UK Video Marketplace: A review

Microsoft's set-top-box dream for a future lounge ruled by Xbox 360 has finally arrived in the UK. Connect to Live today and there's proper HD movie stuff to download, not just that rubbish old collection of Beyonce videos.

As expected, the UK movie selection isn't that great. There are 24 films under the 'New Arrivals' tag of the Video Store today - and only two of these 'new' arrivals are films from 2007 - Zodiac and 300.

But I've got to pick one of these bloody films as an example download, so I'll go for... Zodiac. Serial killer movies are always a laugh, especially when all the actors are dressed like it's the 1970s. The HD version comes in 720p format, costs 540 Points and is a ludicrous 6.9GB in size - you'll be lucky to get my impressions of the picture quality by this time next week, due to my ill-advised use of Virgin Media as a broadband provider.

Interestingly, there's a live streaming Preview option that fires up a standard-definition trailer, should you fancy seeing if the film's described as a 'rollercoaster ride' or if Bruce Willis is in it or not before plumping to download it. There's also a pleasing difference in prices between new movies and the old ones - should you fancy watching a standard definition version of Risky Buisiness tonight, that'll only set you back 250 Points, whereas the SD version of Zodiac's up for 360.

So there we go. The future has arrived. And although the future's only downloading very slowly to my Xbox 360 and looks like it may take all day, it's a very welcome addition - you may now actually watch some HD material on your HD TV.

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