Blu-ray releases on May 13th, 2008
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted May 12th 2008 12:04PM
posted May 12th 2008 12:04PM
We must have missed the memo that this was catalog week for Blu-ray titles, but hey at least we have some solid catalog titles to choose from. Some people don't think it's worth it to replace a perfectly good DVD with a Blu-ray disc, while others feel it's like enjoying the movie for the first time all over again. Either way, Disney hopes that the biggest title this week, The Chronicles of Narnia, will get you primed up for the sequel due out in theaters this Summer. Fox is the other studio releasing a few big guns from its vault, as the stellar eye and ear candy Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World is finally available on the big Blu format. Next week looks to be more exciting, as Paramount joins the gang with a few sought after titles, as well as officially making its back catalog Blu titles available. And finally, Warner is finally going Blu with V for Vendetta and Disney breaks out the Nic Cage collection.Blu-ray
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Fox)
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (Disney)
- Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (Fox)
- Mrs. Doubtfire (Fox)
- Shinobi (FUNimation)
- Untraceable (Sony)
- Youth Without Youth (Sony)
$40 for Mrs. Doubtfire? Um, yeah.. I think I'm gonna PASS!!
Well, it is only $28 on amazon (only $28, lol). I think you would have to pay me to take that movie though.
Personally waiting on a sub $20 for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
For once I agree with you Nfinity. I'm personally boycotting the $39.99 MSRP titles, unless it's something I absolutely HAVE to have. The prices will drop sooner or later, and that's when I'll pick it up. I even have a spreadsheet with about a half-dozen titles where I'm waiting for price reductions.
your always gonna pass...
How did I know you would have some stupid comment in here?
Actually, it is $39.99 MSRP. But knowing Amazon, it will be $27.95 or so.
I would complain, too, if companies wanted consumers to buy one disc and packaging for $39.99 (which 20th Century Fox is showing themselves as a prime example). It's a bit outrageous.
There is a 3 for 2 sale on Amazon, though! Pony up for both Ice Age movies and you get another Fox title free.
Seriously, though, $40 is too much for a catalog title.
*sigh
Another slow week of releases.
I think it's a slow week in general for DVD's. The studios want you to see those new expensive summer movies at the theater.
I had Butch Cassidy on preorder, since I love the classics in HD. However, I canceled it once I read reviews showing that it's just an old recycled HD transfer from the D-Theater days, dirt, hairs, and all. No dice, Fox. If you want me to pony up $27 retail for one of your classics on BD, you have to do a proper restoration! Take a look and learn well from what Warner's been doing lately with their catalog of classics.
So, no purchases for me this week, but next week is definitely going to painful on the wallet!
Um... Untraceable is a new release. Stupid, but a new release all the same.
I don't know anyone who pays the SRP on Blu-ray, or for that matter on standard DVDs. Most of the DVDs in the $20 range have an SRP of $29.99. And DVDs were once at at $39.99 SRP (believe me, I know. I worked at a chain called Suncoast when DVD first came out, and the average selling price was about $29.99-39.99, depending on the studio).
It's relatively easy to find titles about $10 below SRP if you don't actually buy them out of the studios' online stores.
This week, I'll be picking up Narnia and Master and Commander. I'm glad its finally coming out- Ive been waiting for M&C for months!
Thanks for pointing that out TJ. I like Amazon since they have all their BDs at 30+ percent off MSRP.
Yeah, the DVD of Narnia on Amazon is 14.95 and the Blu-ray is 23.95, not a horrible markup for the HD version of the Movie.
I do think over the next year you will see the gap shrink a little, but not much, and I personally don't think the markup is extreme at all.
Though the MSRP on these is high, the actual prices and the differences aren't really that much.
When Dark Knight hits the streets and it's a difference of 9-10 bucks to get the Blu-ray instead of the DVD, it will be a no-brainer for me.
