Blu-ray.com - Blu-ray Disc news

The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue Announced for BD

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:40:21 -0400

Blue Underground has announced that they will bring 'The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue' to Blu-ray on October 27th. The film, also known as 'Let Sleeping Corpses Lie' and 'Don't Open the Window', will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Screen Media Brings Lymelife to Blu-ray

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:19:06 -0400

Screen Media Films is entering the Blu-ray arena with the release of the indie movie 'Lymelife', a coming-of-age story set in 1970s suburban Long Island and starring Alec Baldwin, which will hit store shelves on September 22, day-and-date with the DVD. There is no information on technical specifications yet....

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Streets of Blood Coming to Blu-ray

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:02:57 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that Starz/Anchor Bay is set to release the action/drama movie 'Streets of Blood' on Blu-ray on September 22 (for some reason, two months after coming out on DVD). There is no information on audio or video specifications or special features at this stage....

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Sony Not Ready to Give Up on China

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:33:34 -0400

Since launching Blu-ray in China, Sony has seen lackluster sales of the high definition format among the Chinese populous. Not deterred, however, Sony has pledged to maintain support for Blu-ray in China for the foreseeable future, and in response will increase marketing and promotion of Blu-ray titles....

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New Pioneer BD Players Coming to the UK

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:37:58 -0400

A month after being announced in the US, the new line of Pioneer Blu-ray players is arriving in the UK, although with slightly different model numbers: BDP-120, BDP-320, and BDP-LX52. All three support BD-Live, and include advanced audio decoders, as well as an integrated USB port for use with compatible flash drives and hard disk drives....

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Marantz High-end BD Player Now Coming to UK

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:58:56 -0400

Marantz has announced the UK launch of its high-end Blu-ray player, the UD9004. Specifications are similar to those of the recently-announced Japan version. It supports SACD and features a 10-bit Silicon Optix REALTA video processor, 14-bit video DAC, an SD card reader, RS-232 control interface, and support for BD-Live. List price is 5,500 pounds....

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Eminem and Toto Concert BDs from Eagle Rock

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:04:47 -0400

Eagle Rock Entertainment is set to release two concert titles on Blu-ray in the UK on October 19: 'Eminem: Live from New York City' and 'Toto: Falling in Between Live'. No specifications have been announced, but you can expect a 1.78:1 hidef video encode, accompanied by 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 PCM soundtracks....

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Burst Angel Blu-ray for Late September

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:07:09 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that FUNimation Entertainment will release the girls-with-guns anime series 'Burst Angel' on Blu-ray on September 29. This three-disc set will include the 24 episodes of the series, plus the "Infinity" OVA. There is no information on AV specs or special features....

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Bones Season Four Blu-ray in October

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:23:33 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release 'Bones: Season Four' on Blu-ray on October 6, day-and-date with the DVD. Video will be presented in 1.78:1 1080p AVC, accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The edition will consist of five discs....

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BD Sales Information: June 22-28

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:26:04 -0400

The hugely successful theatrical release of 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' further boosted 'Transformers', which was the top-selling Blu-ray for the week ended June 28 (up from number 4 the week before), according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert. 'Gran Torino' remained strong at second place in its third week....

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AACS License Fees Slashed

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:40:19 -0400

The final AACS license (see our news posts of June 8 and June 12) also addresses one of the most frequents complaints small studios and replicators had about Blu-ray: the license fees. As summarized in a note by Sonic Solutions, AACS fees have dropped for all content holders, but the biggest savings are for first-time and low-volume publishers....

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Outlander Blu-ray Announced in the UK

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:19:33 -0400

Momentum Pictures has announced the Vikings-vs-aliens movie 'Outlander' for Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on August 31, day-and-date with the DVD. There are no technical specifications available, but you can expect a 2.35:1 1080p video presentation accompanied by a 5.1 lossless audio track. There is no information regarding regional coding....

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Blu-ray.com Subwoofer Contest

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:24:00 -0400

Blu-ray.com is pleased to announce that we have teamed up with high-end audio manufacturer Elemental Designs to bring you a contest where one of our lucky members will have the chance to win an Elemental Designs A7-700 Subwoofer valued at $1600! The contest starts today and runs through July 14th, so be sure to vote now....

