High-Definition Porn on the Rise Part II
34D Treasure Chest…
Retailing for $49.95 in the US, Digital Playground’s Region-free three-disc Pirates: Collector’s Edition has so many bells and whistles that it puts the majority of mainstream Special Edition DVD releases to shame. The first disc plays host to an anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer of the film itself, accompanied by a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and an entertaining commentary featuring director Joone and a number of the film’s stars. Disc Two hosts a behind-the-scenes documentary, blooper reel, the original two-minute short shot during the making of Island Fever 3 that served as the inspiration for Pirates, a look at the making of the film’s digital effects, audition footage and more.
What’s most interesting about this release is Disc 3, the WMV-HD DVD, which contains the main feature in 720p resolution. You need a Media Centre PC running Windows Media 9 to play it and an HD Ready TV to show it, but the results are fabulous. No wonder it’s gone on to break so many sales records in America. Director Joone explains Digital Playground’s success with HD: ‘Reviewers and critics spoke highly of the contrast between HD delivery (in Island Fever 3) and non-HD delivery. Being “the first” at anything, especially when the anything is a cut above, often attracts the consumer. Pirates is our newest and many more will follow once Blu-ray is released. We have been shooting all of our titles on HD and will release them in this format when the market warrants it.’
While Pirates seeks status as the acceptable face of adult filmmaking, not all of the industry’s producers are welcoming the HD microscope into their bedrooms. But if a multibillion dollar industry that produces 11,000 titles a year is making the move to HD, does it really matter if Hollywood follows suit or not?
http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home_Cinema/DVD_Players?Article=/Home%20Cinema/DVD%20Players/M5S2T9R7