My Two Cents
All right, kicking things off today, our own Russell Hammond has once again updated the Release Dates & Artwork section with all the latest Blu-ray, DVD and Video Game cover artwork and Amazon.com pre-order links. As always, a portion of absolutely anything at all that you order from Amazon in the same session after clicking through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it!
The big release news today is that Criterion has announced their March Blu-ray and DVD slate, including Terrence Malick’s Badlands (Cat #651 - BD and DVD - due 3/19), Charlie Chaplin’s Monsieur Verdoux (#652 - BD and DVD - due 3/26), Robert Bresson’s A Man Escaped (#650 - BD and DVD - due 3/26), Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (#173 - BD and DVD - due 3/19), Fritz Lang’s Ministry of Fear (#649 - BD and DVD - due 3/12) and Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr’s cult classic The Blob (#91 - BD only - due 3/12)! Check out some of the cover art below.
Also, Paramount has set Paranormal Activity 4 for release on Blu-ray/DVD Combo and DVD on 1/29. It will include both the theatrical cut and an unrated cut of the film, along with The Recovered Files which is described as "nearly 30 minutes of found footage" (SRP $39.99 and $29.99).
Lionsgate and Summit will release The Cold Light of Day on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/29 as well.
And 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just made Taken 2 available in digital HD streaming on Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Google Play, iTunes, NOOK Video, PlayStation, VUDU, Xbox Video and YouTube. Note that the Blu-ray and DVD versions street on 1/15.
Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover art for some of Criterion’s March BD slate as well as Disney’s Brother Bear: 2 Movie Collection (due 3/12)...
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
All right… just a couple quick items today but they’re good ones!
First up, Disney has officially set the Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray for release on 3/12 (SRP $26.50). Not only will you find the cover artwork below, the title is already up for pre-order on Amazon.com!
Also today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Seven Psychopaths for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/29 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99). Extras will include 6 featurettes (Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Colin Farrell is Marty, Woody Harrelson is Charlie, Crazy Locations, Seven Psychocats and Layers).
Sony has also set Smashed for Blu-ray and DVD release on 3/12 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99). Extras will include audio commentary with director James Ponsoldt and actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, a “making of” featurette, footage of the Toronto Film Festival Red Carpet and Q&A and deleted scenes.
And Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master on Blu-ray and DVD from The Weinstein Company. Street date is TBA, but SRP is $39.99 and $29.99 respectively.
Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Disney’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit?: 25th Anniversary Edition, the Mulan: 2 Movie Collection and The Hunchback of Notre Dame: 2 Movie Collection (street date for all 3/12). All are now available for pre-order on Amazon by clicking on the covers…
Back tomorrow morning with more. Stay tuned…
- Bill Hunt
All right, given the tragic news of the day I’m sure many of you are about as interested in BD/DVD news as I am in reporting it. Nevertheless, there’s a bit of news. So here goes…
Lionsgate has added a couple more titles to its February release slate, including Weeds: Season Eight and Nurse Jackie: Season Four, both due on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12.
Disney has set Michael Mann’s The Insider for release on Blu-ray on 2/19. And for you Disney animation fans, look for Brother Bear, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and a Mulan: Special Edition all on Blu-ray on 3/12.
Paramount is releasing the classic Sampson and Delilah on DVD on 3/12. No word yet of a Blu-ray release.
20th Century Fox is bringing The Bible to Blu-ray sometime in early 2013, probably right around Easter. Watch for an official street date shortly. Not sure if this is a new edition or a re-solicit of the 1966 John Huston film on BD that first came out in 2011.
And finally Cohen Media Group has set Farewell, My Queen for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/15.
Finally today, as all of you know The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is now playing at your local cineplex. I had to good fortune to catch an early screening of it in HFR 3D yesterday afternoon, and it’s well worth your time. However, I would suggest that if you’re planning on catching the 3D presentation, make sure it’s not one that uses active shutter glasses. That’s what I saw and while the film looked great, the active shutter glasses gave me a serious headache. I’ve heard that RealD 3D is the way to go, so I’m going to check it out again that way over the weekend hopefully to compare.
Anyway, have a great and safe weekend everyone. And our hearts go out to all those who've been affected by today’s sad events in Connecticut. Peace out.
- Bill Hunt
All right, we’ve got a rundown of new announcements related to indie, deep catalog, genre, music and documentary titles for you today…
First up, Paramount has officially confirmed the Blu-ray 3D Combo release of Top Gun 3D on 2/19. Extras will include everything on the standard 2D release – you’ll get a BD3D disc, the existing 2D BD and an UltraViolet digital copy.
