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No lie, Disney spells out its Blu-ray plans for 2009

by Steven Kim posted Jan 9th 2009 at 12:58AM

Disney logoAt 70-years old, it's hard to think of Pinocchio as a boy anoymore, but he'll be coming to life on Blu-ray as part of Disney's 2009 Blu-ray releases. Approximately seven titles will be released in the Blu-ray+DVD combo packs that families love for portability, including classics that will get the Platinum Edition treatment, like "Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition" and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition." All in all, the Mouse will be turning more than 30 titles loose in North America on Blu-ray, with about 14 packaged with a DisneyFile digital copy for the kids' viewing enjoyment. If you (or your kids) need to know what to watch for, hit the link for details.

Hey Hollywood, how about some Blu-ray Disc price cuts?

by Darren Murph posted Dec 1st 2008 at 4:28PM


Remember when high-def discs had to be priced competitively, else the other format would gladly undercut it? Yeah, those were the days. Now that BD is parading around as the lone high-def physical format, the only real competitors are digital downloads, DVDs and internet piracy. All of which are very real threats, by the way. A recent writeup over at The Dallas Morning News brings up an excellent point -- now that Blu-ray player prices are at a reasonable level, when can we expect movies to follow suit? Oh sure, we understand that programming in all that interactivity that eight people care about costs a lot of dough, but seriously, you can't just let admission be next-to-free and then make the rides unattainable. Back in July, we heard that Warner was looking to lower the (pricing) bar this holiday season, but since then, everyone else has been mute. It's about time someone spoke up, no?

[Image courtesy of GamerNode]

D-BOX deal brings Motion Code rumblings to Universal Blu-ray Discs

by Darren Murph posted Nov 19th 2008 at 9:54AM


We'll be completely honest -- we had every idea that D-BOX would just fade away into the sunset just a few short months after we initially heard about it. Au Contraire! In just the past week, we've seen the outfit -- which is responsible for a rumbling Motion Code technology that enables you to "feel" the motions of the movie you're watching -- venture into the wide world of gaming and now into Universal's heart. Starting with the December 23-bound Death Race, D-BOX Motion Code will be available on select Universal Studios Home Entertainment Blu-ray Discs, and if we were still placing bets, we'd now say this is probably just the first of many big studio licensing agreements to come.

Fox bringing Sideways, Donnie Darko to Blu-ray in February

by Darren Murph posted Nov 5th 2008 at 10:56PM


Man, February's gearing up to put a hurtin' on your wallet. Alongside long-awaited titles like Passion of the Christ and Napoleon Dynamite, Fox Home Entertainment is scheduled to drop another duo that should move quite a few units. The cult classic Donnie Darko will finally get the Blu-ray treatment it deserves on 2/10, while the niche comedy Sideways arrives on Blu a week earlier. Details are all but non-existent outside of that, but you can expect MSRPs of $34.95 and $29.99, respectively.

Read - Donnie Darko
Read - Sideways

Top 10 films that should be released on Blu-ray -- do you agree?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 26th 2008 at 10:28PM


Sound & Vision has a rather interesting article up about the ten films that it most wants to see released on Blu-ray, and while we concur with the most of 'em, we're interested to see what you readers think as well. Before delving into your fanboy-ish desires, however, it's important to note that past popularity isn't necessarily a sign that a particular movie will be re-released on BD. As we've learned before, there are quite a few variables that studios take into consideration outside of just public perception. We're tempted to blurt out all ten right here for discussion, but we know how disgruntled some of you folks get when spoilers are sprung on you.

Poll: Which Blu-ray studio is your favorite?

by Darren Murph posted Oct 11th 2008 at 12:00PM


You've already seen how Sound & Vision graded the biggest Blu-ray studios, but now we're interested in getting your take. Now that you've had a number of months to check out each studio on a level playing field (read: everyone on team Blu), which studio(s) have impressed you the most? Feel free to include pros / cons from image quality, soundtrack fidelity, extras, BonusView / BD-Live support, etc. Let us know which of the Blu-ray studios has made you smile the most in 2008, and make sure you voice your opinion on which one(s) could stand to improve.

Which Blu-ray studio is your favorite?

A&E Home Video gets ready to enter Blu-ray market

by Darren Murph posted Oct 9th 2008 at 8:23AM


Pretty scary way up there, isn't it A&E? Without first checking the depth of the murky waters below, A&E Home Video is gearing up to plunge into the Blu-ray realm with two titles later this month. Tentatively scheduled to ship on October 28th (though we've seen pre-order dates well into November), The Universe: The Complete Season One and Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us will take viewers into a 2005 tour shot with over 24 HD cameras and into 13 episodes of galactic exploration (we'll let you guess which is which). Look for the 30+ song concert disc to sport an MSRP of $34.95, while the latter collection will demand $79.95.

Sony Pictures Blu-ray Club gives points for buying its BD-Live titles

by Darren Murph posted Oct 6th 2008 at 1:01PM

Similar to Walt Disney Studios' Disney Movie Rewards Live program -- which will launch alongside Sleeping Beauty on October 7th -- Sony Pictures is crafting its very own rewards program. The Sony Pictures Blu-ray Club will supposedly encourage purchases of BD-Live-enabled titles by giving owners "points" that they can redeem toward "sweepstakes entries and other added values featured in the existing Sony Rewards program." Obviously, it costs nothing to actually join the loyalty program, and while we can't help but announce this news with our heads pointed decidedly downward, at least Sony gives users the ability to register each new disc via their Blu-ray player should they choose. Launch date? October 7th, with Sandler's You Don't Mess With the Zohan driving the sure to be widespread momentum.

