Comments on: Blu-Ray Most Wanted - Number 1: Dark City

by: ColinP

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:54:41 +0000

Dark City (BD) has now been announced:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=67606

by: paulwjm

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:15:45 +0000

I’m a 100% behind you (not that way!) regarding Dark City. A re-release cut preferred by Proyas has been talked about for several years now and while I’ll certainly be going for Blu-Ray in the near future, something like this appearing could speed up my commitment! I’d be surprised if a theatrical release would be on the cards in the UK at least because it wasn’t a massive commercial success on its original run, but perhaps its momentous cult fandom since could change that.

by: John Hodson

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:40:34 +0000

‘John, seeing The Searchers on my Brother’s 32 LCD in 720p via his PS3 sold me on HD. Rio Bravo looks jaw-droppingly good too.’

Groan! Get thee behind me Ian…

When either (or both) of you have a Blu-ray drive could you post your thoughts on the hardware and full specs on the kit that you’ve pieced together?

by: ColinP

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:36:13 +0000

I agree regarding PowerDVD - I’ve always been a WinDVD user and would like to keep that up. I want to retain some HD DVD playback capability long-term as I already have a sizable collection that I don’t want to replace given I won’t see any major jump in quality on Blu-Ray if and when any of them do appear on the victorious format.

by: Ian W

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:23:09 +0000

I know what you mean about the size of the case Colin, mine would just about squeeze in my cabinet but without any room for it to ‘breath’. It’s currently sitting on a coffee table next to the cabinet. I’m not too worried about HD DVD compatibility though, after all it is now a dead format. AnyDVD is a very impressive piece of software, I’m currently using it when playing SD DVDs on my HTPC and will be upgrading to the HD version when I pick up a Blu-ray drive. There is one other thing you’ll need apart from just a drive and AnyDVD and that’s the software to play the discs as Vista doesn’t support Blu-ray movie playback. Thankfully WinDVD recently released a Blu-ray version as PowerDVD looked like the only option and I hate PowerDVD.

John, seeing The Searchers on my Brother’s 32 LCD in 720p via his PS3 sold me on HD. Rio Bravo looks jaw-droppingly good too.

by: ColinP

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:16:16 +0000

The day I find a case I like that offers enough expansion, is not too big to fit in my AV cabinet and looks good I can see myself picking up everything I need! I am tempted to pick up the drive sooner rather than later to ensure HD DVD compatibility in the future…

by: John Hodson

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:10:56 +0000

Now that’s a plan…

by: ColinP

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:04:19 +0000

I think region coding is something we might be stuck with long-term for standalone units. The only option for those who are adventurous enough is a Home Theatre PC with a Blu-Ray drive and AnyDVD. That would be the best all round solution and is pretty future-proof if downloads become the norm.

I keep speccing up a multi-format multi-region HTPC, but the cost is just too much. However, with multi-format drives now under £100 it is becoming more feasible to put together something that plays any disc I stick in it, be it HD DVD, Region A, B or C Blu-Ray or any region DVD! Whack a DVD writer and digital satellite receiver card in and you have a unit that could even be used as a PVR with as much space as you need! If only I could find a nice looking case for it all

by: John Hodson

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:56:46 +0000

I’m teetering; I think if I’d seen something like ‘The Searchers’ on Blu-ray (or if I had a PJ and 100″ screen) then I’d be knee deep in HD discs right now, but I’m trying to hold out for a Blu-ray player that laughs in the face of regional coding.

I think I’ve pretty much given up on the idea of one that is also multi-region for SD, and upscales same to perfection, but that would be just dandy. If only…