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First Look: 'Broken Trail' Blu-ray Box Art[teaser]It won't saddle up on Blu-ray until early June, but Sony has released box art and specs for the Emmy-winning Western epic 'Broken Trail.'[/teaser] As previously reported, Sony will debut the first-ever miniseries from the AMC cable network on June 10 on Blu-ray (a standard DVD edition was released back in September 2006). Now specs are in for the Blu-ray, which will see the same extras carried over from the previous DVD, including only a single featurette, "Broken Trail: The Making of a Legendary Western." Tech specs for the BD-50 dual-layer presentation feature 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. Finally, Sony has unveiled a high-res peek at the Blu-ray cover for 'Broken Trail': Sony has set a suggested retail price of $28.95 for the Blu-ray. You'll find final specs for 'Broken Trail' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 10. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Sony's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Broken Trail' Blu-ray release.Posted Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Stargate: Continuum' to Land on Blu-ray this July[teaser]MGM has officially announced a July debut for their first-ever TV-on-Blu-ray release, the original full-length telefilm 'Stargate: Continuum.'[/teaser] Continuing the legacy of the long-running sci-fi series 'Stargate SG-1,' 'Continuum' sees members of the SG-1 embarking on a stand-alone action-adventure where history itself has been dramatically altered, and features returning cast members Richard Dean Anderson, Claudia Black, and Beau Bridges. MGM will debut 'Stargate: Continuum' on July 29, day-and-date with the standard DVD release. Tech specs for the Blu-ray boast 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video, English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround audio, and additional French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and subtitle options. Extras shared between both versions include audio commentary with executive producer/writer Brad Wright and director Martin Wood, and a suite of three featurettes ("The Making of Stargate: Continuum," "Stargate Goes to the Arctic," "The Layman's Guide to Time Travel"). Fox has set a suggested retail price of $39.98 for the Blu-ray. You'll find specs for 'Stargate: Continuum' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 29. We've also set up a dedicated thread for MGM's TV-on-HD debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Stargate: Continuum' Blu-ray release.Posted Thu Apr 17, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Opus Arte Sets May Arrival for Strauss' 'Die Fledermaus' Blu-ray[teaser]Opus Arte is planning a late-May debut for its latest Blu-ray release, 'Strauss: Die Fledermaus.' [/teaser] Originally released on HD DVD earlier this year, Opus Arte has set a May 27 Blu-ray street date for this BBC production of Strauss' famed comedic operetta, which includes performances and music from the The Glyndebourne Chorus and London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. The complete 196-minute program will be presented on a BD-50 dual-layer disc, in 1080i/VC-1 video and offering audio flavors in PCM 5.0 Surround and 2.0 Stereo (versus the Dolby TrueHD tracks found on the HD DVD). English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian subtitles are also offered. Extras include interviews with the cast, multiple still galleries highlighting the costumes and stage design, and two featurettes, one on the building and architecture of Glyndebourne’s new opera house, and the second a BBC feature on the Waltz. Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.99. You'll find disc details for 'Strauss: Die Fledermaus' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 27. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Opus Arte's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Strauss: Die Fledermaus' Blu-ray release.Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'10,000 B.C.' Headed to Blu-ray this June[teaser]Warner has announced a June Blu-ray debut for the sci-fi action hit '10,000 B.C. .'[/teaser] Despite taking a drubbing from critics, the Roland Emmerich-directed effects epic scored over $250 million at the worldwide box office since it opened in theaters this past Winter. Warner has set a June 24 debut for the Blu-ray, day-and-date with the standard DVD. Although the full media release is not due for several days, specs confirmed by the studio thus far include 1080p/VC-1 video, and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track. Extras shared between both versions are a suite of deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and theatrical trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are two making-of featurettes, "A Wild and Wooly Ride" and "Inspiring an Epic." Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $35.99. You'll find the latest specs for '10,000 B.C.' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 24.Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Video: Warner Previews Features on 'Batman: Gotham Knight' Blu-ray[teaser]Warner has released an online promo for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Batman: Gotham Knight,' providing a first glimpse at the disc's extensive bonus features.[/teaser] As first announced this past February, Warner Home Video will debut the direct-to-video title on Blu-ray July 8 (day-and-date with the standard DVD). A three-minute video clip posted on the title's official website give a first peek at the highly-anticipated Blu-ray release, previewing comments from the film's cast and crew regarding the film's inspiration, revealing some of the disc's supplemental features, and showcasing further behind-the-scenes footage. The clip is available to watch now (via streaming video) at the Batman: Gotham Knight official website. As previously announced, extras on the 'Gotham Knight' Blu-ray are set to include the documentary "A Mirror for the Bat: The Evil Denizens of Gotham City," the "Batman and Me a Devotion of Destiny: The Bob Kane Story" featurette, a pair of bonus episodes from 'Batman: The Animated Series' (personally selected by 'Gotham Knight' director Bruce Timm), and a special sneak peek at the upcoming DC Comics/Warner Premiere animated movie, 'Wonder Woman.' Warner has not yet announced tech specs for 'Gotham Knight,' but we'll keep you posted. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.98. As always, you'll find the latest specs for 'Batman: Gotham Knight' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 8. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Warner Premiere's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Batman: Gotham Knight' Blu-ray release.Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
