- Amazon offers 3 for 2 deal and Paramount reboots all of their old Blu-ray titles
- Paramount announces Blu-ray slate!
- 'Get Smart' spinoff movie coming to DVD and Blu-ray
- MGM brings 'Asylum' straight-to-DVD
- Universal drops in on Blu-ray and announces slate
- '10,000 BC' roars to DVD and Blu-ray on June 24th
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Criterion Goes Blu!
5.08.2008 14.42
Criterion Goes Blu!
Here's the newsletter they sent out a few days ago:
Dear Criterion Collection Newsletter subscriber,
We’ve got some exciting news for this fall, and we wanted you to hear it first.
Our first Blu-ray discs are coming! We’ve picked a little over a dozen titles from the collection for Blu-ray treatment, and we’ll begin rolling them out in October. These new editions will feature glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases, and they will be priced to match our standard-def editions.
Here’s what’s in the pipeline:
The Third Man
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Last Emperor
El Norte
The 400 Blows
Gimme Shelter
The Complete Monterey Pop
Contempt
Walkabout
For All Mankind
The Wages of Fear
Alongside our DVD and Blu-ray box sets of The Last Emperor, we’ll also be putting out the theatrical version as a stand-alone release in both formats, priced at $39.95. Our Blu-ray release of Walkabout will be an all-new edition, featuring new supplements as well as a new transfer; we will also release an updated anamorphic DVD of Nicolas Roeg’s outback masterpiece at the same time.
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This is great news as Criterion has a lot of great, classic titles under their belt. Hopefully we'll see great Blu-ray releases from them, and hopefully they won't be as outrageously priced as they are on DVD. Don't count on it though.
--R. L. Shaffer
Amazon offers 3 for 2 deal and Paramount reboots all of their old Blu-ray titles
5.07.2008 17.14
Amazon offers 3 for 2 deal and Paramount reboots all of their old Blu-ray titles
Hey all,
Just letting everyone know that Amazon has a sweet 3 for 2 deal going on until May 14th. Check it out here. There are a lot of great titles (34 in all), so be sure to give this sale a look-see before it's too late.
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Also, Paramount has issued a statement letting it's Blu-ray fans know that all of the previous catalog titles will be re-released on the format. This is contradictory to the original press release, which just stated eight of the previous catalog titles would be reissued.
Here is the full rundown of titles being made available:
"Black Rain," "Coming to America," "Disturbia," "Failure to Launch," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Four Brothers," "Freedom Writers," "Hustle & Flow," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "The Italian Job (2003)," "Letters from Iwo Jima," "The Manchurian Candidate (2004)," "Mission: Impossible," "M-i-2," "M:i:III," "Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection," "Nacho Libre," "Norbit," "Payback: Straight Up - The Director"s Cut," "Reds," "Shooter," "Trading Places," "We Were Soldiers," "World Trade Center" and "U2 Rattle & Hum," "Aeon Flux," "Babel," "Black Snake Moan," "Dreamgirls," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," "Sleepy Hollow," "The Untouchables" and "The Warriors."
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Finally, we've heard rumblings that Paramount is prepping a special edition Blu-ray release of "The Godfather" in the very near future. We're not sure if it's the entire trilogy or just the first film. We'll keep you posted as news comes in. Also, we've gotten confirmation that Paramount is working on Blu-ray editions of "Beowulf" as well as the summer mega-hit "Transformers." Again, we'll give you more details as they come rolling in.
Now, if only Paramount could assemble a few "Star Trek" films and "Indiana Jones" on Blu-ray, we'd have a great re-launch slate. Wishful thinking, I know.
That's all...for now.
--R. L. Shaffer
Paramount announces Blu-ray slate!
4.29.2008 21.29
About time! Here's the press release:
PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT'S FANTASTICAL HIT THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES LAUNCHES DAY-AND-DATE WORLDWIDE ON BLU-RAY
There Will Be Blood, Cloverfield, Bee Movie, Face/Off and Next Also Released in Time for Memorial Day and Father's Day; Focus Remains On Immersive High-Def Home Entertainment Experiences
LOS ANGELES (April 29, 2008) -- Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE), a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA), today announced its first day-and-date Blu-ray release, The Spiderwick Chronicles on June 24 and rolling out in key international markets beginning in July. Continuing its commitment to offer the best possible movie experiences for consumers, the studio will deliver the highest quality picture, sound and special features available with these upcoming Blu-ray releases. In the U.S., There Will Be Blood, Cloverfield, Bee Movie, Face/Off and Next will begin arriving May 20 to capitalize on Memorial Day and Father's Day. Internationally, The Spiderwick Chronicles will be followed by Cloverfield and the Academy award-winner for Best Picture, No Country for Old Men beginning in August.
