Ben-DutkaAlthough I certainly wanted to see Blu-Ray claim victory over HD-DVD, it happened faster than just about anyone had anticipated. However, we've got a long ways to go before Blu-Ray becomes the accepted movie-viewing format, as DVD is fairly well entrenched amongst the mainstream consumers of this country. It will happen eventually, but perhaps it will be certain movies that will expand the Blu-Ray empire early on…
I don't know about you, but when I go to buy a new movie, I don't necessarily look for it on Blu-Ray. I have a PS3 and a 40" Samsung that is capable of full 1080p high-definition resolution, but this doesn't mean I will automatically fork over the extra ten bucks for the Blu-Ray version. These days, I'm looking at the movie itself, and asking one question: "is this the type of movie that would really benefit from Blu-Ray?" Now, I know what you're thinking- all movies benefit from Blu-Ray HD, but in my opinion, it's certainly more impressive for certain films. For example, I don't need old movies – movies that were never initially designed for high-definition – on Blu-Ray. Although it may be cool to have "Top Gun" on Blu-Ray, I just don't think it's necessary . And same goes for something like a comedy or even some dramas. I have "No Country For Old Men" on Blu-Ray now (a purchase I regret, as I basically hated the movie), and I wouldn't have cared if I had seen it on DVD.
On the other hand, I have movies like "Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End," "The Dark Knight," "Pan's Labyrinth," and "Finding Neverland" on Blu-Ray for a damn good reason. It's the scenery; the environments; the unbelievable visuals of such films that burst into high-definition glory on Blu-Ray. I have the feeling I'm not the only person who is going about purchasing their movies in this fashion. However, this entire argument becomes irrelevant if Blu-Ray cost the same as DVD, so perhaps this is only a temporary conundrum that won't become an issue later in 2009. And I'm also well aware of the video freaks out there who will only accept perfect high definition in everything they watch, but I'm not really one of them. For now, I am very selective in which movies I buy on Blu-Ray, even though I buy very few movies in the first place. I simply ask myself if I really need that extra boost, and whether or not the experience will be that much fuller for the added cost incurred.
Anyway, the point is this: I believe there are a lot of people out there who, despite having Blu-Ray capability, aren't automatically shifting their movie focus to 100% Blu-Ray. I think they're debating in much the same way I am. I think that movies like "The Dark Knight" – as holiday sales indicated – really help Sony's cause, while something like "Tropic Thunder" on Blu-Ray won't be a fraction as effective. And remember, I'm not just talking about movies with tons of special effects; "Finding Neverland" is amazing on Blu-Ray simply because it's such a visceral experience, and other movies fall into this category. Get what I mean?
I am selective in which movies I buy on Blu-Ray as well. I own 3 movies on Blu-Ray and they are all movies that have good scenery and that "burst into high-definition glory."
I cant wait until they release sisterhood of the traveling pants on bd. J/K
I agree ben, I got the assassination of jesse james on blu-ray, and then thought, "why the hell did I get that in high def?"
Same thing with older movies. I can see the point of updating a movie from cassette to DVD, but most movies dont need to look better than dvd, especialy with all the up-converting dvd players.
But I do like getting some movies on BD. The Dark Knight was just amazing, and the Hulk (the new one with Ed Norton) was great too.
I think as more people buy HDTVs they will automatically move to BD, but not as quickly as people turned to dvd.
And to answer your question, YES. I think certian movies, like The Dark Knight, are doing good for the blu-ray cause.
Last edited by Jed on 1/2/2009 10:15:38 PM
had nothing else to writte about ben? lol
yea i get what your saying and thank you because ive never looked at my movie purchases quite like that. while final fantasy would be outstanding in blu ray high def, mad max wouldnt really matter or need it so why get it on blu ray.
Yes, I think if you want a AAA selection of games and movies you do need to be very selective… 8.5 to 9 and above for games… and your top block busters that you enjoy should be blu-ray…
Think, of Lord Of The Rings were released on Blu Ray how things would explode… that would be a must buy for a decent amount of people around the world… I am sure there are also some artistic epics and historical war films that would work well for Blu Ray in peoples collection…
Personally, at this time though I am not spending any cash on BR movies just yet, I would rather save it and invest in a 2-3 AAA games per year… that is enough for me to get on with… time is also an issue!
Q!
"i aM hOMe"
If you're in love with the movie enough then I say whether or not it benefits go ahead and get the best. I could care less either way, I don't own a single Blu Ray movie, but whenever possible I do my rentals with them.
Offtopic: Those green adds are pissing me off, that Wiifit crap lol….ugh
I got 300, The Departed and, The Dark Knight and I usually go for action, obviously.
Of course certain movies will drive the format, just as any comparable hardware needs the right software to really push it (e.g. the Matrix on DVD). I disagree with the notion that old movies somehow "don't need" high-definition; if anything I'd say their need is the most pressing, as the most recent DVD's usually have excellent transfers while older films tend not to.
Whenever I look for a film now I only look at the Blu-Ray, the DVD is redundant now.. since I'd like every film in HD, buying DVD's now would just be a waste. And no, upconverting DVD's does absolutely nothing for me.
