Blu-ray.com - Blu-ray Disc news

Invictus Blu-ray Announced

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:25:40 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced the release of the latest movie directed by Clint Eastwood, Invictus, which will street on May 18 in a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo edition. This movie, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, tells the inspiring true story of how the South African rugby team united the nation shortly after the disappearance of the apartheid regime....

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The Pacific Blu-ray Not as Soon as Expected

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:22:57 -0400

After information recently posted regarding an upcoming Blu-ray release of the HBO miniseries The Pacific, the studio has requested the removal of the video mentioning that the miniseries would be released on disc in time for Father's Day. HBO also clarifies that, while an exact release date has not been announced, it will not come out "any earlier than the second half of the year."...

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CyberLink Launches PowerDVD 10

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:25:24 -0400

CyberLink Corp. today released CyberLink PowerDVD 10. Enabling Full HD and 3D Blu-ray playback, CyberLink PowerDVD 10 features TrueTheater 3D technology, upgrading the movie experience with 3D movie playback for DVD discs and video files. Meanwhile, the improved version of TrueTheater HD, optimized for the latest CPU/GPU acceleration technologies, enables the upscaling of both DVD movies and video files to HD. A "Mark II" update is scheduled for release this summer which will add Blu-ray 3D playback and 2D-to-3D video file conversion to their software....

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Singulus to Add Jobs as Blu-ray Orders Increase

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:52:18 -0400

Singulus Technologies AG, the world's biggest maker of machines to produce Blu-ray optical discs, will stop working short hours at the end of the month and will add employees in the third quarter, as it plans to sell as many as 35 Blu-ray replication lines this year. "One can talk clearly of a turnaround and we are confident that it will be long-lasting," said Roland Lacher, Singulus CEO....

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Video: Restoring The African Queen

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:33:34 -0400

An exclusive eight-minute video was posted today at MovieWeb offering a fascinating look at the many challenges faced for the restoration of John Huston's The African Queen, which will finally come out on Blu-ray next Tuesday. Paramount's ambition with this restoration program has been to be regarded as one of the industry's best....

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Image Acquires Handmade Library for Blu-ray

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:44:26 -0400

Image Entertainment, Inc. announced today the licensing of the Handmade Films library, featuring over 30 titles including such classics as Time Bandits, The Long Good Friday, the Oscar-nominated Mona Lisa, A Private Function, Withnail and I and How To Get Ahead In Advertising. The announcement was made by Ted Green, Image Chairman and CEO. No Blu-ray release schedule for the library was given at this time....

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Happy Together, The Sun on Blu-ray in June

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:41:04 -0400

An early announcement to retailers indicates that Kino Video will release two titles in June: Happy Together (Cheun gwong tsa sit, Wong Kar-wai, 1997) on June 1, and The Sun (Solntse, Aleksandr Sokurov, 2005) on June 8. There is no information regarding audio/video specifications or special features....

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Darkman and Flash Gordon Announced on Blu-ray

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:29:41 -0400

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release two catalog titles on Blu-ray on June 15, both of which belong decidedly in the "guilty pleasure" category: Sam Raimi's Darkman, starring Liam Neeson, and the 1980 space-opera Flash Gordon, adapted from the classic 1930s comic strip and serials. Both will be presented in non-flipper, single-sided discs....

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Criterion Adds Kiarostami and Troell to June Blu-ray Slate

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:54:35 -0400

The Criterion Collection has added two more titles to its June Blu-ray slate, which will join the three movies recently announced . The studio will release Close-up (Nema-ye Nazdik, Abbas Kiarostami, 1990) on June 22 and Everlasting Moments (Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick, Jan Troell, 2008) on June 29....

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Avatar Blu-ray Detailed, Gets 1.78:1 Video

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:11:57 -0400

Release details have begun to surface regarding the upcoming Blu-ray edition of Avatar, which was announced yesterday. Not regarding the special features (as there will be none), but the audio and video presentation. An interesting development is that the feature aspect ratio of this edition will be 1.78:1, as seen in most 3D theatrical projections....

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Today on Blu-ray - March 16th

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:43:37 -0400

When Disney purchased Pixar Animation Studios in 2006, one of the most influential factors behind the acquisition, besides acquiring the top computer animation studios in the world, was that John Lasseter, one of the powerhouses behind the rise of Pixar, would be put in charge of Disney's downtrodden animation studio. A fan of hand-drawn animation, Lasseter's return was sign of Disney's willingness to reinvigorate the dying art that the studio had all but destroyed only a few years earlier. His first project as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) was The Princess and the Frog - which is out today on Blu-ray - a film which sees the return of the studio to its animation and storytelling roots....

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Avatar UK Blu-ray Releases Detailed

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:04:03 -0400

Now that Avatar has been officially announced worldwide, British retailers have reposted the preorder pages and pictures for the local Blu-ray releases of the movie that got prematurely leaked earlier. Apart from a regular release , the UK will get a limited-edition SteelBook, only available from online retailers, with four lenticular artcards and the companion Activist Survival Guide....