Hen’s Tooth Video will release the classic The House That Dripped Blood on DVD on 2/26 (SRP $19.95). The video will be anamorphic widescreen. The film stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
Magnolia Home Entertainment will release Compliance on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8.
Universal will release Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Season Four and Xena: Warrior Princess - Season Four on DVD on 3/12.
I think we’ve mentioned this one before, but just in case: Image Entertainment will release Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/21 (SRP $29.97 and $27.97). Image has also set the horror film Cherry Tree Lane for DVD only release on 1/29.
Cartoon Lagoon studios has just released Captain Cornelius’ Cartoon Lagoon on DVD on Amazon.com (SRP $12.99). It includes Episode One (32 minutes), the 90-minute bonus show Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon All-Star Revue, skits, classic cartoons, new cartoons (Superjail director Mike Carlo’s animated short President of the Universe and Gabe Swarr’s Life in the Analog Age shorts), musical guests The Gregory Brothers and a special guest star interview with Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly OddParents).
Artsploitation Films has the Japanese gangster flick Hard Romanticker coming to DVD on 1/22 (SRP $24.99). It’ll include a trailer for the film and a 12-page booklet.
Dark Sky Films will release Sleep Tight on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8.
Timeless Media is releasing The Loretta Young Show: The Best of The Complete Series – 100th Birthday Edition on DVD on 2/12. It’s a 17-disc box set with episodes from the show and a ton of rare, vintage bonus content.
Shout! Factory has set Mike Judge’s The Goode Family: The Complete Series for DVD release on 1/8.
The History Channel’s The Men Who Built America documentary series will arrive on 3-disc Blu-ray and DVD on 1/22 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment (SRP $39.99 and $29.98). Lionsgate will also release Duck Dynasty: Season 2, Volume 1 on DVD on 3/5.
Well Go USA Entertainment has set director Jin-ho Hur’s re-imagined Chinese version of Dangerous Liaisons for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/12. Look also for director Dong-hoo Choi’s Korean heist film The Thieves on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12.
Viva Pictures has set the animated Back to the Sea for DVD only release on 12/31, featuring the voice talents of Christian Slater, Mark Hamill, Tom Kenny and Tim Curry.
And finally, Maston films will release director Bruce McDonald’s recent documentary Music from the Big House on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8 (SRP $19.98 each).
Here’s a look at the BD cover art for Shout! Factory’s Futureworld (due 2/26), temp/retail art for Paramount’s Flight (TBA) and Disney’s retail art for Wreck it Ralph (also TBA)…
For all those of you heading out to brave long lines to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey tonight at midnight shows around the country, have a great time! There’s a pretty good meteor shower going on tonight as well, so while you’re standing in line or on the way home, be sure to look up. Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
All right, our own Russell Hammond kicks this off today with the usual weekly update of the Release Dates & Artwork section. As always, a portion of anything you order from Amazon after clicking through to them from our links goes to help support our work here at The Bits and we really appreciate it!
Now then… here’s something exciting for you catalog fans: 20th Century Fox is bringing Willow to Blu-ray/DVD Combo on 3/12 in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary. The film has been given a new digital transfer and restoration by Lucasfilm and contains all-new extras including deleted scenes with commentary by Ron Howard, the Willow: An Unlikely Hero diary of Warwick Davis, the original 1998 The Making of an Adventure featurette with all-new Ron Howard introduction, the From Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Filmmaking documentary with all-new Dennis Muren introduction, a gallery of matte painting artwork and Easter eggs. See the cover artwork below.
Fox has also set The Sessions for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/12, featuring 5 featurettes (John Hawkes Becomes Mark O’Brien, Helen Hunt as the Sex Surrogate, The Women Who Loved Mark O’Brien, Writer/Director Ben Lewin Finds Inspiration and A Session with the Cast) and deleted scenes.
Warner Home Video and the BBC have set the documentary Africa for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/26 (SRP $34.98 and $29.98). Also, The House of Cards Trilogy: Special Edition is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/15 (SRP $49.99 and $39.98) and David Attenborough’s Life Stories is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98).
And Universal has set Silent Hill: Revelation for release on Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 2/12. Extras will include the A Look Inside Silent Hill: Revelation featurette.
Here’s a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Fox’s Willow and The Sessions, and Summit’s Alex Cross (street date 2/5). Only Alex Cross is currently available for pre-order on Amazon but we’ll update the links when the others go live…
As always, stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt