HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on May 1st, 2007

May gets off to a slow start this week, but stayed tuned things are going to get interesting this month. The biggest title this week is Dreamgirls and available for both formats in a 2 disc set, but unlike other dual format releases these two don't share the same encode, but according to Hi-Def Digest, both Blu-ray's MPEG2 and HD DVD VC1 versions "look terrific either way". What isn't equal about these two versions is the audio, once again Paramount (distributor) shafts Blu-ray owners offering only 640Kbps DD 5.1, while HD DVD fans get a 1.5Mbps DD+ 5.1 audio track. Lionsgate is offering the only other Blu-ray movie this week with Happily N'Ever After and Universal has the remake of The Hitcher and Alpha Dog.

HD DVD 184 vs Blu-ray 212.

Blu-ray

• Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
• Happily N'Ever After (Lionsgate Entetainment)

HD DVD

• Alpha Dog (Universal)
• Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
• The Hitcher (2007) (Universal)

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2007 1:40PM]

has anyone seen any BD movies with DTS yet?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2007 2:28PM]

I haven't.

[tk24 Posted Apr 30th 2007 2:25PM]

All Fox movies have a DTS HD Master Audio track, and since there is no device that can decode that yet, it plays in a 'core' DTS track that runs at 1.5 Mbps.

Also a few of Lion's Gate titles have DTS HD tracks (NOT the same thing as DTS HD Master Audio).

[Gipper Posted Apr 30th 2007 4:27PM]

Another round of "must have" titles from both camps. "must have what?" I have to say.

Sorry but the releases from both sides have been pretty pathetic to date, excepting of course Bond.

[LiqwidZero Posted Apr 30th 2007 5:14PM]

Sorry, but you need to watch Fearless on HD DVD. Great movie.

[Gipper Posted Apr 30th 2007 5:15PM]

I'll check into it. Thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2007 5:29PM]

Fearless was great, and so was Serenity. Loved them both.

As for our current crop this week. Meh? Thats the only word coming to mind really. Happily N'ever After was like a toned down version of Shrek (if that was even possible), Dreamgirls was an obvious ploy at trying to earn an oscar or two (seriously thats why they made the movie), and The Hitcher looks pretty generic.

Alpha Dog is the only one that really stands out, but despite my friends telling me it was actually a pretty good movie I can't seem to get over Justin Timberlake. I might pick it up if I got some spare cash left over from payday this week.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2007 10:57PM]

DON'T buy or even watch "The Hitcher" the movie is horrible...

[(Unverified) Posted May 1st 2007 8:56AM]

is there a way to get a list of all the HD-DVD they have accounted for? I think there is like 10+ titles they did not include which are really small but cool releases that i happen to own and plan to own like the aquarium one, one called nature's color, the documentary's about italy, china, brazil, and australia, and others. Go to amazon and look at them.