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Kong: Return to the Jungle Blu-ray

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:46:28 -0400

Image Entertainment has announced that it will release the direct-to-video animated feature 'Kong: Return to the Jungle' on Blu-ray on October 13. Video will be 1.78:1 high-definition, accompanied by a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. There is no information on special features....

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BDA Hires Brands2Life for European Promo

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:20:48 -0400

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has hired promotional firm Brands2Life to help raise consumer awareness about the high definition format in Europe. The company has already been handed the BDA's European consumer brief and will also be managing the European press office. Their goal is to converse with film, music, and gaming social media sites to raise awareness among Blu-ray's target audience....

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UK: 3.1m BDs sold in first half of 2009

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:15:33 -0400

The British Video Association (BVA) has revealed that 3.1 million Blu-ray discs have been sold in the UK since the start of 2009. The figure represents a 231% growth in sales figures from the same period last year. DVD sales, in turn, dropped 9.5% year-on-year....

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Denon Brings 2010 Blu-ray Player to the UK

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:12:23 -0400

Denon UK has announced that they will bring the Denon DBP-2010 Blu-ray Disc player to the UK as a more affordable option for high-end consumers. Originally announced for US release in May, the company will bring the player to UK shores this month for the SRP of £600 in both black and silver....

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Happy DTS 7.1 Day!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:51:13 -0400

Agoura Hills Mayor Denis Weber has declared today to be "DTS 7.1 Day" in recognition of the company's cutting edge 7.1 surround sound audio technology. I kid you not. California State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley also offered up her praise for the high definition audio company with a Certificate of Recognition noting DTS's "dedication to delivering unparalleled sound quality to audiences around the world"....

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Details Revealed for The Girl Next Door; High Crimes Blu-rays

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:09:24 -0400

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'The Girl Next Door' and 'High Crimes', which are both scheduled to hit store shelves on September 1st. 'The Girl Next Door' will come in unrated form while 'High Crimes' will maintain it theatrical cut. For both releases, video will be presented in 1080p AVC accompanied by 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks....

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MAS*H Blu-ray Gets Detailed

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:02:41 -0400

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has revealed the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'M*A*S*H', which is set to be released on September 1st. For the release, video will be presented in 2.35:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Almost the Truth from Monty Python on BD

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:15:09 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that Umvd/Visual Entertainment will release 'Monty Python: Almost the Truth' on Blu-ray on October 27, day-and-date with the DVD and mere weeks after airing on cable. This six-hour documentary will come out in a three-disc set....

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Sugar Blu-ray in September from Sony

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:57:46 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that it will release the baseball film 'Sugar' on Blu-ray on September 1, day-and-date with the DVD. The movie presentation will consist of a 1.78:1 AVC video encode, accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track....

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Emmerich's Godzilla Stomps on Blu-ray in November

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:35:32 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that it will bring the 1998 version of 'Godzilla' on Blu-ray on November 3, tying in with the theatrical opening of Roland Emmerich's latest disaster movie, '2012'. As a major catalog title, this include Sony's new movieIQ live database feature....

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Paramount in Talks with Fox and Sony for Home Entertainment Merger

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:21:37 -0400

Paramount Pictures is seeking to merge its home entertainment division with a rival and is in advanced talks with Sony Pictures and 20th Century Fox, according to the Financial Times. It is unclear which of the two companies will strike a deal with Paramount. None of the companies made any comment....

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Stop Making Sense Blu-ray for October

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:50:19 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that Palm Pictures and Umvd/Visual Entertainment will release the Talking Heads concert film 'Stop Making Sense' on Blu-ray on October 13. No information on audio or video specifications or special features is available yet....

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Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz BDs Get Detailed

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:58:58 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced and detailed the Blu-ray release of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', which are due to hit stores on September 22. Each title will come in a BD-50, with 2.35:1 1080p video and a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and a lot of bonus materials....

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Red Dwarf: Back to Earth on Blu-ray

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:34:16 -0400

BBC Home Entertainment, in conjunction with Warner Home Video, has announced that it will bring 'Red Dwarf: Back to Earth' to Blu-ray on October 6, day-and-date with the DVD. Video will be presented in 1.78:1 1080p video, with a stereo audio track. There is no information on special features....

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Superman/Batman Team-Up Comes to Blu-ray

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:59:57 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced that it will release the direct-to-video animated movie 'Superman/Batman: Public Enemies' on Blu-ray on September 29, day-and-date with the DVD. This title will be presented on a BD-25, with 1.78:1 VC 1080p video....

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Cinram Sets Up First BD Lines in Germany

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:34:58 -0400

Cinram GmbH has announced the installation of its two first Blu-ray replication lines in Germany, at the company's largest European production and distribution center, in Alsdorf, near Aachen. By mid-August, when both lines are operational, total production capacity will be 32,000 units per day....

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Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player for General Sale

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:58:50 -0400

The Oppo BDP-83 is finally here. After a long beta-testing period, followed by a three-month "Early Adopter Program", followed by three months of limited availability, the player is now available for preorder on the Oppo site, with an expected delivery date of July 1 - July 3, and also on amazon, with a ship date of July 6....

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Clive Barker's Book of Blood Blu-ray in September

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:34:39 -0400

Lightning Media has announced the Blu-ray release of the horror movie 'Book of Blood', based on two short stories by Clive Barker, for September 29, day-and-date with the DVD. The disc will feature the original director's cut of the movie. The only extra available is a 20-minute behind-the-scenes featurette....

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BFI Announces Bill Douglas Films for Blu-ray

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:50:39 -0400

The British Film Institute has announced the Blu-ray release of several films by Scottish director Bill Douglas for July 27: the 'Bill Douglas Trilogy' (including My Childhood, My Ain Folk and My Way Home) and 'Comrades'. The Blu-ray for 'Bill Douglas Trilogy' contains the three films on one region-free BD50, with the extras on a separate DVD. 'Comrades' will be a two-disc set....

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Blu-ray.com Poll: Subtitle Placement

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:01:15 -0400

After the success of its recent poll on lossless audio, Blu-ray.com has a new one to gauge members' opinion on a more obscure topic: subtitle placement. If you regularly watch subtitled movies, this concerns you. Please read the brief background information below before voting....

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Bolt is Again Top BD in the UK

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:02:31 -0400

In its second week, Disney's 'Bolt' remained the top-selling Blu-ray on the UK charts for the week of June 22-June 29. The best-selling new release was Universal's 'The Unborn', which opened at second place. Sony's 'Ghostbusters' continued to sell well, dropping only to number 4 from last week's number 2....

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Ritek, CMC to Expand Writeable BD Capacity

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:36:56 -0400

Taiwan-based manufacturers of blank optical discs Ritek and CMC are going to expand its production capacity of writeable Blu-ray Discs dramatically in the second half of the year. Ritek will double its capacity to 2 million discs per month, whereas CMC will add two production lines to bring its total to three....

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Tyson Blu-ray Gets Detailed

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:02:05 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has officially announced and detailed the Blu-ray release of the documentary 'Tyson', which will hit store shelves on August 18, day-and-date with the DVD. Video will be 1.85:1 AVC accompanied by a lossless 5.1 English audio track, and English and French subtitles....

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John Landis: American Werewolf "Comes out on Blu-ray This Summer"

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:20:19 -0400

'An American Werewolf in London' is being released on Blu-ray this summer. This is what John Landis told horror film site Bloody-Disgusting when they contacted Landis for his reaction on the upcoming remake of the famous 1980s horror movie. In Landis's own words, the negative has been digitally cleaned up and it looks "amazing."...

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Grace Announced for Blu-ray

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:49:19 -0400

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the horror film 'Grace' to Blu-ray on September 15th, day-and-date with the DVD release. According to reports, two viewers fainted at the film's premier, so take heed! Video will be presented in 2.35:1 1080p AVC accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack....

