For those who aren't checking the software announcement thread:

http://www.dvdreview.com/news/

Paramount Home Entertainment has finally taken the plunge into high definition with 10 HD-DVD titles coming in the next few months.
On July 25th, Sahara, Tomb Raider, Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow and Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow will arrive. August 1st will include Four Brothers, We Were Soldiers and The Manchurian Candidate. Then on August 8th, expect U2: Rattle and Hum, Aeon Flux and The Italian Job.

Interestingly, it appears as if Paramount is taking the same appoach to these early HD-DVD titles they took to DVD initially, which means all releases will be entirely devoid of bonus materials. but fortunately the price is not bad at all, as all these titles will be instores for $29.98. It is an odd cross-mix of titles, but Paramount is certainly welcome to the fold.

cool... thats good news

I've learned to deal with Paramount's lack of extras, as the audio/video quality of their DVDs has been good enough to make up for it. Plus, I'm not all that interested in extras for these titles, anyway. I do hope, though, that they will change that approach at some point.

Also, at least we don't have to worry about non-anamorphic transfers, like Paramount's early DVD releases.

Thanks for posting it!

Now if they can squeeze an HD version of the Apocalypse Now special edition that's coming September onto their release list, I'd be a very happy camper.

I'm hoping for Black Rain in October. It was always on their initial lists.

Either way, it's a damn good showing from them. For those who were doubting, they're putting out more discs than the other studios in the first few weeks, no?

My only issue is that they're extra-less. I know some of those titles had some good extras on their SD DVD version.

Glad they finally woke up. I'll get several of those. It does kinda suck about no extras, but the HD format is all about audio/video quality for me. Assuming MI3 is released in HD DVD this year, I'm sure it'll have some extras.

They make no mention of BD. I wonder if they're just gonna stick with HD DVD.

I wonder why they don't have extras? Universal and WB didn't seem to have a problem with it. Other then that, it's great news and there are some decent titles in there too!

I am ecstatic that they are releasing Sahara first, that is probably my most anticipated title right now.

Sky Captain, Sleepy Hollow, and We Were Soldiers will be mine... (and I'll Netflix the rest).

I don't watch the extras, so I don't really care about their omission from the HD DVD's.

Looking forward to getting some of the Paramount movies..

Dissapointing about the lack of extras... At least port over what little they had to begin with for Pete's sake. I think most people would rather not have to hang on to their DVD counterparts... I know I don't.

Edit: DavisDVD says they'll include extras from their DVD releases. Hmm...

Video Business didnt say either way and hd digest said that Paramount hasnt announced the tech specs yet....it very well might be that dvdreview had it wrong...I dont see why they would not at least port over the old bonus material.

Possibly whereever dvdreview got their info, maybe it said no HD extra features.

Looking forward to Seeing Angelina Jolie in HD in Tomb Raider

As I mentioned in the release thread, the only one of these I was even mildly interested in was Sleepy Hollow, but the lack of extras is going to make me pass. At least include Tim Burton's audio commentary.

Edit: Of course, knowing me, I might just break down and order it, anyway.

I hope we'll see the Star Trek movies by Christmas. Khan in HD-DVD would be sweet, indeed.

Plus, this gives Paramount another way to whore out (err, I mean release!) their Star Trek library...you know how they LOVE to do that.

ST II, III, IV, and VI I would buy on HD-DVD without waiting for an SE, then I'd double-dip on an SE.

You hear me, Paramount?

Makes me wonder how many more people that have been sitting on the fence will now buy a player. I mean, none of the titles are "Must-have's" but at the same time, having another studio on-board is always a plus.

I think you're highly underestimating the hardcore Tomb Raider fan base.

Someone on AVS is reporting that the reason we're not getting extras is because they will all have DTS tracks. Might be bullshit.

But they have nothing on the Four Brothers fan base.

If these come with DTS-HD tracks, then I will gladly forgive the lack of extras.

Fixed.

Great news! Not too excited about any of these titles though, but I'll probably grab at least a couple of them, maybe more, depending on everyone's reviews.