HD DVD Fires Another Shot
January 17, 2008

Universal and Paramount, the two majors continuing to back HD DVD, are promising a slew of HD DVD releases in the coming weeks.
There's probable Oscar contender American Gangster coming from Uni on Feb. 19. It which should get loads of studio marketing support, and some needed HD DVD buzz, as Uni is likely betting on it winning Oscar bling during the ceremony hitting a few days later on Feb. 24. 
Over at Paramount, the studio is counting seven films that are so far headed to HD DVD through March. Next month, we'll see Beowulf on Feb. 26. Later, there is Into the Wild and Things We Lost In The Fire on March 4 and Bee Movie on March 11.
Just released this month was a director's cut of Zodiac on Jan. 8.
There is the risk that these titles will be crowded by the likely larger number of competing BD titles coming to market during these same months.  Five studios will be releasing on BD, compared to the two on HD DVD.
But one really nice thing about this HD DVD slate is that there seems to be something for everyone. You've got your broadly appealing family title in Bee Movie. There are the prestige pics with mainstream appeal in American Gangster and Into the Wild. And of course, Angelina naked in Beowulf. Who doesn't want to see that in HD DVD? And Zodiac and Things We Lost In the Fire round out the titles that some people meant to see in theaters, but never got around to it.
Other first quarter Par titles include The Jack Ryan Collection and The Kite Runner.
So although I think Par and Uni still are at a format disadvantage with these titles, I think this amounts to some great ammunition in this continuing fight.

Posted by Susanne Ault on January 17, 2008 | Comments (0)