Blu-ray.com - Blu-ray Disc news

Today on Blu-ray - November 3rd

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:03:34 -0500

When 'Forrest Gump' received its theatrical release 15 years ago, the media quickly latched onto the realistic special effects used to insert Tom Hanks character into a number of historically significant film footage that can be seen throughout the film. While they were no doubt impressive for their time, the true focus should have been on Tom Hanks Oscar-winning performance and the power of the story told within. Today we are fortunate to be able to revisit this classic on Blu-ray in a stunning high definition presentation worthy of its Sapphire designation....

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Redbox Testing Pricier Rentals

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:30 -0500

Rental kiosks machine operator Redbox is now testing two different pricing models. Residents in the Albuquerque, NM area who approach a kiosk will now find they are charged $1.50 a night; in turn, Harrisburg, PA is getting a full $2 per rental per night. An analyst said that higher prices could defuse the conflict between Redbox and several movie studios....

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Blu-Con 2.0 Congress Today

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:58:26 -0500

Today is the date when Blu-Con 2.0 (short for "The Second Congress for Blu-ray Innovation") is being held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. As we first reported in October, special keynotes will be given, notably by filmmaker Martin Scorsese; but there are other interesting forums and panel discussions, attended by studio senior executives and other industry representatives and analysts....

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Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself Gets Blu-ray

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:20:54 -0500

Those that were upset when 'Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail' didn't get a Blu-ray release will be pleased to know that Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced 'I Can Do Bad All By Myself' for release on Blu-ray on January 12, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. Special features include three featurettes on the cast and characters, filmmaking challenges and the music featured in the film....

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UFC Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights Announced

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:02:34 -0500

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'UFC: Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights' to Blu-ray on December 8th, one month after the DVD release. This six-disc set will feature over 25 hours of UFC fights in 1080p AVC video accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack. No special features have been announced at this time....

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50 Dead Men Walking Blu-ray

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:05 -0500

Phase 4 Films has announced that it will release '50 Dead Men Walking' on Blu-ray on January 5, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. No release details are available as of now. This action thriller is based on the true story of a Belfast young man who was recruited by the British police to infiltrate and spy on the IRA in the 1980s....

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Doctor Who Specials Coming to Blu-ray in February

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:21:22 -0500

BBC Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring a number of Doctor Who specials to Blu-ray on February 2nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. These include the next Doctor Who special 'Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars' and the 'Doctor Who: Two-Part Finale'. Also available on that date will be a five-disc 'Doctor Who: Specials Collection'....

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Vote Now for Best TV on Blu-ray

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:04:36 -0500

Home Media Magazine, Agent DVD Magazine and TV Shows on DVD have announced that voting for the Sixth Annual TV DVD Awards is now open, giving fans the chance to voice their appreciation for their favorite TV Blu-ray and DVD releases over the past year (Oct 1, 2008 - Sep 30, 2009). One of the categories is, of course, is "Best TV on Blu-ray", and the trio of companies is asking for your input....

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Jennifer's Body BD Coming Up

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:09:08 -0500

According to early retailer information, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the Megan Fox vehicle 'Jennifer's Body' on Blu-ray on December 29, day-and-date with the DVD. No edition details are available apart from it being a two-disc edition, but the BD is rumored to include an unrated cut....

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Troma Goes Blu in 2010

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:35:18 -0500

Troma Entertainment founder Lloyd Kaufman has announced that, starting January 2010, the veteran low-budget horror studio will release one title from its catalog on Blu-ray every month. No slate has been detailed, but unofficial information has it that the February release will be 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead'....

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BD-Connect BD-Live Software Launched

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:03:36 -0500

Today, Los Angeles-based disc producer Giant Interactive is officially launching BD-Connect, a BD-Live application that allows for rapid loading, streaming and downloading, as well as user-generated quizzes, trivia, RSS feeds, photo galleries, marketing banners, menu widgets and synchronized movie viewing....

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France: BD Revenues Double, Offset DVD's Fall

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:00:16 -0500

According to data gathered by GFK and released by the Centre National du Cinéma (CNC), revenues from sale of Blu-ray software in France from January to September 2009 were 64.42 million euros, which represents a growth of 127.3% over the same period in 2008. BD more than made up for the loss in DVD overall revenue from physical video supports was up 1.6% year-on-year....

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Last Action Hero, Cliffhanger on Blu-ray for January

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:38:21 -0500

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially announced two 1993 action movies for release on Blu-ray on January 12, 2010: 'Cliffhanger' and 'Last Action Hero', starring two big leading men of the genre at the time Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, respectively. Both BDs will feature Sony's movieIQ BD-Live application to access real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie....

