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)