[Via VideoBusiness]

The Ultimate Matrix Collection to make Blu-ray debut on October 14th

by Darren Murph posted Jul 24th 2008 at 7:22PM Breaking News


We've already Windexed our spectacles and hit refresh a time or two, and yes, The Matrix is finally -- finally! -- headed to Blu-ray. We've wondered when we'd see this go down for what seems like eons, but thanks to new data (including box art) over at DVD Active, Warner Home Video will finally loose The Ultimate Matrix Collection on BD on October 14th. The $129.95 (MSRP, we imagine) set will include seven discs, though we're not certain what extras will surround the films themselves just yet. Start saving those pennies, you know you'll want this one.

[Thanks, Alex]

How are back catalog titles chosen for Blu-ray release?

by Darren Murph posted Jun 10th 2008 at 9:21PM


C'mon, you know you've asked yourself this. After all, aren't we all tense with anticipation just waiting to see what titles studios are planning to re-release on BD, only to kvetch mightily after our favorite flicks get pushed aside for films that "no one will watch?" Thankfully, Sound & Vision has taken at least some of the mystery out and has revealed five shortcuts to getting a film released on Blu-ray. Essentially, studios are looking for titles that will enable BD setups to shine, and if the movie has proven popular in the past, there's a decent shot the demand will be there for a BD release. Additionally, studios love re-releasing originals when a sequel is in theaters, and of course, if it can stop long enough to hear fans clamoring for a specific title, that too could urge them to crank out a 1080p edition. Be sure and give the read link a visit for the full rundown.

Universal Pictures Australasia releasing 20 HD DVD titles in 2008

by Darren Murph posted Feb 5th 2008 at 12:40AM


In a move not totally shocking considering Ken Graffeo's sentiments shared just days ago, Universal Pictures Australasia has come forward and announced that it will continue backing HD DVD by promising some 20 titles on the format in 2008. According to the release, consumers in Australia and New Zealand can look forward to picking up Atonement, The Kingdom, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, American Gangster and Charlie Wilson's War on HD DVD later this year. Unfortunately, none of the other flicks making up the previously mentioned "20" were detailed, so it looks as if we'll be waiting in tense anticipation for release dates and titles for the majority of the bunch.

[Via iTWire, thanks Anthony B.]

The Bourne Ultimatum DVD / HD DVD combo disc landing on December 11th

by Darren Murph posted Nov 8th 2007 at 11:33PM


Let's face it: there's a high probability that you (or someone you know) will be frantically searching for a stocking stuffer at the last minute next month, so it's mighty convenient that Universal Studios is unleashing The Bourne Ultimatum a fortnight before Christmas. The DVD / HD DVD combo disc will include a number of deleted scenes, feature commentary with director Paul Greengrass / actor Matt Damon and several bonus clips titled Man on the Move, New York Chase, Planning the Punches, Rooftop Pursuit and Driving School. Oh, and just in case you're too big a fan to only drop $39.98 (MSRP) on this, you can opt for the four-disc "The Jason Bourne Collection" -- which we can only assume will also be released on HD DVD at this point -- when it lands in a snazzy "safe deposit box" package with a Jason Bourne passport (huzzah!).

[Image courtesy of DVDTalk]

Ratatouille joins Cars for November 6th Blu-ray release

by Darren Murph posted Aug 24th 2007 at 11:33AM


Those already saving up their $34.99 for Disney's Cars may now be inclined to pinch those pennies a bit harder, as it looks like Ratatouille will be landing on store shelves the very same day. Sure, this seems like a shameless attempt to get early-bird holiday shoppers (and grown-ups with youngsters in tow) to pick up twice the amount of Blu-ray films they were initially planning to come November 6th, but we won't be surprised if the scheme works out quite well. No word just yet on what kinds of rat-infested extras we'll see on the BD release, but we're keepin' our ears, er, nose to the ground.

Fox, MGM strike back -- proudly unveil slew of upcoming Blu-ray films

by Darren Murph posted Aug 20th 2007 at 5:22PM


Call us crazy, but the response time between camps seems to be growing increasingly shorter with each and every blow. Merely hours after Paramount and Dreamworks chose HD DVD (or were they "persuaded?") as their one true love, Fox and MGM (Blu-ray backers from the start, mind you) have struck back with a few fightin' words of their own. Most notably, Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, proclaimed: "Given that Blu-ray has consistently outsold HD DVD all year, we believe that the time is right for us to accelerate our activities and help convert the nearly 60 million high-definition households worldwide into Blu-ray households." In order to do so, the release also lays out details for a whopping 29 titles that are slated to hit BD in the not-too-distant future. Of course, the timing here is especially noteworthy considering Fox's unexplained absence of late, and the two made quite clear that BD-J / BD-Live components won't be skimped on in the upcoming releases. Though not confirmed, you can also likely count on facing BD+ when picking up any of these forthcoming discs, but with choices like Ronin, Master & Commander, and A Bridge Too Far, Blu-ray fans should have plenty to keep them occupied in the coming months.

Read - Fox, MGM Blu-ray plans
Read - Were Paramount / DreamWorks paid to commit?

Disney reveals four blockbusters coming to Blu-ray in 2008

by Darren Murph posted Aug 17th 2007 at 2:40PM

While it was only a matter of time before Walt Disney brought one of its famed animated classics to BD, today the company has finally revealed what that first title will be: Sleeping Beauty. The disc will include a "virtual castle and multi-player activities," both of which utilize BD-Live technology, and if that wasn't enough, the studio also announced that it would be bringing Finding Nemo and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Blu-ray next year. Finally, National Treasure will be the outfit's "first BD-Live" title to hit the market when it lands next summer, sandwiched between Narnia in the spring and Finding Nemo / Sleeping Beauty in the fall.

[Via MovieWeb]




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