Heroes on HD DVD

[Duffinator]

I received this from Netflix today which was cool since I was supposed to be released today and was shipped to me yesterday. The damn disc won't play in my Toshiba A2. It starts out just fine but won't get past the 30 second Universal HD DVD intro. I looks like a human hand had never touched this disc before I received it so in other words it looks perfect with no visible defects. Anybody else having this issue?

On a positive note Netflix is finally shipping me 300 in HD. You know what I'll be watching tomorrow night.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I received this from Netflix today which was cool since I was supposed to be released today and was shipped to me yesterday. The damn disc won't play in my Toshiba A2. It starts out just fine but won't get past the 30 second Universal HD DVD intro. I looks like a human hand had never touched this disc before I received it so in other words it looks perfect with no visible defects. Anybody else having this issue?

On a positive note Netflix is finally shipping me 300 in HD. You know what I'll be watching tomorrow night.

Look at the disc at a low angle, almost parallel. See if there is a different haze or look than a CD. There could be a manufacturing film residue. Wash it with soap and dry it, carefully; see what happens.

 

[Duffinator]

I tried that but it didn't work. It loaded right up but struggled getting past the first intro. I've already mailed it back and another one should be here tomorrow. Netflix was fast on sending out a replacement before receiving the original back.

In the meantime I got 300 today so I'll be watching it tonight.

Others should have the HD DVD's today. Anyone else having problems, or not, with this disc?

 

[Johnd]

In the meantime I got 300 today so I'll be watching it tonight.

Post what you think of it? It seems few are on the fence on this one. The first reviews raved about it, and now many are saying it's not worthwhile. Thanks.

 

[Gasman]

On 300.
I watched it on BluRay.
It was ok, but I am glad I rented it first (and I am a seriously avid movie watcher)

I had some quick comments on it at another forum... Let me find exactly what I said 10 minutes after watching...

Here is what I had said.
Rented Blu Rays.
"300 (ok movie, very grainy granted that was the look they were going for, will not buy)(personally it was not my cup of tea, so I will say not recommended)


Anyhow, back to original topic.
Yeah, for the cost I am on the fence with the Heroes set.
As much as I love HD material, I may just have to get this on SD and upconvert.
It is a good thing the Samsung upconverts quite well.

I would not bother renting it, I have seen EVERY episode (thanks to DVR).
So it is either buy, or no buy (dependant on finances)

 

[Duffinator]

I've seen all the Heroes episodes in HD before but there is supposed to be some new material and I was hoping it was on the first disc. I don't buy any DVD's and just rent from NetFlix. I was one of their original customers from way back. That model works well for me. If any body wants to buy my five free HD DVD's when I get them let me know.

As for 300 I just finished watching it. First I usually don't like lots of gratuitous violence and the overly graphic stuff. Think Braveheart. But with that said there is plenty of over the top violence in this movie. But I really liked it. It's not the best looking movie from a reference HD DVD perspective but I liked Sin City and this has a similar look. But what I really liked in this movie was the story line and the way the whole story was told. The small bits of narration really worked for me as well. I can see how some, maybe many, won't like this movie but I did and I really didn't think I would. I'll give it four stars out of five on my NetFlix rating.

 

[Gasman]

I've seen all the Heroes episodes in HD before but there is supposed to be some new material and I was hoping it was on the first disc.

Yeah, but isn't that material (well, the original unaired pilot) on the SD discs as well?
I'm a Netflix (and Blockbuster) renter as well.
So if you see that the unaired pilot is on the first disc, let me know. (maybe I will just rent that 1 disc. And keep the SD discs in the already overloaded collection)

 

[Johnd]

Thanks to both. That seems to be the consensus on 300, about 50/50.

 

[Duffinator]

Yeah, but isn't that material (well, the original unaired pilot) on the SD discs as well?
I'm a Netflix (and Blockbuster) renter as well.
So if you see that the unaired pilot is on the first disc, let me know. (maybe I will just rent that 1 disc. And keep the SD discs in the already overloaded collection)

Another copy arrives today so I'll let you know. That's really the main reason I rented it, plus I wanted to see if it looks any better on HD DVD compated to HD from DTV off of my DVR.

 

[Duffinator]

Thanks to both. That seems to be the consensus on 300, about 50/50.

I rented 300 because of all the buzz and I like Sin City. But with Sin City I really didn't get into it until about half way through the movie. You really need to watch the whole thing to get it IMO. It's sum is greater than it's parts.

 

[avaserfi]

Another copy arrives today so I'll let you know. That's really the main reason I rented it, plus I wanted to see if it looks any better on HD DVD compated to HD from DTV off of my DVR.

I know you will get to see it soon but highdefdigest didn't seem too impressed with the Hero's release, but it still did well.

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/849/heroess1.html

 

[Duffinator]

I know you will get to see it soon but highdefdigest didn't seem too impressed with the Hero's release, but it still did well.

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/849/heroess1.html

Thanks for the link, it contatined the information I was looking for. From the article:

"Let's start with the 73-minute unaired Pilot on disc one. More than just a handful of extraneous scenes reinstated for marketing purposes, this is actually a recut version by series creator Tim Kring. The changes are quite substantial, if something a mixed bag. "

"Otherwise, considering the sheer volume of material here, 'Heroes' is still quite good-looking, and generally impressive. It's definitely superior to the broadcasts I've seen, and fans will undoubtedly be pleased."

"Other video extras include five featurettes, all on disc seven. "

So if you just rent discs 1 and 7 you should be able to see most of the extras.

Has anybody else had problems with disc 1 in HD???

 

[sifsinew]

i have tried it

 

[Duffinator]

i have tried it

HD and no issues with yours?

A really wierd thing happened last night. After all the problems with Heroes I just turned off the player and shut down the HT for the evening. Last night when I started 300 (HD) the sound was really bad with a bunch of static. I pulled it out and checked it over and it looked fine. I installed Cars (SD with DD) since it was handy and it worked fine with no static. I then reloaded 300 and it worked fine. Im wondering if somehow the bad Heroes dics messed up my player or something. It worked fine while watching 300. I hope the player isn't going bad on me.

 

[Duffinator]

The new disc did the EXACT same thing as the same time stamp on my player. My A2 has not been updated and I sent Toshiba the card to get one but haven't received it. I tried doing it over my network but couldn't get it to work. Oh well. Let me know if anybody else runs into the same problem.

 

[Gasman]

Duff,
Updating is VERY simple to do. I updated my first A2, and the XA1 by burning the update to CD.
If you want, I can send you the disc I used for updating the A2.
Or can guide you through the burn process, if needed.
Let me know.

For now, I just rented Heroes disc 1 from my Blockbuster account, works fine.
May just pick up the set... It is either this set or Ultimate Matrix set....

Pre-ordered Transformers today.

 

[Duffinator]

Duff,
Updating is VERY simple to do. I updated my first A2, and the XA1 by burning the update to CD.
If you want, I can send you the disc I used for updating the A2.
Or can guide you through the burn process, if needed.
Let me know.

I wasn't aware you could do that. Any trick other than downloading the file and copy to CD?

Transformers will be cool in HD!

 

[Gasman]

You have to make sure you burn it as a CD image (iso)
Here is a direct link telling you how.
If you get stuck, PM me.
http://tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-images/notices/hddvd-updateingfirmware.asp

 

[Gasman]

And here is the direct link to the firmware (for these models=Firmware 2.2 for A2,A20,XA2)
http://tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-images/notices/hddvd-downloadingfirmware.asp

 

[jonnythan]

You can download the firmware right from http://www.tacpservice.toshiba.com/ConsumerProductSupport/productupdatesandnotices.asp