70 HD DVD Title Releases Slated
By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 3/29/2007
Los Angeles — Studios backing the HD DVD high-definition disc format demonstrated that they are still in the fight by announcing a full slate of movie titles they plan to release in the format this spring and early summer.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Paramount Home Entertainment, The Weinstein Company, Genius Products and Eagle Rock Entertainment collectively unveiled plans to deliver more than 70 titles through July.
Among the key titles will be “Smokin’ Aces,” “The Complete Matrix Trilogy” and “DreamGirls.” In addition, a number of discs will be released in the combo HD DVD/DVD flipper format, and some will have day-and-date release windows with the DVD versions.
Additional titles for the remainder of 2007 will be announced this summer, the studios said.
Meanwhile, the HD DVD Promotions Group said the attach rate of software to players continues to exceed the rival Blu-ray Disc format, which also recently announced a slate of blockbuster releases this week.
Toshiba also recently announced that it has cut player pricing, effective April 1.
“The spring is ramping up well for HD DVD, with an incredible list of movies and the best priced hardware on the market,” stated Ken Graffeo, Universal HD Strategic marketing executive VP. “The consumer base continues to buy movies at rates that outpace DVD in its early years, which shows the willingness of consumers to make the transition to high definition.”
“HD DVD continues to perform exceptionally well for Warner, and we see this continuing as more titles from the HD roll out and more hardware hits the market,” said Steve Nickerson, Warner worldwide market management senior VP. “Fans of high definition have a lot more to choose from with the release of long-awaited blockbusters like 'The Complete Matrix Trilogy' on HD DVD.”
“As hardware prices continue to fall, this is a great time to experience HD DVD,” stated Chris Saito, Paramount marketing VP. “Our HD DVD line-up for spring and summer 2007 has something for every audience, with hits ranging from “Dreamgirls” to “Flags of Our Fathers.”
The following lists the announced HD DVD titles in order of the month of release:
March:
"Children of Men"
“Happy Feet”
“March of the Penguins”
“National Geographic: Relentless Enemies”
April:
“The Good Shepherd” (combo disc)
“Smokin’ Aces” (combo disc)
“Payback: Straight, The Director’s Cut”
“A Scanner Darkly”
“Dog Day Afternoon”
“School for Scoundrels”
“The Game”
“The Jerk”
“Feast”
“Freedom Writers”
“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
“Nutty Professor”
"Failure to Launch”
May:
“The Ultimate Matrix Collection”
“The Complete Matrix Trilogy”
“Dreamgirls”
“The 40-Year Old Virgin Unrated”
“Flags of Our Fathers: Special Collector’s Edition”
"The Hitcher” (combo disc)
“Mission: Impossible”
“Mission: Impossible 2”
“Black Christmas” (2006)
“Harsh Times”
“The Battle of the Bulge”
“The Road Warrior”
“The Fountain”
“Smokey & The Bandit”
“Alpha Dog” (combo disc)
“The Skeleton Key”
“The River”
“Midnight Run”
“The Frighteners”
“Dragonheart”
“The Big Lebowski”
“Lost in Translation”
June:
“Bruce Almighty”
“Liar Liar”
“Coming To America”
“Born on the 4th of July”
“Daylight”
“Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life”
“Freedom: Vol.1”
“Yes Live in Montreux”
“Santana: Hymns for Peace”
“Deep Purple: They all Came Down to Montreux”
“Sneakers”
“Trading Places”
“Meet Joe Black”
“Being John Malkovich”
“Mystery Men”
“American Me”
“The Watcher”
“Bulletproof”
“Mallrats”
July:
“Shaun of the Dead”
“Billy Madison”
“The Cat in the Hat”
“The Untouchables
“The Warriors”
“Dante’s Peak”
“The War”
“The Wedding Date”
“The Bourne Identity”
“In Good Company”
“Streets of Fire”
“Nutty Professor 2”
“Scent of a Woman”
"Darkman”
“Sea of Love”
“Deliver Us From Eva”
