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'To Live and Die in L.A.' Blu-ray Back on Track
Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 02:00 PM ETTags: MGM, Disc Announcements (all tags)
The on again/off again Blu-ray release is back on again for February.
Originally slated for June, MGM has finally rescheduled William Friedkin's modern crime cult classic 'To Live and Die in L.A.' starring William Petersen and Willem Dafoe for Blu-ray release on February 2.
Specs and supplements haven't been revealed yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'To Live and Die in L.A.' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 2.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- To Live and Die in L.A. (Blu-ray)
'James Bond 10-Pack Blu-ray Collection' Announced
Mon Oct 12, 2009 at 01:00 PM ETTags: MGM, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Need a gift idea for the holidays? The ultimate 007 box set is bound to be a hit this winter.
MGM has announced the 'James Bond 10-Pack Blu-ray Collection' for a November 3 release.
The enormous box set will include: 'Dr. No,' 'From Russia With Love,' 'Goldfinger,' 'Thunderball,' 'Live and Let Die,' 'Moonraker,' 'For Your Eyes Only,' 'The World is Not Enough,' 'Die Another Day,' and 'Quantum of Solace.'
It appears the Blu-rays themselves will be the same as the ones already released grouped together in slipcases and standalone editions.
Suggested list price for the set is $199.98.
You can find the latest specs for the 'James Bond 10-Pack Blu-ray Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 3.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- James Bond 10-Pack Blu-ray Collection (Blu-ray)
- Dr. No (Blu-ray)
- From Russia with Love (Blu-ray)
- Goldfinger (Blu-ray)
- Thunderball (Blu-ray)
- Live and Let Die (Blu-ray)
- Moonraker (Blu-ray)
- For Your Eyes Only (Blu-ray)
- The World is Not Enough (Blu-ray)
- Die Another Day (Blu-ray)
- Quantum of Solace (Blu-ray)
Off To See The Wizards: HDD Gets An In Depth Look at the Restoration of 'The Wizard of Oz' (UPDATED - Before and After Pics!)
Fri Sep 11, 2009 at 02:45 PM ETTags: Michael S. Palmer, Warner Home Video, MGM (all tags)
by Michael S. Palmer
High-Def Digest gets an inside peek at the restoration of a truly classic film: 'The Wizard of Oz'
If you join us at High-Def Digest with any frequency, it's likely your passion for all things HD is surgically linked with a love for the cinema. In my case, that meant a childhood of watching the same films over and over (and over). Along with 'E.T.' and 'Back to the Future,' 'The Wizard of Oz' became not only entertainment, but part of a comforting routine. There was singing and dancing, it changed from black & white into color , and it somehow managed to be both laugh out loud funny, and absolutely terrifying. It’s the perfect nutrition pyramid for the imagination.
Now, (skipping past a few boring years) color me thrilled to have moved to Culver City, California, and found work on the Sony Studios lot, which for anyone not in the know, used to be the backlot for a little company called MGM. There, answering phones in an office that was a converted soundstage, I learned that in the fall of 1938, this very space had been used to film portions of 'The Wizard of Oz' itself. It was fascinating to work in such a historic building; at the very top of the stairwell, there were crew signatures and dates from the 1930s scribbled onto steal beams. Add to this, just down the street, a skinny brick structure called the Culver Hotel, where all 124 of the Oz Munchkins lived during production.
So with all that history, it didn’t take me even a second to RSVP for a Restoration Tour the kind folks over at Warner Home Video (Warner Home Video holds the home entertainment rights thanks to Ted Turner’s acquisition of the MGM film library in 1986) were hosting for the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, slated to hit Blu-ray and DVD on September 29. This release being the climax to a year long Oz celebration lead by the Wizard’s balloon traveling across the world, 5 of the original Munchkins performing in New York’s Central Park, and an auction of the Ruby Slipper Collection to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Here is the simple, honest truth of what I saw, which was a collection of HD clips not projected, but displayed on a large LCD television anyone of us could buy: if you have a Blu-ray player, this will be a reference disc. And if you already love 'The Wizard of Oz' RUN to the store when this Blu-ray comes out.
