Susanne Ault

Where is Blades of Glory on BD? You Know Par Has It Laying Around Somewhere

Paramount is a fun, if dizzying, studio to watch. Dual-format, HD DVD-exclusive and boom, Blu-ray exclusive.  I think it has gone through the most high-def incarnations of any studio, right? Well, it looks like Par's Blu catalog titles during its 'dual' phase are cropping back into retail circulation. Its unclear if they are newly printed? Or if Par has had some in the backroom while it went through its 'HD DVD-exclu' period? But Amazon.com is offering some of Par's late 2006/early 2007 Blu releases like Mission Impossible II and III, Babel, The Italian Job, among others, which streeted prior to the studio's mid-2007 switch to HD DVD-only. A number of them pop up if you search Paramount Blu-ray on the site.
But I'm especially curious about Blades of Glory because that was the title that was on the schedule for a Blu-ray and HD DVD release JUST before Par decided to go HD DVD exclusive. There were some elusive reports of people actually finding rogue Blu-ray copies of Blades of Glory when it streeted in late August, even though Par said that wouldn't be the case. But seriously, I can picture BD Blades of Glory copies lying around the warehouse. Why go to that extra expense of destroying what was very likely already printed up and ready to ship out? Usually, DVDs are planned months in advance, with the check discs pressed well ahead of a scheduled retail bow.
Amazon.com is currently listing the BD copy of Blades of Glory as 'unavailable.' Yet the site is listing a picture of the cover art, as if it's primed to offer the title if Par greenlights it.  
I could be overthinking this - but Par is egging me on with their production twists and turns!

Posted by Susanne Ault on February 25, 2008 | Comments (0)