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Caddyshack Blu-ray Announced for June

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:43:31 -0400

Warner Home Video has announced Caddyshack for release on Blu-ray on June 8. The Blu-ray edition of Harold Ramis's directing debut will include the feature-length documentary, Caddyshack: The Inside Story, with the movie's cast and creators. Caddyshack was one of the three catalog titles that WHV had put in the vault last year in anticipation of a Blu-ray release....

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Avatar Blu-ray Officially Announced

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:19:01 -0400

After weeks of speculation and rumors, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced Avatar on Blu-ray. As James Cameron himself revealed a month ago, the release date has been set for Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day). In a first for a major theatrical release on Blu-ray, the studio will go Superbit on James Cameron's megablockbuster and release it without any special features of any sort, in order to maximize audio and video quality. A DVD will be included with the BD....

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Criterion Blu-ray in June: Antonioni, Jarmusch, Visconti

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:05:30 -0400

The Criterion Collection has announced three movies for release on Blu-ray in June. First, on June 15, the studio will release Mystery Train (Jim Jarmusch, 1989), with a transfer supervised and approved by director Jim Jarmusch. A week later, it will release Red Desert (Il deserto rosseo, Michelangelo Antonioni, 1964). And finally, on June 29, it will release The Leopard (Il gattopardo, Luchino Visconti, 1963), with a transfer supervised by director of photography Giuseppe Rotunno....

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Shepperton Studios to Restore British Classics for Blu-ray

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:12:21 -0400

Shepperton Studios, part of the Pinewood Studios Group, has launched a new facility that will oversee the restoration of classic British film titles for theatrical, DVD and Blu-ray release. The first three films to be restored at the facilities will be Peeping Tom, Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Railway Children....

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Blu-ray Players Added to UK Inflation Shopping Basket

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:46:47 -0400

The UK Office for National Statistics announced today the yearly changes to the shopping basket used to measure inflation in the country, so that price indices are representative of consumer spending patterns. Among the items added (along with small bottles of mineral water and allergy tablets) are Blu-ray players. The ONS said BD players have been introduced to "capture price changes in this new expanding technology."...

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Disney Offering $10 Coupon for Princess and the Frog Blu-ray

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:10:33 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has a printable $10 off coupon good for the purchase of the The Princess and the Frog Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack during its first week in stores. This coupon is redeemable at participating retailers, and there are versions available for the US and Canada (English and French speaking regions). This promotion expires on March 21....

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Extraordinary Measures Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:55:40 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced Extraordinary Measures for release on Blu-ray on May 18. This medical drama, the first production for CBS Films, stars Brendan Fraser as the father of two children afflicted with a rare disease who joins forces with a medical researcher, played by Harrison Ford, to find a cure before it's too late....

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Legion Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:40:45 -0400

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced Legion for release on Blu-ray on May 11. This post-apocalyptic thriller, starring Paul Bettany as the Archangel Michael waging war against the armies of evil from a diner in the New Mexico desert, opened in theaters in January and grossed about $40 million domestically. The BD will include a digital copy of the film....

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The Pacific Blu-ray Release in Time for Father's Day

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:49:03 -0400

During the Atlanta premiere of the HBO ten-part "miniseries event" The Pacific, it was announced that it will be available for purchase on Father's Day weekend, which probably means a release date of June 15, a mere month after the last episode airs. Although only DVD was explicitly mentioned in the announcement, it clearly will come out in high-def as well, as the HBO website already features DVD and Blu-ray versions. No other release details are available at this early stage....

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Armageddon and Tombstone Blu-ray Detailed

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:41:05 -0400

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced and detailed the Blu-ray releases of two catalog titles from its Touchstone library: the Michael Bay scifi/action movie Armageddon and the western Tombstone, which, as previously reported, will hit store shelves on April 27....

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White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights Blu-ray

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:18:18 -0500

Next Tuesday is the Blu-ray release date for the White Stripes documentary, The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights, shortly after its US premiere in Austin, TX, as part of the South By South West Music Conference (its world premiere was at last year's Toronto International Film Festival). In the meantime, you can listen to the audio album in its entirety until March 16 on NPR....

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NeverEnding Story Director Wasn't Told about Blu-ray

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:31:35 -0500

When 1980s fan favorite The NeverEnding Story came out on Blu-ray last March 2, extras were conspicuously absent from the disc - not even a trailer. It turns out that Warner Home Video never contacted director Wolfgang Petersen to let him know about the upcoming BD release, let alone ask for his input with special features or remastering....

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Lightning Deal: Firefly Blu-ray for $25.99 (Sold Out)

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:24:34 -0500

Amazon has an interesting BD-related "lightning deal" going on now: for a very limited time, you can buy Firefly: The Complete Series for only $25.49 (71% off MSRP). This offer expires today at 2 p.m. PST, or when stock runs out. The lowest price for this title was $34.99, at another Lightning Deal in November 2009. Update: all discounts have been claimed....

