Serenity HD-DVD Release, what does it mean? by Krigan

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Serenity HD-DVD Release, what does it mean?

POSTED BY: KRIGAN
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 14:28
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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 6:44 AM

I think that Serenity as universal's very first HD-DVD release might mean that somebody at Universal is still holding out hope that this could still wind up being a valuable franchise for them. It gives me a bit of hope but maybe I am just reading to much into things.

"Yeah but she's our witch so cut her the hell down"

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 6:52 AM

STORYMARK

I think it's more likely they knew there'd be plenty of Browncoats who'd buy the HD-DVD even without a player, just to support the 'verse. Which in turn inflates the sales on this new format in it's first week beyond what they would have typically sold with another title.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:08 AM

MATTCOZ

When one of the other early releases from Universal is Doom, I don't think it means a whole lot.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:18 AM

SAB39

It's occurred to me that it actually could be a negative statement from 'versal. "Nobody's going to have players yet, nobody'll be buying them because they're too expensive, there's no market yet but we have to be seen putting something out there in the new format. But lets not use something that we care about or might want to make a big splash about later when the market is more mature.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:19 AM

KRIGAN

Quote:
Originally posted by mattcoz:
When one of the other early releases from Universal is Doom, I don't think it means a whole lot.

Doom may be a mediocre to crap B film but it does'nt mean they won't make a sequel to it if the dvd sales end up good. It might be thay are gauging the doom interest also. I also see Riddick on the list of first releases & that is another film that was supposed to be a trilogy.

"Yeah but she's our witch so cut her the hell down"

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:25 AM

JPSTARGAZER

Just curious, is anyone buying the Serenity HD DVD? I'm thinking about it but I don't currently have an HDTV and I wouldn't be able to afford one and the player for at least another year and a half, and by then the format war could be over. So it comes down to the message sent to Universal via sales.

Here's what I'm thinking:
Ok, so most of you HD DVD sales this first month will be the early adopters. So clearly this includes those that have enough money to absorb the high prices due to development costs by paying for a format that might not even succeed. I'm thinking if you're rich, and care about home theater, there's a good probability that you like science fiction...let's face it, some of the best payed workers are sci-fi fans (I'm going into engineering, so I know I fit the bill). So if you are in the aforementioned group and have to pick one movie from Serenity, Million Dollar Baby and Last Samurai, which one are you going to buy? Even if the early adopters buy all of them, that's still a sale of Serenity with at least each HD DVD player. I'm thinking Serenity could be the best selling HD DVD for at least the first couple weeks of HD DVD. Add to that the Browncoats who will buy it just to stare at it on their shrine of all thing Firefly, and you've got some good sales numbers. Just my thoughts.

"All I got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth...the rest is up to you"
--Bono

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:36 AM

SADLITTLEKING

Quote:
Originally posted by sab39:
It's occurred to me that it actually could be a negative statement from 'versal. "Nobody's going to have players yet, nobody'll be buying them because they're too expensive, there's no market yet but we have to be seen putting something out there in the new format. But lets not use something that we care about or might want to make a big splash about later when the market is more mature.

I think you're on the right track. Maybe the statement being made is also, "The early adopters will probably buy anything to play on their new HD-DVD player, so let's try to make some more money from the movies we need to make more money off of."

I'm sorry to say this, but when you put Serenity into the same group as two box office failures in Doom and Riddick, that's not a good sign. At first, I thought Serenity being one of the first HD-DVD movies was a good thing. Now that I've thought about it awhile, what 'versal's doing doesn't seem to come off well. Not to me anyway.

On a side note, I liked Riddick and I own it on DVD along with Pitch Black. I own the Xbox game, too. I like the Riddick franchise and I'm hoping to see the last two movies get made. But I recognize that it's not exactly a cash cow for 'versal.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 11:14 AM

KRIGAN

SAb39 "But lets not use something that we care about or might want to make a big splash about later when the market is more mature."
I agree your theory is sound and some of the early releases look to be just that but there are some solid films coming the first week.
The Last samurai
Million dollar baby
cinderella man
Apollo 13
Bourne Supremecy
I think we will see lots of great films getting released early on but mixed with some lesser films.
You also need to remember that if they want to make a big splash with a film they will just re-release it as the super platinum must own superbit criterion directors uncut unedited extended unrated edition.

"Yeah but she's our witch so cut her the hell down"

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 1:31 PM

JAYDUCK

Serenity to HD-DVD early is a GOOD thing.

It will actually force some people to buy it that otherwise may have never seen it.

While HD DVD players are overpriced and uncommon, some people do have them. And those people will buy whatever is out on HD-DVD just to be able to use their new toy.

I bought a DVD player when they were pretty new (paid too much for it, looking back). There wasn't much out on DVD, but because I wanted to have some to watch I bought a few DVDs that I never would have, otherwise.

We'll, likely, get a few new converts from this.

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Tuesday, April 18, 2006 2:28 PM

RECURSIVEFUNCTION

Here's a positive thought:
Any stores (Best Buy or whatever) that want to show off their awesome new HD-DVD players will only have one choice when it comes to what will be on the screen. Gigantic Hi-Def screens in busy stores, all displaying Serenity. It certainly won't hurt the cause at all.

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