"Paramount Home Entertainment continues to focus on the consumer and to explore avenues that allow fans to get more out of their home entertainment experience," said Kelley Avery, President of Worldwide Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures. "We will have a strong slate of titles for Blu-ray release throughout the year worldwide and are enthusiastic about expanding the format's offerings for a broad consumer audience while delivering an experience that goes beyond what viewers love about DVD."
The Spiderwick Chronicles launches PHE's day-and-date new release strategy. Based on the best-selling series of books, The Spiderwick Chronicles takes viewers on a fantastical journey into the unseen world all around us and the Blu-ray disc will include behind-the-scenes featurettes, an exploration of the Spiderwick world, an exclusive peek inside Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide and much more.
PHE's 2008 Blu-ray titles debut on May 20 in the U.S. with two sensational action-adventures: a Special Collector's Edition of Face/Off , the mind-blowing crime-drama starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, with special features such as multiple commentaries, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, the Making Of Face/Off and more; and the sci-fi thriller Next , which stars Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel in an adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story. The Next Blu-ray includes a Making Of featurette, "Visualizing the Next Move," "The Next Grand Idea" and "Two Minutes in the Future with Jessica Biel."
DreamWorks Animation's smash hit Bee Movie also will buzz onto Blu-ray on May 20. The hilarious animated adventure from renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld took audiences by swarm and earned approximately $287 million in worldwide box office. The Bee Movie Blu-ray features a wealth of bonus materials including "Barry's Trivia Track" with fun pop-up trivia, changeable menus, a Build-A-Bee feature to allow viewers to create their own avatar, lost scenes, alternate endings and much, much more.
Following the initial wave of titles, Producer J.J. Abrams' monster hit, Cloverfield, arrives on Blu-ray on June 3. Earning over $166 million in worldwide box office to date, Cloverfield thrilled critics and audiences alike with its shocking, first-person video account of a horrifying attack on Manhattan by an unknown -- and seemingly unstoppable -- force. The Cloverfield Blu-ray will include an exclusive feature-length "Special Investigation Mode" with added details about the film. Additional features include a director commentary, Making Of featurettes, deleted scenes, alternate endings with commentary and more.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson's critically-acclaimed epic There Will Be Blood also arrives on Blu-ray June 3. The film was named by more than 200 critics as one of the top 10 movies of 2007 and stars Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and SAG Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis. The Blu-ray features a slideshow of vintage photos selected by the director and set to the unforgettable score by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, deleted scenes, a featurette on dailies and more.
About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. PHE is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Studios, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS and Hasbro and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.
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It's a shame that "Beowulf" wasn't included in the launch, nor was "Sweeney Tood" or "Star Trek: TOS" but I'd expect them to coming sooner rather than later. We'll keep you posted as news and releases roll in!
--R. L. Shaffer
'Get Smart' spinoff movie coming to DVD and Blu-ray
4.25.2008 16.40
In an industry first, Warner Premiere has set a July 1st release (on DVD and Blu-ray) for the "Get Smart" direct-to-video spin-off movie entitled "Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control."
It will serve as a tie-in with its big-screen counterpart. The theatrical film adaptation of "Get Smart", which opens June 20th, stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.
The straight-to-video feature stars Masi Oka("Heroes") and Nate Torrance, in their own tale as two techies who work at the CONTROL organization. They are featured in the film, but end up getting mixed up in their own adventure.
Warner has not yet announced any tech specs or special features for the DVD or Blu-ray, but we'll keep you posted.
--R. L. Shaffer
MGM brings 'Asylum' straight-to-DVD
4.21.2008 15.49
Welcome back. Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend.
Here's a press release:
HOLD STILL AND TRY NOT TO SCREAM!
ASYLUM
From The Director Of Final Destination 2 Comes The Haunting
“Never-Before-Seen” Horror Flick
Premiering On DVD July 15th From MGM Home Entertainment
“Horror that plays on your deepest fears!”
- DreadCentral.com
LOS ANGELES, CA – The doctor is in and he’s thirsty for young blood. MGM Home Entertainment presents the gruesome slasher film Asylum premiering on DVD July 15th. Directed by up-and-coming horror filmmaker David R. Ellis (Final Destination 2, Cellular), Asylum is “Ellis’ most shocking film to date!” (DreadCentral.com), and will be available exclusively on DVD.
Asylum follows a group of six freshman college students as they uncover dark hidden secrets of their new dormitory and features a sexy group of young up-and-comers, including the beautiful Sarah Roemer (Disturbia, The Grudge 2), Travis Van Winkle (Transformers), Jake Muxworthy (I Heart Huckabees, Borderland), Cody Kasch (“Desperate Housewives”) and Carolina Garcia (Supercross). Once an infamous mental institution where a demented doctor performed tortuous experiments on his teenage patients, the students find themselves trapped in their dorm, looking for an escape as the ghost of the deranged psychiatrist begins treating them with his crude lobotomy practices. Asylum is presented in widescreen format and will be available for the suggested retail price of $26.98 U.S./$37.98 Canada.
