Michael Bay singlehandedly wins the HD format war

Finally, Michael Bay has stepped down from Cheese Mountain to pontificate on the finer points of the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray war. Speaking from the inner-sanctum of his lair -- located equidistant from the Church of Scientology and a gigantic cotton candy stand -- Mr. Bay reminds us that, "Blu-ray's better, and I told everyone," then goes on to further prop himself by adding, "I was very vocal about it. I knew HD [DVD] was not going to make it." We're glad that Bay can sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that the mere "quality" of the formats decided the winner of this battle, rather than massive business partnerships fueled by the desire for marketshare. He wrapped up his message (actually given at an awards ceremony held by the Visual Effects Society) by saying, "Am I thrilled? It really wasn't my fight, but remember what I said in the press? I was kind of saying HD [DVD]'s going to lose... No one believed me." He then slammed a trophy he was receiving to the floor, pointed to the packed room, and yelled, "In your face, HD DVD!"

[Via Blu-ray, thanks Kiwi616]

[nxtiak @ Feb 14th 2008 11:07AM]

Douchebag.
I mean, Douchebay.

[RyanTV @ Feb 14th 2008 11:32AM]

Agreed. This guy needs to get off his high horse and realize that he makes crappy movies no matter what format they are on.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 11:56AM]

I'm sure he's made more money on his movies than you have on your far superior ones.

I'm just sayin'

[Jeremy @ Feb 14th 2008 12:05PM]

This guy is insane.

[ByronGman @ Feb 14th 2008 1:02PM]

@ Andir3.0

Just cause we can't all make movies doesn't mean we can't criticize the people who do and suck at it and are morons anyway.

And yes he is a moron... this entire war is about business deals and exclusivity, not quality. And frankly, I don't think this format's life cycle is going to be that long...

It is kind of telling that both Apple and Microsoft are mobilizing on the digital download front and not on the physical disc market. I think its entirely plausible that within 5-6 years this kind of media will being chewing apart Blu-Ray. I believe this is why Microsoft excluded an HD-DVD drive from the 360. In a few years it won't make any difference because you'll get everything via Live and a hi def disc player would just be dead weight for the console.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 1:27PM]

Unless Microsoft and Apple are investing heavily in ISP bandwidth... it's going to be a while.

[RyanTV @ Feb 14th 2008 2:04PM]

@Andir3.0
I never claimed to be a film maker. I am, however, a film watcher which gives me every right to call his movies crap.

and on top of that, who is he to say "I TOLD YOU SO, Blu-Ray blah blah blah". Like he was the ONLY person in the world that was in the Blu-Ray camp or like he actually had any role in it winning.

[FrankTheCrank @ Feb 14th 2008 2:16PM]

Wow..some of you guys are really sore about the whole thing huh?

You guys were the same ones that were creaming your jeans when Transformers was announced on HD-DVD.

Now look at you now...a bunch of sore losers.

Well, at least you have your Transformers on HD-DVD. Then you can follow up with The Matrix Trilogy. Then back to Transformers...then The Matrix...so on and so forth.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 14th 2008 2:21PM]

I don't agree that Digital Downloads are the future. I personally like owning a physical copy of my media. The idea of VoD is a good one, but that is different from buying the content, that is just renting it. When I actually buy the content I want to own something with the content on it rather than a volatile HDD with an image of it.

Taking games as an example. I currently own ~30 360 games. That means I would need a HDD that is over 250gb built into my 360, and then when I want more games I would need more HDD. Also if the HDD died it would take ages to download the games again. Changing HDDs would be no different from changing discs, so having numerous smaller HDD is no alternative.

Plus the current ADSL network is so poor, that downloading HD movies would be very tedious.

[Lars @ Feb 14th 2008 2:23PM]

@ByronGman

Call me old fogey-ish, but I'm not dropping physical media in exchange for digital downloads any time soon. Three reasons (which are really important to me): quality, storage, DRM.

I mean, if downloads became much cheaper than their physical counterparts AND DRM-free then I'd definitely buy SOME that way. Not the stuff that I really care about though.

[Carbonize @ Feb 14th 2008 4:11PM]

@Lars - And you think your physical copy is DRM free? Hell Blu-Ray probably has more DRM per disc than the whole of the iTunes catalogue.


Anyway who pays to download films ;-)

[ByronGman @ Feb 14th 2008 10:35PM]

I can see the points everyone in making, but I think that these are issues that will start to fade away...

