No Star Wars in HD until there is a clear format war winner

[RoboDad]

I wasn't sure where to post this, here or in the Star Wars subforum, but I just learned from this article (look toward the end of the article) that an announcement of sorts was made at Celebration Europe to the effect that none of the Star Wars films would be released in a home HD video format until a clear winner emerges in the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war.

The big problem with this is that there is sort of a chicken/egg problem going on. Consumers don't want to throw support behind either format until the war is decided, but the war won't be decided until enough consumers throw their support behind one of the formats to give it a dominant edge. So, I guess the longer people take to decide, the longer we'll all have to wait to see Star Wars in full HD. And that is kind of sad, because Star Wars in HD would be a REAL visual feast.

 

[gdb]

My take on the BluRay/HD wars is that Sony really, really needs to win. Their plan with the PS3 (which didn't really pan out for them yet) shows that they're trying to glue their BluRay machines into other products -- Playstations, laptops, etc. in an attempt to sneak them into people's homes. I wouldn't be surprised if they start giving them away with HDTV purchases around the holidays.

Yes, Star Wars HD would be a visual feast fit for a king!

 

[galactiboy]

Is their any chance we'll get both versions of the OT in HD? I'm holding out hope that we'll get the non-SE versions... but it seems like a real longshot

 

[Xander]

This just give George more to time to add and cut. Personally I'm hoping that all the deleted scenes from the Prequels are added in. Namely these:

-extra podrace scenes
-"Rebel" scenes from ROTS
Shak Ti's death
-Yoda on Dagobah

Anothe Order 66 scene or two would be good too. There's at least three others mentioned in the screenplay. Vos, Unduli and somebody else, I forget who.

I doubt Shaak ti's death scene will maker it back in because of here appearance in the upcomming Force Unleashed video game, but you you never know.

 

[Darth Loki]

If SW is BR only, I will bite the bullet and get a PS3. Until then, they are all on my DVR (I recorded them when they were on HBO a few months ago)

 

[tomandshell]

Well, since Star Wars will be a Fox release and Fox is Blu-ray only, part of the outcome of this is a foregone conclusion when it comes to the format war. We will not be getting Star Wars on HD DVD. (Well, officially, that is. )

Of course, Fox's BR exclusivity is meaningless right now since they cancelled all of their upcoming Blu-ray titles some time ago (both new releases and back catalog) and have yet to put anything back on the release schedule. But it sounds like they might soon be getting back in the Blu-ray business, and we will once again have the option to pick up some $40 discs without the special features included on their standard def counterparts.

But if the folks at Lucasfilm feel like they need to wait until it is mainstream then we can all just forget about it--because format war or not, high def disc sales will not be anything but a niche market for QUITE a long time to come.

And whenever they do come, the question will be whether we are getting the current special editions or the future special editions featuring CG Yoda in Phantom Menace, etc. The original theatrical editions won't be put out in high def. They claimed that the crappy looking non-anamorphic laserdisc transfer was the best they could find for the most recent DVD release, and if that is true then there is no way that the original theatrical versions will come to Blu-ray.

 

[mfoga]

Is their any chance we'll get both versions of the OT in HD? I'm holding out hope that we'll get the non-SE versions... but it seems like a real longshot

I hope so but wouldn't the problems LFL said with making the last DVD version cause a huge issue with HD non SE versions.

 

[P1X4R]

We will not be getting Star Wars on HD DVD. (Well, officially, that is. )

 

[darthviper107]

There might not be a clear winner at all. They're both doing almost the same as the other (jumping around a bit). But I wouldn't mind either format if Blu-Ray players are more affordable by then. Right now HD-DVD is cheaper so that's what I prefer, plus the Ultimate Matrix box set is only on HD-DVD right now.

 

[KitFisto]

Eff Blu Ray.

I hope HD DVD wins because that's what I already have

 

[Shropt]

Anyone with HBO or Cinemax should have already seen the six films in HD.

If not, its worth the price to get HBO for a month or 2 to see them. I've seen the films so many times already but seeing them again in HD is worth the time and effort. Seeing AT-ATs in HD is wicked awesome!!

 

[Gruson]

Ahhhh Boba and P1.



Official releases...bah!

muhahahah

I just hope they give us the original versions when it happens.

 

[RoboDad]

Anyone with HBO or Cinemax should have already seen the six films in HD.

There's no way I would ever subscribe to HBO or Cinemax, not even to see Star Wars. Besides, even the best HD broadcast will pale compared to a well-authored Blu-ray or HD DVD disc.

 

[Gruson]

There's no way I would ever subscribe to HBO or Cinemax, not even to see Star Wars. Besides, even the best HD broadcast will pale compared to a well-authored Blu-ray or HD DVD disc.

This is true but they look better than the DVDs for sure.

 

[mfoga]

There's no way I would ever subscribe to HBO or Cinemax, not even to see Star Wars. Besides, even the best HD broadcast will pale compared to a well-authored Blu-ray or HD DVD disc.

Well thats not true. There are many factors here. I have 720p TV, so a 1080p is going to look better then 1080i? Nope, its all 720 at this poing. I have watched The Chronicles of Riddick on a HD DTV channel and on HD-DVD no difference on my TV. If you have a high end 1080p TV yes you may see but if your TV is not huge you may not see it.

 

[RoboDad]

Well thats not true. There are many factors here. I have 720p TV, so a 1080p is going to look better then 1080i? Nope, its all 720 at this poing. I have watched The Chronicles of Riddick on a HD DTV channel and on HD-DVD no difference on my TV. If you have a high end 1080p TV yes you may see but if your TV is not huge you may not see it.

My comments had nothing to do with resolution. They had more to do with bit rates (HD DVD and Blu-ray can both achieve bit rates that more than double broadcast HD, resulting in a much cleaner, crisper image -- at either resolution), and the problems inherent in OTA and satellite transmission that result in signal loss and severe macroblocking.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

My comments had nothing to do with resolution. They had more to do with bit rates (HD DVD and Blu-ray can both achieve bit rates that more than double broadcast HD, resulting in a much cleaner, crisper image -- at either resolution), and the problems inherent in OTA and satellite transmission that result in signal loss and severe macroblocking.

this is exactly true.

for examples, check out the planet earth series on blu-ray and the sopranos season 6 part 1 on blu-ray and you can definitely tell the difference from the HD broadcast.

 

[Bum]

early status shows HD DVD leading Blu-ray in the porn industry.
and whomever wins this battle will then wield the mighty lightsabers and whack them around flauntingly with their format.

 

[oxbeard]

I was actually wondering a couple weeks ago if there had been an announcement I had missed. While searching amazon's BluRay selection, I noticed they had listings for both SW OT and PT in BluRay format. Of course, they were listed as not available yet, but I still found it odd that they already had a listing for them.

 

[Darthrazz]

early status shows HD DVD leading Blu-ray in the porn industry.
and whomever wins this battle will then wield the mighty lightsabers and whack them around flauntingly with their format.

I believe the Porno industry is what decided the Beta vs. VHS wars so long ago.