Synopsis
A group of beautiful coeds discover that their dorm was once a mental hospital where unspeakable experiments were performed by a deranged physician trying to “cure” troubled teens. But now the mad doctor’s ghost is back to continue his torturous work...and he’s running out of patients! Sarah Roemer (Disturbia) and Travis Van Winkle (Transformers) star in this spine-tingling thriller from the director of Final Destination 2 and Cellular.
--R. L. Shaffer
Universal drops in on Blu-ray and announces slate
4.17.2008 22.04
Universal drops in on Blu-ray and announces slate
Universal Unveils Inaugural Slate of Film and TV Offerings Coming to Blu-ray(TM) Disc Day and Date With DVD
Heroes: Season Two Will Mark the Studio's First Global Event Release
Lineup to Include Summer 2008's Most Anticipated Films From Universal Pictures: THE INCREDIBLE HULK, Wanted, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Mamma Mia! and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, As Well as Some of the Studio's Other Biggest Titles
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Studios Home Entertainment revealed its initial lineup of film and television properties arriving later this year on Blu-ray(TM) Disc, day and date with DVD, it was announced today by Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. Marking the rollout of the studio's first global release on Blu-ray(TM) will be the "Heroes: Season Two," which will debut beginning August 26, 2008.
The highly anticipated premier of the sophomore season of NBC's "Heroes" will be buoyed by the simultaneous debut of "Heroes Season One" on Blu-ray(TM). Later in the year and in time for the holidays, five of the year's most promising feature films will arrive in high definition: THE INCREDIBLE HULK, the action-packed new chapter of one of the most popular Super Hero sagas of all time that stars Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; Wanted, the action-thriller from stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov that stars Morgan Freeman, James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie; Hellboy II: The Golden Army, the epic vision of imagination from acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro; Mamma Mia!, the musical romantic comedy in which Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the adaptation of the beloved musical; and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the next installment in The Mummy franchise in which Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh and newcomer Luke Ford join the returning Brendan Fraser and John Hannah for a supernatural adventure that shifts the series to the Far East.
"We are thrilled that our preliminary slate of Blu-ray(TM) offerings comprises such a brilliant collection of high-def centric fare," said Mr. Kornblau. "As awareness for Blu-ray(TM) continues to grow, consumers will learn to rely on the superior quality picture, sound, interactivity and connectivity that only high-definition home entertainment delivers."
The first wave of Universal Blu-ray(TM) releases, which hits U.S. stores July 22nd, gives fans of The Mummy franchise a chance to relive the iconic blockbuster films' thrilling beginnings in crystal-clear high-definition. The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, starring Brendan Fraser, and the hugely successful action-packed spin-off The Scorpion King, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, all will be released on Blu-ray(TM) for the first time that day.
The first of Universal's new theatrical Blu-ray(TM) releases hitting store shelves this summer day and date with its DVD counterpart is the apocalyptic thrill-ride DOOMSDAY, starring Rhona Mitra, Malcolm McDowell and Bob Hoskins. Other titles on deck for 2008 include American Gangster, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 and Land of the Dead, among others.
Furthering Universal's aggressive rollout of Blu-ray(TM) product globally, Universal Pictures International Entertainment, the company's international home entertainment arm, is concurrently announcing its initial slate of Blu-ray(TM) releases for the international marketplace today.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
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So there you have it, Uni goes Blu in a big way. That leaves just Paramount in the docks. Frankly, I think things are really going to pick up steam now that both studios are on-board. For Universal, getting the Spielberg hits on Blu sooner rather than later will be a smart move and I hope we'll see a release date for, at least, "Jaws" or "Jurassic Park" soon. We'll keep you posted as news comes inalways!!
--R. L. Shaffer
'10,000 BC' roars to DVD and Blu-ray on June 24th
4.15.2008 17.38
Warner is set to release the big budget Roland Emmerich action epic, "10,000 BC" on DVD and Blu-ray on June 24th.
Extras are set to include an alternate ending and deleted scenes. The Blu-ray will feature two exclusive featurettes as well.
Tech specs for the Blu-ray disc will likely be feature a widescreen 1080p/VC-1 video encode and an English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround. The DVD will likely feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Warner has set a suggested list price of $35.99 for Blu-ray and $19.95 for the DVD.
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Even with this major release, Warner has still opted not to include a PiP track. What's the deal with Warner's new release division? I know this wasn't a huge hit, but it seems like Warner's been a bit shy when it comes to extra goodies lately. Oh well, this is still an exciting release and I can't wait to see it on Blu-ray!
--R. L. Shaffer