GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Serenity chosen as Universals first HD-DVD release!

POSTED BY: HERA
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 08:13
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Monday, April 10, 2006 8:21 AM

HERA



Golly!

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6323662.html

Uni delivers Serenity to HD DVD
Sci-fi adventure first from studio on high-def format on April 18
By Jennifer Netherby 4/10/2006

APRIL 10 | Universal Studios Home Entertainment appears poised to become the second studio to release films on HD DVD. The studio will debut Serenity on April 18 as its first HD DVD release, followed a week later by Apollo 13 and Doom, according to retailer Web sites.

Universal hasn’t made any announcements and a spokeswoman was unable to confirm anything Monday morning. However, all three films are available for preorder at Amazon.com for $23.99 and for the same price on Target.com’s video store, which is run by Amazon.com. Amazon shows the list price of the disc at $34.98.

CircuitCity.com also has the discs listed for preorder, priced at $33.95, but the site has no release date for the film.


At least one rental retailer also confirmed it has placed orders with Universal for its initial April HD DVD releases, though as of last week, the retailer hadn’t been given a release date for the titles.

Warner Home Video announced last month that it would debut its first three HD DVD titles on April 18, after delaying its planned March 28 release. Warner will debut Million Dollar Baby, The Phantom of the Opera and The Last Samurai April 18, followed by a dozen other releases into May.

Paramount Home Entertainment, the only other studio to commit to HD DVD releases, has not yet announced any release plans.

"Wanna?" – Mal to Kaylee, Out of Gas

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Monday, April 10, 2006 8:53 AM

DONCOAT


Shiny!

They'd announced earlier that Serenity would be in the first batch of 10 HD releases, but now it's the very, onliest first ever!

Almost makes me want to be an early adopter.

I'm now thinking about buying the HD-DVD itself, and still holding off on purchasing a player. I guess that's kinda wierd, huh... buying a disc I can't (and may never be able to) play?

Well, that's Firefladdiction for ya...


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 9:39 AM

AGATSU


I'm just gonna copy and paste my post to a similar thread in the News forum...

I don't have an HD TV, but I'm gonna buy this anyways, of course! Any version of Firefly or Serenity they throw my way, I catch and tip the pitcher. It's also a good way to spend money on Serenity, so it's kind of charity. I wonder if I can deduct it from my taxes.
It'll be interesting to see how many browncoats are gonna buy this although they don't even have HD. If Serenity were to get into the Top Ten HD DVD sales and stay there for a while (after there's more than 10 HD DVDs on the market), who knows what might happen.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:30 PM

MICJWELCH


This is shiny! Anything that might bring more attention to Firefly and Serenity is great in my book.

"We may experience some slight turbulence, and then... explode."

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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:37 PM

MATTCOZ


If only it didn't cost a small fortune to buy the player.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 3:41 PM

MILFORD


NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Where the frak am I going to get a HD DVD player?

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Monday, April 10, 2006 7:09 PM

SINGATE


If I am not mistaken doesn't Best Buy carry HD DVD players. They didn't seem that overpriced unless I was looking at the wrong players.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 7:18 PM

FLORALBUNNY


What milford said, gorrammit!

I've been saving my pennies for the hoped-for Shiny Browncoat Edition with commentaries by everyone under that other Sun, as a double-dip.

How many people does Uni think have HD and will want Serenity? Must be enough to make some platinum for them. But what hope can we hold out for a very desirable Number One?

Ai, ya!

*sobs*

(spamming SLiTHER one more time....)

bun
-- bastards singed my turtle --
----- why's the rum gone? -----

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Monday, April 10, 2006 9:10 PM

MATTCOZ


Quote:

Originally posted by singate:
If I am not mistaken doesn't Best Buy carry HD DVD players. They didn't seem that overpriced unless I was looking at the wrong players.

You probably saw the HD upconverting DVD players, those just use regular DVDs and make it look a little better on HDTVs. HD-DVD is a completely new format, cheapest player right now is $500.

