TheDescent
Latest
Video Marketplace HD blowout
Major Nelson posted the latest releases for Video Marketplace yesterday evening. Items worth noting include nine of the movies released are available in glorious High Definition. This week also introduces Lionsgate Films into the growing list of Video Marketplace partners. LGF happens to be based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, right next to the Fanboy Igloo HQ. Finally, Skyland from Nicktoons is available with the show's pilot episode FREE to download until 11:59 PST on Monday, January 29th. Later this week you'll be able to get your hands on Barnyard and World Trade Center. Full list of the title available after the break.
The Descent giving fits to BD-Java-less Blu-ray players
If you've just picked up the recently released The Descent on Blu-ray disc, hold back from tearing the plastic off just a minute. If you're using a first-generation Blu-ray player that doesn't yet support the "BD-Java environment," chances are you'll be graced with a depressing black screen instead of an action-packed thriller. Users across the web are complaining that the film isn't playing back on their particular Blu-ray player, and High-Def Digest has suggested that units that don't play nice with BD-Java extras are having a hard time swallowing (and playing) the featurette-packed disc. Sony's BDP-S1 and Pioneer's BDP-HD1 have been singled-out as the two most problematic players in this ordeal, and while Sony has promised a firmware update to add BD-J support "early this year," the Pioneer users are currently out of luck. Notably, Panasonic units, Samsung's BD-P1000, and Sony's own PlayStation 3 are having no troubles, although some Samsung devices may need the latest firmware installed to overcome any glitches. Hopefully more manufacturers will get on the ball and start supporting these newfangled extras that were supposed to make high definition discs worth more than the pretty resolution, and kudos to Lionsgate for pumping this one up with BD-J action -- even though some of us are still trying to make it spin.[Via High-Def Digest]
Having trouble playing "The Descent"?
Okay, so this is kind of stretching it as far as news goes, but you know what? I enjoyed this movie and want to pick this Blu-ray up so I can enjoy the non-American ending (which is supposed to be oodles better, so I won't ruin it if anyone's interested)... if it has it. The movie is The Descent, a crazy horror movie that "The Cave" so blatantly ripped off... stupid rip-off American titles. Stupid movie, "The Cave". Wait, what were we talking about?If you've got a regular Blu-ray player (if so, why? The PS3 is so much cheaper... insert smiley face here!), there's a chance that it doesn't have the ability to play the java-enabled options present on the Blu-ray disc, so you get a blank screen. There will be a firmware upgrade for the players, but hey, the PS3 works just fine. HD-DVD people, don't forget you guys had your share of problems. Look at "The Matador", "Wolf Creek" and "Derailed". Anyway, just thought it was interesting that the more expensive Blu-ray players lack what the PS3 has. Enjoy the movie.
