In announcement news, Scream Factory has officially confirmed Antonia Bird’s Ravenous for Blu-ray release on 6/3 (SRP $24.97). Extras will include audio commentary with Bird and composer Damon Albarn, audio commentary with screenwriter Ted Griffin and actor Jeffrey Jones, audio commentary with actor Robert Carlyle, deleted scenes (with optional commentary by Bird), a new interview with Jeffrey Jones, 2 still galleries, a TV spot, and the film’s trailer.
Paramount and DreamWorks Animation have announced that they’re releasing a new How to Train Your Dragon: Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray Combo on 5/27 (SRP $29.99). The set will include 90-minutes of extras, including the debut episode of the animated DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk TV series (which seems to be the only truly new content).
Anchor Bay and Starz have set The Birthday Boys: The Complete First Season for DVD only release on 8/5 (SRP $29.98). All 10 episodes will be included. Extras on the 2-disc set will include audio commentaries, 2 featurettes (The Making of Season One and From Stage to Screen), bonus videos, and promos.
Level 33 Entertainment has set Compound Fracture for DVD release on 5/13.
PBS will release a William Shakespeare Collector’s Edition Box Set on DVD on 6/10 (SRP $39.99), which will include “an award-winning screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s epic tragedy Macbeth and the documentary series In Search of Shakespeare on DVD; a collection of rare Shakespeare memorabilia; as well as a complete reproduction of the play Macbeth as published in Shakespeare’s First Folio in 1623.” Not bad.
Troma has set Bloodsucking Freaks for Blu-ray Combo release on 6/3 (SRP $24.95). Extras will include new interviews with Eli Roth and Chris Jericho, commentary with Roth, a never-before-seen uncut version of the film (91 minutes) which includes a deleted scene previously thought lost, as well as a never-before-seen unseen title sequence. Note that Troma has also set Breeding Farm for DVD only release on 6/3 (SRP $19.95).
Also, Monarch Home Entertainment has set Claire for DVD only release on 5/27.
Sony has farmed a bunch of its catalog titles out to Mill Creek Entertainment for Blu-ray release on 7/22, including Donnie Brasco, Anaconda, Gridiron Gang, The Last Action Hero and Legend of Billie Jean: Fair is Fair Edition. Note that some of these have been released on Blu-ray by Sony previously.
And finally, for you music fans, Eagle Rock Entertainment has just announced the Blu-ray, DVD and Deluxe Edition release of Peter Gabriel: Back to Front – Live in London on 6/24. This is Gabriel’s life tour in which he performed the complete album So live. Blu-ray is $19.98 and DVD is $19.98. There’s also a 2 DVD/2CD version selling for $45.98 and a 2 Blu-ray/2CD version for $55.98. For those wondering, the Deluxe Editions contain “a 60-page hardback photobook which includes a second disc containing the theatrical version of Back to Front, featuring additional interviews and montage versions of Solsbury Hill and Sledgehammer utilizing footage from live shows across the years. The Deluxe Editions also contain a double CD of the complete Back to Front show.”
We’ll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Eagle Rock’s Peter Gabriel: Back to Front – Live in London and Synapse’s Curtains (due 7/8), as well as Lionsgate’s Wahlburgers: The Complete First Season (due 7/22)...
Have a great weekend, folks. Oh... and one last thing since it’s going to happen on Sunday while we’re away: May the 4th Be With you!
- Bill Hunt