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Monday, April 10, 2006 9:18 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


It's a mixed bag if you ask me....

It's great that Serenity is gonna be the first HD-DVD released by Universal, but the issue is that it will need an expensive player to read it properly AND HD-DVD could lose the new format war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Then what the hell do we do?

It kinda sucks Universal's going with the opposite format than the rest of Hollywood, so the chance of being in on the winner is rather small. Still...we could still do the impossible....;)

BEB

Literature has shown us some of humanity's greatest achievements; history, some of our greatest failures -- Alun Lewis

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Monday, April 10, 2006 11:12 PM

TOMFORESTGOBLIN


Quote:

It's great that Serenity is gonna be the first HD-DVD released by Universal, but the issue is that it will need an expensive player to read it properly AND HD-DVD could lose the new format war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Then what the hell do we do?

It kinda sucks Universal's going with the opposite format than the rest of Hollywood, so the chance of being in on the winner is rather small. Still...we could still do the impossible....;)



I saw this the other day on an xbox 360 news site:
Quote:

Cesar Menendez over at Gamer Score Blog decided he would do some inside research into the real reasons behind Microsoft’s decision to back HD-DVD over Blu-ray by talking to the people behind the HD-DVD peripheral for the Xbox 360. The decision seems to be based on the following:

Price. One company out there has a $1,800 Beta-ray player (no release date) – one that doesn’t even play CDs! For 1,800, you could get a $500 Toshiba player, and about 40 HD movies.

Industry support: Looks like the pendulum is swinging back in HD-DVD’s favor. As an analyst quoted in the article says: “It’s only a matter of time before people start backing out of the Blu-ray camp.” If that’s the case, it might be because of. . .

Beta-ray’s own difficulties: Microsoft had serious doubts around the technical feasibility and pricing of Beta-ray for some time and our fears now seem well founded. Sony is hinting PS3 will be delayed because of Beta-ray, and that’s with Sony driving the Beta-ray standards. If even Sony can’t get it to work right, it raises lots of questions. A little reported fact (and one that the New York Times was confused about) is that the first Beta-ray discs will actually hold less: only 25GB compared to HD DVD’s 30GB. That means less room for high definition extras and interactive features, which HD DVD says they fully intend to support.



I'm not sure how valid this is, but it looks promising (I prefer HD-DVD anyway, being the xbox fanboy that I am.)

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Monday, April 10, 2006 11:21 PM

KAZZAHDRANE


I hope they don't put any new features on the HD version, I'd hate to miss out.

There's no way in the gorram 'verse that I'd become an early adopter of HD-DVD or Blue-Ray. One's gonna go down the pan and I wouldn't want to back the wrong side, plus the players are going to be super-expensive (none out here in the UK yet anyway).

Plus I don't have a TV signal so buying an HD-TV would be completely pointless :P

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:14 AM

BROUNKOTE


I am waiting for a playstation 3 and bluray discs.
The price of alot of HD sets will go down most likely for the holidays.
This is very good news for current Hd users though and am very jealous of anyone with an HD setup.
It is strange that this post would make me want to join to reply.
I have been a longtime reader and podcast listener.I first found your site when randomly googling firefly/serenity legos.
I really wish and hope for a serenity sequel in some format.so hi there and stay shiny.


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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 2:33 AM

STICK


Quote:

The studio will debut Serenity on April 18 as its first HD DVD release, followed a week later by Apollo 13 and Doom

ewwww doom? why did they have to go and ruin such perfectly good news. I'd sooner want to watch "gone with the wind" in HD than I would Doom of all movies

Shiny news though

"Once you've been to serenity you never leave... you just learn to live there"

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 2:49 AM

JONUS


Don't get too excited, people. You may be throwing out your HD DVD players and re-buying your HD DVD's on the Blu-ray format. Or it could be the other way around. But with more studio support for Blu-ray it will probably come out on top (even with it's horrible name). I'm just gonna wait a year and see which format comes out on top. It would just be stupid to buy a format now that will be dead next year.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 3:02 AM

REGINAROADIE


Totally agree. I wish the folks ar 'Versal would just release both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs at the same time and just see which one wins out, like their neighbors Warner Bros.

