3 Firsts for Mission: Impossible III On HD DVD

[Updated August 12, 2006]
1st First - First HD DVD title from Paramount Home Entertainment to feature "enhanced video commentary" (which in generic term is referred to as 'Picture-in-Picture Video Commentary') with Director J.J. Abrams and star Tom Cruise. The feature is exclusively on the HD DVD format only.

2nd First - First HD DVD title to receive a high-definition treatment for its special features (details below).

3rd First - First HD DVD title to receive a 2-disc treatment.

(These facts are correct as on August 11, 2006, with details provided by Paramount's press release)

Now, the trivia aside, we come to the all-important details from press release:

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that M:I 3 will be released on the HD DVD format, this October 30, day-and-date with its DVD release (2-disc Collector's Edition). The 2-disc HD DVD will be priced at $29.99 U.S. (M.A.P.)/$46.99 Canada while the 2-disc Collector's Edition DVD will be priced at $24.99 U.S. (M.A.P.)/$41.99 Canada.

The main feature on HD DVD will be presented in 1080p High Definition (2.35:1) video with Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English, French & Spanish) audio and English [SDH], French and Spanish subtitles. The high-definition special features on both HD DVDs include:

• The Making of the Mission
• Mission Action: Inside the Action Unit
• Visualizing the Mission
• Scoring the Mission
• Deleted scenes
• Theatrical trailers
• Easter Eggs
• Enhanced commentary with Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams.

Besides that, almost all the bonus materials present on the 2-disc Collector's Edition DVD (Full list of DVD bonus features can be viewed here) will also be available on the HD DVD release with the exception of the audio commentary, a "Moviefone Unscripted" segment, tribute montages and the photo gallery.

Bloggers note: My apologies, in the moment of excitement, I forget to add that the cover artwork is not the final one... and I've been told an updated artwork is likely to be available soon. Just to confirm again, the HD DVD release of M:i III will contain 2 HD DVDs (as stated by the press release, not due to the cover artwork). You can view the preliminary cover artwork here.

Source: Three the charm for 'M:I-3' DVD & 'Mission' Possible on All Formats