Transformers [Blu-Ray] - September 2, 2008
 

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Tra...-Answered/9692

The website won't let me copy and paste, but scroll down to the last paragraph for details.

Here it is:

We've gotten advanced, inside word (you heard it here first!) that the 2007 Transformers live-action film with Shia LaBeouf will be coming to Blu-ray Disc on September 2nd, in a 2-Disc Special Edition (similar to last year's HD DVD version)...but its doubtful that Hasbro would be ready with their first "G1" Transformers cartoon release on DVD by that time, to tie in with that release. You never know, though! Stay tuned for new reports, as developments occur.

So it will be the same movie, with the same features, on 2 discs except it will have a PCM (or TrueHD) track? Pass.

Makes sense to release this either around the holidays or when Indy 4 comes to Blu-ray (or DVD).

Talk about baseless speculation. It said "similar".

Which means it will probably be a carbon copy of the HD DVD + possibly the rumored TrueHD/PCM track. I can't imagine Paramount will be spending any more money on this considering the Blu-ray edition has been "done" for a while.

Although it makes me wonder if Bay might add something special for this release, after him being so damn vocal about the format war.

I'm more interested to see if they will add those HD DVD online features to the disc or make them download only much like HD DVD. Because right now, the only BD players that can do those online features is the PS3 and Samsung 1500 (when it becomes BD-Live capable). Everything else right now is 1.0/1.1 and we still don't have solid dates on the Sony S350 or Panasonic BD50.

Doesn't it have a different video encode too? Isn't that what Michael Bay got upset about?

I'm not replacing my HD DVD either until it's cheap, but this should be a little better.

Thats what he and some BD insiders have said. But much like other Paramount titles that use different encodes (Face/Off for example) for each format, very few people could even tell the difference. Of course it depends who you ask. Face/Off on Blu and Red look identical to me, and I A/B'ed through them last night for 20 minutes. I think we had discussed this at some point right after Paramount went Red when Michael Bay started going crazy.

I'm pretty sure he argued something about the colors being better on Blu-Ray, or something similiar ...

Anyway, I'm passing on this one as I already have the Hd-dvd. We'll see another version down the line when the sequel comes out anyway.

I'll be getting this. I sold my HD-DVD version along with my XA1 a few months ago. My kids will be happy to have Transformers again.

I'm pleasantly surprised it's coming out already. I thought for sure they'd wait until the sequel hits theaters.

This is good news for a lot of people like myself. I can see someone waiting for the double-dip version, but to complain about this one? I guess folks have to complain about something.

I'll take Transformers with lossless audio. Now we'll have the full HD experience of this movie.

I'm getting this because I remember back when it was to be released on both formats, folk from Paramount were pretty vocal about how this film was to have completely different video encodes for HD DVD and Blu-Ray. In fact, it was orginally believe that the HD DVD would be VC-1 whereas the Blu-Ray would be AVC. I always found it curious that the HD DVD got an AVC encode and I always wondered how different (if at all) it would look. Also, despite the fact that I love the DD+ track on the HD DVD, I really want to compare it to the PCM track we'll supposedly get for the Blu-Ray.

waiting for specs but might upgrade.

I don't see why not since the Bee Movie specs that the Hd-dvd originally had were all ported over to the BD version and that included some downloadable features if I'm not mistaken.

Sweet! I had this on hd-dvd until I sold my player and my few movies. Can't wait for the blu to come. Hope it's just like the hd-dvd version if not better!

Maybe a brief introduction of him saying "I told you so! Awesome!"

Looking forward to this though...will definitely pick up, as the HD DVD version looked awesome on my friend's set. That and I loved the movie, tons of fun.

Digital DVD Polizei Bits

...BREAKING NEWS...

In addition to the awesome Blu-ray release of Transformers, Michael Bay has promised there will be 16 hours of himself ranting in full LOSSLESS AUDIO about HD formats. "Normally, I would have only managed to cram about 3 hours of ranting on HD DVD," Bay said. "This is good news for my fans."

Well, you saw it here first, folks.

Maybe it will have a clip of an HD-Dvd player transforming into a Blu-Ray player.

Good one!

What a BLABBERMOUTH! :lol: & :up:

Considering the Transformers HD-DVD soundtrack was given top marks in every review (even compared to TrueHD and PCM titles), I'm not sure why this is such a big deal. I'll keep the HD version, it's spectacular all around. No need to upgrade here.

I've always been very impressed with the audio and video of the HD-DVD, and actually just demo'd the opening scene at the base yesterday for some friends who were over, and it holds up as an awesome HD-DVD, with outstanding audio and video. I really can't imagine it getting all that much better.

It is a big deal for those who did not embrace HDDVD, now they will have a chance to add this film to their libraries. And comparing the TrueHD and PCM tracks from different releases with the audio track on the HDDVD release adds zero credibility to the claim that there is no need to upgrade.

Pro-B

at the risk of threadcrapping, i've always been perplexed by how much people seem to clamor for this movie. when i saw it in the theater, i really didn't think it was very good (even for Bay, who has done some movies that i enjoyed). the special effects made for good eye candy, but that was about the only thing that worked for me.

The quality of the movie has absolutely no bearing on why everyone is clamoring for this release. :)

I understand there it's great for those that are Blu only, but I fail to see why someone would go out of their way for an upgrade and pay another $20 or $30 for the lossless track, when every review of the DD+ track said it was one of the best soundtracks heard on HDM from either side, lossless or not. Now, it's possible that the new TrueHD track "could" sound even better, but I'm not holding my breath. I guess I'll hold off on the reviews, but I would caution everyone to rush out and buy yet another copy of the movie, just because it is now "lossless sound."

No kidding, now we won't have to suffer from that awful audio mix on the HD DVD version.

Yeah I was amazed at how bad the HD DVDs audio was.

Bad means amazing today. Best DD5.1 ever committed to desk.

Every time I watch it I am blown away by the sound, however it doesn't have those magic words....

Oh and desk meant disc, there's an argument going on behind me that's driving me up the wall hahah.

Not sure if this was posted yet but I saw this piece of news on a transformers website regarding a probable UK blu ray release

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/website/Classi...6?OpenDocument

As for the actual disc, I'll def be getting it, as I've been a fan of the Transformers since I was three.

I look forward to hearing a PCM track for the LFE comparison. If it sounds the same as the HD DVD fine. But the LFE of the HD DVD is not comparable to other releases on HD DVD. So getting another version to confirm whether it's artistic intent or something else is welcome.

I loved the audio on HD DVD (as well as the video). I'm just getting this out of curiosity.

Also, I never understood the complaints about the LFE in this film. I thought it had plenty of bass. :hscratch: Then again, most people like to compare the bass of the base attack in Transformers to that of Sauron's "demise" in FOTR while ignoring that it's a well known fact that the bass was totally overcooked on FOTR.

Then again, bunkaroo I think is the first person to make the argument in comparison to other HD DVD's rather than that particular DVD. :shrug:

I guess it comes down to your HT system.

Both movies sounded just fine to me. And I don't jack up my bass frequencies. Nor do I have 35 subs surrounding me--like some pics I've seen on HT forums.

I don't have a super-elaborate system, but it is pretty decent (Infinity Beta set), and I run the Onkyo 605 right now. I have a 12" active sub and it is cornered in the room.

I have spent a good amount of time level matching and calibrating levels on the system.

I've never owned the Transformers DVD, and don't really know if a DVD DD5.1 track vs. HD DVD DD+ 5.1 is a valid comparison.

The clarity and dynamics of the DD+ track are great, but vs. other similar type of films on HD DVD with DD+ tracks, it seems like the bass does not have as much impact. I don't need each robot footfall to shake my house, but even things like that seem hollow for lack of a better term.

I will mention I saw Transformers on the DLP setup at my local AMC and the bass had a lot more impact, which I don't believe was simply due to higher levels. As far as the base attack, I can understand why that one doesn't sound something like Sauron's demise. It's the less dramatic stuff that the average HT owner would expect some decent bass from that seems anemic to me.

Now I don't see how making a DD+ track from a master would affect LFE, so I'm not expecting much of a difference from the PCM track. However, if it is actually a separate mix, it should be interesting to hear if the LFE has more impact and presence.

The best part with bass in this movie is when you see Ironhide shoot the ground and do that 360 with the girl screaming.

I've checked that scene specifically. While there is decent bass there, it's still not what I would have expected vs. my theatrical experience.

I'm glad space won't be an issue any longer so we can finally get the lossless track that most of us have been waiting for.

And yes, the lossless track was dropped from the HD-DVD because of the lack of space.

Yeah, but since reviewers gave the DD+ audio on the HD DVD 5 stars, that means that it CAN'T sound better.