Well, if you want to get the thread back on track, my original point still stands. Even if BD didn't exist, Sony would still have released R-rated versions first, and unrated as a double-dip. The format has nothing to do with it. And it's not a good reason to not support BD.

I agree.

There are about 100 other good reasons not to support BD.

Isn't Sony releasing these movies both R and Unrated on DVD simultaneously, yet only R-rated on Blu-Ray?

yep. thats why I started the thread.

Yes, and there were several reasons given for why they might do that. All I'm saying is those reasons would all stand if Sony were supporting HD-DVD.

While I have no doubt Sony would do the same thing if Blu-Ray didn't exist and they were supporting HD DVD, the argument that they'd double-dip even on DVD doesn't stand since they're releasing the unrated DVD on the same day.

Ahh, I see the problem now. I meant they would do it regardless of HD format. My apologies for the confusion.

My guess is that the manufacturing capacity is limited for BD. So, they chose to release the R rated version. With any new format there is ramp up time to reach the levels of production they would like. By sticking with the one BD version they maximise their number of units they can produce with the equipment they have. As capacities increase I would expect simultainous released of rated and unrated BDs to become more common.

But, wouldnt Sony realize that the niche market for BD right now would be the consumers who want the unrated version??

It just makes no sense to me.

Sony?!?! Sense?!?!? Muahaha! I have owned a Sony Betamax and a Sony DAT recorder. Nice paperweights now.

I agree. But since it is a crappy practice, AND they are trying tolaunch a format, I think there is more reason to resent them for it. If some random studio were doing it, I could give them the finger and not buy their crap. If Sony gets their way, they will have the only format, and we will be stuck with their double dip. Thus, it is nice to hope that they fail, so that in so doing, they will pay doubley for trying to double dip. Seems like poetic justice to me.

Question - Amazon lists Robocop as being the R-rated version - they're wrong , right... ?

We don't know. it's not out yet.

Am I mistaken, or is Criterion the only company to have issued an unrated version of Robocop on DVD? The transfer on Criterion's DVD was done before they started supporting anamorphic widescreen, so I'd imagine it's likely that it wasn't done in HD either. That wouldn't necessarily prevent the Blu-ray version from being the director's cut, but that does make it seem somewhat less likely.

I could have sworn the 3 Disc MGM Trilogy release had the first film in it's unrated form.

Yeah, the version in the trilogy pack is unrated.

Okay, I am mistaken.

so under theory, since MGM has only released the unrated version, the Blu-Ray will be the unrated version.

Nope. The single disc MGM version is the rated version, i thought. ;0

Correct. I am assuming that the BD will be R, especially if it's one of the early, single-layer MPEG 2 discs.

Here is a question concering separate HD/BR Unrated/Rated releases. Why not have both versions on the same release? Especially in the case of something like Robocop where the difference is 40 seconds of graphic footage?

Can BR/HD not handle seemless branching or not have enough space for two layers and two prints of a film?

That seems like a smarter option that spending a ton of money on creating two editions of a film on the formats.

Marketing, I'd imagine. Many of the people who are adamant about not having an unrated version probably don't want it to be accessible at all. Ridiculous, but that'd be my guess.

believe it or not, I get the sense that with the MPEG2 compression and the inclusion of uncompressed audio, space or the lacktherof is the problem.

I'm not sure they've figured out how to get seamless branching to work for the HD formats yet.

Indeed, HD DVD had a clear opportunity with 16 Blocks, but the seamlessly branched alternate ending is only available on the DVD side of the combo disc.