Michael Bay Is At It Again

[Pirate]

When Michael Bay speaks, the world listens. The 'Transformers' director is talking out again about the high-def format war, and is again generating lots of press.

As countless web sites have reported over the last 24 hours, Bay's latest remarks came in response to question posed to him on his own official web site.

Asked why his mega hit 'Transformers' was released on HD DVD only (and not on Blu-ray), the director pointed the blame squarely at Microsoft, saying that the software giant has bankrolled HD DVD in an effort to extend the high-def format war until the software giant can perfect digital downloads.

"Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads" said Bay. "That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray."

Bay's accusations echo earlier comments made by Fox Home Entertainment worldwide president Mike Dunn, who was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter at an October Blu-ray press event as blasting "the orchestrated campaigns of confusion and anti-consumerism fueled by an 800-pound gorilla that would prefer to force us all into the practice of paying tolls for the right to exchange information and enjoy entertainment."

At the time, Microsoft Consumer Media Technology Group director Kevin Collins defended the company’s stance, calling Dunn's accusations "baseless."

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ty_Tricks/1235

[umainebearman]

[MooglePorn]

Anyone who denies the bold part is an idiot, since it's obviously true... they've made statements that said as much, their Live service is pimpin' digital download movies, in HD, like crazy.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Anyone who denies the bold part is an idiot, since it's obviously true... they've made statements that said as much, their Live service is pimpin' digital download movies, in HD, like crazy.

I could easily argue with this portion of it and I dont think myself an idiot at all

superior Blu Ray

[MooglePorn]

That wasn't really the part I was talking about.

Though I will say I think it's obviously superior in all technical aspects.

[Sehnzeleid]

He's reciting Blu rhetoric from months ago.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Anyone who denies the bold part is an idiot, since it's obviously true... they've made statements that said as much, their Live service is pimpin' digital download movies, in HD, like crazy.

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/15602/532

[elfman]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Anyone who denies the bold part is an idiot, since it's obviously true...

To say that about something that is not an easily PROVABLE FACT is the kind of a leap, don't you think?

[Iguana Man]

If Bay feels that strongly, gosh....couldn't he just do movies for Sony? Or is he under contract with some HD DVD studio? And if he is, well gee golly willickers! Back up your beliefs son and get a new contract.

For some reason I feel like calling him a pussy.

(Sorry..I know far less than you dudes on the ins/outs of the studio/producer/director stuff so forgive my ignorance)

[sub780lime]

I think its time to repost this

[Sehnzeleid]

I wonder what kind of home theater he has?

Be funny if he was rockin' the Coby...

[Iguana Man]

My above post was a serious one. I'd like someone to address it please.

[MrE26]

He makes movies for whichever studio hires him. He's just pissed that some of his movies are missing from his favoured format due to this silly format war.

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by MrE26

He makes movies for whichever studio hires him. He's just pissed that some of his movies are missing from his favoured format due to this silly format war.

Call me naive then. Why can't this bigshot choose which studio he wants then? It would solve his 'favoured format' dilema, no?

Or, is he a babbling p....

You get my point.

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by elfman

To say that about something that is not an easily PROVABLE FACT is the kind of a leap, don't you think?

I was unaware we only commented on provable facts on HT message boards.

Also: Microsoft wanting digital downloads to succeed is a provable fact. Turn on a 360 sometime.

[Daze]

Most Xbox 360s don't have hard drives so I don't think they will work well for Microsoft currently.

[rixrex]

Ha Ha, what a lot of hyperbole.

First we read, "When Michael Bay speaks, the world listens. The 'Transformers' director is talking out again about the high-def format war, and is again generating lots of press."

What world is listening, other than we videophiles, and what big press outfit or broadcast group is running with it? Seems to be written by some yokel entertainment reporter with a major in overstatement bordering on hysteria.

But then we read, *As countless web sites have reported over the last 24 hours, Bay's latest remarks came in response to question posed to him on his own official web site."

Ah, yes, "countless web sites", the newest version of the good old time-tested reporting strategies of buffeting the report with such sources as: many experts, numerous authorities, or most critics, none of which can be proven wrong nor corroborated. Would "countless" be more than 20, as we then run out of fingers and toes? And does this include every website blog or message board?

Then regarding these remarks "came in response to question posed to him on his own official web site," do they really mean question as singular? Was the whole world "listening" to this website? Or even just the US?

Bay is sour on Microsoft, and probably has been for ages, as many in the artistic area of the entertainment industry are, though I must say not all. These same folks often prefer Mac or Apple PCs and consider themselves to be in the mold of the hipster Mac guy in the Mac commercials.

When was the last time they had to decide between a $400-500 item vs a $100-200 item and consider that one of the biggest budget purchases of the year? Some of these folks, like Bay, would spend $100 at dinner. It would be great if he'd give us all rebates so we could all buy the format he likes.

These folks are the ones who do not like Microsoft's aggressive methods in keeping its virtual monopoly, and look forward to any Microsoft failure, even if it means that it comes from a corporation that has its own monopolistic tendencies.

