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Buy Two-Get-One Free Blu-ray Sale at Amazon (Update: Barnes & Noble Too)UPDATE: As many readers were quick to point out, Barnes and Noble is offering a similar buy two-get-one free promotion online and in stores. That sale is running through May 6, 2008. Details can be found here. [teaser]In a special promotion running through April 18, Amazon is giving customers a chance to build their blu-ray collections while enjoying some great savings.[/teaser] The sale includes 58 films culled from numerous studio libraries, and includes such fan favorites as '300,' 'The Departed,' 'The Fifth Element,' and 'Bladerunner (Five-Disc Complete Collector's Edition).' View the complete list here. The retailer is also highlighting an exclusive Blu-ray bundle of 'National Treasure' and 'National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets,' which is now available for pre-order. As always, you'll find up-to-the-minute information on this and other sales spotted in-store and online in the Blu-ray bargains area of our forums.Posted Wed Apr 9, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Disney Unveils Specs, Bundles Glasses with 3-D 'Hannah Montana' Blu-ray[teaser]Disney has revealed final specs for 'Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour,' which will hit Blu-ray this August in a format-first 3-D viewing option -- with 3-D glasses included.[/teaser] As we first reported last week, Disney issued an early alert to retailers for the teen box office sensation, which will hit Blu-ray on August 19 (day-and-date with the standard DVD). Disney has now officially confirmed the date, and unveiled specs which are sure to pique the curiosity of even the most Hannah Montana-resistant early adopter. Marking the first-ever next-gen release to include both 2-D and 3-D viewing modes, 'Best of Both Worlds' will come packed with four pairs of 3-D glasses. Both versions will be presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio, plus French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and subtitle options. Bonus features shared between the Blu-ray and DVD include"The Ultimate Personal Tour" documentary (spend a day with Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers as they prepare for the concert), plus two extra songs ("Good And Broken" by Miley Cyrus, and the ABBA classic "SOS" by the Jonas Brothers). As previously announced, Disney has set a suggested list price of $35.98 for the Blu-ray. You'll find specs for 'Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 19. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Hannah Montana's high-def debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour' Blu-ray release.Posted Wed Apr 9, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
Grieg's 'Piano Concerto' Multichannel Audio Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Surround Records has announced a late-April arrival for its debut Blu-ray multichannel audio release, 'Grieg: Piano Concerto.'[/teaser] Taking inspiration from Norwegian folk-art and poetry, 'Grieg: Piano Concerto/Symphonic Dances/In Autumn' features a trio of the famed composer's performances presented in an "Acoustic Reality Experience," designed to give listeners a realistic representation of the acoustic spaces in which performances originally took place. The street date for the Blu-ray is April 25. Carrying on the tradition of its past HD DVD releases, Surround Records presents 'Grieg' in remixed 7.1-channel DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio high-resolution surround (24-bit/96k), along with an accompanying video track that features multimedia artwork and visuals encoded in 1080p/VC-1. The previously HD DVD-exclusive label has issued a half a dozen multichannel audio releases since making its high-def debut last year with 'Uncommon Bach.' Though multichannel audio releases (sans any significant video material) are fairly common on standard-def DVD, Surround Records is currently the only label actively releasing titles on the two next-gen disc formats. Retail price for 'Grieg: Piano Concerto/Symphonic Dances/In Autumn' on Blu-ray has been set at $34.98. (The disc is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com for 23.95 -- see the link below.)Posted Wed Apr 9, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Fox Plotting 'Firefly' for Blu-ray[teaser]Attention, browncoats: there's no date yet, but Fox says it's planning an extensive Blu-ray release for the TV cult phenomenon 'Firefly.'[/teaser] That's according to TV Shows on DVD, which recently posted an update reporting that they've received confirmation from the studio that it's currently in the early stages of preparing a major Blu-ray box set release of the short-lived but much-beloved Joss Whedon series. The online rumor mill first started buzzing a couple of weeks ago, after 'Firefly' cast member Jewel Staite revealed to an Australian convention crowd that she'd recently been contacted by Fox in regards to contributing to a new box set release of the complete 'Firefly' series, though no format was specified. When TV Shows on DVD approached the studio for comment on the rumors, they were reportedly told by a Fox rep that "news travels fast." The rep went on to confirm that a 'Firefly' Blu-ray release is currently in the early development stages, though supplement details and a street date window were a long way off. Running for only one season to generally low ratings, 'Firefly' nevertheless has gone on to gain one of the most devoted cult followings in the history of network television. When and if the show does arrive on Blu-ray, however, it won't be the first next-gen appearance for the property. Universal previously release the big-screen 'Firefly' spin-off 'Serenity' on HD DVD back in early 2006 (though at press time the studio has not yet announced plans for a Blu-ray version). Needless to say, watch this space for news on this developing story. In the meantime, we've added 'Firefly' to the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule. Stay tuned!Posted Tue Apr 8, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Sony Sets Specs, BD-Live for 'MIB' Blu-ray[teaser]Sony has unwrapped the full specs for the June Blu-ray release of 'Men in Black,' which will hit high-def with extensive bonus features and BD-Live content.[/teaser] As previously reported, Sony announced a June 17 Blu-ray arrival for 'Men in Black' via a splashy ad in last week's trades. Now they've officially announced the release, which will come fully stocked with hours of bonus material. Special features are extensive, and boast all of the extras found on the trend-setting 2001 standard DVD edition including a "Telestrator Commentary" (with director Barry Sonnenfeld and Tommy Lee Jones), second "Technical Commentary" (with Sonnenfeld, effects artist Rick Baker, and the Industrial Light & Magic Team), deleted and alternate scenes, the "Metamorphosis of Men In Black" vignette, visual effects scene deconstructions with optional technical commentary, character animation studies, storyboards, two still galleries (with concept art and production photos), a "Scene Editing Workshop," the "Men in Black" music video with Will Smith and Mikey, the "Intergalactic Pursuit" trivia game, and theatrical trailers. As already announced, the Blu-ray will also include the exclusive "Intergalactic Pursuit" interactive game via BD-Live (Profile 2.0 compatibility required). Tech specs include 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video (1.85:1), English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio, and a host of Dolby Digital 5.1 and subtitle options including French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Thai. Sony has set a suggested retail price of $28.95 for the Blu-ray. You'll find final specs for 'Men in Black' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 17. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Sony's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Men in Black' Blu-ray release.Posted Tue Apr 8, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Warner Unveils Specs, Box Art for Dual 'Batman Begins' Blu-rays[teaser]Warner has unveiled specs and box art for the upcoming dual Blu-ray releases of 'Batman Begins', which will hit stores this July with picture-in-picture and an exclusive peek at the upcoming 'The Dark Knight.' [/teaser] As we have previously reported, the $200 million-grossing Christopher Nolan re-invention will hit Blu-ray on July 8 in two versions -- a standard Blu-ray, and a 'Limited Edition Gift Set' featuring the same single-disc as the standard version plus deluxe packaging and a variety of collectibles. Both editions will share identical disc specs, featuring 1080p/VC-1 video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround (48kHz/16-bit) audio, plus Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (640kbps) and subtitle options in English, French, and Spanish. Extras will mirror the previous HD DVD version, including a dozen making-of featurettes, a still gallery and "Confidential Files' with text and images, the "Tankman Begins" MTV spoof, and theatrical trailers. The Blu-ray will also feature the "In-Movie Experience" picture-in-picture commentary (Profile 1.1-enabled) found on the HD DVD. Exclusive to the Blu-ray is the complete 6-minute prologue to the upcoming theatrical sequel 'The Dark Knight' (set to hit theaters July 18), which premiered on the internet earlier this year to great acclaim. Among the goodies found only in the Gift Set are a 'Batman Begins' motion art lenticular, a 32-page 'Dark Knight' booklet (with script pages, exclusive photos and storyboards), five collectible Batman Begins postcards, an exclusive DC Comic Book Adaptation to the upcoming sequel 'The Dark Knight'' plus $7.50 in Movie Cash towards buying a 'Dark Knight' ticket. Finally, Warner has unveiled the box art for both Blu-ray versions: As previously announced, Warner has set a suggested retail price of $28.99 for the standard Blu-ray, and $49.99 for the Gift Set. You'll find specs for 'Batman Begins' and 'Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under July 8. We've also set up a dedicated thread for the Dark Knight's Blu-ray debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss both 'Batman Begins' Blu-ray releases.Posted Tue Apr 8, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'So I Married an Axe Murderer' Coming to Blu-ray[teaser]Sony has announced that the Mike Myers cult comedy is headed to Blu-ray this June, but sans any bonus features.[/teaser] Released in 1993, 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' failed to reach the box office heights of other Myers comedies, but has since found an appreciable following on video. Sony will debut the Blu-ray version on June 17. Fans may be disappointed by the complete lack of extras, however, with nary a single bonus feature to be found. Tech specs include 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio. Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $28.95. You'll find the latest specs for 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 17. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Mike Myers' high-def debut in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' Blu-ray release.Posted Tue Apr 8, 2008 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Discovery Channel's 'Human Body' Coming to Blu-ray[teaser]The Discovery Channel is set to go where no high-def release has gone before with the Blu-ray debut of its controversial four-part series 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits this July.'[/teaser] Taking viewers across continents to introduce them to people who have pushed their bodies to the max, 'Human Body' uses CGI technology and hi-tech camera work to examine their subjects' physical ordeals in vivid detail -- both externally and internally. (Eeek!) Image will present the complete four-episode, 180-minute series on a BD-50 dual-layer disc in 1080p video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio. There are no announced supplemental features. Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.98 You'll find the latest specs for 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 29. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Discovery Channel's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Human Body: Pushing the Limits' Blu-ray release.Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
Sony Plots 'MIB' Blu-ray for June[teaser]Making an early trade announcement, Sony says the 'Men in Black' will make their long-awaited Blu-ray debut this June with exclusive BD-Live content.[/teaser] The studio first teased fans earlier this year at CES, where they revealed that the disc was planned to include BD-Live-enabled exclusive content, but stopped short of issuing a firm street date. Although Sony has yet to officially announced the 'MIB' Blu-ray, they've taken out this splashy ad in next week's issue of the industry trade Home Media Magazine, with the tagline "Blu is the new Black!" and promising a June 17 touchdown for the highly-anticipated release: There are no tech specs yet, but the disc will boast a BD-Live-based interactive game, as well as additional bonus features still to be announced. Needless to say, we'll keep you posted as soon as official details are revealed. As we await a full announcement, you'll find preliminary specs for 'Men in Black' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 17. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Sony's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Men in Black' Blu-ray release.Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Disney Scouting Rock Stars for 'Camp Rock' Blu-ray[teaser]Calling all wannabe rock stars: Disney has announced an August debut for 'Camp Rock,' which will hit Blu-ray in a feature-loaded "Extended Rock Star Edition."[/teaser] Based on the hit Disney Channel series of the same name, 'Camp Rock' allows you to go to musical boot camp with all of your favorite Disney stars, including the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. Due on Blu-ray August 19 (day-and-date with the standard DVD), 'Camp Rock' will combine highlights from the show, new material, and extensive supplemental content in what the studio is dubbing the "Extended Rock Star Edition." Bonus features shared across the Blu-ray and DVD versions include multiple featurettes ("How To Be A Rock Star," "Jonas Brothers: Real Life Rock Stars," "Introducing Demi Lovato,"Too Cool: Setting The Stage," "Hasta La Vista: From Rehearsal To Final Jam"), music videos, a "Camp Memories" still gallery, and both Sing-Along and Karaoke functions. Disney has yet to issue tech specs for 'Camp Rock,' the full details are due in the days ahead. Stay tuned. Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $34.99. You'll find the latest specs for 'Camp Rock' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 19. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Disney's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Camp Rock' Blu-ray release.Posted Mon Apr 7, 2008 at 08:00 AM PDT by:
