Universal is definitely the studio that is in full support of the HD DVD format, much in the way that Sony is backing the Blu-ray Disc format and with their support they sent out a press release today announcing that in 2007 the studio will release more than 100 new film and television titles in 2007 in the HD DVD format. What titles? Well…
- 40-Year-Old Virgin
- “Battlestar Galactica” Season One
- Brokeback Mountain
- Scarface
- Children of Men
- The Good Shepherd
- Smokin’ Aces
- Bruce Almighty
- The Bourne Identity
- Meet The Fockers
- American Pie
- Inside Man
- Pride & Prejudice
- The Big Lebowski
- Liar Liar
- Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels
- Brazil
- Erin Brockovich
- Shaun of the Dead
- Dawn of the Dead
- Slap Shot
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Of the titles listed above Universal says that 90% of them will be released as combo discs – which feature an HD DVD version and a standard DVD version of the movie on the same disc.
“With more than two million HD DVD players expected in the market in North America by the end of 2007, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is committed to expanding its portfolio of compelling HD DVD content and further igniting consumer demand,†said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “By releasing most of our titles as combo discs we effectively satisfy consumers’ multi-viewing habits, providing them with the most cost-effective option to watch their favorite films in either their DVD or HD DVD players.â€
Earlier this year I listed all the announced HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles from the other studios as, here is a recap of that:
January 30: Flyboys, Hart’s War
February 13: The Sentinel, Entrapment, Broken Arrow, Phone Booth, Planet of the Apes (2001), Chain Reaction, The Marine, The Usual Suspects
March 13: Ice Age, Dodgeball, Commando, From Hell, Dances with Wolves, The Thomas Crown Affair, Hoosiers
April 3: The Fly (1986), Tristan & Isolde, Me, Myself & Irene, Dude, Where’s My Car?
April 17: Turistas
April ’07: The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal
May ’07: Master & Commander, Man on Fire, Edward Scissorhands, Predator, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Siege, Platoon, The Graduate, Battle of Britain, A Bridge Too Far
June ’07: Independence Day, I, Robot, Cast Away, Ronin, To Live & Die in L.A., A Fistful of Dollars, Out of Time, Walking Tall, Bull Durham
TBA 2007: A Night at the Museum, Eragon
January 30: Open Season
February 6: The Tailor of Panama, Running with Scissors
February 20: Vertical Limit
February 27: Stranger Than Fiction
March 13: Casino Royale, Layer Cake
TBA 2007: Hostel, Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men
February 6: American Psycho, Rambo First Blood, Reservoir Dogs, Young Guns
TBA 2007: “Ultimate Avengers,” “Ultimate Avengers 2,” “Weeds,” House of 1000 Corpses, National Lampoons Van Wilder, Waiting, “The Dead Zone,” Requiem for a Dream, Pi, Cabin Fever, Monster’s Ball, Dune, Belly
February 13: The Departed
TBA 2007: Happy Feet, Blood Diamond, We Are Marshall, The Matrix franchise, all of the Harry Potter films, Ocean’s 11, Ocean’s 12, Bullitt, The Getaway, Alexander Revisited: The Unrated Final Cut
April 3: King Arthur (Director’s Cut), G.I. Jane
May ’07: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
June 8: Con Air, Crimson Tide, The Rock
Summer ’07: Cars, The Recruit
In other high-definition home video news LG is set to release a combo HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc player in February for $1,199 and you can get full details on that here.