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The Hurt Locker Blu-ray in January

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:14:27 -0500

Summit Entertainment has announced that it will release Kathryn Bigelow's 'The Hurt Locker' on Blu-ray on January 12, 2010, day-and date with the DVD. This war film, which follows an army explosive ordnance disposal unit during its tour of duty in Iraq in 2004, received critical acclaim and awards when it was presented at film festivals, including Venice and Toronto....

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Smokin' Aces Joins its Sequel on Blu-ray in January

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:35:12 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will release 'Smokin' Aces' for Blu-ray on January 19th, day-and-date with the Blu-ray release of the direct-to-video sequel 'Smokin' Aces 2 - Assassins' Ball'. Coming on a BD-50, video will be presented in 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Studio Ghibli's Ponyo Coming to Blu-ray in 2010

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:22:37 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the Studio Ghibli animated feature 'Ponyo' to Blu-ray on March 2nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Technical specs have not been announced at this time, but you can expect to see a 1080p AVC video presentation accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Disney Announces Extract for Blu-ray

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:06:03 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the Mike Judge film 'Extract' to Blu-ray on December 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Featuring Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis, video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 24-bit 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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All About Steve Blu-ray Gets Detailed

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:45:50 -0400

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'All About Steve', which is scheduled to hit store shelves on December 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Rumor: Michael Jackson's This Is It Blu-ray Before Christmas (Update)

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:15:49 -0400

'Michael Jackson's This Is It', the movie documenting the late performer's rehearsals for a series of London concerts cancelled after Jackson's sudden passing, was expected to be released on Blu-ray in early 2010. However, our friends at The Digital Bits are reporting that it will probably come out before Christmas, and maybe as early as Thanksgiving. Update: the LA Times says it won't....

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Black Friday: $150 Sony and Samsung Blu-ray Players

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:50:52 -0400

The first Black Friday ads are starting to leak out, and Sears is already listing that they will have the Sony BDP-S360 and Samsung BD-P1600 for $150 on the day after Thanksgiving. This represents a $50 price cut off the original price. Both players are Profile 2.0 BD-Live Blu-ray Disc players, with the Samsung featuring Netflix streaming....

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Weeds Season Five Coming Up

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:49:09 -0400

Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release 'Weeds: Season Five' on Blu-ray on January 19, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. As with previous 'Weeds' BD releases, this will be a two-disc set and audio will be 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. In this latest season, after taking her homegrown business south of the border, pot-selling soccer mom Nancy Botwin faces a whole new crop of crazy problems....

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Dorian Gray Blu-ray Announced

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:52:17 -0400

Momentum Pictures has announced the release of 'Dorian Gray' on Blu-ray in the UK on January 18, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. This "sexed-up Gothic retelling" of Oscar Wilde's classic novel stars Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian from the eponymous 'Narnia' second installment) and Colin Firth. There is no information regarding region coding at the moment....

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The Time Traveler's Wife Blu-ray Announced

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:19:00 -0400

Warner Home Video, in conjunction with New Line Home Entertainment, has announced the release of the fantasy/romance movie 'The Time Traveler's Wife', starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams, on Blu-ray on February 2, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. The Blu-ray will also include a digital copy of the movie....

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Palisades Tartan First BD Wave Detailed

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:26:50 -0400

Palisades Tartan has announced the specifications and special features for the first wave of titles that it will release on Blu-ray on November 2, consisting of four new titles ('36', 'Lady Vengeance', 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance' , and 'A Tale of Two Sisters') and two movies previously released by Tartan Video ('Black Book' and 'The Proposition'). All will feature DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. It is worth noting that 'Lady Vengeance' will only include the (director-preferred) "fade-to-black-and-white" version. Initially, they will be available exclusively at HMV....

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Blu-ray Deal Alert: Low Price Wave at Amazon

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:58:51 -0400

Black Friday arrived a month early at Amazon. A slew of Blu-ray titles are seeing steep price drops, of 50% off list price or more, including new upcoming releases such as 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' for $17.99, deluxe catalog editions like 'Gone with the Wind: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition' for $45.49, compilations such as the six-movie 'Rocky: The Undisputed Collection' for $52.49, or TV series such as 'Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 3' for $55.99....

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Rumor: Blu-ray Enabled Wii 2 in 2010

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:15:02 -0400

Gaming site Maxconsole.net, citing information leaked to Logic-Sunrise.com by a Nintendo France marketing employee, is reporting that a new Nintendo console will be launched worldwide in the third quarter of 2010. This "Wii 2" will reportedly get a Blu-ray drive, and support 1080p for games and movies....

