My Two Cents
All right, we’ve got a couple things for you here at The Bits today…
First, in case you missed it when we first posted it on Friday, I’ve taken a closer look at CBS’ new Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two Blu-ray release for you. The set arrives in stores tomorrow (12/4). The video remastering isn’t quite as good as Season One, but the extras are terrific. Don’t miss it!
Speaking of Star Trek: The Next Generation, you’ll find the cover artwork for Season Three (due early 2013) below. Look for it in the March/April time frame – official street date and details are TBA.
Also here at The Bits today, our own Mario Boucher has posted a good new feature article – The Men Behind Men in Black 3 – which looks behind-the-scenes on the creature effects work of the legendary Rick Baker on Sony’s Men in Black 3. The Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD versions all hit store shelves on Friday. Enjoy!
In announcement news today, Entertainment One has just set David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/1/2013 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98). Both will include the Citizens of Cosmopolis featurette, audio commentary with Cronenberg and video interviews with the cast and crew. You’ll find cover artwork below.
Also today, Disney has officially announced details on the Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD release of Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie on 1/8/2013 (SRP $49.99, $39.99 and $29.99). All three versions will include footage of the Frankenweenie touring exhibit and Plain White T’s Pet Sematary music video. To this the Blu-ray versions will add the all-new Captain Sparky vs. The Flying Saucers animated short, the original Frankenweenie live-action short and the Miniatures in Motion: Bringing Frankenweenie to Life featurette.
As promised, here’s the Blu-ray cover artwork for CBS’ Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Three (TBA), Entertainment One’s Cosmopolis and Disney’s Frankenweenie (BD3D version)…
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
All right, we’re closing out the week with a new Blu-ray review that will be of interest to you Trek fans: My take on CBS’s new Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season Two which arrives in stores next Tuesday. The extras on this season are outstanding, including an absolutely terrific cast reunion documentary – don’t miss it!
In announcement news today, IFC Films has set the romantic drama Liberal Arts for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/18 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98).
Amazon.com now has Fox’s Laura (1944) available for pre-order on Blu-ray Disc with a street date of 2/5 (SRP $24.99). Thanks to multiple Bits readers who sent this in. Note that Amazon also has Fox’s Gentleman’s Agreement (1947), How Green Was My Valley (1941) and Wild River (1960) set for BD release on 1/15. MGM’s Hanna and Her Sisters and Sleeper (both Woody Allen films) are due on BD on 1/15 according to the retailer.
In other news today, this will make some of you nostalgic: IHS Screen Digest is reporting that digital projection has officially surpassed traditional film projection around the globe – truly the end of an era. Analog film projection will represent just 37% of all theatrical projection around the world by the end of this year, with that number expected to decline to just 17% by 2015.
Along those lines, Wired has a piece up today on the efforts of photographer Joseph O. Holmes to document analog film projection booths before they’re gone for a new coffee table book called The Booth. I spent many an hour in just such a booth in college at UW – Madison back in the day. Digital projection is terrific, but I’m sure going to miss the clatter of those old projectors.
Also today, Anchor Bay Entertainment and the Dark Delicacies bookstore in Burbank, CA are holding a special signing event on 12/4 featuring some of the cast and crew of the remade Silent Night. The event starts at 7PM. Dark Delicacies is located at 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd in Burbank (818-556-6660).
Have a great weekend everyone!
- Bill Hunt
All right, here at The Bits today, our own Dr. Jahnke has turned in a review of Kino’s new Santa Claus Conquers the Martians on Blu-ray. Don’t miss it!
We’ve also got a bunch of title announcement odds and ends for you...
Sony has revealed the list of extras that will be included on their Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD release of Hotel Transylvania on 1/29. All three will include audio commentary (with director Genndy Tartakovsky, producer Michelle Murdocca, and visual effects supervisor Daniel Kramer), 3 deleted scenes, Tartakovsky’s Goodnight, Mr. Foot mini-movie, the Problem (Monster Remix) music video by Becky G Featuring will.i.am and a “making of” the music video featurette. To this the Blu-ray versions will add 3 animation progression reels and 2 featurettes (Meet the Staff and Guests: Voicing Hotel Transylvania and Making the Hotel).
Warner Home Video has announced the 22-episode DVD only release of Scarecrow & Mrs. King: The Complete Fourth Season on 1/22 (SRP $39.98).
Well Go USA Entertainment is releasing the steampunk/martial arts actioner Tai Chi Zero on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/22 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98), from the creators of the IP Man films.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment will release Titanic: Blood & Steel on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/4. They’ve also set Anger Management: Season One for release on both formats on 1/8.
Artsploitation Films has Hard Romanticker set for DVD release on 1/22.
Anchor Bay Entertainment has set Officer Down for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/22, starring Stephen Dorff and James Woods. Look also for Pascal Hérold’s reimagined Cinderella on DVD only on 12/26. And of course, their recent remake of the Christmas horror classic Silent Night is due on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/4.
Paramount and Comedy Central are releasing Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution on DVD on 12/21. They’ve also set Tosh.0: Deep V’s for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/21. In addition, Tosh.0: Cardigans Plus Casual Jackets will be released on DVD only as a Walmart exclusive that same day.
Paramount and Nickelodeon will release Nickelodeon Favorites: Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild West! on DVD only on 1/29.
Vanguard will release Here’s the Kicker and Scape on DVD on 1/29.
Pathfinder will release the Korean apocalypse tale End of Animal on DVD on 1/22.
Shout! Factory has set Slugterra: Return of the Shane Gang Makes for DVD release on 2/12. Shout! has also confirmed the Blu-ray release of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution on 1/22, followed by Ridley Scott’s The Duellists on BD on 1/29.
