300 HD DVD & Blu-ray review roundup
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jul 27th 2007 12:27PM
posted Jul 27th 2007 12:27PM
300 is this month's highest profile DVD/Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo release, and it appears reviewers have already found it worthy of the crown. Frank Miller's previous effort Sin City was already well-received in HD with its highly stylized green screened special effects and 300 follows in the same vein. High-Def Digest didn't exactly love the "flat" look of the movie, but found the VC-1 transfer an "accurate representation of the theatrical experience", while IGN couldn't find enough superlatives to describe the video on its way to a 10 of 10 rating. The Blu-ray version includes a PCM soundtrack alongside standard and TrueHD versions, but it didn't seem to add or detract much from a highly rated aural experience. The HD DVD exclusive features include a PiP look at the film in preproduction, as well as an option to edit together favorite scenes and post them online for other fans to download via the player. 300's groundbreaking internet features are also tied to the anchor of Warner's ringtone and other paraphernalia advertisements, but in the end, all rated it a must-buy for your format of choice when released next week.Read - 300 HD DVD review High-Def Digest
Read - 300 Blu-ray review High-Def Digest
Read - 300 HD DVD review IGN
Read - A Few Words About...300 HD & BD
Wait, has SinCity been released on either BD or HDDVD?
I'm still waiting for word on Gladiator...
No Sin City has not been released in either format. However, when it is released, it will be on Blu-Ray only.
Short term, maybe your right. Of course if HD-DVD were to wind up as the format for the masses, then of course Sin City and all other movies WOULD be released on HD-DVD.
Just sayin...
Sin City will be available on HD DVD from Canada (region free players are nice that way).
What the heck does this mean?
"300's groundbreaking internet features are also tied to the anchor of In the end, both rated it a must-buy for your format of choice when released next week."
Tied to the anchor of what...? Someone screwed up the article I think... I can't even think of anything that could be said with that line. "Blu-Ray should be tied to an anchor and sent to visit Davey Jones' locker?" Not sure. :)
Hey Xyzzy, Canada is, was, and always will be the same region code as the USA, so unless you are in Europe, I really don't see how region free players makes a difference as any player in Canada or the USA will play any disks from either country region coded or not.
As for it being available from Canada, if it's available from Canada is is also available in the USA as far as major movies on your favorite HD disk format are concerned so again, I really fail to see the point of your comment if you are located in the USA.
KC - my point is that from what I've read, an HD DVD company owns the distribution rights for Sin City in Canada. That means you'll be able to buy it in Canada, while the movie is only available on Blu-Ray in the States.
The same thing with lots of other Blu-Ray exclusives that are available in HD DVD in Europe.
If this is true, than the whole studio support concerning BD vs HD DVD is kinda moot...or at least better for HD DVD as they can play all regions.
Sin City has been on StarzHD and is/has been available on Comcast HD On Demand. It looks BEAUTIFUL. It should look even better when it shows up on Blu-Ray.
chadow..I would say as soon as HD DVD players pass so many sold that it will become too profitable not to release on HD DVD.
Alright! I can't wait to see the sales figures for this and see which HD version sells more.
Of course I can see the excuses from fanboys now..."HD-DVD only sells more because WB gimp the Blu-ray version"..."Blu-ray only sells more because the movie is tailored made for PS3 demographic!"
So lets make a deal, no excuses if your chosen format lost (this round) and just admit your chosen format suck (this round).
:)
Not exactly sales figures. I went to buy 300 on Blu-Ray; at the local Circuit City, there were plenty of HD versions available, but no BD. Then over to the Best Buy, there was about 3 BD left and over 30 copies of HD. Again, I know not a very accurate gauge based on just two stores, but it's at least a little hint.
@chadow:
It's definitely true. For example, Brother's Grimm, a BD exclusive in the States, is available from Japan:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/brothersgrimm_jp.html
Funny how this site never ever mentions that fact, isn't it...? There's several others (I can't remember them all, but I believe Ghost Rider is on there... Check out AVSforum.com, they have a bit list there).
Whoa, people still buy HD-DVD? Well i'll be...
PORN won't be the deciding issue in the format war! There is a Japanese company currently building several new Blu-ray disc making facilities soley for the purpose of mass production of Blu-ray porn.
The truth is HD-DVD will be over run by shear force of numbers. Of the 8 major studios, Universal Studios is the only one to transfer thier movies exclusively to HD-DVD. Paramount and Warner Bros. is going both ways, which means 7 of the big names are producing alot of Blu-ray flicks. It's only a matter of time before HD-DVD gets assimilated. Resistance at this point- is futile....
The only reason I want HD DVD to win this war is because of it's region-free status. I'm used to ordering from where-ever and my trusty modded xbox playing the disc. If Blu-Ray had done the same...
Umm....yeah... I don't know how you could think of 300 as being anything less than awesome. And just because YOU suck and didn't like the movie does not mean that the people that enjoyed it need to "have their fucking heads examined". Just because you said this, you have proven yourself to be ignorant and totally immature.
I found exactly the opposite results at my local Best Buy and Target in Ohio. Best Buy had aboug 7 or 8 Blu Ray copies left and zero HD-DVD. The Target had 4 Blu Rays left and again, zero HD-DVD left. They both had the same amount of shelf space saved for both formats. Also consider that the HD-DVD copy costs from 5 to 10 dollars more due to the dual format (which is lame IMO).