This Week in HD DVD: no real theme edition

by Dustin Burg { Aug 13th 2007 at 2:15PM }

It's another week which means we've got another batch of fresh HD DVD releases for HD movie buffs to consume. This mid August week brings a variety of releases, everything from the cartoon series Dragon's Lair to the hilarious Meet the Fockers to the visually twisted What Dreams May Come. The movie offerings are so diverse this week we couldn't even come up with a proper "edition" name. Trust us, that doesn't happen too often. Check out tomorrow's HD DVD movie releases below and carefully select which classics you'll be purchasing.

HD DVD Movie Releases: August 14th

Tags: hd-dvd, hddvd, thisweekinhddvd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

homer34 @ Aug 13th 2007 2:38PM

those mother fockers

Killer @ Aug 13th 2007 2:42PM

Damn it...

When will any of these formats put a good movie/series on their discs.

Blu-ray or HD DVD:

Give me Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan and The LoTR Trilogy in HD. What good is HD if you don't have movies that are action packed?

Pirates of the Carribean 1 and 2 is getting dull. (I HATE Spiderman) I keep watching 300 on HD DVD (it kicks ass still) but give me more movies. I'm starting to ask myself, "Why I bought any these formats?" There are few great movies that I have bought but give me even more choice. I'm not someone that wants a drama movie in HD. (some people are don't get me wrong) I just want something to scream "Thank God I BOUGHT (Insert Format/Formats).) So far it's really not making me be wowed. I don't buy every movie that comes out (some people do) Just a better choice from either side would be nice. So far I'm using both players as upcoverters for my dvds. I'm waiting Blu-ray and HD DVD.....Wow me!

Shawn @ Aug 13th 2007 2:43PM

"Classics?" Are you sure you didn't mean to write "craptastics?" With the possible exception of BROCKOVICH, this is garbage release week.

Fezmid @ Aug 13th 2007 3:12PM

@Killer:
Batman Begins is awesome (especially the ending train scene). Superman Returns is good. The Bourne Identity (and sequel), as well as the Matrix trilogy.

If you want classics, look at Searchers, Robin Hood, Casablanca.

Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift is awesome if you like pretty colors and loud sounds.

Oh, and check out Planet Earth - gorgeous.

There's tons of good movies out for HD DVD. While none is Lord of the Rings, I'd say Matrix comes close.

Tim @ Aug 13th 2007 2:59PM

Killer:

You can buy BoB in HD, but you have to import it from Japan. It was just released there and I picked it up for about $150 Canadian. The menus are in Japanese, but you can easily get around that. Also, by default, there are Japanese subtitles, but you can turn them off.

I'm with you in spirit, however. There's a ton of movies/TV shows I'd love to see in HD. I'm not sure why they're not releasing them. I wouldn't think it'd cost too much to remaster them for HD. Also, what better way to spur demand than release some TV shows? Aren't these supposed to be one of the top draws for DVD these days? I guess we'll see how well Heroes does on HD DVD. Got mine on order.

Kizzle @ Aug 13th 2007 3:15PM

I want Band of Brothers as well, but not so much that I'm willing to pay significantly more just to get it from Japan 6 months (or whatever) before the U.S. version shows up.

In regards for the person waiting to be "wowed" though, check out Hot Fuzz, King Kong, 300, and the Matrix films (among others). 8 months ago your statement might make sense, but if you can't find at least a few things to pick up now, you're never going to be satisfied.

Dragon's Lair is a "cartoon series?" That's a little misleading. Also, I STRONGLY advise anyone considering Dragon's Lair to read the review on highdefdigest.com ...looks like the HD DVD version gets a little bit shafted compared to the Blu-Ray version.

Benjamin09 @ Aug 13th 2007 3:17PM

Sales on stand alone players are not there so when the "suits" see those numbers it doesn't justify bringing some stuff to HD-DVD. The last thing they want is a customer, like Best Buy calling them all the time complaining about sales, turns, profit, etc.

When the players sell better, maybe during Christmas, we will see a flood of HD-DVD (or Blu Ray) movies.

Tim @ Aug 13th 2007 3:20PM

Importing BoB from Japan was a bit more than I would have liked, but it's worth it. Plus, if you want the format to survive, you gotta sacrifice a bit of your own $. Order it. You won't be disappointed. Also, who knows when it'll be released in North America? It might never be.

Killer @ Aug 13th 2007 3:44PM

I have Batman Begins, Van Helsing, 300, Blazing Saddles, and Plant Earth on HD DVD I have king kong as well (HD DVD add on for 360)

On Blu-ray I have Both Pirate movies, a couple other disney movies and a few columbia pictures movies and some sony pictures.

That being said, I just wish they would have Major Heavy hitters. I only though the 1st matrix was good, but something I wouldn't buy (I just wait for it to come on tnt hd >;> Those damn commercials) I never thought the superman movie was good. (picky I know, it's just getting annoying. I have had these formats since they came out and it seems like it's taking them forever to make their movies in the formats. It's one the reason I believe alot normal people don't really care for either of the formats. They don't have enough to choose from. Dont get me wrong there are great movies, just it seems like its taking forever to get awesome movies on the formats) I'm not much of an importer. I know that i could it's just that I prefer a north american release ( I know, I'm picky) I'll look into it though.

I'm not trying to b1tch about this. It's just getting to my nerves a little. That's all. I think I just want some great movie agian. It's been awhile since there has been one. Maybe it's just me.

superbagman @ Aug 13th 2007 5:23PM

I picked up TMNT on HD and it looks fantastic, really impressed with the visuals on that disc.

While I'm one of the few people who doesn't hate The Blair Witch Project, I would NEVER spend the premium HD DVD disc prices for that movie, it would be an absolute waste of the medium.

Kizzle @ Aug 13th 2007 6:32PM

One thing commented on a few above this...I certainly want the format to "survive" and I have little doubt it'll be fine. Universal isn't "going neutral" anytime soon, despite what Sony FUD spreaders would have you believe. That said, buying discs you may not want just to help the format survive seems a little foolish. I admit I did it myself, but really...while stuff like a "HD DVD buy days" organized on places like AVSforum do get some attention, they really don't do much to help the format in the long run. The sales spike for 48 hours, then they bottom out because no one has anything to buy for weeks to come.

I'll buy the HD DVD version over the Blu-Ray or standard DVD version 101 times out of 100 barring any major issues, but really...I don't agree with throwing money you don't want to spend at the format. Toshiba and Universal are big evil corporations too - they just don't rub me the wrong way like Sony does.

Killer - I definitely see your point of view. I just think we have gotten some pretty nice stuff so far, and I know stuff like BoB and LOTR is still to come, so I'm not really pining for stuff at the moment.

ymmv @ Aug 13th 2007 6:38PM

If it wasn't for Universal, there would hardly be anything to report about. 6 new titles, 4 of them from Universal. They really do their best to keep up with Blu-Ray when it comes to the number of published titles, but I just wonder how much they're selling... Is there anyone out there really interested in an HD-version of What Dreams May Come? Or even Mercury Rising?

Those catalog titles that no one really wants sell very, very bad. Maybe 5,000 copies world wide and that's a generous estimate. The only real sellers are brandnew day and date titles. I really don't see the point of all that old crap.