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Video: Warner Previews Features on 'Batman: Gotham Knight' Blu-ray
Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Video Clips, High-Def Disc Marketing, Warner (all tags)
Warner has released an online promo for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Batman: Gotham Knight,' providing a first glimpse at the disc's extensive bonus features.
As first announced this past February, Warner Home Video will debut the direct-to-video title on Blu-ray July 8 (day-and-date with the standard DVD).
A three-minute video clip posted on the title's official website give a first peek at the highly-anticipated Blu-ray release, previewing comments from the film's cast and crew regarding the film's inspiration, revealing some of the disc's supplemental features, and showcasing further behind-the-scenes footage.
The clip is available to watch now (via streaming video) at the Batman: Gotham Knight official website.
As previously announced, extras on the 'Gotham Knight' Blu-ray are set to include the documentary "A Mirror for the Bat: The Evil Denizens of Gotham City," the "Batman and Me a Devotion of Destiny: The Bob Kane Story" featurette, a pair of bonus episodes from 'Batman: The Animated Series' (personally selected by 'Gotham Knight' director Bruce Timm), and a special sneak peek at the upcoming DC Comics/Warner Premiere animated movie, 'Wonder Woman.'
Warner has not yet announced tech specs for 'Gotham Knight,' but we'll keep you posted.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.98.
As always, you'll find the latest specs for 'Batman: Gotham Knight' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 8.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for Warner Premiere's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Batman: Gotham Knight' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Batman: Gotham Knight (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Direct-to-Video 'Batman: Gotham Knight' Bound For Blu-ray (Feb 26, 2008)
Video: HD DVD Super Bowl Commercial
Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 12:41 AM ETTags: High-Def Disc Marketing, Toshiba, Video Clips (all tags)
It didn't air nationally (nor was it new), but Toshiba's much-hyped Super Bowl ad did air in several markets, and we've got the video.
Following a full week's worth of anticipation, reaction to the ad among HD DVD fans in our forums area was somewhat muted; although it had been expected to run nationally, it appears Toshiba instead made a targeted spot buy, with those in some markets seeing the ad, while others did not.
Meanwhile, HD DVD fans who were lucky enough to see it were disappointed to see that it wasn't a new ad, but rather a re-badged version of the football-themed spot that Toshiba has been running all season long. Others defended the ad, arguing that it had met its goal of raising awareness for the format in general and for the new low price points of Toshiba's players.
To watch the ad, click the "play" button in the window below:
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Toshiba Plans HD DVD Super Bowl Spot (Jan 28, 2008)
Video: New 'Shrek'-Themed HD DVD Commercials
Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 11:00 AM ETTags: High-Def Disc Marketing, Toshiba, DreamWorks, Video Clips (all tags)
Toshiba and DreamWorks have unveiled a series of new commercials featuring characters from 'Shrek' extolling the virtues of HD DVD.
Designed as tie-in with the upcoming HD DVD launch of 'Shrek the Third,' the new spots feature two two of the movie's characters -- Gingy and Donkey -- commenting on how they look in high-def to a frazzled DreamWorks executive.
The two commercials began airing Thursday, and are expected to run nationally through mid-November. The spots were produced by Austin-based ad agency GSD&M's Idea City, who have also apparently produced a matching print campaign.
As we've previously reported, 'Shrek the Third' is due to hit HD DVD day-and-date with the standard DVD on November 13 in a feature-packed next-gen edition brimming with exclusive content.
To watch the new commercials, press play in the video windows below:
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Shrek the Third (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- DreamWorks Sets Date for 'Shrek the Third' HD DVD (Sep 18, 2007)
HD DVD Takes Centerstage at Wal-Mart
Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Wal-Mart, Toshiba, Video Clips (all tags)
Only a week after dropping the price of Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD player to $198, Wal-Mart has revealed more plans to help push HD DVD this holiday season.
As first spotted by eagle-eyed early adopters late yesterday, the country's top retailer has rolled out a new holiday advertising campaign that includes at least one ad that prominently features the 1080i Toshiba HD DVD player.
Wal-Mart CMO Stephen Quinn told The New York Times that the overall goal of the campaign is to "find more positive and more emotionally connective ways" to emphasize the chain's discounted prices.
In the HD DVD-specific commercial (scroll to the end of this story to watch), a wife raves about the "incredible" price she paid for a Toshiba HD-DVD player she bought her husband. "All I know is that Christmas is going to be a very, very good day," she says, smiling.
Designed to tie in with the launch of the new campaign, this Friday at 8am, select Wal-Mart stores will be knocking yet another $100 off the cost of Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player, offering the player for just $98 as one of five "Secret In-Store Specials."
Alongside the player, the retailer will also be offering three HD DVD titles ('12 Monkeys,' 'The Big Lebowski' and 'Blood Diamond') for just 14.96 a peice.