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BD Sales: October 19-25 Transformers Breaks Sales Records

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:44:53 -0400

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' smashed its way to the top of the BD sales chart for the week ended October 25, according to Nielsen VideoScan. It sold 1.2 million BD units in its first week (500,000 in the first day alone), according to research by Home Media Magazine, becoming the biggest hidef release of the year....

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District 9 Blu-ray to Feature God of War III Demo

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:35:16 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment America have announced that the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'District 9', which is scheduled to be released on December 29th, will feature a demo of the upcoming PS3-exclusive game 'God of War III'. After completing the demo, which is only playable on a PS3, users will be able to unlock an exclusive 'God of War III' making-of featurette....

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Oppo European Launch Cancelled

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:39:07 -0400

Oppo has just announced on its UK website that that the release of the OPPO BDP-831 Blu-ray Disc player in Europe will be "postponed indefinitely." The company says that it wouldn't be able to equally serve all our European customers with the release of the player, due to language barriers, shipping constraints and support issues....

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Universal Details Funny People Blu-ray Release

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:46:04 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Funny People', which is scheduled to hit store shelves on November 24th, day-and-date with the DVD release. Both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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JVC Announces Blu-ray Player under $200

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:13:54 -0400

JVC today announced a new Blu-ray player, model JVC XV-BP11. Like its predecessor the XV-BP1, it supports Bonus View, as well as AVCHD and advanced audio codecs - but not BD-Live. The main changes are a new, slimline design, a front-panel USB port and the MSRP, which drops $100 to $199.95. It is available immediately....

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Chuck Season 2 Blu-ray Announced

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:09:19 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced that it will release 'Chuck: The Complete Second Season' on Blu-ray on January 5, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. The 22-episode season will come in four discs. As usual with television content from this studio, only a Dolby Digital track will be included, with no lossless audio option....

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December Date for 9 Blu-ray

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:59:22 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is set to release the post-apocalyptic computer-animated film '9' on Blu-ray on December 29. This film, about a group of sentient rag dolls in a dilapidated Earth, began as a silent short which was a student project for Shane Acker when at UCLA and went on to win praise, awards and funding to expand the short into a full feature film....

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A Perfect Getaway in Late December

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:18:32 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release David Twohy's 'A Perfect Getaway' on Blu-ray on December 29, day-and-date with the DVD. This thriller movie about a Hawaii vacation gone horribly wrong will be presented in its theatrical and unrated director's cut, with a full ten additional minutes....

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Today on Blu-ray - October 27th

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:26:51 -0400

After the unprecedented success of Pixar's 'Toy Story', Hollywood studios recognized the emergence of a new film genre and quickly acquired the equipment and expertise in order to ensure they had a piece of the computer animated cash-cow. One of those moves was Fox's acquisition of Blue Sky Studios, who prior to their hit 'Ice Age' were specializing in short films and television commercials. With full studio backing, the company flourished, and the third film in their Ice Age series 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' hits Blu-ray today....

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Smokin' Aces DTV Sequel Coming Up

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:24:38 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'Smokin' Aces 2 - Assassins' Ball' on Blu-ray on January 19, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. This direct-to-video sequel will be presented in its rated and unrated cuts, with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack and a 1.78:1 1080p video presentation....

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The Third Man Criterion Blu-ray Going Out of Print (Update)

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:06:46 -0400

We have the first discontinued Criterion BD before us. Both the DVD and Blu-ray editions of the classic movie 'The Third Man' are listed on the Criterion Collection site as out-of-print. Hence, the only available copies will be those already in the retail channel. Update: this Blu-ray is now unavailable at Amazon....

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Insignia Blu-ray Player with Netflix for under $100

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:47:27 -0400

Last week, available discount coupons brought the price of the new, Netflix-compatible Insignia NS-BRDVD3 Blu-ray player down to $99.99. Now during this week, anybody can get that low price without the need for any coupons, just by ordering on Bestbuy.com. You can select in-store pickup to avoid paying for shipping....

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Gamer and Surrogates in January

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:23:54 -0400

Two similarly-themed futuristic thrillers, based on the concept of people using physical 'avatars' in the real world, are coming up on Blu-ray from two different studios. On January 19, 2010, Lionsgate Home Entertainment is set to release 'Gamer', set in a future world where multiplayer online combat games use real humans as characters. A week later, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release 'Surrogates', where robotic bodies serve as "surrogates" for stay-at-home humans....

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Blu-ray

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:51:48 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'. This computer-animated movie, about a scientist who invents a device that makes food rain from the sky, will be released on Blu-ray on January 5, 2010, day-and-date with the DVD. No mention of the inclusion of a 3-D version or the movie or 3-D content has been made....

