Blu-Ray is Sony’s next-generation, high-definition storage format. It will allow full movies with interactive menus be displayed in high resolution for TVs that support HD. Single-layer Blu-Ray discs have a capacity of up to 25GB, whilst dual-layer can hold approximately 50GB. 200GB versions are already in development. It’s competing format is HD-DVD. Whilst Blu-Ray is considered to be technically superior, HD-DVD’s manufacturing costs will be significantly lower, and this has attracted support from companies like Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard.

Interestingly, whilst Blu-Ray movies will still be region-coded like today’s DVDs, the regions have altered. Now, the Americas and East Asia (excluding China) are both part of Region 1, Europe and Africa are in Region 2, and China, Russia and Others are in Region 3.

The genre of the titles vary from action films, such as xXx, to comedies like Hitch. Later in the year, movies such as Black Hawk Down will arrive on 50GB dual-layer Blu-Ray discs.

Movie Titles:
The Fifth Element
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Desperado
For a Few Dollars More
The Guns of Navarone
Hitch
House of Flying Daggers
A Knight’s Tale
Kung Fu Hustle
The Last Waltz
Legends of the Fall
Resident Evil Apocalypse
Robocop
Sense and Sensibility
Stealth
Species
SWAT
xXx