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Over 30 Disney Films OFFICIALLY Getting the Blu-ray Treatment in 2012![teaser]We had heard the rumors, but now it's confirmed, Walt Disney Studios plans to add more than 30 popular and iconic films to its ever-expanding Blu-ray library. [/teaser] Each film selected for release has been fully digitally remastered, with dirt and anomalies cleaned to a pristine level, offering viewers optimum high definition picture and sound quality for of some of their favorite films. The films selected for release appeal to families, film-lovers and collectors with a wide-breadth of Live-Action, Animated, Romance titles that range from 'Beaches' to 'While You Were Sleeping' and 'Pocahontas' to 'The Santa Clause.' Many are celebrating special 10th, 15th and 20th Anniversary Edition releases, many are ACADEMY AWARD®-Winning Films like 'Dead Poets Society,' 'Evita,' 'Dick Tracy,' and many are back by popular demand including 'Hocus Pocus,' 'Adventures in Babysitting,' and 'The Color of Money.' “We receive many requests and comments from consumers seeking specific titles they’d like to own on Blu-ray and, as such, we carefully selected a number of popular films that will satisfy demand from fans worldwide,” said Lori MacPherson, Executive Vice President, Product Management, The Walt Disney Studios. “As we grow our Blu-ray catalog we will continue to utilize the best technologies to provide the most pristine and immersive in-home experience of our films.” In 2011, consumers’ high-definition packaged media purchases continued to rise with Blu-ray disc sales in the U.S. tallying more than $2 billion. The Studio’s titles were among the most popular of the year with ACADEMY AWARD® nominee 'The Help,' Disney’s 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,' Disney’s 'The Lion King,' Disney/Pixar’s 'Cars 2' and Disney’s 'Tangled' all ranking in the industry’s Top 10 Blu-ray releases, according to the DEG. The year-long campaign launched in January 2012 with the release of 'Good Morning, Vietnam' and 'Dead Poets Society' for the first time on Blu-ray. Both films earned Robin Williams an OSCAR® nomination for Best Actor and are the perfect addition to any in-home movie collection. Beginning in May, the Studio will start to celebrate a number of film anniversaries, introducing multiple great films to Blu-ray including 'Father of the Bride' and 'Bringing Down the House' releasing on May 15th; 'The Color of Money,' 'Cocktail' and 'Ransom' releasing on June 5th; 'Sister Act' and 'Evita' releasing on June 19th; and 'The Horse Whisperer,' 'Under the Tuscan Sun,' 'Phenomenon,' 'Step Up,' 'Home On The Range' and 'Treasure Planet' releasing July 3rd. In the Fall, a perfect mix of feel-good films, anniversary releases and nostalgic favorites will debut, including 'Adventures in Babysitting,' 'Grosse Pointe Blank,' 'Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,' 'The Rescuers,' 'High Fidelity,' 'Ed Wood,' 'Judge Dredd,' 'Ghost of the Abyss 3D,' 'Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp’s Adventure,' 'Pocahontas,' 'The Tigger Movie,' 'The Aristocats' and 'Pete’s Dragon.' And just in time for Halloween and the holidays, a wide array of titles that make perfect stocking stuffers for film fans will include titles such as 'Hocus Pocus,' 'Arachnophobia,' 'The Hand That Rocks The Cradle,' 'Son of Flubber,' 'Cold Creek Manor,' 'The Santa Clause Trilogy,' 'The Absent-Minded 'Professor,' 'Flubber, 'While You Were Sleeping,' 'Sweet Home Alabama,' 'Beaches,' 'Babes in Toyland,' 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire,' 'Brother Bear' and 'Dick Tracy.'Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 01:15 PM PDT by: -
'Big Miracle' Splashes onto Blu-ray[teaser]The heartwarming whale of a tale will surface on Blu-ray this summer. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Universal will unleash 'Big Miracle' on Blu-ray on June 19. Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski star in this incredible rescue adventure - the amazing true story that inspired the world and captured the hearts of millions. When a family of whales is trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle, a small-town reporter (Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Barrymore) rally an unlikely coalition of Alaskan natives, oil tycoons and the Russian and American military to set aside their differences and free the whales before it's too late. Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney and Ted Danson costar in this charming feel-good movie that the whole family can enjoy! The release will be a Blu-ray/DVD Flipper Disc and will feature a 1080p presentation, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Commentary with director Ken Kwapis, Deleted scenes with introductions by Ken Kwapis, A "Big Miracle" in Alaska, Truth is Stranger than Fiction, and a digital copy. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Big Miracle' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 19.Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
'Seeking Justice' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]A family man is pushed to the edge in this revenge thriller coming to Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Starz/Anchor Bay is working on 'Seeking Justice' for Blu-ray on June 19. Will Gerard, (Academy-Award® winner Nicolas Cage, 'Drive Angry,' 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance') is a happily married man whose quiet life is turned upside-down when his wife, Laura (January Jones, AMC’s “Mad Men,” 'X-Men First Class'), is brutally attacked while leaving work. At the hospital, waiting for news about his wife’s condition, Will meets Simon, (Golden Globe® nominee Guy Pearce, 'The King’s Speech,' 'LA Confidential') a concerned stranger who offers to aid Will’s family in finding her attacker, in exchange for a favor, sometime in the future. Overcome with grief and fear, Will consents to the deal, unwittingly pulling himself into a vigilante organization that will lead to frightening and deadly consequences. Directed by Roger Donaldson ('The Bank Job,' 'The Recruit') from a story by Robert Tannen and Todd Hickey with a screenplay by Robert Tannen, the film features Harold Perrineau (ABC’s “Lost”, 'Transit') and Jennifer Carpenter (SHO’s “Dexter,” 'Quarantine'). Seeking Justice is unforgettable and unstoppable - an intense and action-packed thriller that proves vengeance always has its price. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and the disc will include a behind-the-scenes look at Nicolas Cage and Director Roger Donaldson on set and intimate one-on-one interviews with cast and crew. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Seeking Justice' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 19.Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Down by Law' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]Jim Jarmusch's 1986 film is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection is working on 'Down by Law' for Blu-ray release on July 17. Described by Jarmusch as a “neo-Beat noir comedy,” 'Down by Law' is part nightmare and part fairy tale, featuring sterling performances and crisp black-and-white photography by esteemed cinematographer Robby Müller. The Blu-ray will feature a new 1080p digital transfer, an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and supplements include: Thoughts and reflections on the making of the film from director Jim Jarmusch in 2002; Interview with director of photography Robby Müller from 2002; Footage from the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, including a press conference featuring Jarmusch and actors John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, and Nicoletta Braschi, and an interview with Lurie, with commentary; Sixteen outtakes; Music video for Tom Waits's cover of Cole Porter's "It's All Right with Me," directed by Jarmusch; Q&A with Jarmusch in which he responds to fans' questions; Recordings of phone conversations between Jarmusch and Waits, Benigni, and Lurie; Production Polaroids and location stills; Isolated music track; Optional French dub track, featuring Benigni; Trailer; and an essay by critic Luc Sante. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Down by Law' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 17.Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Dolby Teams with Philips for Glasses-Free 3D[teaser]The tech offers 26 different viewing angles and can be adjusted to fit your distance from the TV. [/teaser] Glasses-free 3D is a technology that has a great deal of potential, though no one has perfected it yet. Dolby and Philips are hoping to take it a step further with their new prototype that combines a 4K display with a sheet of undulated plastic that allows for 3D to be viewed from 26 different viewing angles. Hands on experiences seem positive so far. "Viewing angles were particularly impressive: even from far off to the side, the 3D effect was still present, writes David Pierce of The Verge. "The picture was so crisp and clean that it almost took a minute to realize we were looking at 3D footage." Source: The VergePosted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'In Darkness' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film is bound for Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony will be releasing 'In Darkness' on Blu-ray on June 12. Leopold Socha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Lvov, a Nazi occupied city in Poland, one day encounters a group of Jews trying to escape the liquidation of the ghetto. He hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town's sewers beneath the bustling activity of the city above. What starts out as a straightforward and cynical business arrangement turns into something very unexpected, the unlikely... The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include An Evening with Agnieszka Holland and In Light: A Conversation with Agnieszka Holland and Krystyna Chiger. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'In Darkness' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 12.Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Chico & Rita' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The Oscar-nominee for Best Animated Feature will jazz up Blu-ray in September. [/teaser] In a very early announcement to retailers, New Video will be releasing 'Chico & Rita' on Blu-ray on September 18. Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and desire unite them as they chase their ambitions and each other from Havana to New York and Hollywood to Paris, in an epic story of love and heartbreak spanning six decades. Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba ('Belle Epoque') and Spain’s renowned designer and illustrator Javier Mariscal celebrate their passion for the people and culture of Cuba in a red-hot musical love story set against the color and bustle of 1940’s Havana and jazz-era New York. 'Chico & Rita' was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature and took home prizes for Best Animated Film at both the European Film Awards and Spain’s Goya Awards, among other accolades. The film has played prestigious festivals including Toronto International Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival and was opening night film at Miami International Film Festival. The film opened theatrically in the US in early 2012. With an original soundtrack by multi-Grammy®-winning Bebo Valdés, 'Chico & Rita' captures a definitive moment in the evolution of jazz and features the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker, Tito Puente, and others. https://www.chicoyrita.com/home.html Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, and the suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Chico & Rita' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 18.Posted Wed Apr 18, 2012 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Singin' in the Rain: 60th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' Blu-ray Pre-orders Live![teaser]The classic musical looks to be getting the royal Blu-ray treatment in 2012! [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is preparing a special 'Singin' in the Rain: 60th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' for Blu-ray sometime in 2012. America’s beloved musical gem, starring Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, celebrates its 60th Anniversary on Blu-ray for the very first time with an all new 3-Disc Blu-ray & DVD Ultimate Collector’s Edition. The sensational limited and numbered 3-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition will feature the film both on Blu-ray and DVD, and includes an all new hi-definition documentary, and special collectible memorabilia. Specs have yet to be revealed for the 3-disc set, but supplements will include: Commentary by Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanley Donen,Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Baz Luhrmann, and Rudy Behlmer; "Singin' in the Rain: Raining on a New Generation” All New Documentary; "Great Performances: Musicals Great Musicals: The Arthur Freed Unit at MGM” (1996 PBS Documentary); "What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of Singin' in the Rain"; "You Are My Lucky Star" Outtake; Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed Film Excerpts (A collection of 12 film clips from earlier movies that originally carried the Freed/Brown songs.); 26xScoring Stage Session Cues; Stills Gallery; and a Trailer. The discs come packaged in an individually numbered box with 48 page hard cover production book with never-before-seen memos and photos; a custom full-size umbrella (40” diameter, consumer value $29.99); and theatrical poster reproductions. Suggested list price for the set is $84.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Singin' in the Rain: 60th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under PENDING.Posted Tue Apr 17, 2012 at 01:40 PM PDT by: -
'The Woman in Black' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The ghostly film starring Daniel Radcliffe will haunt Blu-ray next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is working on 'The Woman in Black' for a Blu-ray release on May 22. The story follows a young lawyer who travels to a remote village to organize a recently deceased client's papers, where he discovers the ghost of a scorned woman set on vengeance. The Blu-ray/UV Digital Copy will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Commentary with director James Watkins and screenwriter Jane Goldman, Inside The Perfect Thriller: Making The Woman in Black, and No Fear: Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Kipps. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Woman in Black' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 22.Posted Tue Apr 17, 2012 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Dreamworks Movies Come to Walmart Disc-to-Digital[teaser]Both current and catalog titles will be available for use with the service. [/teaser] Walmart Disc-to-Digital just got a little more animated thanks to the addition of both current and catalog Dreamworks titles. Starting today you can bring your DVDs and Blu-rays into any participating Walmart and shell out for a Vudu version of the movie. As will all of the movies on the service, you'll pay $2 for an SD copy of a DVD or an HD copy of a Blu-ray, while an upgrade from SD to HD will run you $5. "Walmart is breaking new ground in helping consumers understand the opportunities of new technologies amid the changing digital landscape," says Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. Source: Home Media MagazinePosted Tue Apr 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
