Just perusing around the movies listings is a treasure trove of hopeful future HiDef DVD editions. My question is: since 5.1 sound is pretty much a prerequisite, why does the website not denote if and when a movie is presented as such?

http://www.hd.net/index.html

Primarily I can't wait to see Wolfen in hidef, since the DVD is sorely lacking the 5.1 soundmix culled from the 70mm theatrical soundmix of the film.

oh so that's where ex-MTV vj Matt Pinfield is nowadays - on a music themed talk show for HDNet.

You'd have to ask their webmaster. I don't think anyone here is in a position to know.

http://www.hd.net/contacts.html

If I had to guess, it's just to avoid information overload. They don't list aspect ratios either, although HDNet Movies has a policy to air movies in their OAR.

It's a pretty decent transfer, although a tad soft. Best I've ever seen it look.

but was in 5.1 sound?

I'm sorry Giles, although I was checking it out, I was painting a wall at the same time and really don't remember checking my amp display. Could have swore it was sounding pretty good. Sorry I can't confirm. I'm going to archive it next time it's on though.

All audio (and I mean everything, no exceptions) comes down the pipe as 5.1 on HDNet and HDNet Movies. Whether this means they received a true 5.1 mix or the audio was just 2.0 dumped into a 5.1 stream is anyone's guess.

yeah I shot them an email which for the most part didn't answer my question: was Wolfen in 5.1?

I also inquired about HDNet's stance on NC-17/unrated films; Sex and Lucia in question; here is there response:

Secondly, in regards to Sex and Lucia, since it did receive an NC-17 rating we opted not to play that version and went with the rated-R version instead. This is due to the fact that HDNet Movies is a basic cable network and we do not show NC-17.

We do, however show unrated films.

okay, sure... riiiight. (the film was released theatrically without a rating)