The technology is only going to improve, which means people are going to demand more digital media that is not tied to a disc. I mean just look at that mobile chip/platform Nvidia has developed. Look at the iPhone. As this level of technology diffuses into handhelds, demand for digital content is going to skyrocket... and people will just expect that they can sync movies with their phone or pull them up on their Apple TV, 360, PS3...

Obviously there are problems and technical hurdles... but I'm sure you would have said the same thing 5 years before the iPod came out.

[Seanross @ Feb 14th 2008 11:10AM]

He may be a douche, but to actually visualize that happening is feckin hilarious?!

[Rob @ Feb 14th 2008 11:11AM]

No hate for Mr Bay at all. I'm glad he's vocal about his preferences in media format. Other directors should be doing the same, regardless of their format of choice. A lot of directors, and actors, do the work just for the paycheck and then forget about the movie/project. Why? This will follow you beyond the grave. So, might as well be involved in the life of the projects you've been part of. I think the author went out of his way to ridicule Bay, but I still support Mr Bay's views.

[Carbonize @ Feb 14th 2008 11:15AM]

Maybe he should spend less time worrying about a war that he admits is not his and spend more time trying to make movies that don't suck.

[torqueo @ Feb 14th 2008 11:18AM]

Haha, indeed. I was about to suggest the same thing!

[mlody11 @ Feb 14th 2008 11:20AM]

that would imply that he actually can make good movies.

Someone throw a disc at him... Reminds me of those commercials where the sandwich hits a person in the head and they think to go to subway or something. I imagine the same thing happening to Bay.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 11:58AM]

So, when am I going to see your guys' movies on the big screen? I mean, we can all sit back and complain about the movies or go make our own.

[Carbonize @ Feb 14th 2008 12:19PM]

I don't have to be an author to know a book sucks. I don't have to be a musician to know a song sucks. I don't have to be a computer programmer to know a piece of software sucks AND I don't have to be in the movie industry to know that Michael Bay's movies have about as much substance as a politicians promise.


I mean for god s sake four of his films are really shitty remakes. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, The Hitcher and The Birds.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 12:30PM]

True, but you can sit back and cry about the movies or do something about it. Apparently, he's making money on them so someone likes them.

[patsy @ Feb 14th 2008 12:52PM]

Yeah, and it's becoming quite apparent who...

[Chris @ Feb 14th 2008 1:18PM]

@ Andir3.0

I'm not a director and I'm sure most of these other people aren't, so its not our job to make movies. Bay on the other had makes movies for a living and his movies all suck serious ass. So maybe he should stop sucking at his job and get that chip off his shoulder.

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 1:28PM]

Actually, I've never bought any of his movies. I'm just pointing out the obvious. Look at Movie sales and stuff and you'll see it too.

[daedric @ Feb 14th 2008 1:40PM]

Chris, and you would suck if your job was to decide what movies to release. It's so stupid to see all this criticism of his movies when almost every one of them are blockbusters. Stick to the issues, if you want to attack him for his support for BD, go ahead. To talk about his movies when they are obviously big hits is idiotic. Frankly, I'm glad BD won, because it's expensive for a laptop drive to support BD and HDDVD, if they even have it. Guess what media I want on my laptop? Yeah, the one with bigger capacity. Do I want different media for my movies and laptop drive? umm....no.

[Chad @ Feb 14th 2008 2:01PM]

@Andir3.0

Last three posts by you on this Engadget article:

Feb 14th 2008 12:30PM True, but you can sit back and cry about the movies or do something about it. Apparently, he's making money on them so someone likes them.

Feb 14th 2008 11:58AM So, when am I going to see your guys' movies on the big screen? I mean, we can all sit back and complain about the movies or go make our own.

Feb 14th 2008 11:56AM I'm sure he's made more money on his movies than you have on your far superior ones.

I'm just sayin'


Are you really Michael Bay, or maybe his mom?

[mattbates @ Feb 14th 2008 2:19PM]

andir, you're a tool. i understand that i don't have any talent in film making. however, i also realize that neither does michael bay. just because something is popular does give it any artistic merit. nickelback go platinum and sell out huge concerts, but does that mean they make good music? hells no. mcdonalds makes all kinds of money but no one is saying they make stunning culinary works.

when will people realize that monetary success does not equate talent or even competency?

[Hax Or @ Feb 14th 2008 2:24PM]

oh man... lol

[Andir3.0 @ Feb 14th 2008 2:58PM]

I've never even new about Bay until Transformers to tell the truth. Yet somehow, due to this little format war and everyone getting all uppity and high on their opinions he's come to the forefront.

Now, I could point out that your continuing to try to discredit me for some reason... but sales don't lie. If you want to disagree with them and go against the opinions of society.... that's your own call. Why do you feel the need to be so vocal about it though? He's just a director, who happened to speak out about a format war that has drawn heated fans on both sides. What makes him any different than any of the directors from other craptastic movies of the past? Did he come out and fight against your favorite movie format? (Another popular question on the net) Did he kill your baby? What in the world would motivate you to voice your opinion on a director that makes movies that you don't like? Honest question here.

[Silverfrog @ Feb 14th 2008 3:11PM]

@Mattbates

"when will people realize that monetary success does not equate talent or even competency?"

Sorry, but this is USA in 2008 my friend--a place where money makes you relevent. You are judged by how much money you make, how many millions of people love your works, and how many copies you sell. Sheer numbers matter. Perceptions matter. Glamour matters. Some would argue that it takes talent to do what he's done. I don't condone the comments that M. Bay said here, but you have to give the man credit where credit is due.

[Digital @ Feb 14th 2008 3:17PM]

Actually I wish you'd let us engineers sort out what is best for you.
At the end of the day it's the corporates that screw it all up - folk seem to think because they've got a bit of money behind them they know best. Sure you may have made lots of money making that film but honestly could you have done it all yourself? Did you make the camera you shot on? Or did you program that raytracer that all your effects are made with? Does he really understand it all - or is he just a blockbuster 'Porn-Style' Director.
Why a 'movie maker' is trying to get in on what format is best for people for the next ten years I have no idea. Blu-ray and HD-DVD are more than just a storage format - if any of you took the time (including Mr Bay) to read the full specs and see how it is linked in to online content, content addition, framing, sub selection and all other things like that then there is one clear winner. Technically blu-ray is better as a storage medium... utilising vlwl laser technology it can store more data per sq-inch than HD-DVD, but that also reads it's more sensitive to scratches and requires more accurate kit to read it.
This wasn't a war about which is best - they were actually going to do different things - but all the hot heads in the house wanted to take sides and they've made another situation where once again the consumer loses. I work for a broadcast firm - a very big one - if you have a Digital TV transmission (sat/ter/cable) then there is a 9.5 out 10 chance our software is in there. If we are the biggest and you don't know about us then how do you think that is possible? In my eyes those that preach and sell hard, have to, because their product is weak. However, engineers like me can't be bothered these days - we get a lawsuit if it goes wrong and a wooden trophy for doing well. I've got enough firewood to last me into retirement so screw that.
Anyway see you on the flip side. Thanks Mr Bay for being the complete tosser you are - may the sheep follow you :-)

[nh @ Feb 14th 2008 3:20PM]

It's not just some small minority that thinks his movies suck. To say they don't makes it sound like you've never even heard of Pearl Harbor.

Time for a little Valentine's song:

I miss you more than Michael Bay missed the mark,
When he made Pearl Harbor.
I miss you more than that movie missed the point,
And that’s an awful lot.
And now, now you've gone away,
And all I'm trying to say,
Is Pearl Harbor sucked and I miss you...

[TrentD @ Feb 14th 2008 11:18AM]

Mr. Bay is a huge supporter of special features and even reissued a 4-disc collection of Pearl Harbor full of special extras.

Ironically, many of the extras on the Transformers HD DVD (the HUD, the Web-enabled features, etc.) couldn't even have been implemented at the time on Blu-ray due to BD's stupid "profiles".

He's another misinformed BD kool-aid drinker caught up on stats and ignoring other important factors.

[Jeff @ Feb 14th 2008 11:46AM]

No, he's a filmmaker. Not a very good one in my estimation, but a filmmaker nonetheless. As such, his primary concern is going to be the visual quality of his films once they make it to disc. "Stats" matter in this case.

And douchebag or not, the guy was right. You can be a jerk and still get it right once or twice in your life.

[AJ @ Feb 14th 2008 11:46AM]

Amen Brother!