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Cameron Talks Avatar Redux, 3D, Titanic, Abyss/True Lies Blu-ray

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:20:10 -0500

In an interview with USA Today, James Cameron revealed that Fox is considering a theatrical rerelease of Avatar in the fall, possibly in an extended cut. This might affect the 3D Blu-ray release of the movie, although Cameron is still hoping for a fall street date. The Canadian filmmaker is highly enthusiastic about 3D, but he also warned the industry against the temptation to "put bad 3D in the marketplace." He is okay with converting 2D content to 3D but only "if it's done well" and preferably "driven by the artist." Indeed, he intends to convert Titanic to 3D for a theatrical rerelease in 2012. He also expects to start working soon on the Blu-ray release of The Abyss and True Lies....

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Chickenfoot Live Blu-ray Announced

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:46:50 -0500

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced Chickenfoot: Get Your Buzz On - Live for April 20. This live Blu-ray was filmed with 16 high-definition cameras at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on September 23, 2009, plus live segments from Atlanta and Cleveland shows. Chickenfoot brings together the talents of ex-Van Halen members Sammy Hagar (guitar & vocals) and Michael Anthony (bass), Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and legendary guitar hero Joe Satriani....

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Samsung and Panasonic Fighting over Avatar 3D Blu-ray Bundle

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:38:03 -0500

According to Australian tech site SmartHouse, Samsung and Panasonic may be fighting over the rights to bundle a 3D version of James Cameron's Avatar with the 3D-compatible HDTVs from their respective brands in the second half of 2010. Initially, Panasonic was the clear favorite. However, now Samsung is reportedly offering "serious money" in a bid for the rights to bundle the sci-fi blockbuster....

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BFI Launches Dual Blu-ray/DVD Editions, Starting with Ozu

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:34:07 -0500

The BFI announced today the introduction of 'Dual Format Editions', in which both the DVD and Blu-ray versions of selected releases main features and extras alike will sit side-by-side in a "competitively-priced" single package. Dual Format Editions launch on April 26, at RRP £19.99, with two classics from the master of Japanese cinema, Yasujiro Ozu: Tokyo Story (1953) and Early Summer (1951). Late Spring (1949) will follow in June. Over the next 12 months a total of 25 releases will be packaged in this way....

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Oscar Win Boosts Hurt Locker Blu-ray Sales

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:36:34 -0500

UK Sales of The Hurt Locker have surged following the film's victory at the 82nd Academy Awards. HMV -the UK & Ireland's leading DVD and Blu-ray retailer- reports that disc sales of the film at stores and online have more than tripled since Monday compared to the same period a week before. Of those purchases, 40% are being made on Blu-ray. This is one of the highest ratios for any film release in the UK since the format was launched....

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Rumor: Dial M for Murder Blu-ray Coming Up

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:05:18 -0500

According to Spanish site Planeta HD, Warner Home Video will release the Alfred Hitchock movie Dial M for Murder on Blu-ray during this year. No reference is made of whether the 3D version of the movie will be included, but considering the stereoscopic feeding frenzy running rampant in Hollywood nowadays, that's a distinct possibility....

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Blu-ray Sales, March 1-7: 2012 Destroys Charts (Update)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:01:25 -0500

The Roland Emmerich ultimate disaster movie 2012 was the top-selling title on Blu-ray on the week ended March 7, according to Nielsen VideoScan. Sony's blockbuster moved over three times as many copies as Warner's Where the Wild Things Are. Coming in third was Disney's Blu-ray release of the Studio Ghibli animated movie Ponyo. Update: top ten added....

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BBCs Life Blu-ray Announced (Update 2)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:31:23 -0500

Warner Home Video has announced the release on Blu-ray of the BBC documentary series Life, from the BBC's award-winning Natural History Unit, the producers of Planet Earth, with a street date of June 1. This ten-part series presents "130 incredible stories from the frontiers of the natural world." Its premiere episode airs across six of Discovery's networks starting, Sunday March 21, 2010. Remaining episodes air on the Discovery Channel with the finale on April 18. Update: press release with full edition details added. Update 2: entries and cover images for Winfrey and Attenborough versions added....

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Lightning Deal: Hannibal Lecter Collection Blu-ray $27.99 (Expired)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:06:36 -0500

Amazon has an interesting BD-related "lightning deal" going on now: for a very limited time, you can buy The Hannibal Lecter Collection (Manhunter / The Silence of the Lambs / Hannibal) for only $27.99 (60% off MSRP). This offer expires today at 2 p.m. PST, or when stock runs out....

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3D Blu-ray Players and TVs Are Go for Launch (Update: and Receivers!)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:25:42 -0500

The major consumer electronic manufacturers are unleashing 3D hardware upon the populace as we speak. Panasonic (in an exclusive alliance with Best Buy) and Samsung are first out of the gate, with displays and Blu-ray players available now. LG is launching in May, Sony in June (in Japan and then the US) and Vizio in August. Update: Onkyo 3D receivers added....