First Look: 'Sleeping Beauty' Blu-ray Box Art[teaser]It's debut is still months away, but we've got an early peek at the box art for the highly-anticipated Blu-ray release of Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty.'[/teaser] As previously reported, the studio has been touting 'Sleeping Beauty' as the kick-off high-def title in its Platinum Edition series, setting a street date of October 7 for the Blu-ray (the same day as a new standard-def re-issue). Although the studio has not yet issued final details for 'Sleeping Beauty,' early specs for the two-disc set include newly-remastered 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and a PCM 7.1 Surround track (the studio's first). 'Sleeping Beauty' is also confirmed to be among the first titles from Disney to be fully BD-Live-enabled, featuring an exclusive "Virtual Castle" online destination, as well as the "Maleficent's Challenge" interactive game. Finally, Disney has unveiled a peek at the Blu-ray cover for 'Sleeping Beauty,' which touts the two discs of content: As previously announced, Disney has set the suggested retail price at $34.98 for the Blu-ray. As always, you'll find the latest details for 'Sleeping Beauty' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 7. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Disney's Platinum Edition debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Sleeping Beauty' Blu-ray release.Posted Wed Apr 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Roy Orbison Goes 'Black & White' on Blu this July[teaser]Image Entertainment has announced the latest addition to its Blu-ray music catalog, setting an early-July debut for 'Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night.'[/teaser] Featuring over a dozen Orbison favorites and a star-studded guest list including Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, and Tom Waits, 'Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night' will premiere on Blu-ray July 8. (Image previously released an HD DVD edition back in November 2007.) Comparable to the HD DVD, video is presented in 1080i/VC-1 (1.78:1), with a DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track filling in for the Dolby TrueHD. The lone supplement is a bonus song, "Blue Angel." Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.99. You'll find specs for 'Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 8. (There it joins another recently-announced Image music title, 'The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live at the Greek.') We've also set up a dedicated thread for Image's latest music title in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night' Blu-ray release.Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Disney to Bring Four 'Tinkerbell' Direct-to-Video Films to Blu-ray[teaser]Disney is launching a new franchise starring its classic Tinker Bell character, with a slate of four direct-to-video premiere films due to hit Blu-ray beginning this October.[/teaser] In an unusually early announcement, Disney first confirmed an October 28 Blu-ray debut for its direct-to-video spin-off, 'Tinker Bell' (due day-and-date with the standard DVD), but now the studio has revealed that it has far more extensive plans up its sleeve for the famous fairy, with 'Tinker Bell' only the start of an ongoing series of video premiere titles. In a press release unveiling its entire upcoming slate of Walt Disney and Pixar animated releases, the studio confirmed its intention to to bring no less than four installments in the Tinker Bell series to Blu-ray and DVD, at the rate of one per year. On the heels of the October debut of 'Tinker Bell,' due Fall of 2009 is 'Tinker Bell: North of Never Land,' to be followed by 'Tinker Bell: A Midsummer Storm' in 2010, and 'Tinker Bell: A Winter Story' in 2011 (exact street dates TBA). Given the early nature of the news, Disney has not announced any additional tech specs or supplement details. We'll certainly keep you posted as the details come to us. You'll find the latest specs for 'Tinker Bell' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 28. In light of Disney's news, we've also added new listings for 'North of Never Land,' 'A Midsummer Storm' and 'A Winter Story' to the "Release Dates Pending" section as well.Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
PS3 Update v2.3 released, Adds DTS-HD Master Audio (Updated)[teaser]Sony launched Firmware Update v2.30 for the Playstation 3 today, bringing with it a number of updates to the Playstation Store, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio.[/teaser] Editor's Note - Sony has now updated the link to the online firmware update for downloading. The eagerly anticipated update brings with it a redesign of the PS3's online store, with changes to its navigability and content offerings, as well as previews of add-ons, games, and videos. As we've previously reported, this latest PS3 update also gives owners the ability to play back audio that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master at super high variable bit rates. DTS-HD Master Audio has been included in several stand-alone Blu-ray players, but its availability on the PS3 now brings full spectrum premium audio to an even larger audience. The firmware update can now be installed through your system's online interface, or via direct download here.Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 08:25 AM PDT by: -
Image Announces 'Moody Blues: Lovely to See You' Blu-ray[teaser]Putting the Blu in Moody Blues, Image Entertainment has announced a July Blu-ray debut for the band's concert film 'Lovely to See You.'[/teaser] Featuring over 20 classic songs from the venerable rock act and shot entirely in high-definition, 'The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live at the Greek' will premiere on Blu-ray July 8 (Image previously released an HD DVD edition back in November 2007). Comparable to the previous HD DVD, video is presented in 1080i/VC-1 (1.78:1), with 48kHz/24-bit audio (this time in DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround, rather than Dolby TrueHD), with additional English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo options. Included in the thin supplement package is a 2005 interview with the band. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $24.99. You'll find specs for 'Moody Blues: Lovely to See You' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 8.Posted Tue Apr 15, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by:
