Archive for the 'Movies' Category

Star Wars Saga finally available on Blu-ray Disc next autumn

Star Wars imageIts official… a box set of all six Special Edition Star Wars films will arrive in full Blu-ray glory next autumn. At the Star Wars Celebration V convention in Orlando last week George Lucas said “Blu-ray is the absolute best way to experience Star Wars at home” adding: “The films have never looked or sounded better”.

Lucas set tongues wagging when he indicated that the Blu-ray box set would feature documentaries, vintage behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, retrospectives, a specially created audio track and never-before-seen footage from the Lucasfilm archives.

Also confirmed for the Blu-ray box set is a long-lost deleted scene from Return of the Jedi which depicts Luke Skywalker assembling his new, green-bladed lightsaber prior to infiltrating Jabba the Hutt’s palace. After completing the Jedi weapon, Luke stashes it in R2-D2′s dome. What makes the deleted clip so remarkable is that it made it all the way to postproduction before it was cut, so it is a rare example of a deleted scene with completed visual effects and music.

Although the Blu-ray box set won’t be available until next autumn, for most Star Wars fans however simply being able to view the whole series in high definition will be enough to keep them going through the cold winter months ahead.

HDTVorg has the full story here:

Toy Story 3 heading to Blu-ray

Toy Story 3 Blu-ray DiscGreat news for animation fans – Disney has confirmed that Toy Story 3, now the highest grossing animated film of all time, will be released on Blu-ray Disc before Christmas. Better still, it comes loaded with special features exclusive to Blu-ray.

Featurettes include Roundin’ Up A Western Opening and Goodbye Andy, as well as the making of short film Day and Night.  For comedy value, watch Ken’s dating tips and there is also a game you can play to test your Toy Story trivia. 

A must-have for any Blu-ray collection, Toy Story 3 is out this November in the US but the European release date is yet to be confirmed.  Rest assured, it will be worth the wait.  To read more, Movie Web has the details.

Next generation Karate Kid chops its way onto Blu-ray

Karate Kid Blu-ray DiscA few weeks ago we covered the Blu-ray Disc release of the original Karate Kid. Now Sony Pictures has announced that the remake, currently in cinemas across the world and starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, will be released on BD this October.

The film follows the much-loved original story of a boy moving to a new home and embracing martial arts, but this time relocates the action to China. The film has been very successful, making $254,989,424 so far at the worldwide box office.

Heart wrenching and thrilling, the Karate Kid Blu-ray will also include some very interesting Blu-ray exclusive bonus content. Most notable are an alternate ending, which contains a deleted Jackie Chan fight scene, and a set of interactive Chinese lessons. The disc also contains the video for Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” featuring Jaden Smith, production diaries from Jackie Chan and a ‘making-of’ documentary. And for those with a Sony PSP, the Blu-ray also comes with a digital copy of the film for watching on the move.

For full details, check out HollywoodNews.

Haunting HD plans for The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Rocky Horror Show Blu-ray Disc

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, 70’s cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is getting a high definition make-over.  This includes 7.1 audio surround sound, so viewers can sing along in style!

Adapted from Richard O’Brien’s British musical horror, the film version stars Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as lost couple Brad and Janet and Tim Curry as Dr. Frankie-N-Furter, who welcomes them into his strange mansion, for a party out of the ordinary…

For a limited time, the 35th anniversary Blu-ray Disc edition will include a collectible 24-page book featuring shots from renowned photographer Mick Rock.   There is also plenty of Blu-ray exclusive content including ‘Rocky-oke: Sing It!’, a two-part Shadowcasting documentary and a Picture-in-Picture show entitled ‘The Midnight Experience’, to name a few.

The European release date is still to be confirmed but is expected to hit in time for Halloween.  For more information, Engadget has the details.

Universal confirms Get Him to the Greek BD release and features

Funny man duo Jonah Hill and Russell Brand made Get Him to the Greek a box office smash earlier this year with their outrageous, cross-country capers.  As with any comedy, the outtakes are often as entertaining as the main feature, and the exclusive Blu-ray content set for inclusion is no exception.  These include a karaoke sing along to Aldous Snow’s ridiculous songs, the actual auditions that landed Rose Byrne, Elisabeth Moss, Nick Kroll, Aziz Ansari and T.J. Miller their roles and musical performances from The Today Show and VH-1 Storytellers.

In addition, it also allows viewers to stream one of  three classic comedies, Uncle Buck, Dazed and Confused or Life, via BD-Live or a smartphone.