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The Book of Love Heading to Blu-ray

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:14:25 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the direct-to-video release 'American Pie Presents: The Book of Love' to Blu-ray on December 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Herzog's Bad Lieutenant Blu-ray in February

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:41:26 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that First Look Studios is set to release 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' on Blu-ray on February 23, 2010. This Werner Herzog movie starring Nicolas Cage, loosely inspired on the controversial 1992 crime drama directed by Abel Ferrara, will only get a limited release in November before going to home video....

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Aeon Flux Animated Miniseries Coming to Blu-ray

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:27:45 -0400

Our friends at TV Shows on DVD have the scoop that Amazon has the exclusive for a Blu-ray edition of 'Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection', with a release date of November 23. Note this is the original, enigmatic and pruriently decadent MTV animated sci-fi/action series, not the Charlize Theron live-action movie. No information on disc details or special features is available....

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Dogtown and Giants Ride to Blu-ray

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:22:33 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have announced that they will bring the Stacy Peralta films 'Dogtown and Z-Boys' and 'Riding Giants' to Blu-ray on January 5th. For both films, video will be presented in 1080p AVC (1.33:1 for 'Dogtown' and 1.85:1 for 'Giants') accompanied by 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks....

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Warner to Re-release Goodfellas for 20th Anniversary

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:01:04 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced that they will bring 'Goodfellas: 20th Anniversary Edition' to Blu-ray on February 16th as a digibook release. Originally released in 2007, this re-release will hopefully add a lossless soundtrack and fix the video error found in the previous release. Technical specs have not been announced at this time....

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Parsons Expects 3-D Blu-ray Spec by Year-End

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:18:51 -0400

The BDA is working at "breakneck speed" to complete a specification for the delivery of 3-D content into the home via Blu-ray discs by the end of the year, said Andy Parsons, chairman of the BDA's US promotion committee. The timing for the launch of 3-D capable TVs and BD players will be up to individual companies, but Parsons said the BDA does "expect product to be appearing in 2010."...

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NPD: BD Player Prices Down, Sales Up, Possible $49 Black Friday Deals

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:36:13 -0400

Blu-ray player prices are dropping fast, and not only off-brand, barebones models. Even brand-name players with BD-Live and video streaming can be found for under $200. Nearly eight of every ten BD players sold this year through August were under $300, as opposed to only one in ten in the same period last year, according to NPD Group, which also reports that currently, BD unit sales make up 15% of overall US home video player purchases (DVD and BD players put together)....

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PS3 Gets Netflix Instant Watch at No Extra Charge (Update 2)

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:47:17 -0400

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and Netflix have announced that the PS3 will soon gain access to Netflix's Instant Watch service. Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 next month, at no additional cost to PS3 owners in the US who are also Netflix subscribers unlike Xbox 360 users, who can stream from Netflix only if they also pay $50 a year for Xbox Live Gold. Update: discussion of legal and technical issues added. Update 2: details revealed by Netflix....

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Free PS3 with Purchase of a Sony TV

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:08:43 -0400

Sony Australia has an interesting promotion in place. For a limited time, buyers of an eligible Sony Bravia LCD TV will get a PlayStation 3 free (although there is a charge of $25 for postage and handling). The offer is limited to 25,000 consoles, and a counter on the promotion site indicates in real time how many units there are left....

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Omen Blu-ray Collection in Gold Box Today

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:43:09 -0400

Amazon's Gold Box deal-of-the-day is a Blu-ray special offer on 'The Omen Collection' (comprised of 'The Omen', 'Damien: Omen II', 'Omen III: The Final Conflict' and 'The Omen 666'), which today can be bought on Blu-ray for only $44.99, or just over $11 each title - a great price, considering that our price tracker shows that this collection has consistently been around $80 for most of the year....

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Romero's Crazies Announced for Blu-ray Release

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:16:29 -0400

Blue Underground has announced that they will bring George A. Romero's 'Crazies' to Blu-ray on February 23rd. For this release, Blue Underground went back to the original film negative for a brand new high definition master. Technical specs have not been announced at this time, though you can expect a 1080p AVC video presentation accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Rocky Horror Picture Show Blu-ray in 2010

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:04:16 -0400

We see you shiver with antici...pation! Enthusiast site Cosmo's Factory has revealed that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is set to release a 35th anniversary edition Blu-ray of the cult movie 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', including what looks like a movie reenactment on disc, complete with a casting call in New York and filming in Los Angeles....