As much as I'd like to purchase SERENITY on HD-DVD, even though I don't have an HD tv or an HD player, I'm just gonna wait it out and see which format wins.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:06 AM

DAYVE


Quote:

Originally posted by DonCoat:
still holding off on purchasing a player. I guess that's kinda wierd, huh... ]



not so weird DonCoat....i'm doing the same - so that's makes it not so weird, right?


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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 4:11 AM

MADDIEGIRL


I do have a widescreen hd tv....I'm so excited. Awesome shininess! I will get it as soon as I can lay my greedy little fingers on it.





The 'Verse lives on.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:21 AM

DONCOAT


Maddiegirl,

I hope you understand that a standard DVD player will not play an HD-DVD disc. You have to have an HD-DVD player, and they are not cheap (yet). Furthermore, there's a competing incompatible format called Blu-Ray and no one is sure which of the two will eventually corner the market... remember VHS vs. Betamax?

I do have an HD TV, but not an HD player.

However, I'm still going to buy the HD version of Serenity, primarily to support our BDM. Also, I'll have a shiny HD-DVD to look at longingly, and who knows, I may end up with that format eventually.

Last I saw, Fox was planning to support Blu-Ray exclusively, which means any HD version of the Firefly set will be in that format -- unless HD-DVD ends up winning. How sucky would that be -- needing two different players to watch the full FF/S canon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:29 AM

STORYMARK


Another thing to consider, if you got out and get the HD-DVD of Serenity, and an HD-DVD player, even if you have an HD TV, if it was not made in the last 18 months or so, it probably doesn't have the correct internal hardware to play the HD-DVD disks at full resolution.

The HD-DVD disks contain an anti-piracy signal, and if the HD TV doesn't have the chip to decode the signal, the player automatically downconverts the image quality to standard-DVD level.


"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 11, 2006 5:34 AM

MADDIEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by DonCoat:
Maddiegirl,

I hope you understand that a standard DVD player will not play an HD-DVD disc. You have to have an HD-DVD player, and they are not cheap (yet). Furthermore, there's a competing incompatible format called Blu-Ray and no one is sure which of the two will eventually corner the market... remember VHS vs. Betamax?

I do have an HD TV, but not an HD player.

However, I'm still going to buy the HD version of Serenity, primarily to support our BDM. Also, I'll have a shiny HD-DVD to look at longingly, and who knows, I may end up with that format eventually.

Last I saw, Fox was planning to support Blu-Ray exclusively, which means any HD version of the Firefly set will be in that format -- unless HD-DVD ends up winning. How sucky would that be -- needing two different players to watch the full FF/S canon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.




I do realize that. Still, it's a step. It will be a while before I will get a player (waiting to see what comes out on top over the next year or two), but it won't stop me from getting my hands on it, especially to support BDM.

If blu-ray wins out (which I don't think it will), I will still find an hd-dvd player to play this one title. Ebay is your friend.





The 'Verse lives on.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:48 AM

SAMEERTIA


Buy the hd-dvd, add it to your collection and then you'll be ready for anything!

Manitou, when he visited last weekend, looked at my collection and said, "Why do you have two copies of Serenity?"
DUH! Wide screen and Full Screen! Boys can be so clueless sometimes.
So, soon there will be three copies. The more the merrier!

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:12 AM

AMALTHEA1


Quote:

Originally posted by Jonus:
Don't get too excited, people. You may be throwing out your HD DVD players and re-buying your HD DVD's on the Blu-ray format. Or it could be the other way around. But with more studio support for Blu-ray it will probably come out on top (even with it's horrible name). I'm just gonna wait a year and see which format comes out on top. It would just be stupid to buy a format now that will be dead next year.



