Blu-Ray movie releases for the week of May 21
by Colin Torretta 
{ May 21st 2007 at 5:00PM }
This is a huge week for Blu-Ray movie release, with NINE new movies hitting the stores. Headlining the pack are the two highly anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean movies. There are also a healthy variety of other genres as well, from Mel Gibson's controversial Apocalypto to Clint Eastwood's critically praised Letters from Iwo Jima. Here's the full list of releases:North American Blu-Ray releases:
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- Apocalypto
- Letters from Iwo Jima
- Flags of Our Fathers
- Closer
- Mission Impossible
- Mission Impossible II
- Freedom Writers
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mccomber @ May 21st 2007 5:32PM
FYI, BestBuy has a deal where buying both Pirates on BluRay gets you $10 off the two. Of course, it's still cheaper at amazon.com, but if you don't like buying online... I'll probably buy those, and possibly Apocalypto. That looked like it would be a good stereo workout what with the running through the forest and all.
ymmv @ May 21st 2007 5:43PM
What was so controversial about Apocalypto? Mel Gibson's personal life sparked controversy, not the movie which I thought to be really excellent. I ordered the Blu-Ray-release today as a matter of fact, can't wait to see it again in hi-def.
Colin.Torretta @ May 21st 2007 5:59PM
Ymmv,
"However, it has been criticized by a number of anthropologists and archaeologists working in the field of Mayanist studies for its depiction of late Maya society as extremely violent, as well as for evident anachronisms and other historical inaccuracies."
-Wikipedia
The violence and historical inaccuracies are what I was alluding too. I haven't actually seen it yet though, so I'm not commenting first hand. Just from what I've read in the papers.
-Colin.Torretta
Joe @ May 21st 2007 6:33PM
Lol, i have to give it to anthony. the Matrix trilogy are some of the few action movies I really want for blu ray. Since I prefer BLU RAY, i'll just wait till warner bros breaks under the pressure. Let me know if matrix is the only movie worth getting on hd dvd though. It appears that most/enuff good movies i care for are releasing on blu ray format. especially... ADVENT CHILDREN. SE, don't forget about us in the US!!
what?!?!?.......
LOST IN TRANSLATION IS ONLY ON HD DVD & DVD FORMAT!!
;*(**
Popfrogs @ May 21st 2007 6:49PM
@joe: Universal hasn't caved yet, but market realities will force them to release everything on BR disc soon. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335266/companycredits Universal is all over that title for distro rights.
Don't sweat it. It's a Blu-ray world, HD-DVD is dead.
Joe @ May 21st 2007 7:19PM
thanks for the good news colin and popfrogs. Just to clarify - I'm not so much a fan of scarlett johansson as I am of the character she plays in that movie. It would be nice if she was more like that than a whore, not that I'll ever meet her anyway SIGH. As for Bill Murray, he's definitely one of my favorite actors. Hands down, though, all the japanese actors in that movie were the best. They were "convincingly" stereotypical japanese. ;) There's a scene in the movie where Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is sitting by the window looking out, and the camera focuses on her.
Hmm.. i sound creepy.
massive_98 @ May 21st 2007 7:38PM
Does anyone know when Lord of the Rings is going to be released on Blu-Ray are HD-DVsucky?
Killer @ May 21st 2007 9:26PM
@Popfrog
The world of 5% of the population of home theater buyers. That's such a big world. :p Can I start singing "It's a small world after all?"
@massive_98
Wow......Did that take you a couple minutes to come up with HD-DVsucky? Honestly, WTF? It's like the mind thinking of a 4 year old in a argument. Come up with something better next time because that sucked. Stick with the actual name HD DVD, until you can think of a better diss.
I love how both sides HD DVD and Blu-ray all have the same reaction, "OMGZ (insert crazy rant about either format) is going to be the winner." It's a race, not a 100 meter dash. You can win every battle, but you can still lose the war. (I'm talking to both sides) It's so pathetic that you have to tell yourselves that "yeah, this will be over", even though it could turn out that both formats survive, like DVD+RW and DVD-RW.
Joe @ May 21st 2007 10:28PM
Very good point killer. I didn't think of that. Unlike DVD's and stereo sound (i know dvd supports 5.1), Hi Def movies and surround sound is still pretty much like luxury/premium, and the former has become standard. I can't imagine when Hi def will become standard, especially since hi def is mainly significant for big displays. It's really hard to imagine. When will it become standard for homes to have 40+ inch displays worthy of hi def. F*** the 24 inch hd lcd. I don't think it will ever until a decade at least, (okay i pulled that outta my ass, f*** off). But then again, broadband has practically become standard compared to the days of aol 3.0 about a decade ago.
WHATEVER, in that case, it's not that I only want one format to survive. It's that I have a ps3 with blu ray player and an hdtv with surround sound set up. And since I want my f*ing movies in HD, movies being out on blu ray pretty much make things convenient for me. If a winner does come out of this "war" and it happens to be blu ray, that makes things even better. So what's wrong with wanting that. I don't give a shit if hd dvd becomes more popular, as long as all the movies I want get released in the hd format I can play.
vizunary @ May 22nd 2007 12:20AM
I'll be picking up both of the POTC movies up at midnight at wally world
Killer @ May 22nd 2007 6:20AM
@joe
"i'll just wait till warner bros breaks under the pressure."
Just thought I might tell you that Warner Brothers is both formats. (Universal isn't) Warner is just waiting to use the True HD discs which will be for the Lord of the Rings. :) I wonder how shares are going to be added up once they start selling those? Count each side for the sale or not count them at all. It will be interesting to say the least.
Popfrogs @ May 22nd 2007 9:55AM
Anyone who sadly defends the HD-DVD format is probably one of the people who bought the X360 and the HD-DVD addon. I still haven't met anyone who actually owns a standalone HD-DVD player but I do know some people who bought PS3s (older people) specifically to play movies and now they're playing Resistance and Motorstorm as well.
HD-DVD is dead already, the fat lady has sung the first note, just let it die will ya? Market penetration determines winners, and there are more BR-capable PS3s in homes than there are HD-DVD players. I guarantee if you ask Netflix or BBOnline which HD format gets rented more, you'll get BR every time.
Geoff Gibson @ May 22nd 2007 1:16PM
HD DVD is dead! WOOO!
Oh wait...Best Buy is still selling them.
Circuit City is still selling them.
Amazon is still selling them.
Warner Bros, Dreamworks, Paramount, Universal, Weinstein, BBC, New Line Cinema, HBO, Image Entertainment, and Magnolia Pictures are still releasing HD DVDs.
But I thought HD DVD was dead...you lied to me!
In all seriousness HD DVD isn't dead just because you say it is.
I have a PS3 and an HD DVD add-on. I don't prefer either format. Whichever one gets me my HD movies cheapest gets my $$.
However, even as a PS3 and BluRay supporter, I have to note that BluRay sales are disappointing and I am sure Sony will agree. How can Sony justify that there are 2-3 million PS3s (as well as 30,000(?) standalone players) in the consumers hands and yet they just now passed the 1 million BluRays sold? Let me also remind you that 5 days after HD DVD sold the same amount with a paultry 100,000 standalones and 100,000 HD DVD add-ons.
It just doesn't make any sense. And for anybody to actually try and rationalize the difference between the two in terms of # having been sold, you are pathetic. Seriously...get off the bandwagon of whatever corporation you have pledged loyalty to.
Its an HD world...
Now, excuse me while I go watch my Matrix Trilogy followed by some nice Pirates action all in 100% 1080p HD.
Loves and kisses,
Geoff
Geoff Gibson @ May 22nd 2007 1:19PM
P.S. If you'll also remember, whichever company tracks the sales numbers of the two formats, does NOT include the free movies given away with each player, PS3, or HD DVD add-on.
I can't remember who does it. Is it the NPD? This is going to bug me.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 8:46PM
>14. HD DVD is dead! WOOO!
Oh wait...Best Buy is still selling them.
Circuit City is still selling them.
...
I walked into Best Buy and they are also selling Betamax tape, does that mean it's not dead yet?
hmmm.