'The Descent' - pre-release buzz

[jed]

Lionsgate has become the latest studio to jump on the BD-50 bandwagon, announcing their first 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray release with 'The Descent.' The cult horror flick will hit Blu-ray on December 26, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD release.


Disc Details:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/descent.html

Release Announcement:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...th_Descent/289

[Aodh]

Power bump from October! Has anyone gotten this yet? We had a discussion about them claiming it would have a PiP IME experience and I was wondering if it still does and what it looks like since no BD players have a second decoder to decode two video streams.

[phil]

I purchased the Blu-Ray disc of "The Descent" yesterday (Dec 26) at the Best Buy store in Greensboro, NC. This is my 12th Blu-ray disc. All others play fine on my new Sony Blu-Ray player that I purchased the second week of this month (Dec 2006). IT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY DISC TO NOT PLAY AT ALL. All my other Blu-ray discs play without flaws, hiccups, anything.

I returned the disc (DESCENT) to the store today (Dec 27). A Best Buy "Team member" assisted me with putting the disc into their Sony Blu-Ray player and their Samsung Blu-Ray Player. It would not start on either machine. It would "load" but the screen would remain dark and you could not access any chapter, picture, menu--nothing, nada.

We unwrapped another copy of the Blu-Ray version of THE DESCENT, and it did he same thing--"load" and then nothing!

I have loved Blu-Ray discs and the Sony player. Obviously, Lionsgate has a problem with at least some (IF NOT ALL) copies of THE DESCENT.

Now, HOW DOES ONE GET THIS INFO TO LIONSGATE AND SONY?

I'm really looking forward to the seeing the movie on Blu-ray. So far, the movies look fantastic!

[hmurchison]

Phil it's not Lionsgate's problem. The Sony and Samsung players aren't updated enough to handle the BD-Java functions on the disc. The Playstation 3 can play the disc because it decodes using software.

[illegalprelude]

i hear the movie was creepy as hell

[phil]

Thanks for the information about the BD-Java function on THE DESCENT. I would say that it is a problem for Lionsgate at the moment, as it leaves alot of us getting our money back until such firmware updates are available.

Does this mean that the disc should play in my player when Sony sends the firmware update disc that they have promised?

[teo4348]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Phil it's not Lionsgate's problem. The Sony and Samsung players aren't updated enough to handle the BD-Java functions on the disc. The Playstation 3 can play the disc because it decodes using software.

This is huge misunderstanding about Samsung player.
If you updated your player with latest firmware which is already released at October. you can play BD-Java Title, "DECENT", "LXG","SPEED".

trust me, i am a insider!!

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by teo4348

This is huge misunderstanding about Samsung player.
If you updated your player with latest firmware which is already released at October. you can play BD-Java Title, "DECENT", "LXG","SPEED".

trust me, i am a insider!!

I trust you

[Legobricke]

Bottomline....

Sony has screwed up here by not having the latest and greatest firmware out to handle BD-Java...

The discs are fine... it's the players that are choking....

Once a firmware release is released, these will play fine.... No reason to take the disc back.... Lion's Gate did thier job... Sony did not...

Dugger

[aeonfett]

Bottom line... Disc will play when BD-J update is available for the Sony player... Had the same problem... Works fine on my PS3... Unfortunately, for the people who only have the Sony BDP-S1 player or other standalone players that have yet to be updated or don't currently have an update available, we must wait...

Many of the discs coming out in the new year will probably incorporate BD-J so it's only a matter of time before they issue that update...

[phil]

Thanks for the information about DESCENT and the BD-J update. I had no idea this was the problem with the disc/player relationship until I joined this site and asked the question. I suppose the reason the disc did not work on the Samsung at the Greensboro, NC, Best Buy was likely because their demo unit had not been updated.
It's a confusing world out there for the consumer.

[doctornd]

I myself have had issues with this movie on my PS3. I have the latest firmware installed and I have noticed freeze issues throughout the movie. I can verify this for two copies. I rented the movie (unscratched and new) which froze twice, and then purchased the movie which froze 6 times (but didnt skip). The movie would freeze for about 3 seconds and then continue without skipping. I have not had this experience with any other disc or at any other time with my console.

[krammer]

Originally Posted by doctornd

I myself have had issues with this movie on my PS3. I have the latest firmware installed and I have noticed freeze issues throughout the movie. I can verify this for two copies. I rented the movie (unscratched and new) which froze twice, and then purchased the movie which froze 6 times (but didnt skip). The movie would freeze for about 3 seconds and then continue without skipping. I have not had this experience with any other disc or at any other time with my console.

I havn't updated my PS3, but am now curious if it will work fine on it. The problems you have experienced with those copies is what I was having with all my BD titles on the Samsung player, Pre & Post firmware. Will have to find this title & buy it to find out. Canada doesn't support jack **** when it comes to HD rentals.

[doctornd]

I dumped my Samsung player a long time ago.

[Herby]

I have had no issues at all while playing this BD on my PS3.
The pop-up menu is super fast and very fluid. Go to any special feature and once it is done it goes back to the spot you where watching in the movie. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX track sounds great. Since I don't have a receiver that supports PCM the DD track was the only one I could listen to. Of course the PQ is great.
There was no freezing at all for me throughout the past few days I have been messing with it. Check your ventilation around your PS3.