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Lionsgate Announces Battle for Terra Blu-ray

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:11:36 -0400

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the animated film 'Battle for Terra' on Blu-ray on September 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. Featuring the voices of Luke Wilson, Evan Rachel Wood, Dennis Quaid, Danny Glover and James Garner, this sci-fi film will be presented in 1080p AVC accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsal Rumored for Blu-ray

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:54:23 -0400

When Michael Jackson died last week, he was rehearsing for a final series of live concerts in London. Those gigs will obviously never happen, but Jackson's last rehearsal, recorded in multi-camera, high-definition video, could be released on Blu-ray, according to concert promoters cited by the British newspaper The Independent....

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Santa Buddies Gets Detailed

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:18:44 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced the technical specs and a name change for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Santa Buddies: The Legend of Santa Paws', which is due to hit store shelves on November 24th, day-and-date with the DVD release. Coming in Disney's Blu-ray Combo Pack form with accompanying DVD, video will be presented in 1080p AVC with a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack....

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Sony Brings Two Westerns to Blu-ray This Fall

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:07:33 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Silverado' and 'The Quick and the Dead' to Blu-ray on September 8th. 'Silverado' will come with a booklet, presumably in the digibook format. For both releases video will be presented in 1080p AVC accompanied by 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtracks....

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Classic Christmas Carol Gets Blu-ray

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:48:48 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that VCI will enter the Blu-ray arena with the release of the movie 'A Christmas Carol' (also known as 'Scrooge') on November 3. No information on audio/video specifications or special features is available, other than a DVD copy of the film will also be included....

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Scooby Doo Live-Action Prequel BD for September

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:22:13 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced that it will release the direct-to-video movie 'Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins' on Blu-ray on September 22, day-and-date with the DVD. This will be a two-disc edition where the second disc holds the DVD and a digital copy of the movie. Video will be 1.78:1 VC-1, accompanied by a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track....

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El Superbeasto Coming to Blu-ray

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:54:57 -0400

Anchor Bay Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring the direct-to-video animated feature 'The Haunted World of el Superbeasto' to Blu-ray on September 22nd, day-and-date with the DVD release. The feature is based on Rob Zombie's comic book of the same name, and should be considered as for adult audiences only....

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Zack Snyder Talks Blu-ray

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:07:08 -0400

In a recent interview with Superhero Hype, director Zach Snyder responded to a couple questions regarding his impressions of the high definition format. When beginning work on the upcoming Blu-ray release for his latest film 'Watchmen', he was surprised how far the format had evolved since the release of his film '300'....

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BDA Disputes Harris Poll

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:37:20 -0400

Citing recent data from Adams Media Research, the Blu-ray Disc Association is disputing the results of a recent Harris Poll which indicated that more consumers own HD DVD players (11%) than Blu-ray Disc Players (7%). Sales data provided by the research company shows the number closer to an 8% share for Blu-ray compared to less than 1% for HD DVD....

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Tyson Documentary Coming to Blu-ray

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:04:42 -0400

In an early announcement to retailers, it has been revealed that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release 'Tyson' on Blu-ray on August 18. No audio or video specifications are available, but you can expect a 1.78:1 AVC video encode accompanied by a lossless audio track. There is no information on special features....

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Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Valentino Docu on BD from Phase 4

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:50:32 -0400

Phase 4 Films has added two titles to its Blu-ray slate. The indie movie 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' is announced for August 4, whereas the documentary 'Valentino: The Last Emperor' is scheduled for September 15. There is no information on audio or video specifications, or special features at this time....

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Ocean's Trilogy in Amazon Gold Box Today

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:10:25 -0400

Amazon's Gold Box deal-of-the-day is a special offer on 'Ocean's Trilogy' (Ocean's Eleven, Twelve & Thirteen Gift Set), which today can be bought on Blu-ray for only $36.99, or just over $12 each title. This was a runner-up in the vote Amazon held to decide which titles to offer during its High-def week....

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BD Revenues at Image Entertainment Skyrocket

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:36:41 -0400

Image Entertainment has reported financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2009. The figures show a sharp upturn in net revenues from Blu-ray: in the financial fourth quarter (i.e., January-March 2009), they were $1.3 million, up 440% from the $222,000 for the same period in 2008....