I would like to see somebody pose Bay a tough hardball question, like: Does he think that his other films of gore, torture and murder effect young minds and morals? I know he'd just wiggle out by saying he's only reflecting society's morals and behavior. So then the question is: Then is there nothing original in those films in that respect? And does all or most of society behave as do the characters in his films? But this is tangiential.

Reading on, I find I particularly like this part:

Bay's accusations echo earlier comments made by Fox Home Entertainment worldwide president Mike Dunn, who was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter at an October Blu-ray press event as blasting "the orchestrated campaigns of confusion and anti-consumerism fueled by an 800-pound gorilla that would prefer to force us all into the practice of paying tolls for the right to exchange information and enjoy entertainment."

Well, last time I looked, we all had to pay for our own movie tickets, cable or satellite service, or DVD purchases or rentals, including your company product, Mr. Dunn. I would be happy to get it from you for free if you wish to give it away. In fact, Microsoft products have made the free exchange of information more accessible, as evidenced by what we are doing here.

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by Daze

Most Xbox 360s don't have hard drives so I don't think they will work well for Microsoft currently.

I'm pretty sure the core/arcade model sells a lot less than the premium one. Also, people upgrade later with the a la carte HDD.

[Wirehed]

Yeah, I don't think it's any kind of secret that MS wants to push for downloads instead of physical media.

Of course they ALSO don't want to make anything easy on Sony.

Outside of getting into what format of HD is "better" I don't' disagree with what Michael "LOOK! AN EXPLODING HELOCOPTER! NEAT SHINY!" Bay is saying at all; or in other words; I agree with Moog.

[sub780lime]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

My above post was a serious one. I'd like someone to address it please.

Yes, you may call him a pussy

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

My above post was a serious one. I'd like someone to address it please.

Bay doesn't own the rights to Transformers (his picture), Hasbro, Paramount & affiliates. He has no deals, contracts with any studio to hold any of his films from going into home video distribution.

If the future is digital downloads on LIVE, well..

Only US residents can download HD off of LIVE so that would actually work quite well long term for BD.

[jriseden]

Originally Posted by Derb

Only US residents can download HD off of LIVE so that would actually work quite well long term for BD.

Seems that has now changed.

"In tandem with the formal availability of the fall 2007 update for its Xbox 360 game system, Microsoft today announced that its Xbox Video Marketplace will open to users of the console outside of the US. Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK will now have access to rentals of full-length movies from major studios, including high-profile titles such as 300 and Ocean's 13. More will come in the next few months, Microsoft says. Country-specific studios will also be available, Microsoft says. Like the American store, videos will be available to rent either in standard-definition at DVD quality or at HD quality for HDTV sets."

http://www.electronista.com/articles...international/


Maybe bay was right?

[elfman]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

I was unaware we only commented on provable facts on HT message boards.

Also: Microsoft wanting digital downloads to succeed is a provable fact. Turn on a 360 sometime.

I was referring to you calling them "IDIOTS". That's called hyperbole, my friend. And yes, MS would love downloads, and so would Sony (see their recent press release about THEIR download plans), but yet MS is trying to sabatoge the HD market and Sony is not? So Sony should just have BR declared the official format and HDDVD go away? (I can hear the fanboys drooling at that statement...)

[rixrex]

I'm okay with HD downloads as long as the HD product is also available in a way to collect it, but I guess that's old-school thinking from somebody who lives in a house and not a 400 sq ft apt, where there's no room.

There's just something nice about looking through covers and box-art while thinking about what you want to watch. Of course, building the shelves isn't always the most fun when you outgrow the storage cabinet.

[Wirehed]

I won't be interested in buying downloaded movies at all. I like the physical media all up on a nice shelf, organized painfully, and displayed like a collection.

But I doubt they'll ever leave collector's out of the picture, we buy too much stuff to be ignored, including all the over priced "special edition w/ bonus action figure."


Still, that's not the market MS is in, delivering content over their platform, in their format and codec using their micro banking system IS the ultimate goal, and they are well ahead of Sony in this department. This is the biggest reason they are sinking so much money into the 360 platform.

[MooglePorn]

I don't think the physical format will die for a loooooooooong time, look at CDs, still hanging in there!

I just wonder if anything past DVD can succeed in a world where the young, hip electronics kids (yeah, I said that, fuck you) are looking for downloads, not more physical media.

Quality seems less important than convienence for that demographic.

[plissken99]

Lets hope the young people who prefer convenience over quality don't call this one. I downloaded The Fountain off Live, it took 3-4 hours, had a lossy DD 5.1 track and didn't look as good as the Blu Ray version no doubt does.

Realistically downloads won't be viable for another decade to meet the quality of HD-DVD or Blu Ray(not to mention fast enough that you could start watching when the download begins and not catch up with it). And right now for example, to play Half Life 2 on the PC even campaign mode, you need to be connected to the Steam network, and it's often down, so you can't play a single player game you paid for. How aggrivating would that be translated to movies?!

[MooglePorn]

You can play Steam games offline... I often do.