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'Live from Abbey Road' to Get 'Best Of' Blu-ray (UPDATED)
Thu Sep 25, 2008 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Music on High-Def, BCI (all tags)
The popular cable concert series 'Live at Abbey Road' is coming to high-def, with the November Blu-ray compilation release 'Best of Season One.'
Compiling performances from a star-studded roster of over two dozen top music artists, 'Live From Abbey Road: Best of Season One' features tracks from such disparate acts as John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Iron Maiden, Goo Goo Dolls, LeAnn Rimes, and Gnarls Barkley.
BCI Home Entertainment will debut the Blu-ray on November 11.
According to Cliff MacMillan, Director of Acquisitions at BCI, the disc will be anamorphic widescreen 1080i (1.78:1). Audio specs will include Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and DTS Masterless Audio 5.1 tracks. We'll keep you posted as further details emerge.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $26.98.
You'll find the latest specs for 'Live at Abbey Road: Best of Season One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 11.
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)
- Live From Abbey Road: Best Of Season One (Blu-ray)
'Kitaro' Coming to Blu-ray
Wed Sep 17, 2008 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, High-Def Anime, BCI (all tags)
BCI has announced it is bringing the acclaimed 2007 anime 'Kitaro' to Blu-ray in mid-November..
Widely-praised as the most visually-spectacular big-screen adaptation of Mizuki Shigeru's much-loved manga series, BCI will debut the feature-length 'Kitaro' on Blu-ray November 18, day-and-date with the standard DVD.
BCI has yet to reveal tech specs for the release, but expect remastered 1080 video and some form of high-res audio.
At press time, there were no announced supplements.
Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.95.
You'll find the latest specs for 'Kitaro' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 18.
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)
- Kitaro (Blu-ray)
BCI to Launch 'Marine Aquarium' Franchise on Blu-ray this September
Fri Jul 11, 2008 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
Promising to turn your HDTV into a vibrant underwater world, BCI has announced a September Blu-ray launch for the popular 'Marine Aquarium' series.
Having sold over one million copies on video, BCI will debut 'Marine Aquarium' on high-def September 2.
Featuring three unique segments -- "Sunrise," "Mediterranean" and "Caribbean" -- 'Marine Aquarium' allows you to watch each sequence individually, or the entire 114-minute program in an unending loop.
Presented in full 1080 resolution, BCI has announced tech specs as of yet. However, the Blu-ray is billed as a "Special Collector's Edition," so at least some extras (perhaps a dead goldfish in the keepcase?) are expected.
Suggested retail for Blu-ray has been set at $24.95.
As we await further details, you'll find the latest specs for 'Marine Aquarium' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under September 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)
- Marine Aquarium (Blu-ray)
BCI Sets July Debut for Blu-ray Drive-In Double Header
Fri May 23, 2008 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
Grindhouse specialist BCI has announced a pair of Thai genre hits for Blu-ray release this July, 'Vengeance' and 'The Tiger Blade.'
Due in stores July 29, BCI will debut the martial arts actioner 'The Tiger Blade' and the 2006 horror-thriller 'Vengeance,' with each receiving their own stand-alone release.
BCI has yet to issue any tech specs or supplement details, but given the company's previous Blu-ray releases, expect 1080 video and Dolby Digital audio.
Suggested retail price is $24.98 a pop.
You'll find preliminary specs for 'The Tiger Blade' and 'Vengeance' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under July 29.
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 Tiger Blade (Blu-ray)
- Vengeance (2006) (Blu-ray)
BCI Moves to Blu, Cancels Upcoming HD DVD Slate (UPDATED)
Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Industry Trends, BCI (all tags)
UPDATE 03/26/08: We've received word from BCI that the 'Son of Paleface/My Favorite Brunette' HD DVD will be available via select retailers as originally scheduled. The company has no plans to support the format with any further releases. We've updated our database accordingly.
BCI/Eclipse has announced it has become the latest indie to go Blu, and has cancelled all previously-scheduled HD DVD titles.
The indie distributor was the first major indie to announce HD DVD support in late 2006, with a line-up of diverse cult gems that included 'Galaxina,' 'Golgo 13' and 'The Way of the World.' After a delay of over a year, however, only 'Galaxina' finally showed up in stores earlier this year, joining such recent BCI HD DVD releases as 'Ultimate Force' and the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby double-feature 'Road to Rio/Road to Bali.'
BCI had originally announced its latest HD DVD title (another Bob Hope double-header, 'My Favorite Brunette'/'Son of Paleface') was due to hit stores this week, but it failed to materialize on retail shelves. When asked for comment, a BCI rep confirmed to us that the company has nixed the release, as well any future support for the format.
Fans can still look forward to future next-gen BCI titles, however, as they will continue to throw their weight behind Blu-ray (the company has so far released 'Ultimate Force' on the format, as well as the "double feature" titles, 'Night of the Werewolf/Vengeance of the Zombies' and 'Sister Street Fighter/Sister Street Fighter 2'). According to the rep, it is planning a more aggressive Blu-ray line-up for later this year, although exact titles and street dates have yet to be determined.
As always, we'll keep you posted of all of BCI's future announcements as soon as they are officially confirmed.
In the meantime, we've removed the listing for 'My Favorite Brunette/Son of Paleface' from our HD DVD Release Schedule.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Galaxina (HD DVD)
- The Road to Bali/The Road to Rio (HD DVD)
- Ultimate Force (HD DVD)
- Ultimate Force (Blu-ray)
- The Night of the Werewolf/Vengeance of the Zombies (Blu-ray)
- Sister Street Fighter/Sister Street Fighter 2: Hanging By a Thread (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- BCI Sets Fall Release for First HD DVD Titles; Blu-ray Also On the Way (Jul 03, 2006)
BCI Serves Up Sonny Chiba Blu-ray Double Feature
Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
Get ready for a double-whammy of Sonny Chiba on high-def this January, when two of the martial arts legend's most famous cult classics hit Blu-ray.
One of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, Chiba has appeared in over 100 films, starting in the early sixties all the way through to last year's 'The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.' Finally getting his due in high-def, BCI has announced a January 8 double-feature Blu-ray release of his exploitation favorites 'Killing Machine' and 'Shogun's Ninja.'
Both features will be spread across a single BD-25 disc, with tech specs set to include 1080p video, plus the film's original Japanese soundtrack and an English dub track in Dolby Digital 1.0 mono.
There are no supplements announced as of yet, but we'll keep you posted as soon as final specs are in.
BCI has set a suggested retail price of $22.98.
As always, you'll find updated disc details for 'Killing Machine/Shogun's Ninja' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where the disc is indexed under January 8, 2008.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for Sonny Chiba's Blu-ray debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Killing Machine/Shogun's Ninja' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Killing Machine/Shogun's Ninja (Blu-ray)
Classic Kung Fu Hits Blu-ray with 'Sister Street Fighter' Double Feature
Fri Nov 16, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
Move over, Bruce Lee: the distaff martial arts heroine Sister Street Fighter is coming to high-def this January in a Blu-ray double feature containing two of her biggest drive-in hits.
One of the most popular entries in the "chop socky" phenomenon that ruled '70s grindhouse cinema, 'Sister Street Fighter' tells the story of martial arts expert Koryu Lee (Etsuko Shihomi), the sister of a slain undercover cop who is pressed into service to take on the entire Hong Kong criminal underworld.
Long championed as a classic by fans including Quentin Tarantino, all four of the 'Sister Street Fighter' films were finally remastered for a DVD box set last year, and now BCI will give the first two entries in the series -- 'Sister Street Fighter' and 'Sister Street Fighter 2' -- a double feature high-def debut on January 8, 2008..
This high-def two-punch is scheduled to include both features on BD-25 single-layer disc, with tech specs set to include 1080p video, plus the film's original Japanese soundtrack and an English dub track in Dolby Digital 1.0 mono.
No extras have been announced, but seeing as the previous DVD releases didn't contain much in the way of bonus features, we expect the Blu-ray to follow suit.
BCI has set a suggested retail price of $22.98.
As always, you'll find updated disc details for 'Sister Street Fighter/Sister Street Fighter 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, indexed under January 8, 2008.
We've also set up dedicated threads for BCI's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Sister Street Fighter' Blu-ray release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Sister Street Fighter/Sister Street Fighter 2: Hanging By a Thread (Blu-ray)
BCI Preps 'Son of Pale Face' For High-Def Release
Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 12:18 PM ETTags: BCI (all tags)
No release date yet, but we can exclusively report that the technicolor classic 'Son of Pale Face' is headed to high-def disc.
A senior executive at indie distributor BCI told us that the company is currently preparing the title for high-def release, and that the test footage looks "amazing."
A sequel to Bob Hope's earlier hit, 'Pale Face,' the 1952 film reunites Hope with Jane Russell, and adss in singing cowboy Roy Rogers and Trigger the Wonder Horse for good measure.
The technicolor film's DVD release in 2000 was praised for its pure and brilliant colors, and we can only expect will look even more brilliant in glorious high-definition.
BCI is officially a dual-format supporting studio, so this one's likely to hit both Blu-ray and HD DVD.
In anticipation of a future announcement for 'Son of Pace Face,' we've added a listing for the title under the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule. Stay tuned!
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
Report: 'He-Man' Blu-ray, HD DVD Release "Very Likely" (UPDATED)
Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 07:55 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include some late-breaking comments from our friends at BCI (see below).
2008 may just be the year of 'He-Man' on high-def, with BCI said to be seriously weighing a next-gen release for the classic cartoon character.
TVShowsonDVD.com has the first concrete details on the indie distributor's plans to bring the 2002 television version of 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' to disc. Spanning three separate single-disc volumes with 13 episodes a pop, the site reports that a feature-packed, remastered version of the series is currently being planned for a February 2008 DVD debut, and that there is a "better than 90%" chance of a release on Blu-ray and/or HD DVD.
According to information provided by BCI, testing of the episodes in high-def yielded "much better-quality visuals with extra depth to the scenes, more dynamic colors and greater background details."
While we're optimistic that 'He-Man' will find his way to next-gen disc, we've had our hopes dashed by BCI in the past. The distributor, which has yet to release a title on either HD DVD or Blu-ray originally announced a series of cult classics for release on HD DVD in late 2006, including 'Galaxina,' 'That's the Way of the World' and 'Golgo 13, but those titles were ultimately delayed without explanation, and have yet to see next-gen release.
More recently, the company announced it would finally make its high-def debut with the dual-format November release of 'Ultimate Force.' So far as we know, that release is still on track.
UPDATE (9/28/07, 9:58PM ET): We've just heard from BCI, and they've confirmed that indeed it's all systems go for the November 13 next gen release of 'Ultimate Force.' According to an high-placed exec at the company, BCI's earlier next-gen releases were delayed due to a lack of interest at retail due to limited shelf space, but they now believe demand should be much higher.
Needless to say, we'll let you know as soon as a confirmed street date and details come in for 'He-Man.'
In anticipation of a future announcement for 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,' we've added a listing for the title under the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule. Stay tuned!
(Thanks to Dave for the tip!)
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- 'He-Man and the Masters of the Universe' Scoop - Amazing Plans on DVD; Blu-ray and HD DVD Too! [TVShowsonDVD.com]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Galaxina (HD DVD)
- Shrek the Third (Blu-ray)
- That's the Way of the World (HD DVD)
- Ultimate Force (Blu-ray)
- Ultimate Force (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- BCI to Exercise 'Ultimate Force' on Blu-ray, HD DVD
- BCI Delays First HD DVD Titles
- BCI Sets Fall Release for First HD DVD Titles; Blu-ray Also On the Way
BCI to Exercise 'Ultimate Force' on Blu-ray, HD DVD
Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 09:26 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, BCI (all tags)
After a series of false starts, indie distributor BCI is apparently back in the high-def game with the announcement of 'Ultimate Force' on Blu-ray and HD DVD this November.
Featuring martial arts star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in what was intended to be his first big-screen star vehicle, 'Ultimate Force' ultimately went straight to video in 2006. But now, according to Home Media Magazine, BCI is planning to give the low-budget action spectacle a second shot on high-def when it debuts the film on both Blu-ray and HD DVD November 13.
Tech specs and list price have not yet been announced, but supplemental features are said to include a making-of featurette, an interview with Filipovic and the film's theatrical trailer.
'Ultimate Force' marks a delayed high-def debut for BCI. The distributor had originally announced a series of cult classics for release on HD DVD in late 2006, including 'Galaxina,' 'That's the Way of the World' and 'Golgo 13, but those titles were ultimately delayed without explanation, and still have yet to see release.
Now it seems BCI is taking another shot at high-def support, this time on both HD DVD and Blu-ray.
We've added listings for 'Ultimate Force' to our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule under November 13. We'll keep you posted on any future announcements from BCI as they occur.
- Related links:
- BCI Gets Into High Definition [Home Media Magazine]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Ultimate Force (Blu-ray)
- Ultimate Force (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- BCI Sets Fall Release for First HD DVD Titles; Blu-ray Also On the Way (Jul 03, 2006)
- BCI Delays First HD DVD Titles (Aug 30, 2006)
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