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Deluxe Launches Blu-ray 3D Services

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:18:50 -0500

Disc authoring company Deluxe Digital Studios Inc. announced today that it is launching a full range of 3D services for the home entertainment market. Its enhanced capabilities are specifically tailored to the 3D Blu-ray standard. Beginning in April, the studio will launch 3D Blu-ray production services with capacity ramping to four projects per month by the fourth quarter of 2010....

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Reports of Compromised CC Information at Monoprice

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:41:58 -0500

Popular audio/video cable retailer Monoprice has temporarily closed its website until March 15 while it performs "maintenance." The website doesn't go into further detail, but it allegedly shuttered after receiving several emails and phone calls from customers complaining about "odd" charges on the credit and debit cards they had used when purchasing from Monoprice. Customers are advised to watch their credit card statements very closely....

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All Shrek Movies on 3D Blu-ray in 2010, Exclusive with Samsung (Update: for One Year)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:02:00 -0500

DreamWorks Animation announced yesterday the expansion of its strategic alliance with Samsung, to feature an exclusive offering of the Shrek film series in its entirety in 3D for the first time ever. This Blu-ray collection will be available during the second half of the year. The news was delivered at Samsung's Full HD 3D LED TV global launch press conference held in New York City. Update: additional information on exclusivity added....

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Lightning Deal: Die Hard Collection Blu-ray $37.99 (Expired)

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:01:56 -0500

Amazon has an interesting BD-related "lightning deal" going on now: for a very limited time, you can buy The Die Hard Collection (Die Hard/ Die Hard 2: Die Harder/ Die Hard with a Vengeance/ Live Free or Die Hard) for only $37.99 (62% off MSRP). This offer expires today at 2 p.m. PST, or when stock runs out. Update: offer expired....

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Media Blasters Delays Versus and Other Titles on Blu-ray

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:40:02 -0500

In what is becoming a rather unpleasant tradition, Media Blasters has announced a long list of delays for all the titles from its DVD and Blu-ray schedule. Most prominently (and painfully), the cult movie from the Tokyo Shock label Versus, already delayed from December 29, 2009 to March 30, is now slated for June 29....

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Gladiator Anniversary Edition Blu-ray for Germany (Update)

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:19:22 -0500

According to information from local retailers cited by HD site bluray-disc.de, the Germany branch of Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release Gladiator: 10th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray on May 6, a week before the theatrical release of Ridley Scott's latest movie, Robin Hood. Bluray-disc.de also confirms that, due to the "inferior quality" of the first release, a "brand new" 1080p master will be used for this new edition. Update: cover art and release details added....

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Today on Blu-ray - March 9th

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:17:55 -0500

Writer/director (and former bartender) Troy Duffy became a cult hero when The Boondock Saints was released, a film loved by fans for its intense action sequences, witty dialog, and an unforgettable performance by Willem Dafoe. Ten years later, Duffy released the sequel to his opus which is out on Blu-ray today to cheers from his devoted fans and jeers from many of the critics who were underwelmed by the story. Of course, if you were expecting a deep, thought-provoking story from The Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day, you'd obviously never seen the original....

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No Blu-ray for Burn Notice Season 3

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:09:11 -0500

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has announced the release of Burn Notice: Season Three for June 1. Unfortunately, it will come out in standard-definition DVD only. This is a new chapter in the erratic hidef career of this TV series: Season One was released in June 2008 on DVD only; a year later, Season Two was released on DVD and BD (but the studio still didn't release Season One on BD); and now Season Three goes back to DVD only....

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Vengeance Trilogy Blu-ray Details Expanded (Update)

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:47:12 -0500

Final details have been revealed regarding Palisades Tartan's Blu-ray release of Park Chan-Wook's Vengeance Trilogy, comprised of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, which as previously reported, released on March 16 as a Best Buy exclusive until June. Contrary to initial information, this finally is a four-disc set (3 BDs and one DVD), loaded with special features. A major improvement for Oldboy from the 2007 release is the inclusion of the three-hour video diary "The Autobiography of Oldboy"....

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Disney Offering $10 Coupon for Old Dogs Blu-ray

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:47:11 -0500

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has a printable $10 off coupon good for the purchase of the Old Dogs Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack during its first week in stores. This coupon is redeemable at participating retailers, and there are versions available for the US and the English-speaking provinces of Canada. This promotion expires on March 16....

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Magnolia Announces Blu-ray Action Wave for May

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:12:00 -0500

Magnolia Home Entertainment has scheduled two Asian action titles for May 11. On that date, the studio will release the Korean disaster film Tidal Wave (Haeundae) and the Thai swords-and-martial-arts movie Legend of the Tsunami Warrior (Puen ya jon salad). Technical specifications have not been disclosed at the moment....

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The New Daughter Blu-ray Announced (Update)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:16:54 -0500

Anchor Bay Entertainment has announced The New Daughter, the English-language directorial debut for Luis Berdejo, co-writer of [rec]. Edition details are still pending. This horror thriller stars Kevin Costner and Ivana Baquero (Ofelia from Pan's Labyrinth). It had a limited theatrical release in late 2009. Update: extras added....

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Lightning Deal: Family 3-Pack Blu-ray for $22.99 (Sold out)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:38:48 -0500

Amazon has now a BD-related Lightning Deal. For a very limited time, you can order the Family 3-Pack (consisting of Alvin And The Chipmunks, Ice Age and Ice Age 2: The Meltdown) for only $22.99, or $7.66 per movie. This offer expires today at 2 p.m. PST, or when stock runs out. Update: all discounts have been claimed....

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Friedkin Flaunts Control over Exorcist Blu-ray, Says No to 3D

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:24:45 -0500

In a recent interview, William Friedkin was asked about the possibility that Warner Brothers decided to convert The Exorcist to 3D. Friedkin said that would never happen, "providing I'm still alive." He stated that he has control "over every single frame of film" when converting it to Blu-ray. "If I want a scene bluer, I get that scene bluer," he added....

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Where's the Blu-ray, Lebowski?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:01 -0500

Last night, when Jeff Bridges finally won his Oscar, he offhandedly drew from one of his most memorable (and most quotable) characters, The Dude: "Well, you know, [it's been] ups and downs, strikes and gutters, man." The Big Lebowski, however, is still unreleased on Blu-ray yet as are most of Bridges's other movies, spanning four decades under directors such as Peter Bogdanovich, Michael Cimino, the Coen brothers, Francis Ford Coppola, Terry Gilliam, John Huston, Ridley Scott or Peter Weir....

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War of the Worlds Blu-ray Dated and Detailed

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:03:28 -0500

Between April and June, Paramount Home Entertainment is releasing three Steven Spielberg movies, one each month. On June 1, the studio will release War of the Worlds, the modern retelling of H.G. Wells's science-fiction novella starring Tom Cruise. Technical specifications have not been released yet. The BD carries over all the contents from the two-disc limited edition DVD....

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The 82nd Oscars and Blu-ray

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:17:26 -0500

Virtually all the award-winning titles at last night's Academy Award ceremony are already out on Blu-ray or will be soon. The Hurt Locker was the clear winner, with six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director (the first time for a female director, Kathryn Bigelow). This low-budget war movie, despite great reception at the Venice and Toronto film festivals in 2008, had a somewhat limited theatrical run in the States and grossed under $13 million. It was released on Blu-ray by Summit Entertainment in January....

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:11:52 -0500

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus for release on Blu-ray on April 27. This Terry Gilliam fantasy movie was beset by tragedy when actor Heath Ledger died midway through production. The project seemed doomed, but eventually Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law completed the role of Ledger's character. It received two Academy Award nominations (Art Direction and Costume Design)....

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Rob Marshalls Nine Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:09:52 -0500

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that, on May 4, it will release the Weinstein Company production Nine on Blu-ray. This adaptation of a Broadway musical, itself based on Federico Fellini's 8½, garnered considerable buzz but fizzled at the box office. It received four Academy Award nominations (Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz, Art Direction, Costume Design and Original Song)....

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Rumor: Branagh's Hamlet Coming Soon on Blu-ray

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:06:03 -0500

When Warner Home Video announced the release on Blu-ray of the recent BBC production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, we lamented that the full-text 1996 version starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh wasn't coming out on Blu-ray. Now it seems that WHV has addressed those concerns, as Branagh's Hamlet has just gone up for preorder, complete with rather official-looking cover art....

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Prince Valiant Blu-ray Announced

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:43:28 -0500

Eureka Entertainment has announced Prince Valiant for release on Blu-ray in the UK on April 26. This 1954 CinemaScope adaptation of the famous comic strip created by Harold R. Foster in 1937 was directed by Henry Hathaway and stars Robert Wagner as Prince Valiant and Janet Leigh as Princess Aleta....

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The Basketball Diaries Blu-ray in April

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:31:47 -0500

Independent distributor Palm Pictures will release The Basketball Diaries on Blu-ray on April 20. This 1995 drama, based on Jim Carroll's autobiography, stars a pre-Titanic Leonardo DiCaprio in a bravura performance as a young poet and high-school basketball promise turned heroin addict. Note that the existing DVD release from 1998 isn't even anamorphically enhanced....

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Blu-ray Remote App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad by sofatronic

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:24:59 -0500

Sofatronic, a provider for interactive Blu-ray features, is launching the "sofa remote app", a Blu-ray application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. This app controls BD-Live players of all manufacturers in a home network and offers unique new possibilities. Every Blu-ray can deliver its own look and feel for the application and can customize the feature by the touch of a button. In that way, the company promises, "the fun of viewing a movie on the big screen in the living room can be brought to the small screen in your palm."...

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HDMI Specification Version 1.4a Released

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:58:38 -0500

HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification, announced yesterday, on behalf of the HDMI Founders, the release of HDMI Specification Version 1.4a featuring key enhancements for 3D applications including the addition of mandatory 3D formats for broadcast content as well as the addition of the 3D format referred to as Top-and-Bottom....

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Blu-ray Sells over $200m in Jan-Feb 2010, Restores Growth for Packaged Media

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:37:07 -0500

According to aggregate weekly estimates from the research department of Home Media Magazine, revenues from Blu-ray sales in the US in 2010 through February were $200.95 million, 59% more than in the same period of 2009. Additionally, thanks to Blu-ray, the revenue from packaged-media sales stopped falling and grew 3% year-on-year....

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Raging Phoenix Announced on Blu-ray

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:51:53 -0500

Cine Asia has announced the Thai martial arts movie Raging Phoenix (original title: Deu Suay Doo) for release on Blu-ray in the UK on April 12 in a special collector's edition. Technical specifications and special features are still to be confirmed. Raging Phoenix is the second film performance for actress Jija Yanin, who had debuted in Chocolate....

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The Notebook Gets Regular Edition Blu-ray

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:42:26 -0500

Blu-ray enthusiasts for whom gift sets are just cumbersome boxes and collectibles mere trinkets will be glad to hear that Warner Home Video will release the New Line title The Notebook in a regular Blu-ray edition on May 4. In January 2009, this movie had been released in a Limited Edition Gift Set, which, according to the blu-ray.com review, was "terribly impractical", although it "should make more than a few ladies grin"....

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Kill Zone Blu-ray Detailed

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:19:42 -0500

Cine Asia has revealed the details for the Blu-ray release of the Hong Kong action movie Kill Zone (original title: SPL: Saat Po Long or Sha Po Lang), directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen, which is due to hit UK store shelves on March 8. It will include the original Cantonese and an English dub, both in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, with optional English subtitles....

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Lord of the Rings Blu-ray Ditches Dolby, Goes 6.1

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:44:42 -0500

Warner Home Video has uploaded the final back cover picture for The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy, which comes out on Blu-ray in a month, and a significant change in the audio specs has taken place: while initially audio was listed as Dolby TrueHD 5.1, now it's DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1....

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Entourage and Hung Announced on Blu-ray

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:02:08 -0500

HBO, in conjunction with Warner Home Video, has announced two TV series for release on Blu-ray on June 22: Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season and Hung: The Complete First Season. Both series will come in digipacks with a slipcase, and extras will include audio commentaries and featurettes....

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Blu-ray Sales, Feb. 22-28: The Citizen Abides (Update)

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:09:39 -0500

The new releases of the week ended February 28 were unable to unseat Anchor Bay's Law Abiding Citizen from the top spot on Blu-ray, according to Nielsen VideoScan. The Blu-ray market share for Citizen also rose from 28% in its first week to 41%. The direct-to-video animated title Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths managed third place and The Informant! was tenth. Update: charts and sales figures added....

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Chevy Chase Double Feature Blu-ray BB Exclusive

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:36:38 -0500

Last week Warner Home Video released five Blu-ray double features. Yesterday, it released another one, with two movies starring Chevy Chase: Funny Farm / Spies Like Us. It is a Best Buy exclusive in the US and available in-store only, at least for the time being....

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Rumor: Gladiator Remastered Blu-ray in May

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:16:46 -0500

Confirming earlier reports, first signs of a remastered Blu-ray release of Gladiator are surfacing on the Web. A blu-ray.com forum member from Finland reported that local web retailers have already a reissue of the movie up for preorder, with a release date of May 4 and "remastered" in the item description. French retailers also have a new release of Gladiator tagged for May 11, although in this case no mention of a remaster is made....

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Calendar Bug Briefly Strikes "Fat" PS3

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:10:52 -0500

The PS3 got the Y2K bug ten years later. On Monday, March 1, a calendar-related glitch struck older PS3 consoles. The internal clock of the console incorrectly considered 2010 as a leap year, preventing users from joining the PlayStation Network and playing certain games that used trophies. However, Blu-ray playback wasn't affected. The glitch has sorted itself out without the need for a system update....

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Geek Peek: Avatar SteelBook UK Blu-ray

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:12:10 -0500

Avatar still hasn't an official Blu-ray date, but British retailers already have received cover art images for the upcoming BD edition. The image posted indicates that the UK branch of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will release James Cameron's megablockbuster in a SteelBook release with artcards and a printed "Activist Survival Guide."...

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Porcupine Tree Live Blu-ray Coming Up

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:14:29 -0500

The progressive rock band Porcupine Tree announced that it is putting the finishing touches on its new live film, Anesthetize, recorded over two nights in Tilburg (Netherlands) in October 2008, at the end of the Fear of a Blank Planet tour. It will come out in April, in a cloth-bound hardback 120-page book, including the concert on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as two audio CDs of the soundtrack....

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Leap Year Blu-ray Announced

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:01:56 -0500

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that it will release Leap Year on Blu-ray on May 4. This romantic comedy stars Amy Adams as a young woman who, tired of waiting for her boyfriend to propose to her, takes matter into her own hands and travels to Ireland, where a tradition allows women to propose to men on Leap Day....

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Today on Blu-ray - March 2nd

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:32:22 -0500

If Hollywood needs something blown up, Roland Emmerich is the man to do it; he has made a very successful career in destroying the world over and over again for the amusement of film fans. For his latest film 2012 - which is out on Blu-ray today Emmerich uses a Mayan prediction that the world will end in 2012 to destroy the world once again....

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Blockbuster Late Fees Return

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:33:03 -0500

In another blow for disc rentals, Blockbuster has reinstated late fees on movie rentals at its stores. Beginning March 1, the new-release movie rental period for $4.99 titles has been reduced to five days. Afterwards, a $1 per day late fee will be applied, for up to 10 days (thus capped to $10). Blockbuster hasn't announced this change officially; this information comes from store personnel whom Blockbuster has briefed....

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June is Month of Eastwood on Blu-ray

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:28:55 -0500

On May 31, veteran actor and director Clint Eastwood will turn 80. To celebrate it, the following day Warner Home Video will release a slew of Eastwood movies on Blu-ray, including two box sets (the ten-film Clint Eastwood Collection, and the Essential Eastwood: Director's Collection), two more Eastwood double features (Where Eagles Dare / Kelly's Heroes and The Enforcer / Sudden Impact) and three individual Blu-rays (Absolute Power, Heartbreak Ridge and The Rookie). Finally, Eastwood's latest movie, Invictus, is also expected around that time, although it hasn't been officially announced yet....

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Buy Armageddon and Tombstone Blu-ray, Save $10

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:46:19 -0500

Amazon has an unadvertised promotion going for the upcoming Blu-ray editions of Armageddon and Tombstone. If you preorder both titles together, you will get an additional $10 off at checkout, making the total $32.98 for the two movies at the time of writing. There is no information regarding when this offer will expire....

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Disney Offering $10 Coupon for Ponyo Blu-ray

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:27:48 -0500

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has a printable $10 off coupon good for the purchase of the Ponyo Blu-ray during its first week in stores. This coupon is redeemable at participating retailers, and there are versions available for the US and the English-speaking provinces of Canada. This promotion expires on March 7....

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The Young Victoria Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:03:47 -0500

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced The Young Victoria for release on Blu-ray on April 20. This period drama is inspired upon the early years of Queen Victoria (played by Emily Blunt), and her marriage to Prince Albert. It has been nominated to the Academy Awards in three categories (Art Direction, Costume Design and Makeup)....

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Karate Kid I and II Announced on Blu-ray

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:48:07 -0500

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid, Part II for release on Blu-ray on May 11. A box set including both movies on BD will also be released on the same date. However, no Blu-ray announcement has been made at the moment for The Karate Kid Part III or for the 1994 movie The Next Karate Kid, starring Hillary Swank....

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A Star Is Born Deluxe Edition Blu-ray Announced

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:11:47 -0500

Warner Home Video has announced A Star is Born, directed by George Cukor and starring Judy Garland, for release on a two-disc Blu-ray Deluxe Special Edition on June 22, including a 40-page booklet with rare photos, press materials and an essay by film historian John Fricke. As previously reported, this was the first film to be completely mastered at 6K from scanning to restoring to mastering....

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Blue Underground Announces Uncle Sam Blu-ray

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:16:15 -0500

Uncle Sam wants you dead! Blue Underground has set a June 29 date for the Blu-ray release of the 1997 horror movie Uncle Sam, directed by William Lustig (who also directed Maniac and the Maniac Cop trilogy), about a soldier killed in action who rises from the grave on the Fourth of July to kill the unpatriotic....

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2012 Blu-ray Special Features Sneak Peek

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:41:08 -0500

The megablockbuster 2012 hits store shelves next Tuesday, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has made available some never-before-seen clips from the special features included in the three-disc edition Blu-raythe scientific premise for the film, the special effects for the LA earthquake sequence, and Roland Emmerich as "master of the modern epic." You can see them all after the jump....

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The Messenger Blu-ray in May

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:57:13 -0500

Oscilloscope Pictures has announced The Messenger for release on a Blu-ray/DVD combo on May 18. This wartime drama stars Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson as two members of the US Army's Casualty Notification Service, and has earned wide critical acclaim and two Academy Award nominations (Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor)....

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Geek Peek: Minority Report UK Blu-ray Limited Steelbook

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:33:51 -0500

When Paramount Home Entertainment announced that it would release Steven Spielberg's Minority Report on Blu-ray, there was much rejoicing, but it quickly turned to disappointment when the cover art was published. Now 20th Century Fox (which holds the European rights) has announced an undeniably better looking (and region-free) limited-edition steelbook with artcards for the UK....

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Original Stepfather Blu-ray in June

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:03:25 -0500

According to information from retailers, distributor New Century will make its Blu-ray debut in June 15 with the release of the horror thriller The Stepfather, starring Terry O'Quinn (in recent times better known as Locke from Lost). No release details are available yet. This 1987 cult movie should not be mistaken with its recent (and by all accounts vastly inferior) remake....

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Deal of the Day: Rocky Blu-ray Collection $37.99 (Expired)

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:06:47 -0500

This Friday, Amazon has an interesting Blu-ray related deal of the day: up to midnight PST, you can order Rocky: The Undisputed Collection on Blu-ray for only $37.99 (62% off MSRP). This works out to a little over $6 per Rocky movie. The price history for this box set shows that the lowest it has been is $47.99....