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A Million BD Subscribers for Netflix; Disc Rentals Expected for 20+ More Years

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:04:34 -0400

Based on data given by Netflix during yesterday's Q3 2009 earnings call, it follows that the rental company is approaching or has passed a million Blu-ray subscribers, in what is twofold growth in less than a year, despite having increased subscription rates for BD twice, in October 2008 and April 2009....

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Studios Mulling Sales Window for New Releases

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:46:34 -0400

In an effort to foster movie sales, some major film studios are considering a new policy that would keep DVDs and Blu-ray Discs unavailable for rental until several weeks after going on sale. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings confirmed discussing this with several of his biggest suppliers, and stated that the company is open to that scheme, under reasonable terms. That plan could take effect next year....

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Obsessed Blu-ray Competition

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:50:25 -0400

The UK branch of Sony Pictures Home Enterainment and Blu-ray.com are pleased to offer our UK readers the chance to win one of five available copies of the Blu-ray UK release of 'Obsessed', which hits UK store shelves on October 26. To enter, you must simply participate in a poll on our forum and vote for your favourite movie starring Beyoncé Knowles (note there is no right or wrong answer)....

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Blu-ray Thriller 4-Pack in Amazon Gold Box Today

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:30:11 -0400

Amazon's Gold Box deal-of-the-day is a special offer on 'Blu-ray 4-Pack: Thrillers' (comprised of 'The Sixth Sense', 'Unbreakable', 'Signs' and 'The Invisible'), which today can be bought on Blu-ray for only $39.95, or just under $10 each title - a great price even if you're only interested in the three movies by M. Night Shyamalan....

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Steve Ballmer Hints at BD Drives for Xbox 360 (Update)

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:51:26 -0400

During an interview that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave to Gizmodo, he was asked about adding Blu-ray to the Xbox 360. Ballmer replied, "Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in thereyou'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories," hinting at the possibility of a BD add-on for the console. Update: the rumor has been denied by Major Nelson....

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BD Sales: October 12-18 (Update)

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:34:37 -0400

'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' was again the top-selling Blu-ray according to data from Nielsen VideoScan for the week ended October 18. The week's three new releases, 'The Proposal', 'Drag Me to Hell' and 'Land of the Lost', entered the charts at positions two, three and four, respectively. Surprisingly, Sandra Bullock's comedy sold nearly twice more BDs than Sam Raimi's fan-favorite horror flick. Update: overall sales figures added....

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Highlander Season 1 BD Sees Another Delay

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:25:43 -0400

TV Shows on DVD is again bringing us the sad news that the 'Highlander Season 1' Blu-ray has been pushed back - again. The reasons cited for this latest delay are multiple, from Chinese holidays to certification of audio tracks by the German government to plain and simple equipment malfunction (maybe the dog ate the tapes)....

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Palisades Tartan Reveals Blu-ray Line-up

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:17:31 -0400

Palisades Tartan has announced the first set of Blu-ray titles they will release since Palisades purchased Tartan last summer. Two title - 'Black Book' and 'The Proposition' - are re-releases of previous Tartan Blu-ray titles, but the other four - '36', 'A Tale of Two Sisters', 'Lady Vengeance' and 'Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance' - are new to Blu-ray. All six titles will be released on November 2nd in the UK....

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Naxos to Distribute Operas and Concerts from C Major Entertainment

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:06:54 -0400

Beginning on November 17, Naxos of America will commence distribution of the Berlin music company C Major Entertainment, which is launching its new disc Label C Major with the repertoire of the Unitel production company. Titles scheduled for release on Blu-ray in North America in November include a Blu-ray performance of Puccini's 'Turandot', led by Zubin Mehta and directed by acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige. All current operas will be available both in DVD format and in Blu-ray with 7.1 sound....

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Netflix, Reward Zone $50 Coupons for Insignia BD Players

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:58:07 -0400

The inside of the latest batch of Netflix envelopes includes a coupon to save $50 on the latest Insignia Blu-ray players, models NS-BRDVD3 and NS-WBRDVD, both of which support Netflix Instant Watching. Alternately, members of Best Buy's Reward Zone can log in and download a printable coupon, also good for $50. With either of the coupons, the price of these players comes down to $99 for the NS-BRDVD3 and $149 for the NS-WBRDVD....

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More Details for 10 Things Blu-ray

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:43:17 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced the special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of '10 Things I Hate About You: 10th Anniversary Edition', which is currently scheduled to be released on January 5th, day-and-date with the DVD re-release. Technical specs have yet to be announced, but you can expect the typical 1080p AVC video accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Near Dark Blu-ray Special Features Revealed

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:34:43 -0400

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced the special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Near Dark', which is on schedule to hit store shelves on November 10th, day-and-date with the DVD release. Video will be presented in 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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It's Official: no Blu-ray on New iMacs

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:28:10 -0400

After a month of rumors regarding the presence of Blu-ray drives in the new line of iMacs, Apple today finally announced its new models and, as it was most recently intimated, the new units will not include a Blu-ray option, so Apple enthusiasts will have to keep on waiting. There are other new and interesting developments in Apple's lineup, but they are outside the scope of this site....

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Today on Blu-ray - October 20th

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:18:48 -0400

Director Michael Bay makes films for only one person: Michael Bay. For critics, his films provoke philosophical discussions on whether an excess of entertainment value can outweigh a lack of artistic value. But for fans who share his love for over-the-top action sequences and snappy one-liners, no one can do it better. The sequel 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' does not stray far from this truth, and it is sure to break Blu-ray sales records (again) with its release today....

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$2 Off Ice Age 3 Blu-ray with Nutella Purchase

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:45:40 -0400

While at Wal-Mart, one of our forum members noticed a shelf full of jars of Nutella (the delicious, yet addictively high-carb chocolate and hazelnut spread of Italian origin adored across Europe), with a sticker indicating they contain a coupon for $2 off the DVD or Blu-ray versions of 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.'...

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Study: BD Players More Popular, but Further Efforts Needed

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:56 -0400

According to a new study by consumer electronics shopping market research site Retrevo, almost 40 percent of the most popular DVD player models on the market heading into the holiday shopping season are actually Blu-ray players, compared with only 15 percent this time last year, and player pricing has fallen an average of 35 percent. However, to further increase awareness drive sales, other steps are needed from player vendors and manufacturers....

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Inglourious Basterds Blu-ray Announced and Detailed

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:40:14 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced 'Inglourious Basterds' for release on Blu-ray on December 15, day-and-date with the DVD. As expected, edition details are virtually identical to those on the UK release, with the addition of BD-Live, and a Digital Copy of the movie. Audio will be DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1....

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Two New Netflix-Enabled BD Players from Insignia

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:25:20 -0400

Today, two new Blu-ray Disc Players were announced from Best Buy's Insignia brand, under models NS-BRDVD3 and NS-WBRDVD. Their major new feature is support for Netflix streaming. Additionally, they both support BD-Live and Dolby TrueHD. The NS-WBRDVD adds built-in Wi-Fi. List prices are $179.99 for the NS-BRDVD3 and $249.99 for the NS-WBRDVD....

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Moon Gets Earlier Launch

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:09:55 -0400

Contrary to earlier reports, it seems that 'Moon' will finally see the light just before the year's out. Several retailers have Duncan Jones's science-fiction movie (which just won multiple awards at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, including best feature film) up for preorder on Blu-ray with a release date of December 29, which would tie in with another Sony sci-fi movie, 'District 9'....

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Metallica Live Blu-ray Announced

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:31:20 -0400

On July 7 Metallica performed at the Arènes de Nimes, the historic Roman amphitheatre in Nimes, France. The concert was filmed and the result is 'Français pour une nuit' ("French for One Night"), which will be out on DVD and Blu-ray on November 23. It will include the full show, interviews with the band, and five videos shot by people in the audience....

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Blu-ray Announced for Original Fame Movie

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:49:45 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced that it will release 'Fame' on Blu-ray on January 26, 2010. Note this is not the recent remake (still unannounced, but also expected for early next year), but the original 1980 movie, directed by Alan Parker. This Blu-ray edition will include a CD sampler with four songs from the movie soundtrack, including the award-winning title track sung by Irene Cara....

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Half-Blood Prince Worldwide BD-Live Community Screening

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0400

In another industry first, Warner Home Video has announced a worldwide BD-Live audio-based community screening. On December 12 at 8 p.m. UK time (3 p.m. EST), Harry Potter fans will be able to attend a community screening of the 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Blu-ray, hosted by director David Yates and actor Daniel Radcliffe. In past community screenings, only fans from North America had been able to participate....

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Blu-ray Up 83% Year-to-Date

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:07 -0400

Today, the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) released third quarter US sales figures for the home entertainment industry. Blu-ray was up 66.3 percent to $161 million compared to the same period last year (up 83 percent year-to-date to $568 million). BD accounted for 12 percent of all theatrical new release sales in the third quarter....

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Inglourious Basterds Gets US Date

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:46:37 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers it has been revealed that Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' on Blu-ray on December 15, day-and-date with the DVD. This will be a two-disc special edition, and contents are expected to be similar to those on the UK edition that was recently announced for December 7....