Actually, Mr. Fizzlepop, you're looking at the barebones DVD release. When you do a comparison between Blu-ray and DVD, you should really compare the Blu-ray to the equivalent Special Edition DVD, since the extras will almost always be the same. [Disclaimer: I haven't researched this movie in particular to make sure of that, but it's held true for most other movies I've checked].
If you do that comparison for Narnia, you'll see that the special edition DVD and BD MSRPs are the exact same, and in fact the Blu-ray version is cheaper at Amazon than the DVD! Check it out:
Blu-Ray ($23.95):
http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Narnia-Witch-Wardrobe-Blu-ray/dp/B000YAFJXE
Special Edition DVD ($29.99):
http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Narnia-Wardrobe-Two-Disc-Collectors/dp/B000E8M0WO
It's hard to compare like for like sometimes. For example Master & Commander on BD supposedly has few of the extras from the DVD special edition. On the other hand, the sound quality of the BD is meant to be superb. So do you go for the cheaper more extras laden disk, or the high quality but bare bones and expensive disc?
Mr. E.. how can you compare a special edition DVD with all the goodies you get in addition to the DVD plus the packaging plus the book etc etc to the Blu-Ray.. it's ridiculous..
You compare DVD version to Blu-Ray version and you get the SAME things it's totally not true you get all content from Special Edition DVDs on Blu-Ray.
Nfinity, I don't really understand anything you just said. There's no book with the DVD, just the usual little booklet that comes with a lot of DVDs. Just to be complete, I went ahead and checked out the full specs for Narnia special edition DVD versus Blu-ray. It looks to me like the far better value is the BD. I don't know how anyone could logically dispute that.
2-disc Special Edition DVD
---------------------
480p, Dolby Digital audio
* Creating Narnia
* Chronicles of a Director: Director's Diary
* The Children's Magical Journey: Meet the Cast
* Evolution of an Epic: C.S. Lewis Overview; Cinematic Storytellers
* Creating Creatures: Secrets of Making Narnia Creatures
* Anatomy of a Scene: Climatic Battle & The Melting River
* The Art of Narnia: Comprehensive Set-Top Gallery of Concept Art, Costumes, and M
* Creatures, Lands, & Legends
* Explore Narnia: 3-Dimensional Triptych Transports the Viewer Throughout the Land
* Legends in Time: An Interactive Timeline
2-disc Blu-ray edition
--------
1080p, PCM 5.1 audio
* "Battle For Narnia" All-New Game
* The Bloopers Of Narnia
* Chronicles Of A Director
* The Children's Magical Journey
* Evolution Of An Epic
* From One Man's Mind
* Cinematic Storytellers
* Creating Creatures
* Anatomy Of A Scene
* Creatures Of The World
* Explore Narnia 3-D Map
* Legends In Time
* Audio Commentary With Director Andrew Adamson And Stars
* Audio Commentary With The Filmmakers
* Total Menus
* And More!
Master & Commander Widescreen DVD - $8
Master & Commander Blu-Ray - $40
Um.. again.. I'm gonna PASS!
dont you hate blu ray anyways? you will always pass...
@ Jove
Didn't you say you weren't coming back?
@ gus
i know, i know...couldnt resist mate. im not gonna post anything else, just had to reply to him. but dont worry, il try to make good of my word from now on. i wont be coming back. too tired of those clowns.
As wrong as you were on Narnia, you're correct on this one. Fox screwed the pooch by putting out a bare-bones Blu-ray, instead of matching the specs of the special edition DVD. If they'd included the extras of the special edition DVD (which also has an MSRP of $39.99) then this Blu-ray release would have been a good value.
Fox is notorious for doing this, all the way back to the early days of DVD. They are the kings of double-dipping, the jerks. Everyone who's a fan of Master and Commander should pass on this one and hold out for an inevitable Blu-ray special edition. Hitting them in the bottom line is the only power we have to change this.
I was under the impression that Paramount has put those 32 titles back into production.
Ben's probably waiting until May 31. I think he secretly likes the asterisk for some reason.