DVD Polizei

Basically expanding on what Mr. Cinema was talking about in another thread, I was thinking why I like HD (High-Def) so much. I came to the conclusion it's because I want to see older titles bringing something new I have never seen before. While I certainly like to watch the latest titles in HD, I'd say I have more of a preference for titles dating back from the early 90's to the 50's.

Flynn

I voted 50/50. I love how great the new stuff looks in High Def, but when I put Blade Runner in my HD-DVD player I was BLOWN AWAY by the little details that I'd never noticed before. Definitely love the format for both.

Gizmo

I was blown away by the transfer on The Graduate (import HD DVD)....

I do plan on watching Forbidden Planet very soon. I heard the transfer was amazing.

DVD Polizei

I just received The Graduate the other day from Mediadis.com. Haven't even opened the sucker yet. Yes, Forbidden Planet was outright amazing. Anne Frances.

bretski

I like watching older titles best. Although not a particularly "old" movie, I remember being completely blown away watching The Road Warrior. All the details I never knew were there...

Mr. Cinema

What I was saying is the main attraction for me regarding HD is the fact that I am/will be able to see older/classic films presented as close to their original theatrical release as possible. We all know that mega blockbusters like Transformers, I Am Legend, Spiderman 3, Pirates 3 are all going to look amazing. But being able to see a classic like Bonnie & Clyde in HD is the real benefit to having the format. Yeah, the movie is 40 years old, but the picture quality helps make the film look brand new.

Right now, though, my collection is probably a little more towards the newer stuff, simply because the studios are holding back their back catalog due to slow sales and a not-so-large user base. It's unfortunate we don't have enough buyers picking up older films that are out. I know some will not want to replace their entire collection, but for those classic favorites, why would you not want to see them in the best way they can be presented?

And I'm not just referring to films from the 80s on back, but there are plenty of 90s films that will benefit from a HD master. A Few Good Men is a great example. It completely blows away its DVD counterpart.

Eventually, we will get Jaws, Taxi Driver, The Godfather, North by Northwest, Gone With the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, Wizard of Oz, and countless others. How can a true movie fan not be excited by those?

Drexl

I'm pretty much split too, and I'm not buying titles I wouldn't have bought on DVD anyway. However, I am buying catalog titles that for whatever reason I didn't get on DVD because I hadn't seen it and didn't know I liked it, or I hadn't gotten around to getting it.

For me, the point of HD is just to get movies I like in the best possible quality, about adhering to some lofty standard of what HD "should" look like. The quality will vary, of course, based on the age and style of the film, but what matters is that the film will look more like, well, a film than before. So, I don't mind if an older film doesn't look as good as a new film (how can it?). They'll both look better than they did on DVD, and that's what's important.

darkside

I buy both, but the reason I bought into the format was the possibility of owning the classic films in HD.

PopcornTreeCt

I voted both. Part of the reason I bought into High Definition was because this is the best quality of new releases. You've got the 1 disc DVD, 2 disc DVD, and then the HD DVD/Blu-ray I figured I had to get the best thing. Casablanca was a huge factor it's one of my all time favorite movies and seeing it released so early in the format had me believe lots more classics would follow. Silly me. Then Warner tried all it could to legitimize High Definition by releasing most of their Kubrick catalog in both formats but this didn't seem to bring the authenticity to the formats that they still need. Blu-ray won, at least we got The Seventh Seal. Sony seems to be doing a great job with their releases announcing and releasing more than any studio this year. However, it seems 2007 the The Golden Age for High Definition fans.

wergo

I REALLY need more new titles issued on BR. Especially TV shows. Stuff that's broadcast in HD but only sold in NTSC is unacceptable. I didn't buy a Blu-Ray player so I could watch 'Battlestar Galactica', 'The Wire' and 'The Office' in old-fashioned low-def.

It's not that I don't want the classics as well, but most of those I've already bought on betamax, laserdisc (often twice) and DVD (also often twice).

I'm getting very tired of spending more money that doesn't increase the size of my library. Replacing old discs is still fun, but starting to feel like work. A 60 (new) / 30 (old) split would be nice. As it stands now, I'm looking at a best case scenario of 10 (new) / 90 (old).

steelpotato

Both, but get more of a kick from old stuff

insanecollector

Count me in for the older titles to be reinvented in my theater at home.

matome

I do both but lean more towards new releases as I pretty much only blind buy nowadays, as I've stopped going to theaters.

eedoon

Both, although most of my BD titles are newer movies.

Yavin

I'd say probably 4-1 in favor of newer titles, since I often blind buy new theatrical releases but every so often a catalog title will catch me in the right mood. I just picked up the Deluxe Edition of Full Metal Jacket, for example.

True_Story1011

I'd have to say my collection is more geared towards newer titles - But, I'm in the same boat as the above mentioned... I'm waiting for the great older catalog titles.

dsa_shea

I just bought Baron Munchausen and although it did have a few scenes that were inconsistent the colors and the picture just really stood out for me. It was seeing this movie presented in high definition with a nice transfer that gives the movies even more life. I remember watching it several times when I was younger but seeing it again in HD was outstanding!

kefrank

i love movies from all eras and want to watch them at home with as close to the theatrical presentation as i can, which is why i got into hi-def. classics vs. modern has little to do with it for me. The Searchers, Blade Runner, and 2001 are just as enjoyable and desired in hi-def as the Bourne Ultimatum, Hot Fuzz, Casino Royale, and Kingdom of Heaven.

i still buy TV shows on standard DVD (yes, even shows which are broadcast in hi-def), because of cost and flexibility of being able to watch them on any tv in the house. i also still buy some films on standard DVD, if i like them enough to own, but don't care as much about watching them in my full-blown home theater or believe it will be years and years before they get a hi-def release, if ever.

Doughboy

I get more excited about older titles. Something like The Adventures of Robin Hood or The Road Warrior looking brand new will always impress me more than a Top Tier transfer for a mediocre recent film like Spider-Man 3.

The Bus

It's 50/50 for me. Just because it's an older title and its in HD it doesn't mean it's going to be automatically great. For example, Spartacus.

Giles

if and when Criterion releases on bluray - I'll fuck a duck.

Giles

never heard of these films...

nateman

I only have 10 Blu-ray discs right now (that'll change on Tuesday), but I vote 50/50.

I have exactly 5 older titles and 5 recent movies. I love getting a new release on Blu-ray, and usually the PQ and audio is simply great, but I'm even more impressed with older titles getting the HD treatment. HD makes older classics like "Die Hard" and "The Omega Man" new again. "Bonnie and Clyde" is born all over again with its BD release. I purchase because of both new and old titles, but getting an older title on Blu-ray and being blown away by the PQ and audio is simply more thrilling. I can't wait for that "Lawrence of Arabia" BD release.

Alkaline

You may be hearing quacks of ecstasy/pain sooner than you think. Then again, maybe not. I mainly just wanted to say 'quacks of ecstasy/pain'.

dspin

I originally bought a Toshiba A30 because of The Adv. of Robin Hood and Forbidden Planet. I bought the Panny 10A because of T-2. This was back in October 2007. Did not know how long format war was going to be and just HAD to have those 3 titles. For anyone who wants to know, Adv of Robin Hood pq is unbelievable and Forbidden Planet also has outstanding pq, the best it has ever looked. T-2 is not very well done and look for another edition to be put out in the future, remastered hopefully so it will look better than an upconverted dvd