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Exclusives Highlight 'Planet of the Apes' Blu-ray Box Set[teaser]Unveiling their most extensive high-def box set yet, Fox has released details for the November Blu-ray debut of all five classic 'Planet of the Apes' films.[/teaser] One of the most iconic sci-fi franchises in cinema history, the five 'Apes' films -- 'Planet of the Apes,' 'Beneath the Planet of the Apes,' 'Escape from the Planet of the Apes,' 'Conquest of the Planet of the Apes' and 'Battle for the Planet of the Apes' -- will be packaged on Blu-ray as 'Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Collection,' which will hit stores on November 4. This six-disc set will see each 'Apes' film get its own BD-50 dual-layer disc (with an additional disc for extras), each in remastered 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and with DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround tracks. Standard extras will see all the same material from Fox's previous 'Apes' DVD releases, including multiple audio and text commentaries, the "Behind the Planet of the Apes" documentary, additional featurettes, multiple still galleries, rare archival materials, and theatrical trailers for all five films. Exclusive to the Blu-ray box set will be a slew of bonus materials both rare and never-before-seen. Included on all five films will be an isolated score in DTS-MA 5.1 Surround audio, while the original 'Planet of the Apes' also gets a BonusView (Profile 1.1) picture-in-picture track dubbed "Science of the Planet of the Apes," which explores the scientific background of the series. Additional exclusives include a new HD featurette for each film ("Evolution of the Apes," "Impact of the Apes," "The Secret Behind Escape," "Riots and Revolutions: Confronting the Times," "End of an Epic: The Final Battle"), the BD-Java interactive game "Beyond the Forbidden Zone," and a PSA from NASA. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray set has been placed at $159.98. You'll find the latest specs for 'Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Collection' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 4.Posted Thu Jul 31, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony to Drop 'Dr. Strangelove' on Blu-ray this December[teaser]Mark your calendars, Kubrick fans: Sony Pictures has announced a December Blu-ray debut for the comedy classic 'Dr. Strangelove.'[/teaser] Starring Peter Sellars and widely considered one of Kubrick's finest efforts, 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' will make its much-anticipated bow on Blu-ray December 9. Given the early lead time of the studio's announcement, there are no tech specs or supplement details available. However, Sony previously released a special edition DVD release, so a comparable batch of bonus features is expected. Stay tuned. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $28.95. You'll find preliminary specs for 'Dr. Strangelove' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 9.Posted Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Anchor Bay to Cash in 'Mad Money' on Blu-ray[teaser]In an early alert to retailers, Anchor Bay has set a November Blu-ray arrival for the comedy 'Mad Money.'[/teaser] Starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie Holmes, 'Mad Money' failed to ring up much in the way of receipts at the box office during its brief theatrical run earlier this year, and likewise did little business when it hit DVD last May. Anchor Bay will give the Callie Khourie-directed heist comedy another shot on Blu-ray when it hits stores November 18. Given the early announcement, there are no tech specs or supplement details as of yet. We'll keep you posted. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.95. You'll find preliminary specs for 'Mad Money' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 18.Posted Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Taxi Driver' Coming to Blu-ray in 2009[teaser]In a very early announcement, Sony Pictures will bring the Martin Scorsese classic 'Taxi Driver' to Blu-ray in February 2009.[/teaser] One of the seminal films of the '70s, the multiple Oscar nominee (including nods for Best Picture, Best Director, and stars Robert DeNiro and Jodie Foster) will get a much-requested Blu-ray debut on February 3, 2009. As this is an unusually early announcement, Sony has not divulged any tech specs or supplement details for 'Taxi Driver.' Previously released on standard DVD in multiple editions, extras should at least be comparable to past versions -- we'll keep you posted. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $28.95. You'll find preliminary specs for 'Taxi Driver' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 3, 2009.Posted Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony to Double Dip 'Casino Royale' Blu-ray in October[teaser]Ending months of rumors, Sony Pictures has confirmed that James Bond will return for a double dip of 'Casino Royale,' which will hit Blu-ray this October as a two-disc collector's edition.[/teaser] Originally released on high-def in March 2007 to big sales, 'Casino Royale' has long been rumored to receive the deluxe treatment thanks to the original release's relatively paltry bonus features. Now Sony has confirmed an October 21 street date for the 'Casino Royale: Collector's Edition' Blu-ray, day-and-date with a new DVD re-issue. The two-disc set will sport tech specs similar to the previous edition, with the film presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround audio, and new to the special edition, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround option. Extras are extensive, with the set including a pair of cast & crew audio commentaries (participants TBA), a suite of documentaries ("Becoming Bond," "James Bond: For Real," "Bond Girls are Forever"), an additional pair of featurettes ("The Road to Casino Royale," "Ian Fleming: The Secret Road to Paradise"), six deleted scenes, two storyboard presentations, filmmaker profiles, and the Chris Cornell music video for "You Know My Name." The Blu-ray release will also feature an e-Movie Cash ticket for the upcoming 22nd James Bond adventure, 'Quantum of Solace.' Suggested list price for the two-disc Blu-ray has been set at $38.95. You'll find specs for 'Casino Royale (2006, Collector's Edition)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 21.Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:30 PM PDT by: -
Fox to Premiere 'Behind Enemy Lines' Sequel on Blu-ray in 2009[teaser]There's no exact date yet, but Fox says it is planning to bring the latest direct-to-video entry in its 'Behind Enemy Lines' franchise to Blu-ray in early 2009.[/teaser] Fox has attached a new video trailer to this week's Blu-ray release of 'Stargate: Continuum' that offers a first look at the still-unscheduled next-gen release of 'Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia.' The third entry in the popular action series, the promo features a few quick clips from the direct-to-video sequels, and ends with the promise of a "January 2009' release (day-an-date on Blu-ray and DVD). The preview is similarly short on any specs or bonus features, but as always, we'll let you know as more information comes to us. As for a Blu-ray release of the original 'Behind Enemy Lines' and its first direct-to-video sequel, the promo makes no mention of next-gen versions of either film. In the meantime, we've added a listing for 'Behind Enemy Lines: Columbia' to the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule. Stay tuned!Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Futurama: Bender's Game' to Land on Blu-ray This November[teaser]There's still no word on the series coming to high-def, but Fox has announced a November Blu-ray release for the direct-to-video premiere 'Futurama: Bender's Game.'[/teaser] Confirmed during a presentation at last week's Comic-Con, Fox will bring the stand-alone feature 'Futurama: Bender's Game' to Blu-ray on November 4, day-and-date with the standard DVD. There no word on specs or supplements at this early date, but more details are expected to surface over the coming weeks. As always, watch this space. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.98. You'll find preliminary specs for 'Futurama: Bender's Game' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 4.Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'Horton Hears a Who!' Coming to Blu[teaser]Fox has announced an early-December Blu-ray release for 'Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!', which will hit high-def with exclusive picture-in-picture.[/teaser] Raking in over $150 million at the domestic box office, the Jim Carrey-voiced smash will come to Blu-ray on December 9, day-and-date with the standard DVD. Extras shared across both versions include audio commentary with directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, deleted footage, animation screen tests, a bundle of featurettes ("That's One Big Elephant: Animating Horton," "Bringing the Characters to Life," "Meet Katie," "Elephant Fun: The Facts," "Our Speck: Where Do We Fit In?", "A Person Is a Person: A Universal Message," "Bringing Seuss to Screen," "The Elephant in the Room: Jim Carrey"), the "We Are Here! Game" interactive game, and an 'Ice Age' animated short "Surviving Sid." Exclusive to the Blu-ray release will be the Bonus View picture-in-Picture feature "Watch Horton Hears a Who! with a Who!", allowing you to watch the movie with the smallest 'Who' of all, Jo Jo. (Profile 1.1-compatible player required.) Tech specs include 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and an audio track in DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.98. You'll find specs for 'Horton Hears a Who!' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 9.Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Sony Eyes October Date for '7th Voyage of Sinbad' Blu-ray[teaser]Sony Pictures has announced an early October Blu-ray release for a new 50th Anniversary Edition of the Ray Harryhausen classic 'The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.'[/teaser] The 1958 adventure classic, featuring some of Harryhausen's most beloved stop-motion creations, will debut on Blu-ray October 7 (day-and-date with a new standard DVD re-issue) in time to celebrate the film's 50th birthday. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a BD-50 dual-layer presentation with 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (1.66:1) and first-ever Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround remix. Extras announced thus far include a new retrospective audio commentary (participants TBA) and the featurette "Remembering the '7th Voyage of Sinbad.'" Stay tuned for final specs to be confirmed in the days ahead. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $28.95. You'll find specs for 'The 7th Voyage of Sinbad' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 7.Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'Zombie Strippers' Comes to Blu-ray with Exclusives, BD-Live[teaser]In what is sure to be the biggest Blu-ray of the year (sorry, 'Dark Knight'), Sony Pictures has confirmed a late-October bow for the horror-comedy 'Zombie Strippers.'[/teaser] Supposedly "inspired by the French existential Theatre of the Absurd play Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco" (well, that's what the press release says), 'Zombie Strippers' stars Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund, and was a box office disappointment in its theatrical release earlier this year. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release the Blu-ray just in time for Halloween on October 28, day-and-date with the standard DVD. The extensive extras shared by both versions include audio commentary with director Jay Lee and stars Jameson, Englund, and Roxy Saint, a pair of featurettes ("The Champagne Room: Behind the Scenes of Zombie Strippers," "The Dressing Room: How to Glam a Zombie"), deleted scenes, and a Digital Copy of the film (in standard-def). Exclusive to the Blu-ray are additional gory deleted scenes, "Titillation and Sass" pop-up trivia track, and BD-Live-enabled content (Profile 2.0 required). Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a BD-50 dual-layer presentation of the film's unrated cut, in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (1.85:1) and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround remix. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $38.95. You'll find specs for 'Zombie Strippers' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 28.Posted Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 01:00 PM PDT by:
