Paramount Cancels Majority of HD DVD Slate

Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 07:02 PM ET

Ending weeks of speculation, Paramount says 'Into the Wild' and 'Things We Lost in the Fire' will be its last two HD DVD releases.

Although the studio has yet to issue a formal statement, when asked to confirm retail reports that it had canceled the majority of its upcoming HD DVD slate, a Paramount rep told us that following the next week's HD DVD releases of 'Into the Wild' and 'Things We Lost in the Fire,' the studio will no longer issue any further titles on the format.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to a just-published article in The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is expected to release its first new Blu-ray titles this summer.

Paramount (and its subsidiary DreamWorks) had nearly a half-dozen HD DVD titles scheduled for release through early Spring. Here is a complete list of the studio's previously-announced titles that have now been cancelled:

March 25: 'The Jack Ryan Collection,' 'The Kite Runner'
April 1: 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'
April 15: 'There Will Be Blood '

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/DreamWorks/Paramount/Industry_Trends/Paramount_Cancels_Majority_of_HD_DVD_Slate/1522

I just pre-ordered The Jack Ryan Collection today, Nooooo!! :p

I'm currently watching one of their first of a few Blu ray titles (Sleepy Hollow) and I hope they use MPEG-4 (AVC) or at least VC-1 for their transfers because this MPEG-2 of Sleepy Hollow is crappy.

EDIT: And if The Transformers comes to Blu ray I hope that it has a DTHD or LPCM soundtrack.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Feb 28, 2008]

From my understanding some of the early bluray releases used MPEG 2 but they have been using MPEG 4 and VC-1 for a while now so if they do re-release it, it'll probably look much better.

Sleepy Hollow is an underrated movie in my opinion.

I am very disappointed at Paramount about this because I pre-ordered Sweeney Todd and I am sure a lot of people have done the same. The least they can do is continue selling HD DVDs till end of May or something.

Anyone know how to get in touch with Paramount directly about this? There's no contact information on their website.

Falcon, I don't mean t o hi-jack your thread but if you get word of Starship Troopers (SONY pictures) release date, let me know. I know it's out across the pond but I don't know if it's region coded or not. Thanks

EDIT: Nevermind I found it and there is no region code.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Feb 28, 2008]

Yeah, it is a shame they don't issue these last films, as they are what would have become the collectible little treasures of the HD DVD format, especially "Sweeny Todd"!

I do understand their dilemma though, as I and I'm sure several other people went out and plopped down only $10 for what should have been a big hit with "Beowulf" - what a bargain that was!

HD DVD was such an outstanding format.

Oh paramount has never done this before have they? They did it once but I guess it doesn't count since it was BD. Now hd-fans know how it feels.

Quote:
Sleepy Hollow is an underrated movie in my opinion.

The HD DVD of Sleepy Hollow was put the sd to shame in both pq and audio. It was indeed greatly underrated.

Quote:
Now hd-fans know how it feels.

Who really cares at this point? I thought we were over that type of rhetoric. So two choices remain: buy a BD player or buy the sd. We all know that. Big deal.

[Post edited by StevePro on Feb 28, 2008]

Quote:
From my understanding some of the early bluray releases used MPEG 2 but they have been using MPEG 4 and VC-1 for a while now so if they do re-release it, it'll probably look much better.

Sleepy Hollow is an underrated movie in my opinion.

The BD release of Black Hawk Down is a great example of an MPEG2 encode done well. That title is reference quality for both picture and sound.

Starship Troopers ?????/... haa

honestly most ovverated movie by me. i used to love it so much when it first came out. saw it again a few yrs back.. and was like ehhh?

maybe blu release will bring back the passion