And for you Lord of the Rings fans, here’s something interesting: The MPAA has officially given The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Extended Edition a rating of PG-13 for fantasy violence “and brief nudity.” There’s no official word on a street date or other details, but you can bet we’ll learn more at Comic-Con in San Diego next month. If Warner followed New Line’s past Extended Edition release habits, you can likely expect the title to street on 11/12 or 11/19, as the EEs of Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers both came out in mid-November (the Return of the King: EE was released on 12/14, but it’s unlikely Warner will want to wait that long as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug arrives in theaters on 12/13). Possible new scenes that you’ll find in the longer version include those being discussed here at The One Ring.net, and obviously you can expect more in-depth behind the scenes documentaries from producer Michael Pellerin (an excerpt of which were available in the form of the A Hobbit’s Tale: Part I – The Journey Begins featurette on the Best Buy-exclusive 2D Blu-ray version released back in March).
Now then… in announcement news, Criterion has officially revealed their September Blu-ray and DVD release slate, set to include Edouard Molinaro’s La Cage aux Folles (Cat #671 – Blu-ray and DVD – due 9/10), Martin Ritt’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Cat #452 – Blu-ray and DVD – also due 9/10), Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata (Cat #60 – Blu-ray & DVD – due 9/17), Richard Linklater’s Slacker (Cat #247 – Blu-ray and DVD – 9/17) and 3 Films By Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman (Cat #672 – Blu-ray & DVD – 9/24 – includes Stromboli [#673], Europe ’51 [#674], and Journey to Italy [#675]).
Also, Shout! Factory has set The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis: The Complete Series for release on DVD on 7/2 as a 21-disc box set. SRP is $139.99.
And Anchor Bay has set the comedy Sisters & Brothers for release on BD and DVD on 9/10.
We’ll leave you with a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for three of the newly-announced Criterion titles…
Here’s also an open box look at Warner/Paramount’s Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection BD set (due 9/13... yes, that’s a Friday)...
Have a great weekend and see you Monday!
- Bill Hunt