Star Wars, LOTR, Matrix

When are they coming out on Blu-ray?

Hmmmmm...great question. I will say this though, those movies look great upconverted on the BR and HD players.

Upconverted? You mean DVD?

I'd expect LOTR to be released before the Hobbit movie to maximize sales. Star Wars, who knows with Lucas depends on his mood just remember he likes to make it and event. Matrix as soon as there are enough 1.1 profile players on the market to take advantage of PIP.

By upconverted I mean playing the current DVDs on BR or HD DVD players.
LucasFilm is busy doing the animated movie/tv series as well as the live action tv series so don't expect them on any Hi Def format any time soon.

Thanks, but I want Blu-ray, they look much better. When they coming out?

They are NOT coming out anytime soon. Whenever Lucasfilm and New Line announces them, YOU WILL KNOW. Matrix has been scheduled for later this year.

Cool...but like I said, as far as SW is concerned, LucasFilm is really busy with the other stuff. Oh and I almost forgot the new Indiana Jones movie comng out.

If I could choose a well-known and popular series to come out on Blu-ray, it would be the many films in the JAMES BOND series. All of these were remastered in late 2006 (both the audio and video), released on standard DVD, and are just 'ready and waiting' for Blu-ray too! PLEASE MGM - RELEASE 007. (yes, I have Casino Royale already, thru Sony).

But, if I were to take a guess on the next big hi-def series released on Blu-ray (produced by George Lucas too), that would be the 4 films in the INDIANA JONES series, as the 4th movie arrives this summer, and a 4-pack Blu-ray SpEd Box Set could be prepared for a Xmas season release.

EDIT - I see someone else has the same idea on 'Indy' too.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Feb 21, 2008]

The Matrix trilogy has already been announced by WB for a Summer 2008 release. Also, some industry insiders have hinted that the LOTR trilogy may be released by Christmas 2008. As far as Star Wars is concerned, Lucas loves taking his time when it comes to releasing them on a new format, so don't expect them anytime soon.

Hendrix, I assume that the 2006 restoration of the Bond films (I own the four volumes) were remastered for future HD usage (blu-ray, since its MGM), so an HD double-dip is not far at all.

But I would disagree on you with the Indiana Jones trilogy, I would say both Star Wars and LOTR would be the most wanted titles, specially LOTR for the visual effects, since SW would seem a little outdated (I said it).

I am a huge Star Wars fan and if when they come out in BD (if they do) they'll be the hook and bait for me to go blu. Until then I'm abstaining from BD. )

mvckalel... thanks for your comments. The reason I mentioned the INDIANA JONES films is for the forthcoming tie-in marketability, since the 4th film is being released this summer. Whenever a new film in a series is released, it creates MAJOR awareness, and sales 'lure' from consumers.

And frankly, George Lucas is executive producer of the series, and would probably lean to putting this series out in HD first, before attending to his other titles (like the huge 6-film Star Wars series). Although... the SW titles have already been remastered once in HD (for cable/satellite viewing), but I don't know if any HD restoration work has been done on the 'Indy' series yet.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Well if you have HD cable then CineMax and HBO has been running Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi for months now in 1080i, in fact I have The Empire Strikes Back in HD on my DVR.

I remember waiting foreeeevvveeerrr for Lucas to release the original SW on DVD.. So I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a BD version/announcement anytime soon..

Uni

As a side note.... WHY didn't Universal ever released their BLUES BROTHERS series (2 fims) on HD-DVD?

I'm a big music fan, and own both films (SpEd sets) on LaserDisc and DVD. Maybe they were not big catalog-selling titles. The original also has some of the greatest car smash-ups I've ever seen, and classic dialog, like...

"Illinois Nazis?" - "I hate Illinois Nazis!"

Also, "We have both kinds of music here at this bar - country AND western".... etc.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Lucas is control freak that has long lost touch with the fan base that has supported him for decades.
Also he tends to focus on one thing at a time so at the moment he has turned this plaid shirt on the Indy movies. So I can't imagine seeing Star Wars for the first-last time in the original-extended uncut-edited-Han might have shot last for the 1st time on Blu Ray this year.
(Plus would you want to see SW or LoTR on anything less then Profile 2.0???)
Remember how cocky Lucas was about Star Wars on DVD only to rush out three versions in a few years before the next gen players hit the market?
Why do you think that was?
My guess is that Lucas was afraid that if people had jumped on the next gen players right away Lucas would have lost out on millions do to missing the DVD boat.

I have been a big critic of the OH LOOK we have a zillion gig triple layer disks that both Blu and HD have been bragging about for a few years only to get pretty much the same exact extras that were on DVD.

Its time for LoTR, & Star Wars to truly show off what next gen players can do!

IF THEY do it right (profile 2.0 style) then you will see people who have stuck with DVD thus far run out to get Blu players much like millions did last year when they went out to get Xbox 360s for Halo 3.

xavier311... thanks for the comment. And another thing, Sony does NOT own the rights to any of these! (so there goes an outright chance on getting these on Blu-ray as fast as possible).

But Sony does have some other 'series' to put on Blu-ray... (hehe)

GODZILLA series (2nd film due this summer)
BAD BOYS series
MEN IN BLACK series
CHARLIE'S ANGELS series
GHOSTBUSTER series
THE KARATE KID series
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER series
...others?

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

LH

Call me an odd ball but I would love to see Men in Black on Blu.

matrix will be this summer. LOTR could be as soon as 4th quarter this year. Star Wars? Now that there is one format. Nothing would surprise me. Not this year, not in ten years.

Quote:
I remember waiting foreeeevvveeerrr for Lucas to release the original SW on DVD.. So I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a BD version/announcement anytime soon..

It took him 7 years to be exact to release the original (and the only one that matters) trilogy on DVD, so who knows, it may be a while before we see them on Blu.

The HD cable versions of these films may look decent, but they're far from having full HD picture and the audio is just weak. I understand these HD version were not overseen/approved by Lucas either. So, while they may satisfy some people, I think I'll wait until the real high-def versions are released on Blu.