The below lists contain (hopefully) all of the Blu-ray Discs released in the U.S. that offer special features only found on certain Blu-ray disc players, or include a second disc with a digital copy for use in a computer.
While all Blu-ray Disc players can play the main movie and the vast majority of special features found on Blu-ray disc releases, some new titles have features that make use of an internet connection or dual-stream audio and video decoders only found in select players. The titles that use those features are listed below.
BD-Live (aka Profile 2.0)
These titles have some features that only work on BD-Live-capable players that are connected to the internet. At this time the PlayStation 3, the Panasonic BD50, Sony BDP-S250, Samsung BD-P1500 and BD-P2500, and some PC software players are the only players that can access these features. The upcoming Sony BDP-S550 and BDP-S5000ES, LG BD300, Pioneer Elite BDP-09FD, and Panasonic BD35 and BD55 should all be BD-Live capable when they are released.
Released BD-Live Titles
In addition to the above currently-released titles, all future titles released by Sony will contain BD-Live features.
BonusView (aka Profile 1.1)
These titles make use of the dual-stream audio and video decoders found in BonusView capable players to allow for Picture-in-picture type features (such as video commentary) while watching the movie. A number of other Blu-ray titles have similar features, but use alternative methods (dual encodes, seamless branching) to accomplish the same goal, which allows the feature on those titles to work on ALL players. All newly certified Blu-ray player models must support BonusView, but there are still a number of players available in stores (primarily Sony BSP-S300, BDP-S500, and BDP-S2000ES players and Samsung's home-theatre-in-a-box units) that were certified before the new rules went into effect and cannot play the special feature on these titles.
Released BonusView Titles
| Title | Studio | Release Date |
| The 40-Year-Old Virgin | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Fox | 4/15/2008 |
| American Gangster | Universal | 10/14/2008 |
| Batman Begins | Warner | 7/8/2008 |
| Blow | New Line | 9/23/2008 |
| Casino | Universal | 10/14/2008 |
| Casino Royale (Collector's Edition) | Sony | 10/21/2008 |
| Constantine | Warner | 10/14/2008 |
| Dawn of the Dead | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| Dead Space | Starz | 10/28/2008 |
| Doomsday (2008) | Universal | 7/29/2008 |
| Eastern Promises | Universal | 10/14/2008 |
| Forbidden Kingdom | Lionsgate | 9/9/2008 |
| Forgetting Sarah Marshall | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| The Happening | Fox | 10/7/2008 |
| Heroes: Season 1 | Universal | 8/26/2008 |
| Heroes: Season 2 | Universal | 8/26/2008 |
| Hulk (2003) | Universal | 9/16/2008 |
| The Incredible Hulk | Universal | 10/21/2008 |
| Jumper | Fox | 6/10/2008 |
| Knocked Up | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| Land of the Dead | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| Leatherheads | Universal | 9/23/2008 |
| Miami Vice | Universal | 8/26/2008 |
| The Mummy | Universal | 7/22/2008 |
| The Mummy Returns | Universal | 7/22/2008 |
| Nim's Island | Fox | 8/5/2008 |
| Prom Night | Sony | 8/19/2008 |
| Rambo | Lionsgate | 5/27/2008 |
| Resident Evil: Extinction | Sony | 1/1/2008 |
| Risky Business | Warner | 9/16/2008 |
| The Scorpion King | Universal | 7/22/2008 |
| Starship Troopers | Sony | 8/5/2008 |
| Starship Troopers Box-set | Sony | 8/5/2008 |
| Starship Troopers: Marauder | Sony | 8/5/2008 |
| The Strangers | Universal | 10/21/2008 |
| Street Kings | Fox | 8/19/2008 |
| Sunshine | Fox | 1/8/2008 |
| The Thing | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| Transformers (2007) | Paramount | 9/2/2008 |
| U-571 | Universal | 8/26/2008 |
| The Ultimate Matrix Collection | Warner | 10/14/2008 |
| Untraceable | Sony | 5/13/2008 |
| V for Vendetta | Warner | 5/20/2008 |
| War (Jet Li) | Lionsgate | 1/1/2008 |
| You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Sony | 10/7/2008 |
| Young Frankenstein | Fox | 10/7/2008 |
Digital Copy
As Blu-ray discs will only play in Blu-ray disc players, a number of consumers have requested a way to play movies they've purchased on other devices. Studios have taken notice and have started including a "Digital Copy" along with select Blu-ray releases. The copy is usually on a second DVD that will work in a computer. These discs don't require anything special in terms of Blu-ray player as they are designed to be used in a computer, with the digital files copyable to various portable media devices.
