We’re closing out the week today with a couple more interesting pieces of announcement news…

First of all, it’s not already unknown, but we have official details on Shout! Factory’s upcoming Blu-ray Disc release of Lifeforce and the Hammer Films classic The Vampire Lovers. Both are expected on 4/30. The Lifeforce: Collector’s Edition BD/DVD Combo (SRP $29.93) will include both the Theatrical and International versions (Theatrical on the Blu-ray only), new audio commentary with director Tobe Hooper, a new retrospective with the cast and crew (including Steve Railsback, Hooper and others), the original Making of Lifeforce featurette, the original theatrical trailer, a TV spot, a still gallery and more TBA. Meanwhile, The Vampire Lovers (SRP $19.97) will include audio commentary with director Roy Ward Baker, writer Tudor Gates and star Ingrid Pitt, excerpts from the novella Carmilla (which inspired the film) read by Pitt, new interviews with actress Madeline Smith and Hammer Films scholars, the original theatrical trailer and a vintage radio spot.

Also today, Disney has formally set Monsters, Inc. 3D for Blu-ray 3D Combo release on 2/19 – again no surprise but it’s no official. SRP is $49.99 for a 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition that includes a Blu-ray 3D version, 2 Blu-ray discs, a DVD and a Digital Copy. In addition, the previous BD extras, the set will a preview for the new Disney/Pixar release Monsters University.

And here’s something we think is pretty darned exciting: As some of you may know, our very own Mark A. Altman – when he’s got writing columns for The Bits – is also a TV producer. His series Femme Fatales recently finished its second season on Cinemax and Entertainment One has just announced the first for DVD release! Femme Fatales: The Complete First Season will arrive on DVD only on 1/29 (SRP $29.98). The 3-disc set will include all 12 episodes along with audio commentary on every episode with the stars and creators, deleted and alternate scenes, 4 featurettes (Creating Femme Fatales, Shooting Femme Fatales: The Making of Season One, Making Love: Anatomy of a Sex Scene and San Diego Comic Con 2011 Panel), a blooper reel, isolated music tracks and a special B&W director's cut of the episode The White Flower with audio commentary! Congrats to Mark and to our longtime friend Robert Meyer Burnett, both of whom have directed episodes of the series – well done guys! Looking forward to seeing the discs.

Finally, we’ve learned from industry sources that the audio issue on Sony’s Total Recall Blu-ray is likely a problem with the discs. We’re waiting to hear back from the studio on the matter directly and will let you know when we do.

Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Shout!’s Lifeforce and The Vampire Lovers, as well as DVD art for E-One’s Femme Fatales…

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

- Bill Hunt