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The Exorcist, Logan's Run Rumored for BD in 2009

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:39:27 -0400

Our friends at The Digital Bits, always in the hunt for juicy Blu-ray scoops, now have word that Warner Home Video plans to release 'Logan's Run' and 'The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen' in 2009, as well as the already mentioned 'Heat'. As already reported, Paramount is preparing 'It's a Wonderful Life' for this year and 'Chinatown' for 2010....

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BBC Brings Yellowstone to Blu-ray

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:32:40 -0400

BBC Home Entertainment in conjunction with Warner Home Video have announced that they will bring the latest BBC Natural History production 'Yellowstone: Battle for Life' to Blu-ray on September 29th, day-and-date with the DVD release. The release will feature all three one-hour episodes of the series in high definition, which represents nearly a full year at the famous national park....

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Buy a PS3, Get Free Blu-ray Remote and Movie

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:06:45 -0400

Amazon is having another interesting promotion. When you purchase an 80GB PlayStation 3, you can get the BD remote for the PS3 and the Blu-ray of 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse' for free. To qualify, place all three items in your cart. The discount will be reflected at checkout. The offer is valid through July 11....

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Pioneer and Sharp Make Joint Venture Official

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:11:09 -0400

Sharp and Pioneer have officially announced that their optical disc joint venture - Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Corporation - will launch on October 1st of this year. As we previously reported, Sharp and Pioneer agreed to merge their optical disc business as part of Pioneer's restructuring plan....

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Philips Announces Blu-ray Soundbar

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:51:20 -0400

In Singapore today, Philips unveiled its home-entertainment lineup for 2009. Philips is expanding its range of Soundbars (compact one-piece home theater systems that consist of a tuner, a disc player and speakers), including the company's first such device with Blu-ray playback: the HTS8160B....

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BD Sales Information: June 15-21 (Update)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:15:43 -0400

'Gran Torino' continued to be the top-selling title on Blu-ray for the week ended June 14, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert, closely followed by the 2009 remake of 'Friday the 13th', in its first week on store shelves. In third place, and not far behind, was a catalog title: 'Ghostbusters'. Update: overall sales figures added....

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Watchmen Comic-Con BD-Live Community Screening Announced

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:32:27 -0400

Comic-Con 2009 opens on July 23, and 'Watchmen' director Zack Snyder has announced "something special" for the fans. On July 25, there will be a "Live Community Screening" of the film at the convention, which will be relayed via BD-Live, so owners of the Blu-ray (which comes out on July 21) can watch the film along with Snyder and talk about the film....

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Michael Bay Talks Transformers 2 Blu-ray

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:47:04 -0400

Michael Bay has already intimated some details about the Blu-ray edition of 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'. It's going to have "lots of stuff" and is being produced by "Ridley Scott's DVD guy" in other words, the extraordinary Charlie de Lauzirika. Bay also confirmed that the BD version will have variable aspect ratio for the scenes shot in IMAX, like 'The Dark Knight' did....

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ESCA: Blu-ray is the Future

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:39:15 -0400

At the Entertainment Supply Chain Academy Conference yesterday, many industry representatives openly commented on the current state of Blu-ray, almost unilaterally agreeing that Blu-ray is still the future of home entertainment. Recent analysis has shown that Blu-ray sales are already up 212% this year, and the outlook is favorable to reaching 500M units by 2013....

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Wolverine UK Edition Gets Detailed

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:28:19 -0400

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray release of 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' for October 19, day-and-date with the DVD. Audio and video specifications are not determined, but you can expect a 2.39:1 1080p AVC video encode accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack from the studio....

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Toshiba President Hints at Supporting Blu-ray

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:41:45 -0400

At the annual shareholder meeting of Toshiba Corporation today, outgoing president Atsutoshi Nishida did not rule out the possibility of selling Blu-ray products. In a new pragmatic vein, Nishida said: "It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open."...

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U-Tech Media Lands BD Movie Orders from Drive Makers

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:52:01 -0400

Taiwan-based replicator U-Tech Media has received orders for Blu-ray movie discs from two of the world's top three ODM/OEM optical disc drive makers: Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST). HLDS and TSST plan to offer free BD movie discs with their BD drives and players to promote sales....

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Tentative BD Details for Star Trek Movie

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:11:40 -0400

Our good friends at The Digital Bits, together with trekmovie.com, have gleaned from German sites the first information regarding the specifications and bonus features to be included in the upcoming Blu-ray release of J.J. Abrams's 'Star Trek'. The movie will be presented in 2.35:1 1080p with a Dolby TrueHD audio track....

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Warner Details Lord of the Rings BD Box Set

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:54:42 -0400

New Line Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video have revealed the special features and subtitles included in the upcoming 'The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy' Blu-ray set. The bonus contents list follows pretty closely what was included in the DVD releases of the theatrical versions....

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Vizio Blu-ray Player Coming Exclusively to Walmart

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:18:12 -0400

During a press conference today, John Schindler, New Product Development Vice President for Vizio, commented on the company's upcoming Blu-ray Disc player, the VBR100. The player will be available in late July, exclusively at Walmart, for the suggested retail price of $188. It will be BD-Live capable with the addition of a USB thumb drive....

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Onkyo Announces DV-BD507 Blu-ray Player for Europe

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:51:30 -0400

Onkyo has announced a new Blu-ray player for the European market: the DV-BD507. Specifications are similar to other recent models. It is BD-Live compatible, supports 1080/24p and 1080p upscaling and decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also supports AVCHD and DivX-HD playback. It will be available in July, for a price still unconfirmed....

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Keane Live BD Announced for US Release

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:50:59 -0400

Universal Music Enterprises has announced that they will bring the concert film 'Keane Live' to Blu-ray on July 14th, day-and-date with the DVD release. Technical specs have not been announced at this time, though previous releases from the studio have been presented in 1080p AVC accompanied by PCM soundtracks....

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Today on Blu-ray - June 23rd

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:29 -0400

Typically after major holidays, the number of new releases dries up for a week or so as studios recover from the push to get content onto store shelves for gift purchases. Unfortunately for Blu-ray fans, Father's Day is considered a major holiday in the home video industry, and today is noticeably lacking of hot new Blu-ray releases. While I will comment on a few titles that are coming out today, I would first like to address the recent Harris Poll which has caused a sky is falling mentality within the journalistic community....

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Industry Researches Disc Activation Against Theft

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:40:00 -0400

The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) today announced the results of a study on the advantages of adopting benefit denial technology against the theft of DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and video games. The study found that this technology could bring as much as $6.8 billion annually in increased sales, cost savings and cost avoidance. If further studies are positive, the technology could be deployed in late 2010....

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Zoran Prepares BD Chip after Settling with DTS

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:06:25 -0400

Integrated circuits manufacturer Zoran Corporation has announced that it has settled all outstanding litigation with DTS and has obtained a license for all DTS related technologies required for Blu-ray products. Zoran expects to roll out its integrated BD single-chip solution by the end of the year and to leverage its existing position in the DVD market to establish a leading position in the Blu-ray market....

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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory BD Announced

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:05:13 -0400

As we informed last week, Warner Home Video has announced the Blu-ray release of 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' for October 20. As we expected, this will be a DigiBook edition. However, there is no information on whether there will be a lossless audio track included. For those that care, the disc will be a BD25....

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Friday Blu-ray Gets Detailed

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:02:45 -0400

New Line Home Entertainment in conjunction with Warner Home Video have announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Friday: Deluxe Edition', which is due to hit store shelves on September 8th. Coming on a BD-25, video will be presented in 1.85:1 1080p VC-1 accompanied by a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack....

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Duplicity Gets Late August BD Release Date

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:37:51 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release on Blu-ray the thriller 'Duplicity', starring Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, on August 25, day-and-date with the DVD. Video will be 2.40:1 1080p, accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, and English, French, and Spanish subtitles....

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Fighting Unrated BD for August 25

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:36:04 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'Fighting' on Blu-ray on August 25, day-and-date with the DVD. It will come in a BD50 and include both the theatrical cut and an unrated cut with "even more ferocious fighting". Video will be 1.85:1 1080p, with a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack....

