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 The High Definition DVD Studio Support Petition Campaign |
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The Matrix Trilogy Releases To HD DVD on May 22nd - No Bluray Yet (DARN - we had bad links in the latest newsletter - if you're looking for the Paramount/Dreamworks story it is here) YESSS!!! THE DAY HAS ARRIVED!! The Matrix Trilogy Arrives on HD DVD (only) on May 22nd However, before we bask in the glow of this fantastic news – a word of respect. I would like to personally congratulate all of you for your efforts in our letter-writing campaign to Warner Brothers a few weeks ago. Back then, we had good reason to believe that Warner was caught in a bit of a Catch-22 situation. Their Bluray version of the Matrix was not ready, as they were continuing to be hit by the development problems of the BD format. As such, they were caught in the unhappy situation of being concerned about releasing the HD DVD version, but not the Bluray version, since this may have caused some upset. Your letters and online votes on the matter made it clear to Warner that we did not feel it was fair to hold back HD DVD releases that were ready, and thereby handicap the HD DVD format and deprive users of Warner’s fantastic content - simply because the Bluray format continues to be dogged by development problems. It’s straight survival of the fittest. I strongly believe that your personal participation in this had a GREAT part to play in convincing Warner to allow this release to go forward – and the fruits are now yours to enjoy. So congratulations to you all!!! I hope that you will apply yourselves even more enthusiastically to the current and future letters and petitions that we must still look about today, and in the future. If you have not yet sent your letters to Disney, MGM, LionsGate and Pixar, then please do so now, or this weekend. ALSO, please send the letters to Samsung regarding the street date of their new Universal Player highlighted on our site here today, the BD-UP5000. And last but NOT least – SEND the email to NEW LINE CINEMA! J The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is almost certainly being held back while the Bluray problems get sorted out. We must push to get this released as soon as possible! That said, I would also like us to show our respect and appreciation to Warner Brothers for listening to us and treating us with such concern and respect, answering our emails and making the tough call. It was a very difficult decision for Warner by all accounts. Bill Hunt of The Digital Bits said this regarding the decision that Warner took to release the HD DVD versions: “The Matrix films are not coming in Blu-ray on 5/22. I've spoken to very senior Warner reps this afternoon and confirmed this. It's the same BD-Java implementation problem (that's resulting in the Blu-ray delay) that's been holding back BD versions of Batman Begins and all the other Warner IME titles. Warner says they plan to release them later in 2007, but they don't want to delay releasing on HD-DVD just because Blu-ray interactivity is lagging. However, it's apparently not been an easy decision to make and Warner knows that no matter what they do, someone's going to be upset about it.” So THANK YOU, Warner Brothers! From the bottom of our hearts! We will show our appreciation by buying every gosh-darned copy of The Matrix that we can lay our sticky little paws on! :) Now – ON WITH THE SHOW - In just 5 weeks, The Matrix Trilogy will be landing on HD DVD, on May 22nd, in two Box Sets! The first, The Complete Matrix Trilogy, will include all three movies in a 3 disc set, and the second, The Ultimate Matrix Trilogy, will include all three Matrix films, PLUS The Animatrix, AND 35 hours of extras (!) in a 5 disc double-sided set. This is truly a fantastic release for HD DVD. Indeed, for some of us, it’s the reason we bought into Hi Definition in the first place. It’s hard to imagine it getting any better than this. Full details of the two box sets can be seen here on HighDefDigest.
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