I work for the movie studios; I'm a merchandising agent in Best Buy, actually. We discussed this upcoming launch on our conference call and we were told that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are the same thing. They just decided to call it HD-DVD, because that's pretty self-explanatory, while Blu-Ray's just kinda...lame. Although they may go back to calling it Blu-Ray, which, way to confuse everyone, guys!

Anyway, since my boss's info comes straight from the studios themselves, I'm going to assume he knows what he's talking about. So you don't need to worry about another format war, just coming up with the damned money for yet another new player, and an HD-TV, if you don't have that either. I have friend who works for The-Network-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, though, and I'll confirm with him and let y'all know what I've heard.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:21 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by Amalthea1:
Quote:

Originally posted by Jonus:
Don't get too excited, people. You may be throwing out your HD DVD players and re-buying your HD DVD's on the Blu-ray format. Or it could be the other way around. But with more studio support for Blu-ray it will probably come out on top (even with it's horrible name). I'm just gonna wait a year and see which format comes out on top. It would just be stupid to buy a format now that will be dead next year.



I work for the movie studios; I'm a merchandising agent in Best Buy, actually. We discussed this upcoming launch on our conference call and we were told that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are the same thing. They just decided to call it HD-DVD, because that's pretty self-explanatory, while Blu-Ray's just kinda...lame. Although they may go back to calling it Blu-Ray, which, way to confuse everyone, guys!

Anyway, since my boss's info comes straight from the studios themselves, I'm going to assume he knows what he's talking about. So you don't need to worry about another format war, just coming up with the damned money for yet another new player, and an HD-TV, if you don't have that either. I have friend who works for The-Network-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named, though, and I'll confirm with him and let y'all know what I've heard.



I'm sorry, but what your boss claims is wrong. Sorry, but I've worked in Electronics shops before. Just because a guy is manager, doesn't make him an authority on technology. The biggest similarity between the two formats is that they use the same size disk as CD/DVD. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD work with different compression and encoding systems. They even use different lasers (Blue for Blu-Ray and Red for HD-DVD). The capacity of the disks is different as well, with Blu-Ray holding several more gigs of info. Blu-Ray disks are also manufactured in a different way, which is why they are launching after HD-DVD, as the manufacturing plants must be re-fitted to accomodate the new process, while HD-DVD can use existing DVD presses.

"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 11, 2006 6:40 AM

CBY


Quote:

Originally posted by Agatsu:
It'll be interesting to see how many browncoats are gonna buy this although they don't even have HD.



I fail to see the point. It's like buying a bulb without having a socket. Being a fan doesn't automatically make you waste your money that way (and I don't think it should).

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:56 AM

JPSTARGAZER


To each his own I guess. I think it's just a way for certain browncoats who are willing, to show the studios/powers that be that FF/S is still a marketable franchise.

Personally, I think I'd even own Serenity on LaserDisc if they would've released it in that format...

"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 11, 2006 7:04 AM

SHO


Actally, the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats are different. This whole format battle is going to take a few years to settle out. More likely than not, the ultimate winner will be the company that starts coming out with players that play both formats. No consumer cares what format the DVD is in, so long as it plays. Does you DVD player use the DVD-R or DVD+R format? No, it probably plays both and few know or care. The Betamax/VHS comparison is similar, but not really the same. Sony was out with Betamax for a couple of years before JVC released the competing VHS format. VHS was simpler, cheaper, maybe not quite as good, but kicked Sony's butt. The problem here is that the formats are coming out together, and the consumer is in an impossible situation. Who's going to buy a player based upon which studio can come out with the most movies you like? Adn only be able to play pre-recorded movies with no self recording options? Not many, especially at these prices. Consumers will wait it out to see who wins, and both sides will lose money because they are waiting on the consumer to drive the market direction.

I've got HD TVs, and I'm tempted to get the BDM just to support the movie. Maybe someday I'll be able to watch it!

"We've done the impossible. That makes us mighty"

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:06 AM

ITSBROKEN


Thats great news. Too bad Unis not going with blu-ray, i personally think bluray is going to win the battle, because it flat out holds more gigs than the high density dvds. Plus, the PS3 is supposed to be blu-ray, and that machine is going to rock. I'd buy the dvd ne way and probably never open it. Maybe just hang it on the wall. Besides, having it be the first one is great publicity for converting more browncoats.

-ME

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check it out^
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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:27 AM

DONCOAT


It's not going to be easy (or cheap) to build a combined Blu-Ray and HD-DVD player. As someone pointed out above, the formats use different laser wavelengths, and a third laser is required for standard DVD/CD compatibility. Furthermore, there are differences in the codec software and patents on the two systems, thus different licensing arrangements for the intellectual property.

The competing recordable CD and DVD formats were much more similar to one another, so these issues don't arise.

One of the reasons that Blu-Ray has the backing of most of the big studios is that it incorporates some very intensive copy protection schemes. Some people believe that a Blu-Ray player will have to be connected to a phone line so it can interactively check whether you have the right to play a given disc. If that's the case, it'll have a hard time getting consumer acceptance.

Time will tell. In the meantime, my HD Serenity disc will be a nice conversation piece. I preordered it from Amazon today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:58 AM

BELKON


The news of Serenity coming out on HD-DVD during a time when so FEW movies are is great news. Just think some unsuspecting person is an early adopter and buys an HD-DVD player. They then try to decide what HD-DVD's to rent or buy and WHAT's THIS they think? One of a small handful of movies is titled Serenity and it looks science fictiony. hmmm, if Universal released it in the HD format it MUST be good right? Then my friends we have tapped into a new slew of people who are browncoats in the making because Just like the power that movie The Ring possed to the viewer; once they watch Serenity they can never leave and become obsessed like us. THEN maybe we can finally get our BDT. Thank you Universal for believing in this movie and releasing it at a time when so few movies are coming out in HD-DVD format and thus forcing the early adopter to give it a spin (and me who will be buying it and hoping to get an HD-DVD player soon after).

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:58 AM

DINKY


I remember there was a survey done like two years ago of how many people had HDTVs. Only 8% of the people who took the survey had HDTVs.

Though since then, HDTVs have become easier to buy and you can get a quality HDTV for as low as $700! And pretty much all HDTVs work as computer monitors too, so that's a huge plus for me!

I've got a $900 27" LCD HDTV, and it's just great. And a lot of people have HDTV now, I'm sure if they did a survey (surveying even more people this time too) they would get a much different result.

I for one, can't wait until this release. The DVD's going to run at a resolution of 720p right??

"Th3re !s n0 spo0Ne." -The Matricks

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:05 AM

SADLITTLEKING


As much as I'd like to support Serenity, I'm not sure I'll buy a HD-DVD disc I can't use.

Plus, I just don't want to take any side in the format war. Don't plan on getting a HDTV for another couple of years anyway. I'm waiting to see the new SED HDTV which is supposed to be coming out in Q4 2007. And of course I'll wait until sometime in 2008 to actually buy one.

Hope the Serenity HD-DVD becomes a top-selling HD-DVD title though.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:28 AM

PIRATA


hmmm, let's see.

I bought already the italian DVD, and the australian Collector's Edition.

Now, I do have a HD-capable projector.
I also own a Denon dvd player purchased about an year ago, which feeds the projector through a DVI cable... but, I'm not sure if this means that it can actually READ a HD-DVD.

If so, I'll buy it for sure!!!
Otherwise, I'll have to wait and see...

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:34 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by pirata:
hmmm, let's see.

I bought already the italian DVD, and the australian Collector's Edition.

Now, I do have a HD-capable projector.
I also own a Denon dvd player purchased about an year ago, which feeds the projector through a DVI cable... but, I'm not sure if this means that it can actually READ a HD-DVD.

If so, I'll buy it for sure!!!



No, it can't. You have to have a HD-DVD player to plan an HD-DVD disk. Put the disk in a normal DVD player, and you'll just get a confused machine. Doesn't matter how new the DVD player is. The HD-DVD machines just went on sale for the first time last week, in Japan. They're not due for release here for another week or two.

"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 11, 2006 9:26 AM

JAKE61341


to help clarify:

HD-DVD holds 15 gigs, and is "more secure from hackers"

Blu-Ray holds 25 gigs, and has the support of PSX3

they do appear to be somewhat at odds with each other. I was told that the HD-DVD is "more impossible to hack [than Blu-Ray]" i don't really how something can be 'more impossible', but whatever.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 9:38 AM

PIRATA


hmm thanx for the clarifications!

This raises the question though...
we have our beloved movie that was chosen as first HD release, but WHO will buy it?
No browncoat seems to be going to buy it for now, and you'd say browncoats were the intended target...

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 10:22 AM

LITTLEALBATROSS


I kind of have a feeling that Universal is hoping that some people will buy it whether they have the tech to play it or not.

Even if it's just a small percentage, the sales for HD-DVD will be lower than regular DVDs, so it might not take much for Serenity to make an impact in HD-DVD sales.

And if HD-DVD outsells Blu-ray...


Personally, I won't be buying it. As much as I'd like to support Serenity I can't justify paying shipping fees and possibly import duties and customs fees (and in American $$!) for something I can't even play.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:08 PM

NEEDY

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions


And now the cover has been released!

It's pretty much the same as the earlier Region 1 cover, only now with a red and silver border around it:



-----
Needy. Male Companion:
First Boy Whore of Destiny
Incredibly Confused Companion of SereniTree
-----
www.myspace.com/needsalt
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:11 PM

HERA


Oh my. I still hate that cover art.

* twitch *

"Wanna?" – Mal to Kaylee, Out of Gas

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:16 PM

NEEDY

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions


It's funny. I was one who didn't like it either, and was glad that we got different artowrk over here in the UK
But Virgin Megastores also had the R1 art as an exclusive cover and I gotta say, when I looked at it in store - maybe it was because I had gotten used to it seeing it, or because it just looked different close up, I found I liked it.

Well maybe "liked" is too strong a word but... no, I will say it. I liked it.
Doesn't describe the film well, and it does look like a combination of Dawn of the Dead and Chronicles of Riddick, but still I thought it was... shiny

-----
Needy. Male Companion:
First Boy Whore of Destiny
Incredibly Confused Companion of SereniTree
-----
www.myspace.com/needsalt
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 2:16 PM

ANNIE


I ordered one; another sale for the 'verse. If I can't play it yet, oh well. :)

Sex and violence on the big screen, where it belongs.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 3:14 PM

AEGIS


Looks like this biggest point of this has been missed so far in the posts. Universal has chosen SERENITY to be their flagship HD-DVD (regardless of whether the format lives or dies). And this makes it mighty. Remember, Universal has been around for a good long while, they've got an awesome bucket of movies to choose from, and they chose our piece of cinematic heaven? Come on, this HAS to mean *something*! Maybe it's just the underlying desperation for more of the 'verse, I don't know.

--- Aegis
www.legalwarfare.com

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:43 PM

SINGATE


Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis:
Looks like this biggest point of this has been missed so far in the posts. Universal has chosen SERENITY to be their flagship HD-DVD (regardless of whether the format lives or dies). And this makes it mighty. Remember, Universal has been around for a good long while, they've got an awesome bucket of movies to choose from, and they chose our piece of cinematic heaven? Come on, this HAS to mean *something*! Maybe it's just the underlying desperation for more of the 'verse, I don't know.



