Armageddon for Blu-Ray 2010?? (link)

[RyanCz1]

I was googling like I do every week to see if any updates are happening with the Armageddon restoration and I found this link reporting covers to upcoming catalog titles. Can anyone confirm this news????

http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Exclus...Cover_Art/6199

I would REALLY love for this film to hit Blu-Ray this year. I cannot believe they didn't get this restoration going sooner.

[kucharsk]

Even if it is, it probably won't be the Criterion director's cut, so does it matter?

IMHO the changes, especially the scenes with Harry's Dad, make it a much more touching film.

[HarryCanyon]

Good thing i have the criterion edition director's cut, but this movie should rock on BD.

[redqueenar]

A) This already has a thread though, admittedly, it is poorly titled.

B) Unless Michael Bay's "The Island" was biographical in nature, this can't possibly be an accurate report. Unless he's keeping a BIG secret about how he spends his time!

C) Look "Armageddon Blu Ray" up on Amazon and sign up to be notified when it will be made available for sale. You'll see a clear difference between their cover art (like the Criterion. *Gorgeous*) and the silly looking version on HD's site - it looks like bad photoshop.

[RyanCz1]

Wait... I had the Criterion Edition and didn't see a scene with Harry's Dad. Where is this clip?

[redqueenar]

Wait... I had the Criterion Edition and didn't see a scene with Harry's Dad. Where is this clip?

Woah! HOW!?!? I thought the extended version was the only version on the Criterion? The packing and case are black, right?

[Michael Do]

w00t. may 4 it is. can not wait.

[MitP]

It looks just about confirmed now: The ARMAGEDDON Blu-ray is due out in spring.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4106

Let's hope they carry over all the special features from the Criterion release, such as the director's cut footage and commentary.

[redqueenar]

If this is so, then why hasn't Bay mentioned it, not even as a forthcoming surprise?? Hmmmm...

[alexsm]

It may be just DVD transfer with some AA to make it look like HD. If it where a real re-master from the original source Bay or Nelson would have commented something.

[Bayhem]

It may be just DVD transfer with some AA to make it look like HD.

I think so too.

But hey, at least it's something.

[redqueenar]

It may be just DVD transfer with some AA to make it look like HD. If it where a real re-master from the original source Bay or Nelson would have commented something.

That's what I'm thinking too. Hrmph. Not one press release has mentioned the burnt master, which is why I wondered...

[P+W]

I wonder if we can get an official word on this as its now confirmed on the HD master used as I remember reading a while back about the movie may need some CGI redone due to issues with it being rendered in a lower resolution than Bluray. An article on this would be interesting if new work has been done to tweak the already amazing VFX.

Still my favorite Bay film as well BTW!!! I have it on Criterion & Std DVD & Criterion & Std NTSC Laserdiscs!

[kucharsk]

It's also been confirmed as the theatrical cut, not the version on the Criterion DVD.

This fits Disney of late, given they released the theatrical cut rather than the Vista Series version of Pearl Harbor.

[Bayhem]

It's also been confirmed as the theatrical cut, not the version on the Criterion DVD.

I don't think I'm gonna buy it then. They did the same thing with "Pearl Harbor" and even though it's my favorite Michael Bay movie, I never bought the Blu-ray.

[Mobe1969]

Ah what, the theatrical cut? Sigh. Damn it, I want the full Pearl Harbor also...

[hautbasclair]

BTW!!! I have it on Criterion [...] Laserdiscs!

Last criterion laserdisc ever made. Nice touch.

[kucharsk]

Just to clarify for people who don't know how film distribution generally works:

The camera negative is used to create a master positive, or print.

The master positive is used to create a duplication negative, which is then used to create release prints, which are what are shown in theatres.

So Michael stated that the master print was destroyed in the fire, which would require Disney to create a new master print from the camera negatives.

However Disney may well have cheaped out and used a duplication negative or duplication print to create the BD master and (hopefully) cleaned it up where necessary.

This chart gives you an idea of the process involved:

[Doomofman]

No matter what version it is.. Once it hits bluray I'm getting it...

[kucharsk]

I would suggest waiting for reviews to roll in.

There's no point in giving Disney your money if they cheap out on the master and it ends up not looking much better than the DVDs (see their first BD of Gangs of New York for an example of this.)

[Doomofman]

http://uk.blu-ray.com/movies/Armageddon-Blu-ray/3/

April 27th apparently...

[Harry Stamper]

How is it possible to release it on Blu Ray? I know the master print used for the LD and DVD transfer was damaged in the fire. Unless, Michael Bay assisted in remastering the entire film already. And the old master wasn't formatted for 16X9, only 4X3. That is the reason the Criterion edition wasn't an anamorphic widescreen transfer. Does anyone know what master they used? I am hoping it would be a decent transfer to BD.

[Hardkore]

It's also been confirmed as the theatrical cut, not the version on the Criterion DVD.

This fits Disney of late, given they released the theatrical cut rather than the Vista Series version of Pearl Harbor.

I don't think I'm gonna buy it then. They did the same thing with "Pearl Harbor" and even though it's my favorite Michael Bay movie, I never bought the Blu-ray.

One thing you need to remember,when the DVD comes out it is usually the theatrical version. The extended/directors/etc. version tends to come out about 6 months later. That happened with the LOTR films on DVD and it seems to be happening with the BD version. They said the Extended version isn't coming to BD...yet.

http://www.collider.com/2009/12/04/e...is-still-2011/

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/04/16/...cal-cuts-only/

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/12/14/...-goes-blu-ray/

[Bayhem]

...the DVD comes out it is usually the theatrical version. The extended/directors/etc. version tends to come out about 6 months later. That happened with the LOTR films on DVD and it seems to be happening with the BD version. They said the Extended version isn't coming to BD...yet.

Well, let's hope you're right.

[RyanCz1]

The advantage this already has over the DVD one though is that it will be the first anamorphic one we've ever had available. That alone is very nice and I'm sure will easily look noticeable better than any letterbox cut. Can't believe they didn't even do that with the Criterion release on DVD. It's very hard to stomach watching, so this BluRay will make it tolerable again at least.