So how about this, Blu-Ray plans to region-code their discs. While it’s probably a formality that the HD-DVD camp does this sometime, it makes buying the Fox releases in Europe and Japan all the sweeter for the time being. This is while Warner revises forecast for BD and HD-DVD spending, saying that people won’t spend as much for the remainder of the year, mainly because of equipment delays (Sony, I’m looking at you on that one…).
If you’re lucky enough to live where the Target employees aren’t the brightes… bulbs in the lamp, then you might be able to snag Batman Begins, The Polar Express and Corpse Bride just before they’re due to street on Tuesday. I haven’t been as lucky, but from what I hear (and read), the Batman release appears to reason enough to get into the next-gen player buying business. The audio and video are reference quality, so for you early adopters out there, get your arse down to Tar-shay, or at least your local electronics store, so you can snap this release up pronto.
Well, let’s go straight to the new announcements, shall we? On the Blu-Ray side, Sony has announced their first 50GB Blu-Ray discs, starting with Click this coming Tuesday, then Black Hawk Down on 11/14 and Talladega Nights day and date on 12/12. Fox will be releasing Flight of the Phoenix, From Hell, The Sentinel, Entrapment and Rising Sun, all pegged for a 12/5 release, while Lion’s Gate has got The Descent lined up for a 12/26 street date. Fox will also drop The Devil Wears Prada as a day and date release with the regular SD on 12/12, while Transporter 2 comes out on 12/26. Paramount will also street the Manchurian Candidate remake and We Were Soldiers on 1/23/07. For HD-DVD, Universal, which had first postponed the Hulk release, now has it side by side with Field of Dreams, both of which coming out on 12/12. And if you’ve been looking for your calibration disc for the HD front, the Digital Video Essentials disc will be coming out on 11/14. If that’s not your cup of tea, the Weinstein Company will release Scary Movie 4, The Matador, Wolf Creek and Derailed, all on 12/5.
Oh, for the HD-DVD camp, late word (rumor right now, anyway) is that Forbidden Planet and Mutiny on the Bounty may street as day and date discs, with Blu-Ray coming early next year. More in this space as it becomes official.
This week’s releases? There’s other stuff than Batman, Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Well, there is, actually. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Waist Deep and the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory also come out Tuesday, while on the Blu side, Aeon Flux, 16 Blocks, Syriana and Rattle and Hum.
Until next week, high definers, leave me alone, so I can wait in line for Batman Begins!