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I know what some of you may be thinking (Studio plant!). This is just another Anniversary Edition of a movie that’s been on home video again and again and again. Friends, of course the end goal is to monetize a product, but this 'Wizard of Oz' reissue is so much more than that. In 2005, for the last DVD release of the movie, WHV commissioned a restoration, from which a 1080p HD master was made. A master that was technically ‘good enough’ for Blu-ray. They could have been done, saved a great deal of time and money, and made a quick buck, but to this passionate crew of artisans, technicians, and businessmen, ‘good enough’ simply would not do.
Because they’re not only releasing and selling a movie, they’re protecting an American national treasure, perhaps the most widely seen film in history. Preserving a classic for this, and future generations to enjoy. Flat out, you have never seen Oz in such stunning clarity before: Makeup on the actors’ faces. Delineation in Toto’s hair. Individual bricks on the yellow brick road. 3D-like flowers in Munchkinland, a quality high def is known for mostly on recent titles like 'The Dark Knight'. And even tiny surprises in production design, such as the Wicked Witch’s crystal ball being held up by tiny, carved, winged-monkeys.
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So, how did the Wizards of Ours (as WHV liked to call their in-house team) manage to pull this off?
Well take a seat and bear with me for a little geektastic math. The restoration and re-mastering began by scanning the three original 1939 Technicolor negatives at an unbelievable “8K” resolution (keep in mind, many modern films such as Warners’ own Ocean’s 13 are finished in “2K”). To put that in perspective, when I take a photograph with my digital camera (at a 10.1 megapixel resolution), the file size is usually 3 to 4 megabytes. One still image at 8K is 40 megabytes, and for each frame of this film, WHV end up with 4 40-megabyte files (one for each of the three negative scans because of the “three strip” Technicolor process, and one final composite of all three negatives which was matched to the pixel). So for every frame, WHV has 160 megabytes, times 24 frames per second, times 60 seconds per minute, times a 101 minute running time. Meaning, to store the Oz materials, they needed over 22 terabytes, or 22,000 gigabytes. How much room do you have on your computer?
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Okay, math lesson’s over, and some of you may be utterly befuddled by all the K’s and bytes. Don’t fret. What WHV is attempting to do, in scanning their catalogue film in the highest available digital resolution is attempting to equal the image quality of film, which has millions of grains. And the crazy part is that they aren’t done. This film still has more information to glean from it.
But what can all this resolution mean for the home viewer? Don’t Blu-rays max out at a much lower resolution? Of course they do, but what you’re getting is unparalleled video quality. For all the complaints our High-Def Digest reviewers have had about edge enhancement and digital noise reduction, in 'The Wizard of Oz' you will find none. Because as the resolution of the digital scan increases, the film grain is actually sharper, so there was no need to enhance the image, or reduce noise, which also diminishes ‘artifacting’ in the compression process (the act of reducing a digital file size to fit a space, in our case, a Blu-ray disc).
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In fact, here’s what they did to bring out the best in Oz: They repaired three tears in a near-pristine 70-year-old film negative, removed three production wires, and did a color correction. That’s it.
The color correction, by Janet Wilson who has done the last three restorations of 'The Wizard of Oz,' is based on a 1939 answer print WHV borrowed from The Academy (of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences) to achieve the most authentic color palette. What Ms. Wilson found is that the newer DI technology allowed her to improve upon the work she did in 2005 (she spoke of the challenge of isolating color around the primitive visual effect of the Good Witch of the North, Glinda, in her bubble). And since the original Kansas sections of the film were projected in sepia, not black & white, they found a piece of film from the era to match for color, as they did not have an Oz sepia print.
As for the wires, purists may argue it sacrilege (think of what Lucas and Spielberg have done to their classics), but the goal at WHV was to preserve filmmaker-intent. After endless discussions and research, the team decided that these specific wires (others have been left in) disrupted the narrative, and were invisible (as intended) in all other releases (including film). Only at this increased definition was there a visible flaw.
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For the audiophiles among us, what you’ll be enjoying on this Blu-ray is the full dynamic range of lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD. Keep in mind that this is actually the same mix used for the 2005 DVD, but that was compressed in AC-3. Again, for the purists who prefer mono tracks of classics, be aware that the only reason Oz was ever mixed into a stereo was because they had ‘angles’ from the Orchestration recordings. This isn’t about cheap panning effects.
Personally, it was a great tour, the clips I witnessed were fantastically vibrant, and I can’t wait to see the whole film again (and again). For those who can’t wait for the 29th, check your local listings on September 23rd for special one-night-only digital screenings of 'The Wizard of Oz.' And this has only whet my appetite for future masterly restored catalogue titles, an area of Blu-ray that has been underserved. WHV hopes Oz will help jumpstart a trend. As for the catalogue future of WHV, here’s looking forward to Oz, as well as the impending fall releases of 'Gone With the Wind' (11/7) and my one of my favorites, 'North by Northwest' (11/3).
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'Child's Play' Blu-ray Detailed
Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 02:00 PM ETTags: MGM, Fox, Disc Announcements (all tags)
MGM/Fox Home Entertainment has provided specs and details for 'Child's Play,' available on Blu-ray September 15.
The classic horror film will feature 1080p video, a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and bonus features will include: Audio Commentary with Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks and “Chucky” designer Kevin Yagher, Audio Commentary with Producer David Kirschner and Screenwriter Don Mancini, Select Scene Chucky Commentaries, Chucky's Thoughts, The Advantages of Being Chucky, Chucky on Filmmaking, Up Close and Personal with Chucky, Evil Comes in Small Packages, The Birth of Chucky, Creating the Horror, Unleashed - Chucky: Building a Nightmare, A Monster Convention, Vintage Featurette “Introducing Chucky: The Making of Child's Play”, Chucky's Back Bitches, Designer Toy, and Evil Comes in Little Packages.
A DVD copy of the film will also be included.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Child's Play' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 15.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Child's Play (Blu-ray)
'Misery' Blu-ray Detailed
Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 10:00 AM ETTags: MGM, Fox, Disc Announcements (all tags)
MGM/Fox Home Entertainment has provided specs and details for the upcoming 'Misery' Blu-ray release hitting stores September 15.
The Stephen King adaptation starring James Caan and Kathy Bates in her Oscar-winning role will be presented in 1080p video, a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and bonus features will include: Feature Commentary by Director Rob Reiner, Feature Commentary by screenwriter William Goldman, Misery Loves Company, Marc Shaiman's Musical Misery Tour, Diagnosing Annie Wilkes, Advice for the Stalked, Profile of a Stalker, Celebrity Stalkers, and Anti−Stalking Laws.
A DVD copy of the film will also be included.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Misery' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 15.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Misery (Blu-ray)
Spinal Tap is Back on Track
Thu May 28, 2009 at 03:10 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, MGM (all tags)
After being postponed earlier this year, MGM has rescheduled 'This is Spinal Tap' for a summer Blu-ray bow.
The comedic "rockumentary" available on July 14 will feature 1080p video, lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and will be loaded with supplements including: Audio Commentary by Spinal Tap, Catching Up with Marty DiBergi, Vintage Tap Materials, "Flower People" Press Conference, Spinal Tap appearance on "The Joe Franklin Show", Music Videos, Trailer, Rock and Rolls Commercials, From Canal Plus "Stonehenge" Performance At 2007 Live Earth Concert, and From Canal Plus National Geographic Stonehenge Interview with Nigel Tufnel.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'This is Spinal Tap' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 14.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- This is Spinal Tap (Blu-ray)
'Rocky: Collection' Blu-rays in the Works
Tue May 19, 2009 at 01:00 PM ETTags: MGM (all tags)
In an interview with Home Media Magazine, Eric Doctorow of MGM Worldwide revealed plans to bring more 'Rocky' to Blu-ray.
Planned for the holiday season is a Blu-ray box set of all of the 'Rocky' films (currently only 'Rocky' and 'Rocky Balboa' are available on Blu-ray).
Doctorow also revealed plans for anniversary editions of 'Hair' and 'Mad Max,' along with a few 'Stargate' surprises, and more.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Rocky (Blu-ray)
- Rocky Balboa (Blu-ray)
'Stargate' Fans Get 'Choice' Blu-ray
Fri May 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, TV on High-Def, MGM, Fox (all tags)
MGM has bundled together two fan-favorite 'Stargate Atlantis' episodes, and will release them as a two-pack on Blu-ray this August.
Following an online poll conducted by the studio ("You voted - we listened!"), MGM is bringing 'Stargate Atlantis: Fans' Choice' to Blu-ray on August 4, which compiles the complete and unedited episode favorites "Rising" (season one) and "Enemy at the Gate" (season five).
Tech specs include remastered 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (1.78:1) and English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround.
There are no announced extras.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.99.
You'll find the latest specs for 'Stargate Atlantis: Fans' Choice' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 4.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Stargate Atlantis: Fans' Choice (Blu-ray)
'Pink Panther 2' to Leave Blu Footprint this June
Thu Apr 30, 2009 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Fox, MGM (all tags)
MGM has announced a late-June Blu-ray release for the comedy sequel 'The Pink Panther 2.'
A follow-up to the surprise Steve Martin smash, itself a remake of the original classic 'The Pink Panther,' the latest big-screen misadventure of Inspector Clouseau will arrive on Blu-ray June 23 (day-and-date with the stnadard DVD).
There are no tech or supplement details available as of yet from MGM/Fox, but watch for a full press announce in the days ahead. We'll keep you posted.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.99.
You'll find the latest specs for 'The Pink Panther 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 23.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Pink Panther 2 (Blu-ray)
MGM Outlines 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' Blu-ray Specs
Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM ETTags: MGM, Fox (all tags)
MGM/Fox have unveiled final specs for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,' which arrives on Blu-ray this May with a six-shooter's worth of retrospective features.
As previously reported, the studio announced a May 12 Blu-ray debut for the Sergio Leone-Clint Eastwood classic, but was short on any tech or supplement specs.
Final details are now in, with the film receiving a BD-50 dual-layer presentation with 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and a DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track.
Extras include a pair of audio commentaries (with film historian Richard Schickel, and Christopher Frayling), multiple featurettes ("Leone's West," "The Leone Style," "The Man Who Lost the Civil War," "Reconstructing 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'" and the two-part "IL Maestro: Ennio Morricone and 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'"), deleted scenes, theatrical trailers, and four "hidden" easter eggs.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.99.
You'll find final specs for 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 12.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Blu-ray to Get 'Good, Bad and Ugly' this May (Mar 02, 2009)
MORE BLU-RAY NEWS TAGGED "MGM":
- Fox Boxes Up Top Hits for Father's Day Blu-ray Promo Apr 16, 2009
- Mel Brooks Short Films to Add to 'Spaceballs' Blu-ray Apr 10, 2009
- MGM Slots 'Dark Blue' for June Blu Release Apr 07, 2009
- MGM Prepping 'To Live and Die in L.A.' for June Blu-ray Release Apr 06, 2009
- 'Graduate' to Get June Blu-ray Release Apr 06, 2009
- 'The Terminator' Will Be Back on Blu-ray this May Apr 01, 2009
- MGM Sets 'Valkyrie' for Blu-ray Flight this May Mar 11, 2009
- MGM to Roll Out 'Spaceballs' on Blu-ray this June Mar 06, 2009
- MGM to Bring 'Force 10 From Navarone' to Blu-ray Mar 02, 2009
- Blu-ray to Get 'Good, Bad and Ugly' this May Mar 02, 2009
- MGM/Fox to Serve 'Lions for Lambs' on Blu-ray Feb 27, 2009
- MGM Adds 'Golden Gun,' 'License to Kill' to Blu-ray Bond Library Feb 26, 2009
- 'Princess Bride' to Get March Blu-ray Engagement Feb 04, 2009
- MGM to 'Never Say Never Again' on Blu-ray this March Jan 21, 2009
- MGM Unveils James Bond Wave 3 Blu-ray Art Jan 20, 2009
- Next Wave of Bond Titles Due In March Jan 19, 2009
- MGM Dishes 'Silence of the Lambs' Blu-ray Specs Jan 15, 2009
- 'Quantum of Solace' Announced for Blu-ray Jan 13, 2009
- Learn 'How to Lose Friends & Alienate People' This February Jan 05, 2009
- MGM Outlines 'Pink Panther' Blu-ray Specs Dec 18, 2008
- Rumor Mill: Next Wave of Bond Blu-rays Due March Dec 02, 2008
- MGM Serves up 'Silence of the Lambs' Blu-ray this March Dec 01, 2008
- MGM to Unleash 'Igor' on Blu-ray Nov 21, 2008
- MGM Confirms 'Ronin' Blu-ray for February Nov 21, 2008
- MGM Bumps 'Spinal Tap' Blu-ray Nov 13, 2008
- MGM Prepping 'Raging Bull' for Blu-ray Ring Oct 31, 2008
- MGM Sets January Arrival for 'Stargate: Ark of Truth' Blu-ray Oct 09, 2008
- MGM Announces Specs, Exclusives for 'Spinal Tap' Blu-ray Oct 08, 2008
- MGM Planning 'Spinal Tap' Blu-ray Oct 01, 2008
- MGM Exorcises Extras from 'Amityville,' 'Carrie' Blu-rays Aug 15, 2008
- New Blu-ray Date Set for 'Amityville Horror' Jul 28, 2008
- MGM Unwraps James Bond Blu-ray Art Jul 25, 2008
- Fox Asks, 'Dude, Where's My Car?' Answer: On Blu-ray Jul 10, 2008
- Six Classic Bond Titles To Hit Blu-ray this October Jun 18, 2008
- Rumor Mill: MGM Readying Bond Titles For Blu-ray Release? (UPDATED) Jun 05, 2008
- 'Stargate: Continuum' to Land on Blu-ray this July Apr 17, 2008
- 'Bridge Too Far,' 'Battle of Britain' Blu-rays Rescheduled for Father's Day Apr 04, 2008
- 55 Percent Off Select Blu-rays For One Day Only at Amazon Nov 19, 2007
- 55 Percent Off Select Blu-rays For One Day Only at Amazon Nov 19, 2007
- MGM Yanks 'Ronin,' 'Red Dawn' Blu-ray Releases Nov 09, 2007
- MGM Bumps 'Battle of Britain,' 'Bridge Too Far' Blu-ray Releases Nov 02, 2007
- MGM Unveils Specs for 'Rescue Dawn' Blu-ray Oct 25, 2007
- Specs and a New Date Announced for 'Red Dawn' Blu-ray Oct 11, 2007
- 'Rescue Dawn' Headed to Blu-ray Sep 27, 2007
- 'RoboCop' Blu-ray Gets New Transfer, But No Extras Sep 14, 2007
- Fox/MGM Sets 'Red Dawn' Blu-ray Date Sep 06, 2007
- MGM to Bring 'Mr. Brooks' to Blu-ray this October Aug 23, 2007
- Fox/MGM: 'Silver Surfer,' 'Live Free Die Hard,' Extensive Catalog Coming to Blu-ray Aug 20, 2007
- Fox Set to Renew Blu-ray Commitment, Announce Future Release Plans Aug 20, 2007
- UPDATE: MGM Denies Reports of Fourth Quarter Blu-ray Revival Jun 19, 2007
- MGM Announces March Blu-ray Slate Specs; 'Lambs,' 'Hannibal' Due in April Jan 17, 2007
- CES: Fox, MGM Plan 2007 Blu-ray Assault Jan 08, 2007
- MGM Bumps 'Bride,' Previews March Blu-ray Titles Dec 20, 2006
- Sony to 'RoboCop': You're Terminated Aug 14, 2006
- MGM Realigns Home Video Division with Fox; Sony to Continue to Release Studio's Blu-Ray Product May 31, 2006
- Studios Announce First Blu-Ray Assault Jan 04, 2006
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