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-   -   HD DVD imports (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/472147-hd-dvd-imports.html)

RockStrongo 09-02-06 06:38 PM

Im definately in for Total Recall and T2...already sold my sd dvd versions.

Well, we know that T2 will have DTS-HD master and probably a much better picture than the BD release, but im curious if they will contain all the special features from the previous extreme release.

digitalfreaknyc 09-02-06 06:42 PM

That's what I'd like to ask Amir. Will all the extras be ported over?

Supermallet 09-02-06 07:46 PM

You have to presume that any extras will be extras from the R2 DVD versions. No reason to expect them to have the rights to the R1 DVD versions (unless the R1 and R2 versions were exactly the same).

chente 09-03-06 02:29 AM


Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
On HD-DVD available in Germany 11/20 with no region coding: (Canal Plus)

1080p/24 VC-1 encoded (output at 1080i/60 on the HD-A1, same as US encodes with no PAL speedup = fully compatible with US hardware)


Total Recall

The Fog (Carpenter)

First Blood (Stallone)

The Elephant Man

King Kong (Jeff Bridges)

The Pianist

La Haine


Early 2007


Terminator 2

Mullholland Drive

Traffic

http://www.areadvd.de/news/2006/IFA_..._PHE_UPV.shtml

I'd probably pick up T2. The others, I'm interested in like the Pianist and Elephant Man will eventually be released stateside so I'll wait until then.

Supermallet 09-03-06 02:37 AM

If cost weren't an issue I'd get the European ones on things like The Pianist and The Elephant Man, but yeah, I will most likely wait on things that aren't BD exclusives in the US.

Unless their version of The Pianist has all the special features of the two-disc Canadian set.

The Bus 09-03-06 09:18 AM


Originally Posted by RockStrongo
I wonder though, will there be any Universal titles that could be distributed overseas to BD or does Universal distribute all of their titles worldwide??

I can think of one right away: Cinderella Man. It's Universal here in the US but Miramax everywhere else.

jpfisher 09-03-06 10:00 AM

Here's hoping that Le Cercle Rouge has an english subtitle option. One of my favorite films -- I can see myself buying a lot of import HD DVDs in the future.

edit - Army of Shadows too... wow. I'm liking this more and more.

Fincher Fan 09-03-06 03:06 PM

The only thing I could potentially see being a problem in the future is if there are clauses in the studio contracts to only release on Blu-Ray. This whole format war shows how stubborn they can be!

Paul_SD 09-03-06 09:25 PM


Originally Posted by Fincher Fan
The only thing I could potentially see being a problem in the future is if there are clauses in the studio contracts to only release on Blu-Ray. This whole format war shows how stubborn they can be!

the biggest problem I see are forced subtitles. Amir has said that every Euro release of a US movie, outside of the UK will have forced native subtitles. As long as every single title gets a UK release, we'll be covered.

wewantflair 09-03-06 11:09 PM

Given that all releases are compatible with U.S. video modes, I am fairly certain that certain "wink wink" arrangements were made with Studio Canal et al to make these releases as palatable as possible for U.S. customers. If they weren't, once they see the large amount of American importers, I'd imagine they would see the light pretty easily.

Grubert 09-04-06 07:03 AM

This from Spain


Infinia-DVDreams, a Spanish DVD authoring firm, announced the operation launch of its hidef department, for mastering titles in HD DVD and Blu-ray formats.

The company has been working on the new hidef formats since last March and during the last quarter of the year, it will begin to deliver the first masters, both for HD DVD and Blu-ray. Anticipating the launch of HD DVD and Blu-ray players, expected for later in the year, the most important national studios have already ordered different titles from Infinia-DVDdreams for its Christmas campaign.

For DeAPlaneta, titles in preparation include Tirante el Blanco, Anger Management and Brothers Grimm. DeAPlaneta aims to have at least 10 titles out by year end.

Filmax is working on the release on HD DVD and Blu-ray of ten other titles, including Aeon Flux, Underworld Evolution, Fragile and Oliver Twist.

Finally, Manga Films is now working on the release of Crash and Hostage on HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Another indie studio, Cameo, will announce its first hidef titles shortly.
Interesting.

digitalfreaknyc 09-04-06 10:33 AM

This could prove to make things moot.

I know they're imports...but still.

chente 09-04-06 10:41 AM


Originally Posted by Paul_SD
the biggest problem I see are forced subtitles. Amir has said that every Euro release of a US movie, outside of the UK will have forced native subtitles. As long as every single title gets a UK release, we'll be covered.

That's a bad idea. Why would they do that?

Burnt Thru 09-04-06 12:02 PM

Do you fellas have TVs capable of playing back PAL signals? I'm assuming the extras (which have so far been mostly standard def) will be encoded in PAL on these releases. Though the Japanese titles may use NTSC.

digitalfreaknyc 09-04-06 12:09 PM


Originally Posted by Burnt Thru
Do you fellas have TVs capable of playing back PAL signals? I'm assuming the extras (which have so far been mostly standard def) will be encoded in PAL on these releases. Though the Japanese titles may use NTSC.

Any TV can play back a PAL signal if it's changed to NTSC.

Somehow, I don't think this is going to be an issue but thank you for trying (again) to throw a wrench in to any HD DVD-positive situation.

Burnt Thru 09-04-06 12:15 PM

Does the HD-A1 convert PAL to NTSC?

digitalfreaknyc 09-04-06 12:37 PM


Originally Posted by Burnt Thru
Does the HD-A1 convert PAL to NTSC?

No it doesn't. But it's already been mentioned that everything will be 24fps.

Burnt Thru 09-04-06 12:49 PM

Wasn't that in relation to the HD main feature? It would be odd for a European studio to downgrade the SD video simply to pick up a few extra sales from the other side of the Atlantic.

digitalfreaknyc 09-04-06 12:57 PM


Originally Posted by Burnt Thru
Wasn't that in relation to the HD main feature? It would be odd for a European studio to downgrade the SD video simply to pick up a few extra sales from the other side of the Atlantic.

you do realize what a big deal these being "region-free" is? I don't expect HD DVD to implement region-coding as long as loop-holes like this exist.

Burnt Thru 09-04-06 01:03 PM

The studios have apparently asked for region coding, so it's coming whether we like it or not. Though I'm not sure how the lack of region coding is going to effect the potential PAL extras on these discs.

Drexl 09-04-06 01:03 PM

I don't think they're going to care whether the extras can be viewed or not. The point is to get the films in HD. Besides, for many of these titles, those that import them are likely to already have the standard DVD editions, so they can watch those for the extras.

Jay G. 09-04-06 01:12 PM


Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
you do realize what a big deal these being "region-free" is?

Yes, it's apparently enough of a big deal that in some countries the distributors will include forced subtitles to discourage importing.

Burnt Thru has a good point. If the extras for these releases are encoded in SD, then they're likely to be PAL encoded as well. If they're PAL encoded, then it will depend on whether the US HD-DVD players are capable of converting PAL to NTSC as to whether or not people in the US will be able to view the extras on these releases.

Note that this won't affect the main feature itself on these discs, which will be 24fps 1080p, and compatable with US players.

candyrocket786 09-04-06 01:14 PM


Originally Posted by Burnt Thru
Do you fellas have TVs capable of playing back PAL signals? I'm assuming the extras (which have so far been mostly standard def) will be encoded in PAL on these releases. Though the Japanese titles may use NTSC.


As long as I get films in HD and don't have to buy Bluray..... I don't really give a shit about the extras.

The Bus 09-04-06 01:40 PM

It's entirely possible the extras, to begin with, won't even have subtitles and will just be dubbed in the original language. To date, I remember very few releases anywhere that have subtitles and audio options for the extras. I mean, some don't even have English SDH options. Sure, I bet with everyone here we can name a few dozen titles, but that's nothing compared to the vast majority.

Also, I think importing is going to be much more of a benefit to the importers (us) than to the studio producing these titles. I doubt if US sales will be even 1% of the total.

kvrdave 09-04-06 01:52 PM


Originally Posted by candyrocket786
As long as I get films in HD and don't have to buy Bluray..... I don't really give a shit about the extras.

I'm the same way. I have probably watched extras on 5% of the dvds I own, and only one commentary.


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