So does this mean the influential retailer is choosing sides in the high-def format war? Maybe, maybe not. The company itself hasn't indicated whether it has plans to promote both formats as part of the campaign, but it did list Blu-ray backer Sony alongside Toshiba among the well-known brands that will ultimately be included.
To watch Wal-Mart's new HD DVD commercial, press play in the video window below:
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Wal-Mart Wants to Carry Its Christmas Ads Beyond Price [New York Times]
- Secret In-Store Specials [Wal-Mart.com]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- 12 Monkeys (HD DVD)
- The Big Lebowski (HD DVD)
- Blood Diamond (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Wal-Mart Stocks Sub-$200 HD DVD Player (Oct 26, 2007)
Video: Warner Previews Interactive Features on 'Haunted Hill' Blu-ray, HD DVD
Tue Oct 09, 2007 at 01:08 PM ETTags: Warner, Video Clips (all tags)
Warner has released an online promo for its upcoming next-gen release of 'Return to House on Haunted Hill,' providing a first glimpse at the disc's much-hyped interactive features.
As first announced this past July, Warner Home Video will debut the direct-to-video sequel on both Blu-ray and HD DVD October 16, as the first title in a new long-term pact with blockbuster producer Joel Silver's Dark Castle Entertainment.
The five minute video clip (which can be watched below) provides a first peek at Warner's "Navigational Cinema" technology, a next-gen milestone that promises to allow users to chose between dozens of different storylines (and over 200 ultimate outcomes) for a truly interactive viewing experience.
Also featured in the preview are comments from the film's cast and crew on the disc's cutting-edge viewing experience, as well as further behind-the-scenes footage.
To watch the clip, press play in the video window below:
Additional features on the Blu-ray and HD DVD are set to include an unrated cut of the film, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes, a music video and more.
Warner has set a $34.99 list price for the next-gen versions.
As always, you'll find full specs for 'Return to House on Haunted Hill' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, under the disc's release date of October 16.
We've also set up dedicated threads in our forums area for discussion of this title on both formats -- click the following links to discuss 'Return to House on Haunted Hill' Blu-ray or the 'Return to House on Haunted Hill' HD DVD.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Return to House on Haunted Hill (Blu-ray)
- Return to House on Haunted Hill (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Warner Sets Date For 'Return to House on Haunted Hill' on Blu-ray, HD DVD (Jul 27, 2007)
- Warner Plans Line of Direct-to-Disc Horror Sequels for Blu-ray, HD DVD (Jun 20, 2007)
Video: First Look at 'Star Trek' HD DVD Interactive Features
Tue Sep 04, 2007 at 03:28 PM ETTags: Video Clips, Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, Paramount (all tags)
Paramount has posted a new promotional video for its upcoming first season HD DVD release of 'Star Trek: The Original Series,' providing a first glimpse at the box set's highly anticipated bonus features.
Hyped as the "Star Trek at your fingertips" in the lengthy eight minute clip, the bonus features on 'Star Trek: The Original Series' certainly promise to be the most extensive seen yet on a Paramount next-gen title, and may well raise the bar for what we've seen so far on a TV-on-hi-def release.
Highlighted specifically in the clip are first looks at the HD DVD exclusive "Star Fleet Academy" interactive picture-in-picture feature, which allows viewers to enhance the viewing experience with new interviews with cast, crew and historians, never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes.
Also touted are the new CGI visual effects and score enhancements created especially for this retooled version of 'The Original Series."
To watch the clip, press play in the video window below:
Paramount Home Entertainment will debut 'Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete First Season' as a dual-format HD DVD/DVD release November 20.
As always, you'll find complete disc details for 'Star Trek' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 20.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Paramount Unveils 'Star Trek: The Original Series' HD DVD Details (Jul 26, 2007)
Blu-ray Gets Put to the Test with Fan-Made "Torture" Video
Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 03:22 AM ETTags: Video Clips (all tags)
Just how strong is a Blu-ray disc? Apparently, sturdy enough to withstand a scrubbing by steel wool and the sharp edges of a pizza cutter, as one enterprising fan proved with a homemade video recently posted to YouTube.
I guess we can file this one under the "Too much time on their hands" category, but one passionate (or just plain deranged) YouTube user decided to test out Blu-ray's much-touted, TDK-developed "Hard Coat" disc protection technology. Promoted by the format's backers as the ultimate in damage resistance, it is applied to every Blu-ray disc to protect against physical vulnerability. It also offers a thicker buffer versus rival HD DVD, which currently employs the same, less stringent protective coating as standard-def DVD -- which, as anyone who has rented a much-played disc from Blockbuster knows, is all too easy to decimate.
