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Surprise surprise, new movies on HD DVD outsell catalog releases
In the least surprising news of this century, VideoBusiness is reporting that the titles that are selling the fastest on HD DVD, are new releases, and movies including HD DVD-specific interactive features. 16 Blocks, Syriana, The Bourne Supremacy and Constantine are all noted as having excellent performance in the marketplace, blowing away older titles like Blazing Saddles.Please take this time to allow the shock you are feeling in response to that wash over you. Ready to move on? Ok. We've begged, pleaded, cajoled and done...unspeakable things hoping to convince executives of the various movie studios like Warner, Universal and Sony Pictures to put out more (and better) content on HD DVD and Blu-ray but to no avail. Hopefully these cold unflinching numbers can achieve what our time on the casting couch didn't. Convince executives that early adopters won't buy just anything we want premium content in high definition and are willing to pay for it. It's not that we don't like Blazing Saddles, it's just not exactly what we were dreaming of showing on our 1080p HDTVs.
Firewall HD DVD/DVD combo review
With the news that 16 Blocks is being released next week on the hybrid HD DVD/DVD format, we thought it might be a good idea to take a look at how its two predecessors have fared. Mark Zimmer over at digitallyOBSESSED published a review of Firewall today, and came away impressed. He had no notable complaints about the audio or video transfer for either version, giving them an A and A- grade, respectively. That's a welcome result for the HD DVD camp considering the same reviewer criticized Rumor Has It for problems with the video and sound and lack of extras. Still, even on Firewall the bonus features are only contained on the SD side of the disc, requiring a flip to view them on your HD DVD player. Any HD DVD owners or future HD DVD owners taken advantage of these discs yet? Alternatively, do you view combo discs as a problem since early adopters have to pay extra (so far about $3 over other new titles) for an SD DVD copy they probably won't ever view?
Warner's third HD DVD/DVD combo title 16 Blocks coming June 13
Looks like Warner will continue with these day-and-date combo disc releases, as they have announced the Mos Def and Bruce Willis flick 16 Blocks will be available next week both on standard DVD and an HD DVD/DVD combo disc. Just like the first release Rumor Has It, the list price is $39.98. This may be an interesting trend to watch, what genres and what specific titles get day-and-date releases, combo releases, or extra features. A quick check on Amazon shows the Rumor Has It and Firewall combo discs going for $27.97 and the standard definition DVDs retailing for $16.96. Is high definition future proofing worth $11? We will see.
