The big announcement news today is that 20th Century Fox has set Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo, and DVD release on 12/2, with the digital release set for 11/11. Extras on both Blu-ray versions will include audio commentary by director Matt Reeves, deleted scenes with optional commentary by Reeves, 8 documentary featurettes (Journey to Dawn, Andy Serkis: Rediscovering Caesar, Humans and Apes: The Cast of Dawn, The World of Dawn, The Ape Community, Move Like an Ape: An Artist’s Medium, Weta and Dawn, and The Fight for a New Dawn), plus 4 photo galleries. Of course, there will also be a Planet of the Apes: Ceasar’s Warrior Collection that includes Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and the previous Rise of the Planet of the Apes. You can see the cover artwork below.
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics has set Woody Allen’s Magic in the Moonlight for Blu-ray and DVD release on 12/16. The film stars Colin Firth and Eileen Atkins. Extras will include the Behind the Magic featurette and On the Red Carpet: Los Angeles Film Premiere video.
Sony has also set the football films When the Game Stands Tall on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/9.
Time Life and StarVista Entertainment have announced that they’re going to release The Wonder Years: Season One on DVD on 10/7, thus splitting the existing (and now available for $249.95) Complete Series box into individual seasons for a more affordable purchase (just $19.95).
By the way, a quick update on Anchor Bay and Weinstein’s Begin Again, which we announced yesterday is coming on 10/28. The disc will include The Making of Begin Again featurette and music videos (including Adam Levine’s Lost Stars).
In other news, it’s been brought to our attention that there’s an audio sync issue on Anchor Bay and Scream Factory’s new Halloween: The Complete Collection box set, which affects Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Here’s their official statement: “Anchor Bay and Scream Factory are digging deeper into the audio-sync issue of H4. Please stay tuned and we’ll update you with any news as soon as we can…” We have no doubt that they will.
For those of you eagerly awaiting the Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Lost Missions (coming soon from Disney), a retail source sent over a sneak peek at the cover artwork. You’ll find that below.
And finally today, Netflix has announced that it’s going to begin production on its first original feature film – a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Set to be released in IMAX and 2015, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II: The Green Legend will also be available at the same time on Netflix for streaming customers. Star Michele Yeoh will return for the sequel. More here at Home Media.
Now… before we go… this is the final day of September. That means Jahnke’s annual Hell Plaza Oktoberfest begins tomorrow here at The Bits! Each weekday for the entire month of October, Adam will review a new horror or Halloween-related Blu-ray or DVD here at the site. It’s going to be a lot of fun, so be sure to check back in the morning.
We’ll leave you with some of that cover artwork we promised (along with Amazon links if available)…
Back tomorrow. Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt