yet to actually do so.
Mike: Don't you mind not being able to play Blu-ray discs? Personally I'm waiting for a winner OR a dual supporting player. I'm happy with either scenario.
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Are there any NTSC only HD displays? I'm guessing PAL is still an issue in the States.
Most HDTVs in America and Japan will not accept a PAL signal. Sharp boasted that their old ones were "worldwide compatible" but I don't know if that's still the case.
It's a shame, the US gets feature-heavy HDTVs with great connectivity, but what's the point if you're limited in what you can watch on it? Likewise, Europe gets 50/60hz compatible stuff which is a feature worth hundreds, but they often have pretty naff connectivity (1 Component input is not enough in the days of the Xbox 360).
The best area in the world for HDTVs seems to be Australia and New Zealand. They seem to avoid the SCART nonsense we get here and also get 50/60hz capable displays.
Mike: Don't you mind not being able to play Blu-ray discs? Personally I'm waiting for a winner OR a dual supporting player. I'm happy with either scenario.
Once Disney start putting some of their animated movies out on Blu-ray I'll miss those, but hopefully it isn't going to be long before we see those on HD DVD...
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Originally Posted by bradavon:
Well you wouldn't be able to play Dolby True-HD without a firmware upgrade which could've also introduced regional coding ;)
Ah well yes, this is true. :D I'm in the habit of reading the contents of any upgrade carefully before downloading, though, and if there came a time when the only way to get new features was also to accept region coding, I suspect I'd pass.
My Pioneer HD/DVDr by default downloads and auto-installs new firmware. Well in theory it's yet to actually do so.
You could always just yank out the network connection if it became a problem in the case of HD DVD. It's not like the ethernet port is currently being used for anything else.
Mike: Don't you mind not being able to play Blu-ray discs? Personally I'm waiting for a winner OR a dual supporting player. I'm happy with either scenario.
Well, I'll tell you the absolute honest truth and say yes, I do mind. In an ideal world I'd like to be able to buy any film I had an interest in, pop it in and play it. Unfortunately, we're stuck with this stupid format war, but for two reasons I'm not going to buy to players. The first and most obvious reason is that I simply don't have the money. The second is that I'm of the opinion that supporting two formats at once is only going to contribute to dragging the war out for longer. It's far better for all those concerned if we a winner emerges early on. Not that this will necessarily happen, but I'm confident that, if sales continue as they are at present, Disney will go dual-format. Lions Gate are already gearing up to support HD DVD - this much is basically common knowledge, although they haven't made any official announcements, so I know it would be highly hypocritical of me to accept this at face value given that I'm adopting a "believe it when I see it" attitude towards Sony! Fox will be harder to budge, given how paranoid they are about security, and their derogatory remarks publicly directed towards HD DVD. I'm very much of the opinion, though, that they must come to me rather than me going to them, and I'm sure eventually they'll go where the money is. Sony, I expect, will fall on their own sword. They've invested so much in Blu-ray that I strongly suspect that its failure would have massive ramifications for them.
I do envy your patience in waiting for a dual-format player, though. Personally, I couldn't do it!
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Still they will leave with a BD50 version of The Descent with Picture and Picture + a 6.1 PCM soundtrack. + extras. Something I doubt a HD-DVD30 disc can do.
But if you think the format is over before the mass market has the chance of tasting the PS3 and good BD titles you may be may thinking pre-maturely.
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The best area in the world for HDTVs seems to be Australia and New Zealand. They seem to avoid the SCART nonsense we get here and also get 50/60hz capable displays.
True but then they use Composite instead. I know which nonsense I'd prefer.
Are you saying USA HD-TVs as standard have 2 HDMI and 2 Component? Agreed one of each isn't enough.
Most HDTVs in America and Japan will not accept a PAL signal.
Thanks and exactly. There's no reason why they're shouldn't, demand I guess but then how many people in Europe and Australasia actually care about NTSC?
it's a combination of there being enough good stuff from the likes of Warner and Universal on HD DVD, and not enough good Blu-ray exclusives. There's very little on BD right now that I miss not being able to play.
Fair enough but I'm not sure "enough good stuff" would be sufficient for me. A good film can come out of any studio.
There are already some good stuff out on Blu-ray even if the best stuff is so far definitely out on HD-DVD.
You could always just yank out the network connection if it became a problem in the case of HD DVD. It's not like the ethernet port is currently being used for anything else.
You have to upgrade by Ethernet??? :confused: Why not a DVDr or CDr???
I do envy your patience in waiting for a dual-format player, though. Personally, I couldn't do it!
Thanks as usual Mike for the comments.
I kicked myself I didn't get a dual DVD-A/SACD player originally when I got a Panasonic DVD player that could just do DVD-A, I don't want to do that again.
I too don't want two players as A: Blu-ray is bloody expensive, B: Where am I supposed to put so much kit? and C: I only have 1 Component and 1 HDMI on my TV so am limited for ports (I really dislike switcher boxes if I can help it).
I already own two DVD players (ones a HD/DVDr) if I am to keep SACD/DVD-A I'd have to own three. THREE DVD players stacked on top of each other is OTT.
I also hate the idea of 12 months time owning a dead piece of hardware and lots of useless discs when one or the other dies (if that happens).
Originally Posted by RisingSun:
Still they will leave with a BD50 version of The Descent with Picture and Picture + a 6.1 PCM soundtrack. + extras. Something I doubt a HD-DVD30 disc can do.
Give it a rest.
Agreed the PS3 will be the real test of Blu-ray, although in reality I can see the vast majority of the PS3's usage being games only a small percentage Blu-ray.
Give it to the Spring and then we'll really know whose winning.
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Originally Posted by bradavon:
You have to upgrade by Ethernet??? :confused: Why not a DVDr or CDr???
You can do either. Either way the logic is the same: there's nothing forcing you to upgrade.
There are already some good stuff out on Blu-ray even if the best stuff is so far definitely out on HD-DVD.
I'll be the first to agree. The number of titles on HD DVD that I want far outnumber those on Blu-ray that I'm interested in (and most of them are from Universal, who as we all know are HD DVD exclusive), but I can't deny that I'd pick up Kingdom of Heaven, The Devil's Rejects, The Descent and American Pyscho if I could. Although, if Lions Gate is to support HD DVD, then the latter three shouldn't be a problem.
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Originally Posted by bradavon:
Is KOH out on Blu-ray already???
Not yet, but the director's cut is due to be released on November 14th. Unfortunately it seems to be bare-bones.
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Originally Posted by RisingSun:
Yes, Lionsgate have switched over it pains me to say. :(
Still they will leave with a BD50 version of The Descent with Picture and Picture + a 6.1 PCM soundtrack. + extras. Something I doubt a HD-DVD30 disc can do.
"Switched over"? As in abandoned Blu-ray completely in favour of HD DVD? That's the first I've heard of them going that far - the general buzz has been that they will be dual-format. Do you have a source on that at all?
Anyway, I'm kind of surprised at The Descent being a BD50. Warner were able to do Constantine with PiP commentary (In-Movie Experience), Dolby TrueHD and a large number of extras on an HD30. Then again, I'm assuming Lions Gate are still using MPEG2?
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Originally Posted by bradavon:
The best area in the world for HDTVs seems to be Australia and New Zealand. They seem to avoid the SCART nonsense we get here and also get 50/60hz capable displays.
True but then they use Composite instead. I know which nonsense I'd prefer.
Huh? Australian and NZ HDTVs use component and HDMI connections. Composite cannot carry HD signals.
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I'm willing to bet most homes use composite as their primary source for DVD or STBs, no?
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Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
As far as I'm aware, Blu-ray region coding will definitely be happening, before too long. For HD DVD, talks are being held regarding implementing it - the studios are pushing for it, surprise surprise - but nothing has been decided for definite at this point. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before region coding becomes a reality, so in my opinion it would be prudent to pick up an HD DVD player (if you want one, that is) before something is decided on. It is known for a fact that there is no way of forcing a firmware update to implement coding: they'll no doubt make such things available, but they can't make you download them. As such, the current generation (and the next as well, probably) of players can remain completely region free provided you don't mind not updating the firmware beyond a certain point.
So there is nothing in the hardware allready built in that will make the player Region 1 or 2? If the region coding will be a software update provided via the internet or by a CD, then I am sure a patch that will make the player region free can just as easily be installed? If someone thinks it up that is ;)
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Originally Posted by valmont_74:
So there is nothing in the hardware allready built in that will make the player Region 1 or 2? If the region coding will be a software update provided via the internet or by a CD, then I am sure a patch that will make the player region free can just as easily be installed? If someone thinks it up that is ;)
My understanding is that they don't even know how they're going to arrange the region codes, much less have any support in the hardware for them.
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I was annoyed to hear it too so don't go moaning at me :D
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