Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray release of three catalog titles this May: Babe: Pig in the City, Jesus Christ Superstar and In the Name of the Father. Each title is available for pre-order and streets on May 7th.
Synopsis: Babe (voiced by E.G. Daily), fresh from his victory in the sheepherding contest, returns to Farmer Hoggett's farm. But when Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell) is injured and unable to work, Babe has to go to the big city to save his home. Accompanied by Ferdy (Danny Mann) and Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski), Babe sets out into a large city and, despite incredible obstacles, turns enemies into friends, raises enough money to save the farm and combines two worlds into one. Babe's kind and steady heart once again achieves miracles in this fun-filled sequel to the original Babe.
The Blu-ray release of Babe: Pig in the City features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and My Scenes Bookmarking. No additional extras are included.
Synopsis: The bold interpretation of the hit rock opera and Broadway smash from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber tells the story of Christ's (Ted Neeley) final weeks in a series of dazzling songs, images and music. Nominated for the Best Music Adaptation Academy Award, producer-director Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof) offers a groundbreaking vision and unforgettable songs shot entirely on location in Israel.
The 40th Anniversary release of Jesus Christ Superstar features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track and two extras:
Feature Commentary with director Norman Jewison and actor Ted Neeley
Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, In the Name of the Father tells the riveting true story of one man's 15-year struggle and ultimate triumph over a terrible injustice. Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis gives an impassioned performance as Gerry Conlon, a petty thief in 1970s London who is forced to confess to a savage terrorist bombing that he did not commit. When he and his father (Pete Postlethwaite) are both sentenced to life imprisonment as one of the "Guildford Four," he finds a fiercely dedicated lawyer (Emma Thompson) to help prove his innocence, clear his father's name and expose the truth behind one of the most shameful legal events in recent history.
In the Name of the Father features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and My Scenes Bookmarking. No additional extras are included.
Oh Happy Day! In The Name Of The Father shattered me in the theater when I saw it, and killed me again on Laserdisc, then DVD. No problem with the quad-dip... I'll keep buying this film on every advancing format 'til the cows come home. It's just plain and obvious proof that Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the most absurdly gifted actors ever to find his way onto a film screen. Can't wait!
Love JCS - great music and very cool story (I've seen the play 5 times and own the DVD)
Babe - fun for my two young boys
In The Name of the Father - Incredible movie, incredible acting, but very depressing to me and not sure how many repeat viewings it would get. (It almost falls in the Schindler's List or American History X category - incredible but, don't want to see it many times.)
Can't wait for In The Name Of The Father. All the dvd releases were bare bones, so suspected the Blu would be the same. Too bad Jim Sheridan and Daniel Day-Lewis couldn't come back for some new interviews. Day-Lewis gave some great new interviews on the Last Of The Mohicans blu, but I guess Universal didn't want to finance any features for the new release. It doesn't matter anyway, the film stands on its own, such an amazing film!
Babe: Pig in the City is a fantastic movie with really cool visuals. It's George Miller who made Mad Max afterall. It even has a nice nod to Beyond Thunderdome in its climax. If the transfer is given the respect it deserves, this will definitely be worth the upgrade for me.
Someday before I die Universal will actually release Twins & Kindergarten Cop on Blu-Ray! I don't know why they continually ignore poor Arnold. Twins never even got a widescreen DVD, for Christ's sake!
Good news on Babe and In the Name of the Father, though.
I imported Babe 2 from the UK a couple years ago, but In the Name of the Father is a title I'll definitely pick. Only saw it once in the theater nearly 20 years ago, but I remember loving it.
Nothing funnier than Jesus Christ Superstar with its naive 60's vibes. Good music, songs and some good singing but some of the most out of step choreography ever to appear in a movie musical. Jewison in some ways is like Hooper with Les Miserables. A director out of his element who made a good movie but not a real musical.
I was hoping they would re-examine the audio for JCS. It's a great soundtrack, but has had various quality issues on cd or dvd releases. I thought we might see a 5.1 as well as a 2.0 option. I hope the audio is given its due in this release.
Nothing against these three, but I really wish Universal would get with it, when it comes to their catalog. I'm beginning to worry the format might be dead before I get to see Brotherhood of the Wolf (extended), Slither, etc, etc, etc, etc... again. DVD is NOT an option.
Sadly, I have no hope for Universal...so it'll be the usual DNR and/or EE fest. It's a shame, cause they are definitely capable of putting out excellent products when they put the effort. Keep my expectations very low, I suppose...
There actually is an anamorphic DVD release of Twins with the theatrical 1:85 aspect ratio but it is part of an Arnold Swartzenneger Comedy Collection. Both Twins and Kindergarten Cop have the OAR.
Criterion also does not always get it right these days but I agree with those who are hoping for a superb In The Name Of The Father. One of the best movies about the struggle for freedom ever made.
Way to go Universal! I can't wait to own all three ...There's smart marketing for ya ...I'd imagine each of those titles ought to sell about 10-15 copies each...
While I'm glad that JCS is coming out on blu, they could have easily gotten new interviews with Neeley, Jewison, etc for a 40th Ann retrospective doc of some kind.
...There's smart marketing for ya 