[AJ @ Feb 14th 2008 12:03PM]

My Amen was to TrentD for his comments, Jeff is incorrect in his assessment that BD specs are better... They both have the same codecs (audio and video) BD has more storage (which does not mean more content). If Michael Bay really cared about his films or the end result, he would not support a format which by design has alienated early adopters with the 1.1 spec and will do it all again when the 2.0 spec gets released.

Please feel free to educate yourself about topics before you comment!

[DT @ Feb 14th 2008 11:58AM]

I wonder of one of those special features is the oft-rumored, but never seen, "good" version of the film.

[TrentD @ Feb 14th 2008 12:22PM]

@ Jeff,

Jeff, the visual quality of the film, along with the audio certainly matters to Mr. Bay, but my point is that his past actions have proven that he cares very much about special features. HD DVD certainly continues to have the advantage in that area, and he proves his igorance by ignoring that fact.

[Mutant @ Feb 14th 2008 12:58PM]

It is absolutely true that the initial profile of HD DVD allowed more special features than Blu Ray. That was one of the reasons I went HD DVD, the other being a low price of entry. Now that Blu is winning I bought a PS3 so that I'm not likely to get screwed like some early Blu Ray adopters.

[patsy @ Feb 14th 2008 12:59PM]

@DT: Yeah, but removing Ben Afleck from all the scenes would be quite a chore, so he will just leave that for "Pearl Harbor: The Shoretening" where he replaces Afleck with Pauly Shore and trims it to half the length.

[mattbates @ Feb 14th 2008 2:26PM]

what i want to know is who the hell bought a 4 disc pearl harbor collection? i understand that the movie would take up three dvds and theyd give a special bonus disc, but damn. maybe this is the reason he likes bluray; because it has a larger storage capacity for his seemingly 8 hour movies. hello directors cut.

this reminds me of one of the only funny things i've heard jay leno say: 'gigli just came out on dvd. its the only film in history where the directors cut was shorter than the original release.'

this could just as easily apply to bay.

[Graham @ Feb 14th 2008 11:18AM]

I am so taking advantage of the HD- DVDs 50% off Amazon sale. Just for that.

[CraigJ @ Feb 14th 2008 11:20AM]

I don't really care which format won as long as one of them did. My question for the estimable Mr. Bay, is, how do region codes and larger capacity equate to higher quality? Last time I checked both formats use the same encoding, however, I guess theoretically the larger capacity could allow for future, higher quality encoding formats... maybe.

[r3loaded @ Feb 14th 2008 11:27AM]

You really thought it was about quality/disc capacity? Nope, it was all about Blu-Ray having BD+ as film studios don't trust their customers. The greatest irony is that BD+ has already been cracked..

[CraigJ @ Feb 14th 2008 11:32AM]

I didn't think that...

[tom @ Feb 14th 2008 11:34AM]

The key is PS3!

[Zephyr @ Feb 15th 2008 8:13AM]

BD+ hasn't been cracked in the way you think it has, sadly.

Hopefully the music and movie departments of the studios can communicate and remove the DRM protections compeltely, since we, their income source, don't want any part of it.

[CharlieX @ Feb 14th 2008 11:23AM]

A giant cotton candy stand? Wha???

[KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Feb 14th 2008 11:27AM]

I could give 2 shits about Bay. His movies are entertaining and full of action, just not very deep. So, where does that leave the vocal proponent of Blu? Steven Spielberg has repeatedly refused ANY of his movies on HD_DEAD. Universal has tried several times to show that JP, ET, and his other BIG hits were coming to HD_DEAD in press conferences or keynote speeches, (the last attempt came in Tokyo and within a day Mr. Spielberg said "no soup for you Universal" on putting his movies on HD_DEAD.

I cannot understand why Universal did not take the hint that some of the BIGGEST movies they have could not be released on the format they support. Paramount quickly found themselves in the same boat when they switched over for $$$ to HD_DEAD.

All I have to say now to Universal and Paramount is....HA HAH!!

Withing months they will come crawling to BLU and we will have a unified medium and finally the big guns the studios have been holding back will be released.

[looseinthedeuce @ Feb 14th 2008 11:44AM]

HD_DEAD...I see what you did there. You may go stand behind Mr. Bay in the "douchebag" line.

Seriously though, that's not clever.

[Blake H @ Feb 14th 2008 11:48AM]

HD DVDEAD would be much more clever. If you're going to make jokes... why not at least make them somewhat clever?

Oh wait. I forgot who we're dealing with here. Nevermind.

Blu-Ray Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111