Is anyone else finding it hard to side with HD DVD imports...

[Sehnzeleid]

...when the same film is available on Blu-ray in America?

I mean, I guess if someone is ardent in their HD DVD support, but personally I have a tough time with this question.

There really isn't a HD DVD import that entirely outshines it's Blu-ray rival, well maybe Total Recall. There is usually a trade-off.

Some examples:

Underworld Evolution: HD DVD has the better transfer, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio and is cheaper.

Underworld: Upcoming HD DVD will be available, but the (upcoming) Blu-ray has everything that the HD will have and PCM.

The Prestige: U.K. HD DVD is available, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio and is cheaper.

Reign of Fire: Japanese HD DVD exists, but the Blu-ray appears to be of comparable video quality, has PCM audio, and is cheaper.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse: German HD DVD will have a longer cut, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio of the theatrical cut and is cheaper.

Fantastic Four: Swiss HD DVD appears have the better transfer, but the Blu-ray has DTS-HD MA audio.

Terminator 2: French HD DVD has the theatrical and director's cut versions, more-or-less better transfers, and DTS-HD MA audio, but the Blu-ray has the arguably superior theatrical version w/o forced subtitles, two commentaries, and is cheaper.

Brothers Grimm: Japanese HD DVD is available and has one more featurette, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio and is cheaper.

Silent Hill: German HD DVD will be available and might have a better transfer, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio and is cheaper.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Polish HD DVD is available, but on a 15GB disc, no extras, and expensive. Strong possibility a Blu-ray might be superior in a number of ways (better transfer?/DTS-HD MA?/extras?/unrated version?).

First Blood: French HD DVD has a better transfer (?) and DTS-HD MA, but the Blu-ray has a good selection of extras, no pitched audio, and is cheaper.

The Holiday: U.K. HD DVD is available, but the Blu-ray has PCM audio and is cheaper.

Not to mention with most of these BDs I can take a quick trip to Best Buy for instead of waiting for days with the hopes it's not lost in mail or damaged during shipping.

Of course, there are a good selection of HD DVD import exclusives not on Blu-ray (wish there were more) and I LOVE HD DVD's region free status, but at this point, I can't see spending the money on many of the "international dual-format" titles. One could probably save enough cash to buy more HD DVDs or BDs with the excess of the total spent on HD DVD imports of "YMMV" value.

[Astrakan]

If I had both formats, I'd like to think that I would still support the region free feature of HD DVD by importing them... but in reality I'd probably end up buying the Blu-Ray releases out of convenience.

As it is, I'm a one format kinda guy, so it's import only for me.

KM

[dugpa]

Since I have both formats, I just stick with whatever's available in the US. The only import HD-DVD's I have are ones that aren't available here at all such as Mulholland Drive and The Elephant Man. If one of the films was available overseas and I heard the trasnfer was far superior, I might import the HD-DVD instead of buying the Blu-ray here. I've been tempted to import Terminator 2. But I already have the Blu-ray disc since it came out first, so I'm still on the fence about that one.

[SilentBob]

I too have them both and don't bother to import anything. Before i had my PS3 i was tempted to import the HD-DVD copy of The Prestige, but then i realized i had a tons of movies i didn't want. Took them into BlockBuster and got more then half my PS3 payed off with the trade in value and The Prestige on Blu-ray a few days later


Now i only need a receiver with an HDMI connection for the new audio on Blu-ray

[Derb]

Yep I'd probably order this if there was an english track.

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/2007...labyrinth.html

"The main feature will be presented in 1080p High Definition 16x9 1.85:1 video with DTS-HD Master Audio (Spanish) and DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio (French). Audio commentary on the HD DVD disc is presented in DTS-HD High-Resolution Audio format. Only French subtitles are provided."

[MooglePorn]

I just flat-out don't care enough to import movies from another country, unless it's something not available at all here like the Twin Peaks pilot.

[plissken99]

I agree with most of those, but T2 is well worth it to import, I like the extended cut better, plus you have a better transfer.

[ganthc]

I know I wouldn't import an hd-dvd title if it was available on bd. If it was hd-dvd exclusive, depending on the title, I would probably wait for it to come to the States.

[orko007]

I'll happily import. Not living in N. America you learn to import early on if you love film. The HD/BD generation is the same. It can be a pain in the arse, but its worth it. eg. Brotherhood of the Wolf, I cannot be arsed waiting for a local release. Now I have HD-DVD it'll be a must have. I'll import Hot Fuzz too. Comes out here in October, but I'm impatient. I hate combo discs, hence I'll import from UK.

Importing for non mainstream distribution companies is a bit obscure though, but exploited dvd looks like they've covered that to make it easy for us.

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by orko007

I'll happily import. Not living in N. America you learn to import early on if you love film.

Wait a minute... there's a world outside of North America?

[Derb]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Wait a minute... there's a world outside of North America?

Nope, not really.

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by Derb

Nope, not really.

How do I quickly refer to the US and Canada but exclude Mexico? We should have some way of doing that...

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

How do I quickly refer to the US and Canada but exclude Mexico? We should have some way of doing that...

Canada and Mexico are just the hat and shoes of the US anyway.

[MooglePorn]

Well I wouldn't mind living in Canada... I would never want to live in Mexico.

[orko007]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

How do I quickly refer to the US and Canada but exclude Mexico? We should have some way of doing that...

Canada's the important part of N.America isn't it? Then Mexico, Belize and USA??

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by orko007

Canada's the important part of N.America isn't it? Then Mexico, Belize and USA??

As long as they're all above Australia...

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by orko007

Canada's the important part of N.America isn't it? Then Mexico, Belize and USA??

Actually, Canada is quite important. They have this one good winery called FrogpondFarm.

[Derb]

Mmmm.. what's that I smell? Ah.. Fresh Air.

[orko007]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Actually, Canada is quite important. They have this one good winery called FrogpondFarm.

I wasn't being sarcastic. We rate Canadians very highly out here..

(The rest of the post was tho)


Has anyone noticed though, that Iceland is very high up on when films are released at the box office. Wonder if they get HD DVD's very early?

[Shawn Watson]

Since 95% of my HDs are imported, from America, then no.

Shawn

[Derb]

Originally Posted by orko007

Has anyone noticed though, that Iceland is very high up on when films are released at the box office. Wonder if they get HD DVD's very early?

Yes, know one forum member from Iceland who has already seen Batman 2!

[MooglePorn]

Iceland is awesome because of Bjork... and Sigur Ros.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Derb

Yes, know one forum member from Iceland who has already seen Batman 2!

Big deal, I saw Batman 2 clear back in 1992 when it came out.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Big deal, I saw Batman 2 clear back in 1992 when it came out.

Shit! That one hasn't even been released in Canada yet!

[chlngr1970]

Actually, I have no problems importing HD DVDs. I use to import DVDs when I couldn't get what I wanted here ( Brotherhood of the Wolf comes to mind. ) Hell, I even imported the Episode One Laser Disc from Japan

j

[orko007]

Has anyone purchased Band of Brothers on HD-DVD from Japan. I think its about $60 US per Volume. Very pricey. Hopefully a US release will come soon. I never saw the whole series, and would love to see it in HD glory.

[chlngr1970]

Very pricey? The DVD set is 52.99 at Amazon, with a list of 79.99

j

[chlngr1970]

What seems funny to me is the ones that complane the most about price are those that back the more expensive format

j