Released Digital Copy Titles
| Title | Studio | Release Date |
| 10,000 B.C. | Warmer | 6/24/2008 |
| Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | Fox | 4/15/2008 |
| The Bank Job | Lionsgate | 7/15/2008 |
| Blow | New Line | 9/23/2008 |
| Constantine | Warner | 10/14/2008 |
| Dark City * | New Line | 7/29/2008 |
| The Eye | Lionsgate | 6/3/2008 |
| Forbidden Kingdom | Lionsgate | 9/9/2008 |
| Forgetting Sarah Marshall | Universal | 9/30/2008 |
| The Happening | Fox | 10/7/2008 |
| Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay * | New Line | 7/29/2008 |
| Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle * | New Line | 7/29/2008 |
| Hitman | Fox | 3/11/2008 |
| The Incredible Hulk | Universal | 10/21/2008 |
| Jumper | Fox | 6/10/2008 |
| Juno | Fox | 4/15/2008 |
| Lost Boys: The Tribe * | Warner | 7/29/2008 |
| The Love Guru | Paramount | 9/16/2008 |
| Meet the Browns | Lionsgate | 7/1/2008 |
| The Nightmare Before Christmas | Disney | 8/26/2008 |
| Rambo | Lionsgate | 5/27/2008 |
| Risky Business * | Warner | 9/16/2008 |
| Run Fatboy Run + | New Line | 9/23/2008 |
| Sex and the City: The Movie | Warner | 9/23/2008 |
| Speed Racer * | Warner | 9/16/2008 |
| Street Kings | Fox | 8/19/2008 |
| The Ultimate Matrix Collection | Warner | 10/14/2008 |
* Note: Titles with a * are NOT compatible with Mac computers or Ipod portable media players. They are "PlaysForSure" compatible-only.
- Note: Titles with a + contain a second disc containing a DVD copy of the movie, as opposed to a traditional digital copy.
Below are links to the various studios' Digital Copy websites, as well as direct links to the support contact forms for anyone missing their license code or experiencing problems transferring/downloading the files to their PC or media player:
Warner Brothers/New Line DC Site -- Contact Support
Fox DC Site -- Contact Support
Lionsgate DC Site -- Contact Support
Disney DC Site -- Support phone: 800-723-4763
Paramount DC Site -- Contact Support
3D
With the success of IMAX 3D and Real D in cinemas and 2009 being billed as the "year of 3D," many studios are starting to look at bringing 3D features to home video. Since Blu-ray lacks a true 3D profile, and 3D monitors are still aways off for most consumers, the Blu-ray releases of 3D features have to be encoded using color anaglyphs to attempt to preserve the 3D effect. Such movies will play in all players, but the viewer will need to wear red/blue or red/cyan filtered glasses to see the 3D effect. This means that a loss of color information results and the end effect isn't nearly as engrossing as the effect of theatrical IMAX 3D or Real D movies. Still, it does allow for full compatibility with all players and HDTVs on the market, and if these titles are successful it might spur faster development of a true 3D Blu-ray profile and 3D-capable consumer monitors.
Released 3D Titles
| Title | Studio | Release date | 3D |
| Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (3D) | Disney | 8/19/2008 | R/C |
| Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008; Limited Edition 3d) | Warner | 10/28/2008 | R/B? |
| The Polar Express (3D edition) | Warner | 10/28/2008 | R/B? |
R/C = Red/cyan anaglyph
R/B = Red/blue anaglyph
Note that while 3D Blu-ray releases include cheap cardboard anaglyph glasses with it, you can always use higher quality plastic or metal glasses, or clip-on filters for prescription glasses as well -- which may provide a better 3D experience. One store that specializes in selling these glasses can be found here. There are many different designs available. Be careful to order the correct anaglyph colors for the title or titles you want to watch. You may need to purchase two sets to cover both red/blue and red/cyan-type anaglyphs. They also sell circular polarized glasses that work with the Real D (aka Disney Digital 3D) thatrical system for anyone who dislikes the style of glasses given out by their local theatre.
Latest update: 10/28/08
0 comments:
Post a Comment