I am – Hercules!!

Sony’s Player Delayed Till November Almost?? The first Blu-ray player, Samsung’s $999 BD-P1000, hit store shelves Sunday, but there’s now a longer wait for Sony’s first Blu-ray machine. The long-delayed $999 BDP-S1 just got pushed back again – from Aug. 15 to Oct. 25.

The Sony PlayStation 3 is due in November and the $600 version of this system is said to play Blu-ray discs as well as videogames. So ... who is going to buy a $999 Sony Blu-ray player that doesn’t play videogames when a few days later one can buy a $600 Sony Blu-ray player that does?

The Samsung model outputs the Blu-ray discs’ full 1080p of resolution, so I’m assuming the Sony model will as well. Is it possible the PS3 will only output 1080i or less? Who knows something?

The Samsung Player Reviewed. USA Today’s Edward Baig reports that Samsung’s BD-P1000 plays SD DVDs, and loads movies in about 30 to 40 seconds, about half the time Toshiba’s less-expensive players seem to need. He also liked that the Samsung machine is about an inch shorter. He found glitchy behavior in both the Samsung Blu-ray and Toshiba HD-DVD units. The article concludes by noting LG electronics is coming out this autumn with a model that will play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs.

The Hollywood Reporter interviewed a couple of Blu-ray buyers, and got a couple of interesting reactions. Michael Olshansky, a 28-year-old Marietta, Ga., technical analyst (and owner of both a Blu-ray and an HD-DVD player) said this of his Blu-ray experience:

"The picture quality on 'The Fifth Element' wasn't much better than my standard DVD," he said. "'Underworld' was very good, but not as eye-popping as some HD-DVD titles." … "I am evaluating my Blu-ray player, but based on my initial experience, I am most likely going to return it," Olshansky said. "I don't see enough value to justify spending $999 when HD-DVD is currently superior to Blu-ray and less expensive."

The Reporter also spoke to Robert Huebner, a 36-year-old Marin County, Calif., video game developer who apparently does not own an HD-DVD player:

Like Olshansky, Huebner's two test titles were "The Fifth Element" and "Underworld: Evolution." His verdict: "I find the titles I've viewed so far to be more than adequate as launch titles; noticeably better than normal DVDs and quite seamless in their presentation. Blu-ray, despite the delays, feels like a finished, polished product. For me the quality bar was to see something that looked better than cable HD broadcasts from HBO, Showtime, etc., and Blu-ray definitely delivered that."

Herc’S HD Pics of the Week!!

In the Blu-ray corner: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) . A perfect movie. James Cameron at the peak of his powers. Scary, funny, weird, insanely suspenseful. “I need your clothes, boots and your motorcycle.” “Did you call moi a dipshit?” “He’ll live.” “Wolfie’s fine, honey.” Grabbing the sunglasses. The Liquid Plumber in Dr. Silberman’s neck. The deadly T1000 wagging its finger. The apocalyptic blast that incinerates Los Angeles one city block at a time. One of those titles – like “Star Wars” or “The Godfather” – that’s impossible to stop watching once you start.

In the HD-DVD corner: the original Lethal Weapon (1987). A suicidal cop proves an amazing wrench in the law-enforcement toolbox. The jumper. The Curly standoff. Roger Murtaugh’s hot daughter. Sadistic mercenary Mr. Joshua. “Get that shit off my lawn!!”

HD Disc Calendar

Already Out There
Apollo 13 (HD-DVD) $24.49
Assault on Precinct 13 (HD-DVD) $24.49
Blazing Saddles (HD-DVD) $25.99
The Bourne Supremacy (HD-DVD) $15.99!!!!
The Chronicles of Riddick (HD-DVD) $24.49
Chronos (BLU-RAY) $21.99
Cinderella Man (HD-DVD) $24.49
Constantine (HD-DVD) $19.99
Doom (HD-DVD) $24.49
Firewall (DVD/HD-DVD) $27.99
The Fugitive (HD-DVD) $21.99
Full Metal Jacket (HD-DVD) $25.99
Goodfellas (HD-DVD) $19.99
Happy Gilmore (HD-DVD) $24.49
Jarhead (HD-DVD) $24.49
The Last Samurai (HD-DVD) $19.99
Million Dollar Baby (HD-DVD) $26.48
The Perfect Storm (HD-DVD) $21.99
The Phantom of the Opera (HD-DVD) $19.99
Rumor Has It (DVD/HD-DVD) $27.99
The Rundown (HD-DVD) $27.99
Serenity (HD-DVD) $24.49
16 Blocks (HD-DVD) $29.99
Swordfish (HD-DVD) $19.99
Training Day (HD-DVD) $19.99
Unforgiven (HD-DVD) $19.99
U-571 (HD-DVD) $24.49
Van Helsing (HD-DVD) $24.49

Last Week
The Fifth Element (BLU-RAY) $24.99
50 First Dates (BLU-RAY) $21.99
Hitch (BLU-RAY) $24.99
House of Flying Daggers (BLU-RAY) $24.99
A Knight's Tale (BLU-RAY) $19.99
The Terminator (BLU-RAY) $20.99
Underworld Evolution (BLU-RAY) $30.99
XXX (BLU-RAY) $21.99

This Week

Crash (BLU-RAY) $27.99

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (HD-DVD) $29.99 <--- NEW!!

Lethal Weapon (HD-DVD) $19.99 <--- NEW!!

Lord of War (BLU-RAY) $27.99

The Punisher (BLU-RAY) $20.99

Saw (BLU-RAY) $20.99

Syriana (HD-DVD) $25.99 <--- NEW!!

Terminator 2 (BLU-RAY) $20.99
Ultraviolet (BLU-RAY) $19.99

July 11
Basic Instinct 2 (BLU-RAY) $27.29
Friday Night Lights (HD-DVD) $24.49
Pitch Black (HD-DVD) $24.49

July 25
Benchwarmers (BLU-RAY) $27.29
Kung Fu Hustle (BLU-RAY) $20.29
The Last Waltz (BLU-RAY) $19.99
Legends of the Fall (BLU-RAY) $20.29
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (BLU-RAY) $19.99
Species (BLU-RAY) $20.29
Stealth (BLU-RAY) $20.29
S.W.A.T. (BLU-RAY) $20.29

August 8
Animal House (HD-DVD) $31.49 <--- NEW!!

Ray (HD-DVD) $20.99 <--- NEW!!
Unleashed (HD-DVD) $31.49 <--- NEW!!

August 15
Black Hawk Down (BLU-RAY) $19.99 <--- NEW!!
Into The Blue (BLU-RAY) $19.99
Memento (BLU-RAY) $19.99
Robocop (BLU-RAY) $20.29
RV (BLU-RAY) $26.99 <--- NEW!!
Sense and Sensibility (BLU-RAY) $19.99

August 22
The Bone Collector (HD-DVD) $20.99
The Interpreter (HD-DVD) $20.99
Silent Hill (BLU-RAY) $26.99 <--- NEW!!
Spy Game (HD-DVD) $20.99

September 12
Red Dragon (HD-DVD) $20.99 <--- NEW!!
Traffic (HD-DVD) $20.99 <--- NEW!!

September 19
The Big Hit (BLU-RAY) $19.99
S.W.A.T. (BLU-RAY) $20.29

September 26
Dazed and Confused (HD-DVD) $23.99 <--- NEW!!
End of Days (HD-DVD) $20.99 <--- NEW!!
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (HD-DVD) $20.99 <--- NEW!!
Land of the Dead (HD-DVD) $23.99 <--- NEW!!