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Both of the two main HDTV formats, Blu-Ray and HD DVD, allow more interactivity than older technologies such as DVD (and, heh, VCR’s!). And since movies - the ones destined to be classics, at least - have a life span of decades, then perhaps it’s not too much to expect savvy HD-movie releases that build in social networking into the take-home discs.

The article - Getting More From Your High-Definition Movies - mused about the current state of HD interactivity, including shopping while viewing. Think if a “Devil wears Prada” type of movie release might make it worthwhile for studios to give away the discs and make it up on the long-term and perhaps exclusive shopping tie-ins. The same business model works for tv. Practically give away the childrens programming to hook in market share, and make a bundle on licensed products.

We’ll have to see how the Evan Almighty release fares with in-movie shopping. The movie “will contain a simple Web browser that connects to Universal’s online store” (AP article).

As to the social and marketing aspects, not everyone will want to get to know people watching the same movie that they are, or be cine-spammed to buy a travel vacation to search for their own “Under the Tuscan Sun” villa. But no one should rule out tie-in possibilities along the lines of “Buy the movie by November 20 and chat with the stars of the film (with compatible HD players) on November 21″.

Possibilities abound.