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Wonderful World Blu-ray Detailed

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:46:20 -0500

Magnolia Home Entertainment has announced and detailed Wonderful World, scheduled for Blu-ray release on March 16. This drama stars Matthew Broderick as perhaps the most negative man alive who realizes that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective. It got a very limited theatrical release early this year....

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Blu-ray Spring/Summer Wave from Optimum

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:52:40 -0500

In a series of retailer alerts, Optimum Home Entertainment has revealed some catalog and new titles it will publish on Blu-ray in the UK in April-June. On April 19, the studio will release Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor and David Lynch's Inland Empire. And on May 31, Johnnie To's Vengeance will hit store shelves....

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Blu-ray Sales, Feb. 15-21: Law Abiding Citizen Rules (Update)

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:16:12 -0500

Law Abiding Citizen was the top-selling title on Blu-ray during the week ended February 21, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert. Second place was for the Xbox 360 video game spinoff Halo Legends, which performed much better on high-def than on standard definition (it was only sixth in the overall packaged-media sales chart). Update: sales figures added....

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Fox and Warner Blu-ray Sale at Deep Discount

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:12:48 -0500

After a period relatively under the radar, Deep Discount is now making a comeback, at least regarding Blu-ray. At the moment, this etailer is having a Fox sale, with several dozen titles at 60% or more off list price, including Firefly: The Complete Series for $35.98 and X-Men Trilogy for $31.98. It also has a sale with discounts of up to 68% on titles from Warner and New Line....

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No Ichi the Killer Blu-ray Yet

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:53:30 -0500

We have lost count of how many times Tokyo Shock has delayed the Blu-ray of Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer. However, this time hopes were high among enthusiasts that the February 23 date would stick. Alas, Tuesday came and went and no retailers have received any stock of the title....

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Cocoon Blu-ray Detailed

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:31:04 -0500

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced and detailed Ron Howard's sci-fi drama Cocoon, which as previously reported will be released on Blu-ray on April 6. Despite being promoted as a "25th Anniversary Edition," no new content has been created for this release, which carries over the bonuses from the 2004 DVD....

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Spartacus - 50th Anniversary Blu-ray on May 25th

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:59:22 -0500

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that, on May 25th, it will release Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960). In 1961, the film won four Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Peter Ustinov) and Best Cinematography (Russell Metty). This Blu-ray edition will be presented in a single-sided BD50....

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Today on Blu-ray - February 23rd

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:37:41 -0500

The name Steven Soderbergh immediately provokes images of intense, thought-provoking dramas akin to his previous efforts (which include Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and Che). Say the name Matt Damon, and the mind is drawn to the image of an intense actor who starred in Good Will Hunting, The Departed, and The Bourne Trilogy. Bring these two intense individuals together, and no one could ever expected that a comedy would unfold, but that is exactly what happened with The Informant, which is out today on Blu-ray....

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Universal Announces It's Complicated on Blu-ray

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:05:14 -0500

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray release of the comedy It's Complicated, directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Meryl Streep as a successful woman who finds herself in a love triangle with her still sexy ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) and an attractive new suitor (Steve Martin). Street date has been set for April 27, in perfect timing for Mother's Day....

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Monsters vs Aliens 3D Blu-ray Exclusive with Samsung TVs

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:59:09 -0500

During the unveiling of its product lineup, the European branch of consumer-electronics company Samsung announced that, in order to get customers started with stereoscopic home cinema, the 3D version of the 2009 Dreamworks Animation blockbuster Monsters vs. Aliens will be available exclusively bundled with Samsung Full HD 3D televisions, expected to launch in March....

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The Sound of Music Blu-ray for the Holidays

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:39:28 -0500

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is saving the heavy artillery for the holidays. After the reports that the Alien Anthology would come out on Blu-ray for Christmas, now comes the announcement that the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic The Sound of Music will also hit Blu-ray around the same time. No release details are available at the moment....

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Dolan's Cadillac Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:57:57 -0500

National Entertainment Media has announced and detailed Dolan's Cadillac. This revenge thriller, starring Christian Slater and Wes Bentley and based on a Stephen King short story (from the Nightmares and Dreamscapes collection), comes direct to Blu-ray on April 6. It is competitively priced at an MSRP of $24.98, same as DVD....

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District 13 Ultimatum Blu-ray Announced

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:23:05 -0500

Magnolia Home Entertainment has announced that it will release District 13: Ultimatum on Blu-ray on April 27. This sequel to the 2004 parkour actioner District B13, again produced by Luc Besson, sees its protagonists join forces against a gang of corrupt cops and officials. On the same date, the studio will also release the 2-pack District 13 Collection....

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Sony to Distribute Weinstein Titles on Blu-ray

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:08:15 -0500

Independent studio The Weinstein Company, which is in the middle of a restructuring process, has finalized a new home video distribution deal with the worldwide acquisitions unit of Sony Pictures, according to which TWC and Dimension titles will release through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The Sony deal is envisioned as long-term, in batches of 9 to 10 films....

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