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Warner to Take 'Polar Express' Blu-ray to the Third Dimension[teaser]In a high-def first for Warner, the studio has announced it's October double dip release of 'The Polar Express' on Blu-ray will feature both 2-D and 3-D versions of the film.[/teaser] Planned for day-and-date Blu-ray and DVD release, Warner has set an October 28 street date for 'The Polar Express Presented in 3-D.' (The re-issue will replace the previous Blu-ray edition released back in the Fall of 2007, which will now be discontinued.) Containing both the original 2-D feature version and a new red/blue anaglyphic 3-D transfer, the blu-ray will come packaged with four pairs of 3-D glasses. Extras will match the previous Blu-ray release, including a five-part documentary "A Genuine ticket to Ride," a pair of featurettes ("You Look Familiar: The many Polar faces of Tom Hanks," "True Inspirations: Profiling author Chris Van Allsburg"), a Josh Groban music video and featurette, five motion-capture sessions, and the original theatrical trailer. Warner has not yet issued tech specs for either the 2-D or 3-D versions presented on the disc, but we'll keep you posted. Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.98. You'll find complete specs for 'The Polar Express Presented in 3-D' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 28.Posted Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Fox Announces 'Firefly' Blu-ray, Specs[teaser]Ending months of anticipation, Fox has confirmed a mid-November landing for 'Firefly,' which will come to Blu-ray as a three-disc set with multiple exclusive features.[/teaser] After weeks of rumored street dates, Fox today issued the official press release for the complete 'Firefly,' which will hit Blu-ray on November 11 as a three-disc set containing the short-lived series' complete fifteen-episode arc. Tech specs see three BD-50 dual-layer discs, presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround. Audio options include French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround dubs, an additional German DTS 5.1 Surround track, and English, Spanish and Dutch subtitles. Extras include audio commentaries with cast & crew on eight episodes, four featurettes ("Here's How It Was: The Making of "Firefly,'" "Serenity: The 10th Character," " Joss Sings the “Firefly” Theme," "Joss Tours the Set"), deleted scenes, a gag reel and audition tapes. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is an additional audio commentary by executive producer Joss Whedon and actors Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk and Ron Glass (on "Our Mrs. Reynolds"), and the featurette "'Firefly' Reunion: Lunch with Joss, Nathan, Alan and Ron." Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $88.98. You'll find complete specs for 'Firefly' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 11.Posted Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Date, Specs Announced for '300' Blu-ray Special Edition (UPDATED)UPDATE 08/18/08: We've received an update from Warner Home Video that the studio will not be releasing '300: Ultimate Collector's Edition' on Blu-ray to coincide with the standard DVD re-issue. Any news on a release date for the Blu-ray remains to be announced. We've updated our database accordingly. [teaser]Warner has unveiled full specs for its next-gen double-dip of '300,' which arrives on Blu-ray this November with hours of new features and Digital Copy.[/teaser] As previously reported, Warner announced plans earlier this year to bring a new deluxe version of Zack Snyder's blockbuster to Blu-ray sometime this year, though the studio stopped short of issuing an exact date or specs. Warner has now confirmed a November 18 street date for '300: Ultimate Collector's Edition,' which arrives on Blu-ray day-and-date with a new standard DVD re-issue. Packaged with a collectible 52-page hardcover art book, this three-disc set will include the feature film on disc one in 1080p/VC-1 video, though exact high-res audio specs are still to be announced. Extras boast an audio commentary with Snyder on disc one (plus an easter egg). Disc two will port over all of the bonus features from the previously-released DVD two-disc set, including four featurettes ("300: Fact or Fiction?", "Who Were The Spartans: The Warriors of 300," "Frank Miller Tapes" and "The Making of 300"), the "Making 300 in Images" still gallery, and a dozen Webisodes. Finally, disc three features the all-new "To the Hot Gates: A Legend Retold" documentary on the road from Miler's graphic novel to the creation of Snyder's film, and a bonus Digital Copy of the film (standard-def only). Warner has yet to set a suggested list price for the Blu-ray, but we'll keep you posted. You'll find the latest specs for '300 (Ultimate Collector's Edition)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 18.Posted Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Paramount Sets Specs, Adds Digital Copy for 'Love Guru' Blu-ray[teaser]Paramount has announced final specs for 'The Love Guru,' which will come to Blu-ray with full HD bonus features and Digital Copy.[/teaser] As reported earlier this month, Paramount will debut the Blu-ray of the now-notorious box office flop on September 16, day-and-date with the standard DVD. Now full specs are in, with the studio still giving the film the special edition treatment. Extras are presented in full 1080 video and include four featurettes ( "Mike Myers and the Love Guru: An Inside Look," "One Helluva Elephant," "Monkey Training for Actors," "Back in the Booth with Trent and Jay"), deleted and extended scenes, a gag reel and blooper reel and the original theatrical trailer. And in what marks a first for Dreamworks, the studio will also include a Digital Copy of the film on a second disc (standard-def only), playable on PCs and portable video devices. (At press time, we have yet to receive a confirmation on whether the Digital Copy will also be Mac-compatible, but we'll keep you posted.) Tech specs boast a BD-50 dual-layer presentation in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio. (English, French, Spanish and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and subtitle tracks are also provided.) As previously announced, suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.98. You'll find complete specs for 'The Love Guru' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under September 16.Posted Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
New Line Boxes Up 'Austin Powers' for Blu-ray[teaser]New Line/Warner has announced it is bringing the blockbuster Austin Powers trilogy to Blu-ray this December, exclusively in a three-disc box set with extensive bonus features.[/teaser] Arriving on December 2, the 'Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition, with Extra Mojo' will box up all three entries in Mike Myers' spy spoof series, including 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery,' 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' and 'Austin Powers in Goldmember.' Warner has yet to reveal the full contents of the box set, though they do promise extensive supplemental features including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, multiple featurettes, music videos, and more. There's no word yet on whether the 'Austin Powers Collection' will include any content exclusive to the box set, but we'll keep you posted. At press time, Warner has also not announced stand-alone Blu-ray releases of the 'Austin Powers,' so for the time being, the box set will be the only way to grab your mojo on high-def. Suggested retail price for the box set been set at $74.98. You'll find the latest specs for the 'Austin Powers Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 2.Posted Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'American Gangster' to Get Two Cuts, Exclusives on Blu-ray[teaser]Coming eight months after the HD DVD, Universal has announced a mid-October Blu-ray bow for the Oscar-nominated crime epic 'American Gangster.'[/teaser] Previously released on HD DVD earlier this year to middling reaction, that release featured only the theatrical cut of the film and a limited selection of extras. Universal appears to be righting past next-gen wrongs with the October 14 Blu-ray release, which will see both the extended unrated and theatrical versions presented on a single BD-50 dual-layer disc, and include hours of bonus and exclusive material. Tech specs feature 1080p video (codec TBA) and an English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track (48kHz/24-bit). Extras shared with the previous two-disc DVD edition include audio commentary with director Ridley Scott and screenwriter Steven Zaillian (theatrical cut), three featurettes ("Fallen Empire: Making American Gangster," "Case Files," "Hip-Hop Infusion Featuring Common and T.I."), a pair or TV special excerpts ( "The BET Special: The Making of American Gangster," "Dateline NBC: American Gangster First Look"), deleted scenes, two music videos, and the original theatrical trailer Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a picture-in-picture (Bonus View) commentary on the unrated cut featuring additional cast & crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Suggested list price for the BLu-ray has been set at $34.95. You'll find the latest specs for 'American Gangster' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 14.Posted Mon Aug 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Rumor Patrol: 'Wall•E' to Get November Blu-ray Bow?[teaser]Disney has yet to officially announce it, but a new trade ad has revealed the studio appears to be planning a mid-November bow for the Pixar hit 'Wall•E.'[/teaser] Opening to rhapsodic reviews (with many critics hailing it as an instant classic) and a box office gross now topping $200 million (and counting), 'Wall•E' is one of the most highly-anticipated Blu-ray releases of the year. Though we are still awaiting an official announcement, retailers have reported receiving a trade ad touting a November 18 Blu-ray arrival for 'Wall•E,' day-and-date with the standard DVD. No tech specs or supplemental details are available at this early juncture, though the ad does tout the Blu-ray as a two-disc set, which certainly bodes well for extensive extras. There's also no suggested list price, but we'll keep you posted. As we await further word, you'll find preliminary specs for 'Wall•E' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 18.Posted Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
MGM Exorcises Extras from 'Amityville,' 'Carrie' Blu-rays[teaser]MGM has announced specs -- or rather, the lack of them -- for the Blu-ray releases of 'Amityville Horror' and 'Carrie,' which will both hit high-def sans any supplemental features.[/teaser] As previously reported, MGM has set an October 7 release date for the original '70s versions of 'Carrie' and 'The Amityville Horror,' marking the first-ever next-gen releases for the horror classics. The studio has now unveiled the complete specs, and though both were previously released as DVD special editions to positive acclaim, MGM has decided to drop all bonus features and release the titles in bare-bones versions. Tech specs for each will see a BD-25 single-layer presentation with 1080p/MPEG-2 video and English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 51. Surround (48kHz/16-bit) tracks. (Optional English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 51. Surround and subtitle tracks are also provided.) Suggested retail prices for the Blu-rays have been set at $39.98 a pop. You'll find complete specs for 'The Amityville Horror (1979)' and 'Carrie (1976)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under October 7.Posted Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Vivendi Brings 'Speed and Angels' to Blu-ray[teaser]Vivendi Visual Entertainment is planning to bring the acclaimed military documentary 'Speed and Angels' to Blu-ray in mid-September.[/teaser] In 2003, director Peyton Wilson was granted unprecedented access to the world of U.S. Navy fighters, and captured the most intimate film ever made on military pilots. Vivendi will release 'Speed and Angels' on Blu-ray on September 16, day-and-date with a standard DVD version. Tech details for the high-def version include a BD-25 single-layer presentation and 1080p video (no audio information is available as of yet, but stay tuned). There are currently no announced supplements, but we'll keep you posted as we receive future spec updates. Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.98. You'll find complete specs for 'Speed and Angels' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 16.Posted Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Disney Planning 'Sin City,' 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' Blu-rays for October (UPDATED)UPDATE 08/15/08: We've received word from Disney that despite retailer reports, the studio has now pushed back the Blu-ray release date for 'Sin City' to sometime in early 2009. We've updated our database accordingly. [teaser]Early word has come from retailers that Disney is planning to bring a Robert Rodriguez double-header to Blu-ray this October, with the simultaneous bow of the cult hits 'Sin City' and 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn.'[/teaser] Long-awaited by Blu-ray fans, both Rodriguez's 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' and 'Sin City' (the latter co-directed by Frank Miller with "special guest director" Quentin Tarantino) have finally been given a retail date of October 21. (Both titles were previously-released on standard DVD in extensive special edition versions.) As Disney has yet to formally announce either title, there are no tech specs or supplemental details as of yet. As always, we'll keep you posted. Suggested retail price for each Blu-ray is $34.95 a pop. As we await an official announcement, you'll find preliminary specs for 'Sin City' and 'From Dusk 'Til Dawn' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under October 21.Posted Fri Aug 15, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
