So that's it then? (A post-mortem)

Budd: So, which "R" you filled with?
Elle Driver: What?
Budd: They say the number one killer of old people is retirement. People got 'em a job to do, they tend to live a little longer so they can do it. I've always figured warriors and their enemies share the same relationship. So, now you ain't gonna hafta face your enemy on the battlefield no more, which "R" are you filled with: Relief or Regret?
Elle Driver: A little bit of both.




So that's it then?

These first two months of 2008 has seen some dramatic changes. Two months ago there were still 2 (potentially) viable high-def media formats each claiming to be the future. Two months ago, the major Hollywood studios were split between the two. Two months ago, we were all expecting something major to happen at CES in Las Vegas. In about two weeks Warner Bros. will be the only studio releasing movies on HDDVD (and only until the end of May).

Which "R" am I filled with? Well, obviously relief. Relief that the monetary and emotional invest I've made into Blu-ray and Sony can continue. Relief that I don't have to look like an idiot for having 50 movies in a dead format. (sorry Albert, cheapshot)

But there's also regret. Regret that this thing didn't a bit longer. Victories always feel more gratifying when they feel earned. Maybe it's because I never doubted Blu-ray's inevitable dominance, but it would've been much more cathartic if Blu-ray was the underdog in this. There is also the disappointment of knowing that Blu-ray sales will become ever more rare now. Maybe I've missed my chance to get Cruel Intentions on Blu-ray for half off, but at least I don't have to buy a new player now.

So which "R" am I filled with? Reassured. Reassured that as the industry moves forward under a unified format, we will start to see richer content both fronts of movies and games. (LOTR on Blu-ray anyone?) Blu-ray will remain the best format on which to watch films and play games for at least the next decade. DVD upscaling will make your DVDs look better, but the HD information is simply not there and it is literally impossible to make something out of nothing. Then there's HD on demand. Before video streaming, downloading, or even cable can deliver 1080p video and 7.1 uncompressed master audio in a reasonable way (how long does it take to download 50 gigs of information now?), drastic infrastructure updates have to be made by Comcast and Verizon. Blu-ray won't just be relevant for the next decade, it will be the dominant way of enjoying HD content. And seriously, transparent blue cases are hot.



So as we move forward, we can look forward to content, not format. The magic of Blu-ray isn't that you can fit 10X the data on the same space, it's the way it allows you to watch movies you've enjoyed in detail and clarity that wasn't available to you before.