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PS3 Still Impacting Blu-ray Sales

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:45:53 -0400

According to a new study by NPD Group, 66% of people who buy a PS3 are using the devise to play Blu-ray movies, a number which not changed since a similar poll was taken August 2008. When comparing the console to the PS2, which general accepted as having greatly accelerated the adoption of DVD, the PS3 has a higher level of adoption for use of the new media....

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UK's Itfc Launches Blu-ray Authoring Services

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:34 -0400

London-based video services provider itfc has expanded its DVD offering with the launch of its new Blu-ray authoring service. In preparation, itfc has invested in high-end Sonic encoders and Scenarist authoring workstations, and upgraded its DVD quality control department with different Blu-ray players - from popular entry-level models and PS3 consoles to high-end players to help ensure compatibility....

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Youth Orchestra Performs in Toronto Ahead of El Sistema Release

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:26:41 -0400

October 27 is the release date for the Blu-ray edition of 'El Sistema: Music to Change Life', an award-winning documentary on Venezuela's El Sistema music education foundation for social improvement, founded three decades ago by José Antonio Abreu. On October 26, Abreu will receive the Glenn Gould Prize in Toronto, at a gala concert which will feature the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela in their Canadian debut....

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Paranormal Activity Alternate Endings on BD

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:28:19 -0400

The low-budget horror movie 'Paranormal Activity' is still enjoying a successful life in theaters, with an estimate box office of over $33 million in a limited, yet expanding release. However, its director Oren Peli has already hinted at some content that will hopefully appear on the Blu-ray, including several alternate endings....

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Terminator Salvation Gets Audio Live Community Screening with Director

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:38:36 -0400

On December 5, at 6 p.m. PST, Warner Home Video will hold an audio-enabled live community screening of 'Terminator Salvation' with its director, McG. This is an industry first: while there have been BD-Live-enabled community screenings with filmmakers in the past (first and most notably that for 'The Dark Knight' in December 2008), they had been text-based....

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Transformers Blu-ray Launch Event in LA

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:38 -0400

To celebrate the release of 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' Blu-ray, Paramount will be hosting a consumer event at the West Hollywood Gateway Shopping Center on October 19th at 8-10pm. Fans will have the opportunity to be one of the first people to get their hands on the disc from the Best Buy and Target stores in the shopping center....

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All About Steve is All About Blu-ray

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:21:35 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has revealed that they will bring the Sandra Bullock and Thomas Haden Church comedy 'All About Steve' to Blu-ray on December 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Technical specs have not been announced at this time, though you can expect the typical 1080p AVC video accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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The Red Balloon Gets January Date, Bundled White Mane

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:32:09 -0400

Network DVD has set a January 18 date for the UK Blu-ray release of Albert Lamorisse's 'The Red Balloon' (Le ballon rouge). This 1956 short film, about a red balloon that follows a boy around the streets of Paris, was awarded at Cannes, and won an Oscar for Best Writing, Best Screenplay. Also included will be Lamorisse's earlier film, 'White Mane' (Crin blanc)....

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NetBlender Offers Free DoStudio Webinar

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:13:58 -0400

On October 20th, NetBlender will offer aspiring Blu-ray creators a free webinar on how to author full spec Blu-ray Discs using their DoStudio software. The class will be hosted by Steve Johnson of Duplitech, an expert in video post production, and cover many areas of the authoring process....

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Rumor: No Blu-ray on New iMacs After All

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:47:40 -0400

A month ago, specialized site Apple Insider reported that Apple would probably soon launch a new family of iMacs with Blu-ray. But now, the site is reporting that people close to Apple have "picked up on chatter" suggesting that those plans were scrapped just before the systems went into production last month, and thus the new iMacs will ship without a BD drive....

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And another BB Exclusive: Iron Man Armored Adventures

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:28:40 -0400

Back in July, Genius Entertainment announced the release of 'Iron Man Armored Adventures, Volume 1' on Blu-ray and DVD for October 20. However, the BD version seemed to have fallen from the schedule, and some put that down to the financial problems at Genius/Weinstein. Now, TV Shows on DVD has again the scoop that the Blu-ray version will indeed see the light on schedule, but as a Best Buy exclusive....

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Fellini, Soderbergh, Wenders from Criterion in January

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:46:43 -0400

The Criterion Collection has announced its Blu-ray slate for January 2010: Federico Fellini's '8½', Steven Soderbergh's 'Che', and Wim Wenders' 'Paris, Texas' are set respectively for January 12, 19 and 26. 'Che' and 'Paris, Texas' will both feature director-approved video transfers. Audio will be uncompressed mono for '8½' and DTS-HD Master Audio for the other two titles....

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Inglourious Basterds Blu-ray Announced in the UK

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:09:52 -0400

The UK Branch of Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the release of Quentin Tarantino's latest movie, 'Inglourious Basterds', on Blu-ray for December 7, day-and-date with the DVD. The BD will include over one and a half hours of special features, many of them exclusive to the format. A limited edition with special packaging will also be released on Blu-ray....

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HMV to Hold 24 Signing with Carlos "Tony Almeida" Bernard

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:48:43 -0400

Actor Carlos Bernard is in the UK to promote the release of '24: Season 7', which streets in Blighty next Monday, and will be signing copies of the DVD and Blu-ray sets at HMV, 150 Oxford Street, London, from 6 p.m. of October 19. As well as getting to meet the legendary Tony Almeida, the first 50 people in line will also receive "exclusive '24' goodies."...

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Transformers Midnight Launch Parties and Rebates

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:26:04 -0400

On October 19, about 110 Best Buy stores across the USA will reopen shortly before midnight, offering special discounts and related freebies with the DVD and Blu-ray releases of 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'. Reportedly, Best Buy will discount $3 off the BD version for early bird shoppers. Two food companies are also offering rebates....

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Special Edition BD for 10 Things I Hate About You

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:54:32 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers it has been revealed that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is set to release the romantic comedy '10 Things I Hate About You', starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles, on Blu-ray on January 5, 2010. No release details are available at this time, other than it will be a two-disc special edition....

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Rumor: Branagh's Hamlet Blu-ray in 2010

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:58:57 -0400

Kenneth Branagh's famously unabridged adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' used to be one of the longest awaited titles on DVD, and when it was finally released in 2007, it didn't get a Blu-ray or HD DVD version, contrary to earlier reports. Now Warner Home Video has allegedly put the title back on the schedule for a BD release, with a tentative street date of August 17, 2010....

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Another Best Buy Exclusive: The Green Mile BD (Update)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:33:34 -0400

We definitely haven't seen the last of Blu-ray exclusives at select retailers. Again without any formal announcement, our forum members have found the Blu-ray of Frank Darabont's 'The Green Mile' sitting on the shelves of Best Buy. The disc comes in the now-familiar Warner digibook, and carries a $29.99 price tag. Update: special features added; blu-ray.com review available....

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Public Enemies Blu-ray Announced

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:54:13 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'Public Enemies' on Blu-ray on December 8, day-and-date with the DVD. This crime movie, directed by Michael Mann, is inspired by infamous outlaw John Dilliger (Johnny Depp) and the FBI agent who pursued him (Christian Bale). The Blu-ray will include a digital copy of the movie....

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Oppo Launches in UK, Pulls Plug on DVD

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:36:36 -0400

Oppo, the maker of the acclaimed BDP-83 Blu-ray player, is expanding its BD business to the UK and has revealed that the company is no longer interested in developing DVD hardware. "We have sold out of DVD players and there are no more to come," said Oppo spokesman Pan Min to UK magazine Home Cinema Choice. "The DVD business is over for us. We are committed to Blu-ray."...

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No Moon in America Until Next Year

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:07:19 -0400

Many science-fiction enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the Blu-ray release of Duncan Jones's critically-acclaimed space isolation drama 'Moon', especially after it was announced in the UK for November 16. But they'll have to wait a bit longer, according to what Jones himself posted on his Twitter page: the US release is unofficially set to January 12....

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Criterion Starts BD Case Replacement Program

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:40:51 -0400

When The Criterion Collection started releasing titles on Blu-ray, many enthusiasts complained about the cardboard Digipak cases used by the studio. Now Criterion has switched to clear plastic cases for future titles, and owners of the existing cardboard cases will be able to replace them with the new ones, albeit for a price....

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World's Greatest Dad Announced for Blu-ray

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:16:50 -0400

Magnolia Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'World's Greatest Dad' on December 8, day-and-date with the DVD. This black comedy stars Robin Williams as a high-school poetry teacher and failed writer who, in the wake of a freak accident, is suddenly faced with the possibility of all the fame, fortune and popularity he ever dreamed of....

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BD Sales: October 5-11 (Update)

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:13:18 -0400

'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition' was far and away the top-selling title on Blu-ray on the week ended October 11, according to Nielsen VideoScan. In a format first, this BD edition of the classic Disney title (which was released weeks ahead of the equivalent DVD edition, although with a bundled DVD) was also clearly the top title on the overall packaged-media sales chart. Update: overall sales figures added....

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