I think Batman Dark Knight drove blu-ray sales!
Heather Ledger especially.
I'm still waiting for a Kubrick boxset, thats probaly all i'll get in blu-ray for a few years.
ya i've mostly got movies that will show off the HD.i've got 8 blu rays all of the likes of 300,WANTED.
I have 5 kids so I tend to have kids movies-Cars, Meet the Robinsons and Horton Hears a Who. I know, not very exciting, but some friends were over last night and the kids were watching "Horton" and they all commented how it looked 3D. They were all really impressed.
I am getting Dark City for myself coming up.
As you said, all movies would benefit from being on Blu-ray. But you are totally off base about old movies. Even movies shot on 35mm were at higher resolutions than 1080p can give us now. So as long as the remastering is done properly, even old movies will look absolutely amazing. I've seen The Searchers and it is quite stunning.
if i bought movies (i rent, but barely watch them anyway) i would always get bluray. dunno why, i just want too. bar from that, if good movies show alot of graphical difference from dvd movies then they will be ythe ones to drive bluray.
I used to feel the same way, but I remembered when DVD's used to cost as much as Blu-Rays currently. As more Blu-Rays are sold the price will go down. And thus every future movie purchase for me will be a Blu-Ray — to help that process speed up! Just got Austin Powers trilogy and Jet Li's Fearless from Amazon…
The only movie I own on Blu-Ray is Planet Earth, I rent all my movies from either On-Demand on my cable box or from the PSN store, usually in HD.
I just got the planet earth BD for christmas, and it is stunning.
Lord of The Rings, Star Wars, The Alien series, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future. These are movies I think would really push Blu ray to more people.
ITA Ben…I own two blu-ray movies:wanted and the dark knight…I really want LOTR Extended!!
Last edited by bebestorm on 1/3/2009 1:15:37 PM
the best Blu-Ray movie has to be Transformers, I watched that on 5.1 surround sound on a 52" 1080p Samsung TV and bloody hell was I drooling!!!!
There are defiantly certain titles that seem to suit blu-ray more than other ttles. Action films ar great in hd. CGI movies look great in hd. TV shows seem pointless if say its a sitcom and its mainly set in an apartment. Nature programs like 'Blue Planet' is awesome on blu-ray.
Some blu-ray movies have come down in price and I have been buying old films which have been upscaled on blu-ray. They don't look as good as new movies but they look better than a dvd player or PS3 upscaling the dvd movie.
I saw some Blu-ray porno on the internet!!!
Whoah, where?
😛
(Not that I like pornography anymore LOLZ)
Blu Ray PorN! Yes! Porn is too expensive tho…I'll stick with games.
Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 1/4/2009 1:09:49 PM
If I really like the movie, I own it on Blu-ray and if I don't like it, then I don't buy it. I stopped purchasing DVDs ever since my first two movies on Blu-ray; 300 & 16 Blocks.
I don't get anything on Blu Ray that hasn't been made in the last 5 years. Simply the tech wasn't up to the Hi-Def demands. I have HD cable and older movies look like they've got a lot of static, like its Trying to be HD.
MUST HAVES:
300/Dark Knight/Ultra Violet/Iron Man
I don't know, the way I see it is this…why bother qoing backwards in your technology and your movie collection by purchasing a standard DVD as opposed to a BD? Once I purchased my PS3 and my 42" HDTV, one of the first things I did was sell my whole collection of DVD's on Ebay and start all over collecting BD movies.
On the other hand if I'm at the video store renting movies and particular BD movie is checked out, I'll go ahead and rent the standard DVD. As far as anything I purchase, it's BluRay all the way.
To each his own though.
I WANT THE EXTENDED VERSIONS OF LORD OF THE RINGS ON BLU-RAY REMASTERED IN 1080P HIGH-DEFINITION!
Don't we all. Sadly we only get the theatrical versions sometime this year. It seems the extended version, in some deluxe boxed set, will appear around the time the Hobbit is in theaters in order to piggyback on the hype of the movie.
When will the Hobbit come out?
I did the same thing also, and I agree Ben's view on this. The only blue ray movie I have for now is the Dark Knight, and the Transformers — both are grand and supurb in visuals, and they are new. There is really no point to get a blue ray for , i.e. the first 007 movie in 70s or 80s.
I am selective about purchasing Blu-rays based on two (well three) conditions:
-No movie I buy is more than $15 (I have very limited funds as a college student right now)
-The particular blu-ray is considered a visual/audio feast/reference quality/big blockbustery-special-effects type
-One of my favorite movies since I watch them again and again and I have no qualms about buying a better version of it (even if it's not a particularly necessary movie like Gattaca or The Truman Show)
Hey Ben! Do you want to see something really special in a Blu-ray disk? Try this film: Baraka. If you have the chance to have hooked up your PS3 to a 5.1 or 7.1 surround system that film will be even more impressive. Rent it first and then you will consider to buy it. I just did that! Amazing.
When , I just might have to buy that, and maybe upgrade my HT setup too.