Here’s an odd-ball release: Entertainment One has set the Osama Bin Laden/zombie flick Osombie: The Axis of Evil Dead for release on Blu-ray/DVD combo on 12/11. Nope, not kidding.
IFC has Sleepwalk with Me coming on DVD only on 12/19.
For you music fans, MVD Entertainment Group will release the 2-disc concert tour film The Yardbirds: Making Tracks on DVD on 12/11.
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
All right first up today, our own Tim Salmons has delivered a new Dailies column with a look at a pair of new Scream Factory titles from Shout! – The Island and Death Valley. Enjoy!
We also have a number of new announcements to report today, as follows…
Paramount has Top Gun 3D coming to Blu-ray 3D on 2/19 (SRP $39.99). The should be about a week after it’s planned February 3D theatrical release. Best Buy has it available for pre-order, though it’s not yet up on Amazon.
Best Buy also has Ben Affleck’s Argo listed for Blu-ray Combo release on 2/19 (SRP $29.98 for BD). Obviously that title isn’t yet officially announced by Warner (and there will certainly be a DVD as well) but we’d expect the press release soon.
Meanwhile, Disney has relisted their delayed Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled 10-disc/6-film BD box set for release on 4/2/2013. (SRP $219.00). Amazon current has it up for pre-order for $197.10. The set includes The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor on BD and BD3D, as well as Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk on BD. The set will include exclusive looks at Iron Man 3 and other forthcoming Phase Two films, plus swag. Here’s a look at the revised briefcase packaging (click on the image to go to the Amazon.com pre-order page)…
Warner has announced a trio of new TCM Greatest Classic Films: Legends DVD collections for release on 3/12, including Judy Garland (For Me and My Gal, The Harvey Girls, In the Good Old Summertime and Summer Stock), Natalie Wood (Splendor in the Grass, Gypsy, Sex and the Single Girl and Inside Daisy Clover) and Sidney Poitier (Blackboard Jungle, Edge of the City, Something of Value and A Patch of Blue). SRP is $27.92 each.
Warner also has a host of animated titles coming to Blu-ray on 3/12, including Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, Superman: Brainiac Attacks, Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire, Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster, Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico, Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword and Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers. SRP is $14.98 each.
And here’s something cool for you classic fans: Warner is gearing up to release The Best Years of Our Lives on Blu-ray Disc in 2013. Amazon.ca currently has it listed for 11/5/2013, which seems like a strange date. Nevertheless, we know it’s coming and that IS official artwork (see below).
20th Century Fox has set the comedy 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/15. Extras will include a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Sony has set Seven Psychopaths for Blu-ray and DVD release on 1/29 (SRP $35.99 and $30.99). No word yet on special features but both will feature UltraViolet. Here Comes the Boom and Celeste and Jesse Forever will follow on both formats on 2/5 (SRP also $35.99 and $30.99). Look also for Searching for Sugar Man on Blu-ray and DVD from Sony on 1/22.
Sony will also release Charlie Chase Shorts: Volume 1 as an MOD DVD-R title on 1/1. Included will be Man Bites Lovebug, The Mind Needer, The Chump Takes a Bump, Rattling Romeo, Skinny the Moocher, The Awful Goof, The Heckler, South of the Boudoir and A Nag in the Bag.
Lionsgate has set Caught on Tape and Celebrate with Clifford for DVD only release on 2/5, followed by Black Game and Storage Wars: Volume 4 on DVD and The Perks of Being a Wallflower on both Blu-ray and DVD on 2/12.
Also today, Shout! Factory has set Tiny Toon Adventures Crazy Crew Rescues! for DVD release on 1/8 (SRP $19.97).
And Anchor Bay Entertainment will release Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden on Blu-ray and DVD on 1/8 (SRP $24.99 and $19.98). The film recently debuted on the National Geographic Channel.
Here’s a look at the cover artwork for Fox’s 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (BD), Image’s recent The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Series (now available) and Warner’s The Best Years of Our Lives (BD - TBA)...
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt
Afternoon, movie fans! Hope you all had a wonderful and LONG Thanksgiving holiday week and weekend. As most of you probably know, today is Cyber Monday which means there are still lots of great holiday shopping deals to be found online on places like Amazon.com, where you can get Farscape: The Complete Series on Blu-ray for just $60 - a whopping 70% off the regular SRP. That’s just one of hundreds of BD and DVD titles on sale at Amazon today, so do check it out. Barnes and Noble has many titles on sale for 60% off as well. Good deal hunting!
In announcement news today, Warner and the BBC have set the Brit drama Ripper Street for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/12 (SRP $34.98 and $29.98).
Universal will release Pitch Perfect on Blu-ray Combo and DVD on 12/18.
Disney has set Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man: Avenging Spider-Man for DVD only release on 2/5, followed by Marvel the Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Volume 6 on DVD on 2/19.
Cult Epic has set Hysteria for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/12 (SRP $29.98 and $24.98).
Magnolia will release Sushi Girl on both formats on 2/19 (SRP $29.98 and $26.98).
PBS has slated Nova: Ultimate Mars Challenge for release on BD and DVD on 2/19 (SRP $29.99 and $24.99).
And Inception Media has set the classic On Approval (1944) for Blu-ray release on 2/12 (SRP $34.98).
Finally today, we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of actor Larry Hagman, best known to millions of TV viewers as J.R. Ewing on both the classic and recent revival series Dallas. I’ll always fondly recall him for playing the astronaut Tony Nelson on the classic I Dream of Jeannie. And of course Hagman had many other parts on TV and in film over the years. He was 81.
Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt