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Warner Expands 'I Am Legend' Blu-ray Specs[teaser]Warner has set final details for its high-def releases of 'I Am Legend,' revealing two previously unannounced bonus features exclusively for the Blu-ray edition. [/teaser] Warner first announced the $200 million-plus grossing Will Smith horror-thriller for a March 18 release on Blu-ray, followed by an HD DVD version on April 8, with both versions originally set to receive identical sets of extras. In today's update, tech specs for the two versions remain consistent, with the Blu-ray and HD DVD each enjoying 1080p/VC-1 video transfers and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround tracks. Both editions will also boast a never-before-seen extended cut of the film with "controversial" alternate ending, presented in full HD. But while both the HD DVD and the Blu-ray will continue to carry four previously-announced animated comics among the disc's supplements, added to the mix on the Blu-ray only is a gallery of documentary vignettes dubbed "Creating I Am Legend," plus the featurette "Cautionary Tale: The Science of I Am Legend" (all in full HD). Warner has also revealed that the four animated comics will be relegated to the standard-def DVD side of the HD DVD/DVD combo only. Suggested retail price remains at $35.98 for both the Blu-ray and HD DVD/DVD combo versions. You'll find final disc details for 'I Am Legend' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where the title is indexed under March 18 and April 8, respectively. We've also set up dedicated threads for Warner's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'I Am Legend' Blu-ray release and the 'I Am Legend' HD DVD release.Posted Fri Feb 8, 2008 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
More Warner 2008/2009 Blu-ray Release Plans[teaser]Warner has revealed more of its next-gen disc release plans for 2008/2009, adding 'The Matrix Trilogy,' 'Heat' and 'Ben-Hur' to its Blu-ray dance card. [/teaser] As we've previously reported, Warner kicked off a year-long celebration of the studio's 85th anniversary at a media event earlier this week, unveiling a slew of highly anticipated Blu-ray titles for 2008 and early 2009. The studio has now revealed even more of its next-gen plans to the folks over at The Digital Bits, highlighted by an initiative to release all future high-profile catalog special edition titles on both DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously. Among the newly-revealed classics planned for release of the coming two years are 'Gigi,' 'An American in Paris,' 'How the West Was Won' and a 50th Anniversary Edition of 'Ben-Hur.' Furthermore, the studio has pledged to release all of its Blu-ray "catch up" titles over the course of 2008/2009, including such previously HD DVD exclusive titles as 'Casablanca,' 'The Adventures of Robin Hood,' 'V for Vendetta' and 'The Matrix Trilogy.' The following is an updated list of all Blu-ray titles confirmed by Warner this week for 2008/2009 (note that the studio has stressed that this line-up is not intended to be a complete schedule of its planned Blu-ray releases, but rather a peek at some of the higher profile releases currently being planned for Blu-ray release): Q2 2008: 'Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collection' (includes 'Dirty Harry,' 'Magnum Force,' 'The Enforcer,' 'Sudden Impact,' 'The Dead Pool' and bonus disc "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows') Q3 2008: 'An American in Paris,' 'Batman Anthology' (includes 'Batman,' 'Batman Returns,' 'Batman Forever,' 'Batman & Robin,' 'Batman Begins'), 'Batman Begins,' 'Gigi,' 'How the West Was Won' Q4 2008: 'A Christmas Story: Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Otis: Uncut' 2008: 'The Adventures of Robin Hood,' 'Casablanca,' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' 'Clash of the Titans,' 'Excalibur,' 'Forbidden Planet,' 'Grand Prix,' 'Heat,' 'The Matrix Trilogy,' 'Mutiny on the Bounty,' 'V for Vendetta' 2009: 'Ben-Hur,' 'Gone with the Wind,' 'North By Northwest,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Woodstock' 2008/2009 Theatrical Releases: '10,000 B.C.,' 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Get Smart,' 'Speed Racer'' and 'Where the Wild Things Are.' Warner has not released specific dates or tech specs for any of the above titles, but the studio is promising additional details in the coming months as each title is individually dated. Until then, you'll each of these titles listed in the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Fri Feb 8, 2008 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
First Look: 'Space Ace' Blu-ray, HD DVD Art[teaser]Its release date is still a couple of months away, but we've got an early peek at the box art for the high-def bow of the arcade classic, 'Space Ace.'[/teaser] As we reported earlier this week, Digital Leisure is launching 'Space Ace' on Blu-ray and HD DVD as a follow-up to last year's high-def release of 'Dragon's Lair.' Previously announced specs for both versions include remastered 1080p video (with the option to view in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios) and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. Among the bonus features is a picture-in-picture video commentary with the game's creators, additional interviews, and (on the HD DVD only) a "Head 2 Head" mode allowing web-enabled users to play the game simultaneously. Now comes the first look at the title's cover art, recalling the graphics of the game's '80s heyday: As previously announced, Digital Leisure has set a suggested list price of $29.95 for both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD. You'll find final specs for 'Space Ace' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 11. We've also set up dedicated threads for Digital Leisure's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Space Ace' Blu-ray release and the 'Space Ace' HD DVD release.Posted Thu Feb 7, 2008 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Image Brings 'The Air I Breathe' to Blu-ray[teaser]Image Entertainment is planning an early May high-def release for the star-studded indie drama 'The Air I Breathe.'[/teaser] The tale of five disparate individuals (including stars Andy Garcia, Kevin Bacon, Emile Hirsch and Sarah Michelle Gellar) whose fates intertwine in an interlocking, Robert Altman-style narrative, 'The Air I Breathe' received only a brief one-week theatrical run last month (and a meager $25,000 domestic gross). Image will release the film on Blu-ray May 6, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD. (Although the company is currently format-agnostic, they have not announced an HD DVD version of 'The Air I Breathe.') Tech specs for the Blu-ray version include 1080p video and audio options in DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Image has not announced any bonus features for either the Blu-ray or DVD versions, but we'll keep you posted. Retail for the Blu-ray is a suggested $35.98. You'll find the latest disc details for 'The Air I Breathe' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 6. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Image Entertainment's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss 'The Air I Breathe' Blu-ray release.Posted Thu Feb 7, 2008 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' Coming to Blu-ray this April[teaser]Fox has announced an April Fool's Day arrival for the the $200 million-grossing smash 'Alvin and the Chipmunks.'[/teaser] The surprise hit of the holiday season, the Jason Lee-starrer defied all box office expectations with its mix of live action and animated whimsy. Fox will bring 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' to Blu-ray on April 1, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a BD-25 single-layer disc featuring 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video and DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround at 48kHz/24-bit (French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround dubs are also provided, along with subtitle options in English, French, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Korean) Considering the film's high box office profile, announced extras shared across both versions are somewhat slim, including only two featurettes ("Chip-Chip-Hooray! Chipmunk History," "Hitting the Harmony"), a batch of high-def trailers, and a Digital Copy download version of the film for viewing on PCs and other portable devices. Suggested retail for the Blu-ray has been set at $39.98. You'll find disc details for 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 1. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Fox's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' Blu-ray release.Posted Thu Feb 7, 2008 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Disney Sets 'Chronicles of Narnia' Blu-ray for May[teaser]Disney has unveiled early details for 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,' which will make its highly anticipated next-gen bow this May.[/teaser] Long-promised for Blu-ray release, Disney today confirmed to High-Def Digest that 'Narnia,' will hit high-def May 13 in a lavish special edition with numerous bonus features. Although the full media release is due shortly, early details indicate that much if not all of the bonus material found on the previous DVD editions will make its way to the Blu-ray. Among the extras already revealed are two audio commentaries (with the filmmakers and cast), plus the multiple-part "Creating Narnia" documentary. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include 1080p video and uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround audio (at 48kHz/24-bit), as well as English, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and subtitle options. Disney has not yet set an official list price for 'Narnia,' but Amazon pegs the MSRP at 34.99 (the retailer is currently offering the disc for pre-order at just $23.95). While we await the full announcement from Disney, you'll find early disc details for 'The Chronicles of Narnia' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 13. We've also set up a dedicated thread for Disney's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Chronicles of Narnia' Blu-ray release.Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
Warner Previews 2008/2009 Blu-ray Slate[teaser]Warner Bros. has unveiled plans to celebrate its 85th birthday in grand style, promising Blu-ray release of such beloved titles as 'Gone with the Wind,' 'The Wizard of Oz' and films from the Batman and Dirty Harry series. [/teaser] Revealed by top studio execs at a media event held last night on the Warner lot, the studio says it will honor its 85-year legacy with an extensive slate of DVD and Blu-ray releases of major theatrical and catalog titles throughout 2008 and early 2009. Many titles mentioned have already been hinted at in previous public statements, including films from the Batman and Dirty Harry franchises, the upcoming theatrical hits 'The Dark Knight,' 'Speed Racer' and 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' as well as the first high-def release from Warner's new direct-to-video premiere label Raw Feed, 'Otis: Uncut.' The studio went on to say that several of its most beloved classics will go into temporary moratorium on standard DVD in 2008 in anticipation of a series of lavish re-issues on both DVD and Blu-ray in 2009, including 'Gone with the Wind,' 'The Wizard of Oz' and 'North by Northwest.' The list of titles previewed at last night's event are as follows (note that the studio stressed that this is not a complete list of planned Blu-ray releases, simply the highlights): Q2 2008: 'Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collection' (includes 'Dirty Harry,' 'Magnum Force,' 'The Enforcer,' 'Sudden Impact,' 'The Dead Pool' and bonus disc "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows') Q3 2008: 'Batman Anthology' (includes 'Batman,' 'Batman Returns,' 'Batman Forever,' 'Batman & Robin,' 'Batman Begins'), 'Batman Begins' Q4 2008: 'Otis: Uncut' 2009: 'Gone with the Wind,' 'North By Northwest,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Woodstock' 2008/2009 Theatrical Releases: '10,000 B.C.,' 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Get Smart,' 'Speed Racer'' and 'Where the Wild Things Are.' Warner has not released specific street dates or technical specs, but full announcements are expected over the coming months as the studio rolls out its complete 2008/2009 line-up. Needless to say, we'll keep you posted! In the meantime, we'll be adding all of the above titles to the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule. Stay tuned! Thanks to all who sent in tips related to this story.Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
'Space Ace' Rockets to Blu-ray, HD DVD[teaser]Digital Leisure is making a return trip to the '80s arcade, announcing an April Blu-ray and HD DVD release for the videogame classic 'Space Ace.'[/teaser] Following the company's high-def success with 'Dragon's Lair' (which it released on blu-ray and HD DVD last year), Digital Leisure is now readying its 1986 successor, 'Space Ace,' for a simultaneous April 8 release on both high-def formats. Utilizing the same gameplay format as 'Dragon's Lair,' 'Space Ace' combines hand-drawn 2-D animation from the Don Bluth Studios with disc-based technology, allowing gamers to pilot the heroic Ace on a series of adventures using simple joystick commands. Fully remastered for high-def, 'Space Ace' will be presented in identical 1080p transfers on the Blu-ray and HD DVD, with the option to play the game in both the original 1.37:1 aspect ratio as well as recomposed 1.78:1. Audio options include remixed English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, plus subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German. Extras shared across both versions include a picture-in-picture video commentary with game creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer, additional interviews excerpts, as well as a "Watch Mode," which allows you to view the game's complete animation without playing. Exclusive to the HD DVD version will be "Leisure Online," a format-first online player experience that includes "Head 2 Head" gaming, allowing multiple web-enabled users to play simultaneously. Digital Leisure has set a suggested price of $29.98 a peice for the Blu-ray and HD DVD. As always, you'll find disc details for 'Space Ace' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 8. We've also set up dedicated threads for Digital Leisure's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Space Ace' Blu-ray release and the 'Space Ace' HD DVD release.Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Echo Bridge Plans Line of Low-Priced Blu-ray Discs[teaser]Indie distributor Echo Bridge has announced their debut slate of high-def releases, bringing a wave of six bargain-priced hits to Blu-ray this April.[/teaser] A diverse mix of theatrical releases and made-for-TV fare, the line-up includes the 2006 telefilm 'Blackbeard,' the hit mini-series '10.5: Apocalypse,' 'Category 7: The End of the World' and 'The Curse of King Tut's Tomb,' and the theatrical releases 'The Last Sentinel' and 'Artie Lange's Beer League.' Priced at a format-low of $14.95 a pop, Echo Bridge will release the entire slate on Blu-ray April 1. (Echo Bridge has not announced any plans to support HD DVD.) Tech specs for all six titles include 1080 video and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround tracks. There are no announced supplemental features. You'll find disc details for all of Echo Bridge's debut high-def line-up linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under April 1.Posted Wed Feb 6, 2008 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Amazon to Offer Exclusive National Geographic Blu-ray[teaser]Global warming is coming to high-def with the Amazon exclusive Blu-ray release of the National Geographic Channel documentary, 'Six Degrees Could Change the World.'[/teaser] Airing on the National Geographic Channel on February 10, 'Six Degrees' will make its home video debut on standard-def DVD in early April, and will be made available through normal retail channels. For the documentary's high-def debut, however, National Geographic will be offering the Blu-ray exclusively through the Amazon, with a release date of April 22. Tech specs include 1080p video (at the original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1) along with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. There are were no announced extras at press time. Amazon is currently offering 'Six Degrees' on Blu-ray for $19.95 (see the link below to pre-order) You'll find disc details for 'Six Degrees Could Change the World' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 22. We've also set up a dedicated thread for National Geographic's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Six Degrees Could Change the World' Blu-ray release.Posted Tue Feb 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM PST by:
