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Itīs a great improvement when you watch the latest movie or CGI animation on these formats, the source can be directly used for the highest definition picture and sound and in some cases, as with Superman Returns, a High Def camera is used in the filming.
But what concerns me is the wealth of older titles appearing on these formats. While itīs understandable to have current films available and it was certainly beneficial to have these on DVD, will films made 20 years ago or more benefit from high def discs?
Classics will still sell, mainly to people who donīt have a copy on DVD already, and some will have added features to use the disc space, but films such as Blazing Saddles, while excellent, just donīt really show any difference between the DVD and High def disc, yet they cost more on the new format.
Is this another attempt to fleece money from people for the same old titles, or is it a need to show a huge back catalogue to tempt people to the new formats? Either way, it should really only be allowed if there are enough extras to add to the package, such as interactive picture-in-picture commentaries or new documentaries not found on the DVD release.
With the advent of upscaling on DVDs you even get a better (if not quite High Def) picture from your old discs on HD TVs. Another arguement against the old films appearing on High Def discs without added extras.
For now, Iīm sticking to new films on Blu-ray and keeping my DVD collection for everything else.
As a whole, both the formats offer some exceptional pictures and some great extras that are not technically possible on DVD, I can see them eventually replacing DVD, but it won't be as fast as the last generation as the technology isn't as radically different.
Just wait for another 17 different Star Wars box sets.
The main issue is that CD was a new format with new abilities, so was DVD. Practically all films were enhanced by it, not so with High Def formats for some older films where there is little or no distinction between the DVD and High def formats, both of which can be played in the same machines.
Of course old stuff is going to be released on Blu-Ray/HD-DVD. The HD formats arent a complement to DVD, they are a replacement. People are never going to be encouraged to make the jump unless ultimately they are going to have access to the same range as DVD.
Itīs a great improvement when you watch the latest movie or CGI animation on these formats, the source can be directly used for the highest definition picture and sound and in some cases, as with Superman Returns, a High Def camera is used in the filming.
But what concerns me is the wealth of older titles appearing on these formats. While itīs understandable to have current films available and it was certainly beneficial to have these on DVD, will films made 20 years ago or more benefit from high def discs?
Classics will still sell, mainly to people who donīt have a copy on DVD already, and some will have added features to use the disc space, but films such as Blazing Saddles, while excellent, just donīt really show any difference between the DVD and High def disc, yet they cost more on the new format.
Is this another attempt to fleece money from people for the same old titles, or is it a need to show a huge back catalogue to tempt people to the new formats? Either way, it should really only be allowed if there are enough extras to add to the package, such as interactive picture-in-picture commentaries or new documentaries not found on the DVD release.
With the advent of upscaling on DVDs you even get a better (if not quite High Def) picture from your old discs on HD TVs. Another arguement against the old films appearing on High Def discs without added extras.
For now, Iīm sticking to new films on Blu-ray and keeping my DVD collection for everything else.