Paramount and Universal to publish films on Blu-ray

Not a whole lot to go on right now, but German site HDTV Praxis has it that both Paramount and Universal will now make the obvious choice and publish their films on Blu-ray. Notably, this follows hints seen in certain Circuit City databases as well as word that we've received noting that both studios would indeed make things easy on everyone and simply support the one format still standing. Interestingly, DreamWorks isn't mentioned in the linked article per se, but we've all ideas it'll be following suit shortly.

[Thanks, Khattab]

Update: Universal's president Craig Kornblau had this to say: "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray." Thanks, Kiwi616!

[Thunderbuck Posted Feb 19th 2008 3:02PM]

Maybe it's just me...

Happy as I am at the end of the stupid HD format war, I'm really wondering what the big deal is here. I mean, conventional DVDs look fantastic on my Panny plasma with an upscaling player.

I'll do Blu-Ray, someday, but this just isn't a "must have" for me, either way...

[LUISAMEZQUITA Posted Feb 19th 2008 4:16PM]

you don't know the big deal until you directly compare a format that is not being upscaled and filtered to fit on your screen. Unless you have a 480p plasma screen, then thats probably why it looks so good.

Blu Ray ( and even HD DVD) look amazingly clear and sharp because they are natively at 1920x1080 resolution. Compare that to DVDs 640x486 (480p). Its just not the same at all. You really owe it to yourself to get an HD player if you have an HDtv.

[Thunderbuck Posted Feb 19th 2008 5:50PM]

Granted my set is 720p, not 1080, but I'll be a heretic and contend that upscaled DVDs don't look any worse than the HD movies from my cable company. I was genuinely surprised when I saw just how well upscaling worked.

Yes, I've seen HD-DVD and Blu-Ray demos, and I'll probably wind up with a PS3 (if Xbox did Blu-Ray that would likely seal the deal for me), but I'm amazingly content with what I've got now.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2008 7:42PM]

There is a possibility that Microsoft will be making an external Blu-Ray drive. Its still only a rumour but we should know for definite by May of this year.

[HumanNature Posted Feb 19th 2008 5:47PM]

why is everyone so hype about transformer, =/ personally, i didn't like it too much but i grew up with the original. I'm looking forward to an Indiana Jones collection on Blu-ray =].

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2008 5:57PM]

Soon, I'll be able to watch Transformers on Blu Ray and sell my DVD copy! Good job Team Blue!!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2008 7:32PM]

we want Criterion!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 20th 2008 2:24PM]

It's about FREAKING TIME!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 19th 2008 8:42PM]

YEA!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 29th 2008 11:13PM]

Dear Editor

My name is Dorian Taylor, I am the Producer of an Independent film that was Directed by filmmaker/screenwriter/director/producer, Surakhan, called IN THE NAME OF LOVE the first and only movie made about Diana Ross and the Supremes as they are today

There is a private screening being held on 42nd St. in New York City on March 6th at the Regal Theatre.

Synopsis: The semi-fictitious storyline plot revolves around the strong bond of love and lifelong musical careers between the original living Supremes of Motown fame. Trying to overcome some zealous periods in their lives, the strength of a lifelong friendship leans toward a unexpected final concert reuniting the ladies. It isn't another Dream Girls movie, Rather, it focuses more on the present and the future of these three women. It also depicts how natural forces present themselves to the ladies and destiny calls them together again. It was viewed by a few members of the Motown alumni and we've gotten great feedback back thus far. We would love for someone from your organization to attend this private screening.

Join us for some Big Apple Fun at the PRIVATE SCREENING and the post screening reception.

When: Thursday, March 6th, 2008 at 6:00 p. m.

Where: The Regal Theatre, 247 W. 42nd St. , (btwn 7th 8th Aves. ), New York, New York.

Surakhan's VIP Ticket hotline: [phone]. Tickets will not be sold at the box office.

We look forward to seeing you there. March 6th is (the real Supreme), Mary Wilson's, birthday - so please be sure to show her some birthday love


IN THE NAME OF LOVE,

Dorian Taylor
Producer
Vice President/CEO
VSE Enterprise LLP

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 18th 2008 5:12PM]

Does anyone actually KNOW what upscaling is? It's driving me crazy hearing/reading people bring it up as though it is somehow magically turning 480 lines into 1080. Upscaling looks better than not upscaling, yeah! No kidding! But upscaled DVD quality is not even close to Blu-ray (or HD-DVD, but it's dead). Not even close. I wish they'd never even invented "upscale;" it is yet another way to fleece an uninformed public that is desperate to console themselves when faced with the prospect that their movie collection just became a candidate for their next yard sale.

And also, no, it couldn't have gone either way. Plain and simple, Blu-ray Disc Association was just smarter. They put a player in more homes than Toshiba did, and that's the atomic bomb of format wars... Microsoft and Toshiba should have thought things out a little better. Sony's not perfect, but they're shrewd. Microsoft's been telling us for years that the days of having a different machine for everything are almost over, but it's Sony that's actually pushing ahead with that idea. Think about that, folks: A partnership between Microsoft (whose Xbox 360 is second to the Wii right now) and Toshiba (the inventor of standard DVD's!) couldn't produce that "one machine." (The Wii is beating both of them, but it just focused on being a game console thereby excluding itself from the format war.)

Toshiba never had a chance.