The European release date is to be confirmed, but keep an eye on Amazon for updates.  For more information on Blu-ray Disc special features included, HD Room has the details.

Robin Hood rides onto Blu-ray with exclusive content and Director’s Cut

Robin Hood Directors CutUniversal has announced that a director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood will be included on its upcoming Blu-ray Disc release. Designed to tell the untold story of Robin Hood and his merry men, the film grossed over $300 million at the worldwide box office.

Action packed from start to finish, the film is perfect high definition viewing and has plenty of exclusive Blu-ray features to enjoy. Worthy of note is ‘Directors Notebook’, a multimedia sneak-peek into Ridley Scott’s inimitable film making process, while ‘The Art of Nottingham’ takes a look at the artistic concepts created for the film, from costume designs to storyboards. BD Live capability is also included, allowing viewers to bookmark their favourite scenes and also supporting Universal’s Pocket Blu iPhone app.

To find out more, HDRoom has the details.

Warner Bros announces three Blu-ray 3D titles

Blu-ray 3D Logo

Blu-ray 3D activity is ramping up with Warner Bros announcing plans for three Blu-ray 3D titles, “IMAX: Under the Sea 3D”, “IMAX: Deep Sea 3D” and “IMAX: Space Station 3D”. These will initially be bundled with Blu-ray 3D players and 3DTVs from LG and Sony.

Exploring some of nature’s greatest wonders, all three films are adapted from their original IMAX format, making them ideal for 3D high definition viewing. Narrated by Jim Carrey, IMAX: Under the Sea 3D celebrates the wonderful creatures of the Great Barrier Reef and the South Pacific, while IMAX Deep Sea 3D, narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, captures the more exotic species of the deep. IMAX: Space Station 3D immerses the audience in space, letting viewers encounter life aboard a space shuttle, an experience truly brought to life with 3D technology.

To learn more about these titles, Highdef.com has the full press release.

Classic Karate Kid hits Blu-ray Disc

Karate Kid Blu-ray DiscWith the re-make of Karate Kid due for release in cinemas across Europe, why not pay homage to the original 80’s classic on Blu-ray Disc?

Aside from enjoying a high-def transfer of the movie itself and nostalgically quoting, “wax on, wax off”, this Blu-ray Disc comes with a generous helping of special features to keep viewers entertained.

First up is a three-part documentary, packed full of recent interviews with the cast, including stars Ralph Macchio and the late Pat Morita. This provides great insight into the making of the film, highlighting the decisions that helped it to garner an Oscar-nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  A featurette entitled ‘Beyond the Form’ is also included which explains the karate training the cast undertook to prepare for the film.  And finally, to acknowledge its memorable score, ‘East Meets West’ puts the spotlight on composer Tom Conti, who explains the writing process he went through to produce the soundtrack.

For more details, Den of Geek has a full review.

Iron Man 2 gets the Blu-ray treatment!

Iron Man 2 Blu-ray Disc

The eccentric, billionaire super hero in the iron suit is back in a stunning, three-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack!

Debuting this October in Europe, Iron Man 2 on Blu-ray Disc allows you to appreciate all of Iron Man’s fantastic battles, cutting edge technology and shining suits in High Definition and with the purest digital sound available. With over $300 million taken at the box office, Iron Man 2 has delighted audiences across the world with its combination of high-intensity action, intelligence and quirky humour.

The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes fully loaded with immersive and interactive bonus materials including an in-depth, feature-length documentary on the making of the film. It also boasts revealing featurettes about the characters of Nick Fury, Black Widow and War Machine, a look inside the creation of Stark Expo, deleted scenes and an exclusive peek inside the Marvel Super Hero Universe through the S.H.I.E.L.D. Data Vault.

For more details check out Entertainment Weekly’s full preview.

Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter 3 and 4 announced

Ultimate Edition Harry PotterAvid Harry Potter fans will be pleased with the latest announcement from Warner Home Video that Ultimate Editions of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are to be released on Blu-ray Disc.

These Ultimate editions are jammed packed with special features, including parts three and four respectively of the eight-hour documentary ‘Creating the World of Harry Potter’, which will ultimately span across all eight Ultimate Edition Blu-ray Discs.  Part three looks at the creatures from the series, while part four examines the sound and music.  BD-Live content is also promised for both films.

Other collectable bonus content from the Ultimate Editions includes character cards, books with over 40 pages of behind-the-scenes material, and lenticular cards.

The Ultimate Editions are due for release on October 4. The HDRoom has more details.

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Blu-ray Disc Reporter