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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer BD

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:20:39 -0400

Fangoria magazine has the scoop that Dark Sky Films is set to release John McNaughton's cult film 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' on Blu-ray on September 29. No specifications are available, but you can expect 1.33:1 1080p video and a stereo lossless audio track. Hopefully the extensive extras from Dark Sky's 20th Anniversary DVD will be carried over to BD....

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Rumor: Grindhouse Theatrical Experience BD

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:50:40 -0400

An early announcement to retailers indicates that Genius Products and The Weinstein Company are set to release Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's 'Grindhouse' on Blu-ray on August 11. No edition details are available, other than this would be a two-disc set, but it may well be the theatrical Grindhouse double feature....

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Four Asian Martial Arts Films on BD from Disney

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:18:28 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is bringing four major Asian martial arts action movies to Blu-ray on September 15: 'The Legend of Drunken Master', 'Hero', 'Iron Monkey', and Takeshi Kitano's 'Zatoichi'. All four will be available separately or together in a four-disc 'Ultimate Force of Four' box set. No edition details are available yet....

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Warner UK Announces BD-Live on Gran Torino

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:39:49 -0400

Clint Eastwood's 'Gran Torino' is released on June 29 in the UK and shortly thereafter in the rest of Europe. With that release, the UK, France, Germany and Japan will be the first territories outside of the US to have access to BD-Live on titles from Warner Home Video. Owners of the movie on Blu-ray will have access to additional special features....

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Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz Blu-ray Bound

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:51:23 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment have revealed that they will bring the Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg films 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz' to Blu-ray on September 22nd. Both films were previously released on the now defunct HD DVD format, but will likely feature new video and audio transfers utilizing the AVC and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs....

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Gremlins BD Announced in the UK

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:21 -0400

A couple months ago we informed you that Amblin Entertainment was working on a remaster of 'Gremlins' for a Blu-ray release. Warner Home Video has now announced that this long-awaited 1980s classic will be released in the UK on October 5. There is no information regarding audio or video specifications special features....

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Sony Germany Details Fall Blu-ray Slate

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:47:55 -0400

The German branch of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just disclosed its slate of new and catalog titles through November and there are titles for all tastes, from 'Godzilla' to 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' to 'Anatomy of a Murder'. Hopefully most of these will also be announced for the US soon....

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Bolt Tops UK Blu-ray Sales Chart

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:52:36 -0400

The UK Blu-ray sales chart for the week of June 15 June 21 was full of pleasant surprises. The top-selling title was an animated family movie: 'Bolt'. Also, the second and third places in the chart were occupied by a couple of decades-old movies: 'Ghostbusters' and 'The Italian Job: 40th Anniversary'....

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Sony, Acer Unveil Budget Laptops with BD

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:02:55 -0400

In the space of one week, Sony and Acer have announced upcoming laptops sporting a Blu-ray drive and a price tag under $900. Both of them have 15.5-inch screens and beefed-up processor and graphics horsepower to cope with Blu-ray decoding and other multimedia functionalities. Both will be available this month....

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The Burning Plain BD Announced in the UK

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:38:12 -0400

Distributor High Fliers has announced that it will release 'The Burning Plain' on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on August 24, day-and-date with the DVD. No information regarding audio or video specifications, special features or region coding has been disclosed at this time, but we shall post it when it becomes available....

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Universal Details Gladiator European Blu-ray

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:14:02 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment, which holds the European rights to the movie 'Gladiator', has announced that the Blu-ray of this title will be released on September 7 in the UK, and other countries in the following weeks. Special features have been listed, and will be very similar to the American edition, with the probable exception of the implementation of U-Control....

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BD-Live Awareness and Usage Still Low, Studios Push on

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:05:31 -0400

BD-Live awareness and usage are still low, but slowly increasing. Most studios are ramping up efforts to include various applications on their new releases (such as social communities or access to exclusive content) as they count on that feature to drive Blu-ray adoption, helped by the new players with Wi-Fi....

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Laguna Announces The Fighter BD for August

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:06:57 -0400

Latino-oriented distributor Laguna Films has announced that it will release 'The Fighter', starring Rafael Amaya and Anna Layevska, on Blu-ray on August 18, day-and-date with the DVD. No audio or video specifications have been detailed at this time, other than both the English track with Spanish subtitles and a Spanish dub will be included....

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Quantum of Solace Is Top-selling BD of the Year

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:26:16 -0400

The latest installment of the James Bond series, 'Quantum of Solace', is the top-selling title on Blu-ray for this year through June 7, followed by 'The Dark Knight', according to research published today by Home Media Magazine. In turn, the caped crusader is handily the winner in the all-time sales category....

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Gladiator, Braveheart, Gump Get Blu-ray Dates and Details

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:57:40 -0400

After weeks of intense speculation, Paramount Home Entertainment has finally disclosed the Blu-ray release dates and edition details for three of its most-awaited catalog releases, all Best Picture Oscar winners: 'Gladiator' and 'Braveheart' will both street on September 1, whereas 'Forrest Gump' will hit store shelves in November 3....

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Lord of the Rings BD Trilogy for November

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:42:08 -0400

New Line Home Home Entertainment, in conjunction with Warner Home Video, has finally revealed the release date and first details for the Blu-ray edition of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy'. This title will come out on November 3. It will contain the original theatrical versions, and also digital copies for all three films....

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Blu-ray.com Review: HP dv2 Laptop with BD (Part One)

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:00:06 -0400

HP has recently launched a new ultraportable whose demographic undoubtedly includes Blu-ray enthusiasts: the dv2. Thanks to its increased capabilities, its high-quality screen and especially its bundled Blu-ray drive, it appeals to BD enthusiasts who are looking for a portable computer. HP and Buzz Corps have kindly loaned us a unit to perform extended tests on it. This is the first instalment of that review-in-progress....

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Happy Birthday Blu-ray!

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:29:57 -0400

Three years ago today, the first Blu-ray titles were released into the wild, marking the beginning of the Blu-ray revolution. While the format was slow out of the gate, it quickly picked up momentum as consumers realized the benefits of high definition over standard DVD. Those of you who proudly display a copy of 'Terminator', 'Underworld Evolution', or 'Hitch' in your collection can claim ownership of a piece of Blu-ray history. While the format has come a long way, there is still along way to go....

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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory BD in October

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:54:10 -0400

Warner Home Video has revealed that it will release 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' (that is, the 1971 version starring Gene Wilder) on Blu-ray on October 20. No specifics on the edition details have been given, other than it will include a 38-page exclusive booklet, which indicates a DigiBook edition....

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BD Player for $99.99 at Meijer

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:34:39 -0400

Michigan-based hypermarket chain Meijer has just passed a new milestone for Blu-ray hardware pricing. From now to July 31, you can buy there a brand-new player (not refurbished) for under $100: the Curtis Mathes CMMBX130 for $99.99. Additionally, using the code "DOTMJR09" will get you free shipping. Update: the player is now sold out....

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Two Lovers Blu-ray Announced for the UK

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:25:34 -0400

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has announced the release of the romance 'Two Lovers' on Blu-ray in the UK for August 10. Video will be presented in 2.40:1 1080p, accompanied by a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Extras will include an audio commentary with co-writer and director James Gray, and deleted scenes....

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Race to Witch Mountain Gets UK BD Release

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:51:38 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release 'Race to Witch Mountain' on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on August 24, day-and-date with the DVD. This will be the first Disney UK release to include a digital copy of the movie, as has long been the norm for the studio's new releases in the US....

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BD Player Production Cost to Fall to $50 in 2010

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:50:03 -0400

Taiwan-based disc drive makers expect production costs of BD players to gradually drop to US$50 in 2010, according to local industry sources. These same sources say that currently the production cost of a BD player starts at approximately $100, with pick-up heads and chipsets accounting for 50% and 25% respectively....

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Updated Rumored Titles on Blu-ray for 2009-2010 (Update)

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:13:48 -0400

Our good friends at The Digital Bits have posted an update on its Rumor Mill section regarding BD titles that are expected for the rest of 2009, as well as movies that have been bumped into 2010 or later. Sadly, it seems that some major titles have definitely fallen off the 2009 slate, such as the Alien and Indiana Jones collections. Update: Monsters, Inc. will reportedly come out in 2009 after all....

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