Category Archives: HD

Superman II : The Donner Cut (update)

HD, Superman

Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut (HD-DVD) I’m much neglecting this site, and also neglecting the very film I campaigned to see!

Anyway (as I’ve posted over in the HTF): having finally gotten around to watching the Donner cut (after I was begging for it so long!), though have to say I did hold out to get it in HD…

A huge massive big thank you to all involved in making this happen!

Wow.

Not sure how to feel about it really. I love it, but it’s certainly quite a different film. It’s going to take a little getting used to.

What stuns me is just how much footage there was, and how much had been reshot by “the other guy”. It’s quite weird in places as it’s a case of watching the film you know but something is just different, and of course it’s because the same scene but shot by someone else.

The test footage and bits of CGI don’t bother me at all. They work pretty well. Much of the new footage is fantastic. Some a little rough around the edges, where perhaps at the time would have been polished off had it made it into the theatrical release. Some perfect though. Everything with Brando is excellent.

A sense that things are missing of course because of knowing the other version so well, but nothing really major sticks out. The ending I’m not so sure, but then I never really bought it in Superman either. It looks great though regardless.

Anyway, once again, many thanks.

Sony & Blu-ray: Deception and Anti-Consumer Behavior

HD, HD Format War

HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray Blu-Ray is apparently “winning” the format war. Much of that is down to aggressive marketing and self promoting “news” articles that Sony peddles all over the net, and the rest down to the public who believe in Sony and in part think the name sounds cool (remember these are the geeks who know about HD. Joe Public hasn’t got a clue what “Blu-Ray” means).

The following article spells out what’s really wrong with Blu-Ray. The differences between the formats are hardly technical but mostly down to the politics and behaviour of the backers. Sony could win this war having lost just about all the other unnecessary format wars in the past (all of their making), and they would win through sheer desperation and forcefulness. The loser in this war wouldn’t be HD DVD however, it’s the consumer. If Sony et al had played ball early on and negotiated a deal we wouldn’t have had the war and we would have had the best of both worlds (and hopefully none of the worst anti-consumer points from Blu-Ray).

Just say “No” to Blu-Ray

Edit: Sadly the above site appears to have gone. Wouldn’t be Sony’s lawyers at work by any chance? !

In other news. A “win” for HD DVD as far as I’m concerned is the announcement that Battlestar Galactica (2004) Season 1 is coming to HD DVD on December 4th just in time for Christmas. Exclusive because it’s a Universal title who currently only back HD DVD. One in the eye for those who believe the war is over and Universal are about to fall to Blu-Ray come Christmas when they come out with this cracking Christmas HD DVD promoting set (considering the very poor selection of releases on both sides at the moment).