You're damn right it means something! Maybe the boys over at Universal actually watched the BDM and have become ravenous Browncoats themselves. Unlike the guys over at fox who were too stupid to see they were sitting on a gold mine.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 7:52 PM

LITTLEALBATROSS


Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis:
Looks like this biggest point of this has been missed so far in the posts. Universal has chosen SERENITY to be their flagship HD-DVD (regardless of whether the format lives or dies). And this makes it mighty. Remember, Universal has been around for a good long while, they've got an awesome bucket of movies to choose from, and they chose our piece of cinematic heaven? Come on, this HAS to mean *something*! Maybe it's just the underlying desperation for more of the 'verse, I don't know.



I hate to be a pessimist but...

maybe it just means Universal knows they've just guaranteed themselves some sales.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006 10:26 PM

STANROZ


Hi, guys!

I am a big Firefly fan, and have been lurking on and off for a long time. I never had a chance to see Serenity because of certain family issues when it came out. I never got the DVD either, because I knew it was going to be one of the first hd dvd titles, and now, I got it on preorder at Amazon! This along with Apollo 13 and Batman Begins will be a real treat for me!

For those interested, I placed an order for Toshiba hd a1 dvd player with value electronics. I got two players, one for me and one for my brother. As a result we got a $50 discount for each player. On top of that, each of us gets a free hd dvd movie and a documentary Chronos HD DVD. (Unfortunately, you can't order Serenity as a free movie, only a WB title). Also, Toshiba is providing a $25 certificate for anyone ordering their player between now and end of may. So it's a better deal than $500.

I want to emphasize that I am NOT a dealer and this is not a secret sales pitch. I just wanted to share some of my research with fellow browncoats.

As for high def DVD, I expect that for a movie like Serenity, it will be a far more intense experience on HD DVD than on regular dvd. Of the two formats, I currently favor HD DVD because of its lower price point. However, unless one format gains decisive advantage over the other in the near future, I expect that the future belongs to the unified players that will be able to play both. Until that happens, I'll be happy to play around with my Toshiba player.

By the way, don't expect Universal to join Blu-Ray any time soon. There was an article on the imminent demise of Sony's UMD, that had a quote from a Universal executive: "it's another Sony bomb, just like blu-ray".

Stan Rozenfeld

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 1:47 AM

BROUNKOTE


SERIOUSLY
Just wait for a PS3.
If you play games or use the current playsation2 to play movies then wait for a ps3 and bluRay discs.
The ps3 IS going to rock.
I dont want you to think this as a pitch as much as my severe anticipation but when the ps2 came out it was the cheapest dvd player at the time AND you could play new games on it.In my opinion it ushered in a whole new era of Digital video to the mass market.
The High Def war will be intresting to watch unfold.
Everything I read about the future of the gaming industry tells me sony and its ps3 will be A powerhouse.
Every gamer is anxiously awaiting it.I know I am.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:03 AM

SIMYLEE


I work at Best Buy. We have a Toshiba I believe and it isn't an arm and a leg to buy. However, it is not recommended you buy the first ones released. Glitches and the fact that these ones are going to outdate within the first couple, 3-4 months. Wait until atleast September or so to buy.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006 10:39 AM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by LittleAlbatross:
Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis:
Looks like this biggest point of this has been missed so far in the posts. Universal has chosen SERENITY to be their flagship HD-DVD (regardless of whether the format lives or dies). And this makes it mighty. Remember, Universal has been around for a good long while, they've got an awesome bucket of movies to choose from, and they chose our piece of cinematic heaven? Come on, this HAS to mean *something*! Maybe it's just the underlying desperation for more of the 'verse, I don't know.



I hate to be a pessimist but...

maybe it just means Universal knows they've just guaranteed themselves some sales.



I think that's a good bet. Launch with a title that they know will probably sell more copies than there are players sold. They're useing Browncoats to get a foothold on the market.

That said, I think they're making a mistake by not supporting Blu-Ray, as they're about the only major studio who is not at this point. I don't know if either format will survive, but if I were to pick one, I'd go with Blu-Ray.

The PS3 is the bigger tipping element in this, I think, because plenty of people will buy that just for the games, and end up with a BR player by default. And once they have a player, why not pick up a few movies... This is why the PS2 is considered to have given a big boost to DVD.

The other issue, I think, it the available library. Blu-Ray is launching later, but with a lot more titles. Look at the case of Universal. Universal (who supports only HD-DVD) is launching with 1 title (an awsome one to be sure, but still), and following up with 2 more the week after. 20th Century Fox (who support only Blu-Ray) are planning to launch with 20 titles the first day.

Really, I wouldn't be surprised if both formats fail (as movie distribution anyway, there'll still be BR PS3 games, regardless). Standard DVD is just fine for me. I don't see myself getting an HD set for a few years anyway, so these new formats are pretty much moot to me. I see them going over about as well as the DVD-A and SCD disks that launched a few years back as a higher-quality replacement for CD's. Has anyone here EVER bought one of those formats? Or know anyone who does? I don't.

"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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Thursday, April 13, 2006 10:32 PM

JUTIN


What are the special features?

looks like none... that Tom Cruise movie lists a bunch... might be a misprint

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Boston Legal - Tuesdays @ 10:00 (ET) on ABC
Love Monkey - Tuesdays @ 9:00 (ET) on VH-1

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Friday, April 14, 2006 4:31 AM

HDCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:

Originally posted by LittleAlbatross:
Quote:

Originally posted by Aegis:
Looks like this biggest point of this has been missed so far in the posts. Universal has chosen SERENITY to be their flagship HD-DVD (regardless of whether the format lives or dies). And this makes it mighty. Remember, Universal has been around for a good long while, they've got an awesome bucket of movies to choose from, and they chose our piece of cinematic heaven? Come on, this HAS to mean *something*! Maybe it's just the underlying desperation for more of the 'verse, I don't know.



I hate to be a pessimist but...

maybe it just means Universal knows they've just guaranteed themselves some sales.



I think that's a good bet. Launch with a title that they know will probably sell more copies than there are players sold. They're useing Browncoats to get a foothold on the market
QUOTE]

There's a huge brightside for the Browncoats here.

Every Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc, etc could be using Serenity to not only demo the capabilities of HD-DVD (which rock) but the big selling HDTV's themselves. Think about how many casual shoppers thinking about buying an HDTV and will spend a good chunk of time watching Joss's Serenity. (It's a lot harder to let R-movie HD-DVDs play in the background at BestBuy and how many sales reps are going to want to watch Phantom of the Opera all day)

This happened with the 5th Element, which didn't do that great at the box office. It was such a fantastic film to demo DVD players it just sold many more copies than anybody ever imagined. 5th Element was such a hit on DVD the director got to shoot another film (unfortunately it wasn't a sequel but a Joan or Arc thing).

There will be people asking, "This is great. How did I miss this before? Do you sell this here?"

Universal is probably thinking that having a good fan base will lift sales a little, but at a entry $500 + $25 cost, I don't think the Browncoat early adopters will be their bread and butter on this endeavor.

In reality, I think this is a big show of confidence in Serenity. They know its a quality film with real characters and a some very cool visuals to show off the new HD-DVD hardware. They have to be proud of the film to have it flagship a whole new media format that they are completely invested in.

Personally, I love HD and the verse. So this will be so much closer to the theater experience with 1080i/p picture and a DD+ soundtrack. I can't tell you how many times I've watched the Firefly DVDs on my HD and wished the picture quality was up to HD standards the way it really deserves to be.

Don't worry about the Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD thing. If you follow the high quality content (the film itself + the best possible copy of it) and the consumer electronics companies will follow you.

HD-DVD brings us much closer to a sequel.

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