So this new PlayStation 3 owner (who goes only by the user name "KyleOrl"), decided to test out the marketing claims with a series of "Stress Tests," subjecting the PS3 bundle disc 'Talladega Nights' to a host of indignities -- including degradation by way of ballpoint pen, a pizza cutter and the punishing strains of Guns 'n' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle." Yet the Blu-ray disc took a lickin' and kept on tickin':
Despite the graphic, unsettling nature of the video (it makes 'Saw III' look like "Romper Room"), we have to give Blu-ray props for being so resistant to the sadistic whims of the YouTube generation. Ultimately, it a took a Jason Voorhees-sized butcher knife to take down 'Talladega Nights.' Impressive!
Still, if you want to keep your high-def disc collection intact, our best advice is don't try this at home.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Blu-ray Disc Stress Test [YouTube]
Video: New Blu-ray TV Commercial
Thu Dec 28, 2006 at 11:54 AM ETTags: High-Def Disc Marketing, Video Clips (all tags)
The Blu-ray Disc Association has brought its marketing campaign to television, with what we believe is the first TV commercial specifically for the high-def disc format.
While Blu-ray has been included in spots for individual movie releases (and in spots for the PS3 and stand-alone players), this is the first time we've seen a TV commercial for the format itself.
The spot began airing in late November on a suite of HD cable channels (Discovery HD, INHD, HDNet and HDNet Movies) and will look familiar for those who've seen the print and online incarnations of the BDA's "Beyond High Definition" campaign.
Bathed in blue (of course), the commercial trumpets the format's high-def picture and superior sound, closing with mention of its support by "over 170 trusted brands" -- a subtle shot at rival next-gen format HD DVD, which has thus far seen less industry support.
You can watch the ad for yourself by clicking "play" on the video player below:
Perhaps most compelling (but not easily visable in this version of the spot, which has been highly compressed for online viewing) is the collection of short film clips included as part of the commercial.
Some of the films included in the montage (such as the prominent image from 'Superman Returns') are already out on Blu-ray, but others have yet to be released -- or even announced. Included in that category are clips from the highly anticipated titles 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.' Of course, we've seen these titles included in promotional materials before (months ago), so while we're not holding our breath for an imminent release, we will take this as yet another promise of some big Blu-ray releases to come in 2007.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
Video: XBox 360 HD DVD TV Spot
Wed Oct 11, 2006 at 01:21 PM ETTags: Xbox 360, High-Def Gaming, High-Def Disc Marketing, Video Clips (all tags)
A new TV commercial for the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on has surfaced online. The new spot, aimed at the gaming community, takes a unique approach to demonstrating HD DVD's superiority over standard DVD.
The XBox 360 HD DVD add-on is seen as a direct response by Microsoft to Sony's decision to include a Blu-ray drive in its PlayStation 3, set to launch stateside on November 17.
In touting the November release of the high-def add-on, Microsoft has been emphasizing their support of HD DVD, which Microsoft VP Peter Moore described at a September 26 press conference as the high-def "format of choice." At the same press conference, Moore differentiated their high-def offering from Sony's, saying: "We're not forcing movie technology on game players but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences."
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Microsoft to Bundle 'King Kong' with Xbox 360 HD DVD Player (Sep 27, 2006)
- Microsoft Announces Xbox 360 HD DVD Add-on Pricing, Availability in Japan (Sep 21, 2006)
Video: HD DVD Truck Stops by 'The Today Show'
Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 01:15 PM ETTags: High-Def Disc Marketing, Video Clips (all tags)
The HD DVD Promotional Group's Mobile Experience Tour made a pitstop at NBC's 'Today Show' this morning en route to the Javits Center in New York City where it will be parked through the weekend as part of the Digital Life Expo.
Fronted by tech analyst Omar Wasow, who was identified as a paid consultant for HD DVD, the format was pitched as the more "mass consumer device" compared to Blu-ray, which Wasow described as likely to be "more popular with gamers."
Note that although Al Roker states (incorrectly) that HD DVD is "hitting stores today," this clip *is* from this morning's 'Today Show':
'The Today Show' is produced by NBC Universal, which also happens to be a primary backer of the HD DVD format.
As we've previously reported, the HD DVD Mobile Experience Tour is criss-crossing the U.S. this fall in a 18-wheeler "home theater truck" designed to show off the next-gen DVD format. The tour is the centerpeice of the North American HD DVD Promotional Group's aggressive $150 million multimedia marketing campaign to boost awareness of the format.
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- HD DVD Backers to Launch Massive $150 Marketing Blitz (Jul 12, 2006)
MORE HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "VIDEO CLIPS":
- Video: Blu-ray Tagged in New 'Click' TV Spot Oct 02, 2006
- Video: HD DVD Tagged in 'Tokyo Drift' TV Spot Sep 19, 2006
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