Paramount/Dreamworks HD Exclusive Choice: Mo Money or Mo Hassle?August 22nd, 2007 in Directors, Home Theater, Movie News, Sci-Fi |
Okay, I’ve avoided reported on this for the past two days because, well, I don’t know anything about DVD formats - HD or Blu-Ray. I just watch mine “regular”, but from the looks of things, those days might be over soon.
Unfortunately, the process of choosing between HD and Blu-Ray isn’t getting any easier. The movie industry seems to be almost automatically slidding into a minature civil war over the choice.
First, Paramount/Dreamworks chose to release movies exclusively in HD format - a decision which lead Michael Bay to declare “No Transformers 2 for me”, blasting the HD decision (though he pulled a 180 today, recanting both the statement regarding HD and Transformers 2, as well as plugging 300 on HD-DVD).
However insubstantial, Michael Bay’s comments aren’t unsupported. Many analysts remained equally concerned about the announcement. At the moment, HD seems to be the loser - with Blu-Ray outselling HD three times over and some retailers refusing to even carry HD. However, Michael Bay claims HD players will be close to the $200 mark, which he cites as the “magic number.”
Still, experts believe format wars take time - something this latest move doesn’t account for. “”Most people are not aware that the original video format [battle] between Betamax and VHS lasted 10 years.” said Jan Saxton of Adams Media Research to the Los Angeles Time.
I can see Paramount/Dreamwork’s logic - there isn’t a movie to better convince people to buy HD than Transformers. But given the problematic economy at large, there seems a great deal of potential blowback. If consumer confidence falls, logically pricy HD player sales could as well. If this chain reaction hits, Paramount/Dreamworks could end in a dicy position - alienating both fans and consumers
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August 22nd, 2007 at 9:23 am
Your not the only one sitting on the side-lines. This recent announcement still addresses the slow sales of the actual hardware units which has consumers waiting. The idea that $200 price tag is going to jump start sales, which group are they kidding, the movie house or the consumers?
HD DVD may have technical advantages, I believe the key issue will be the 2 hour format limits. Personally, I cannot sit still more than 2 hours, but directors/producers now have too condense storylines and creative value.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
With all of the current technology utilized for personal entertainment, wouldn’t it be advantageous for manufacturers to make players that can utilize various formats? I think that most people these days have more than a moderately extensive dvd collection, and the thought of re-buying all of their titles infuriates them. It sure as hell infuriates me.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:08 am
Transformers goes HD, cool, then I’ll go Blu- Ray