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The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Blu-ray set officially announced, arrives June 28th (video)
Warner has finally released the details on its upcoming 15-disc (six on Blu-ray, plus nine DVDs) Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: Extended Edition Blu-ray package, setting a release date of June 28th. If the extra few hours of footage isn't enough for you to preorder the $120 MSRP / $84 Amazon set, there's more than 26 hours of special features included although most of them are restricted to the DVDs. Each movie is spread across two Blu-ray discs and has a 6.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, while Fellowship of the Ring has been treated to a remastering from the original 2K digital files. It's a little disappointing there aren't more HD extras mentioned but each Blu-ray is BD-Live enabled, we wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of teaser hit before The Hobbit arrives in theaters. Check out the full press release and trailer after the break.
Warner Bros. starts renting movies via Facebook
If you were looking for something more worthwhile to spend Facebook credits on than virtual trinkets for some game, Warner has an idea: all those movies you said you "liked." Starting today it is testing out a plan to rent movies right on their respective pages for 30 Facebook credits / $3 each. The first one on deck is The Dark Knight (again?) which should be live later today, with more available to rent or purchase in the future. there's no word on resolution or other features, but at the price we're assuming SD only. Full details are in the press release after the break, but the rentals have the standard 48-hour VOD window and can be paused/resumed simply by logging back into Facebook. In its current state, we doubt Netflix, Amazon and the rest have anything to worry about as far as competition, but maybe Warner thinks it can snag a few bucks from simply making sure there's a buy button of some kind awaiting our various identities in as many places as possible.
The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Blu-ray discs are up for preorder on Amazon
It's taken a couple of years but the release of the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Blu-ray discs is finally drawing near, and now the set is available for preorder on Amazon. Adding a couple of hours of footage to the epic trilogy of films, they sport an MSRP of $120 (currently selling for $83.99) and there's a video trailer on Amazon too. According to TheHDRoom, it doesn't reveal any of the extra footage on the EEs, but if you've been waiting all this time for the proper discs we figure a quick taste of what's to come can't hurt. [Thanks, Mitchell]
Apple working on unlimited downloads of purchased iTunes music, setting MobileMe free?
You know all that rumor and speculation about Apple launching a subscription-based streaming music service? Forget it -- at least until the next rumor comes along. Bloomberg is citing three people with knowledge of private talks between Apple, Universal Music, Sony Music, and Warner Music to make purchased music more easily accessible to iTunes users. Two sources claim that an agreement could be announced by midyear. Contrary to popular speculation aroused by Apple's purchase of Lala, they're not talking about streaming music from Apple's new North Carolina data center scheduled to come online in the spring. According to Bloomberg's sources, Apple is instead, planning to offer unlimited downloads to any device linked to the same iTunes account. So, purchase a track on your iPhone and download it again for free to your iPad without having to go back and tether the mobile device to your PC or Mac for a sync. Hard disk crash? No worries, there's a permanent backup in the cloud. Of course, there's nothing preventing Apple from providing unlimited downloads in parallel with a streaming service except for the labels and artists who prefer the higher revenues paid out by download services. Then again, if it was left to them we'd still be buying our music on $15 CDs. Incidentally, one Bloomberg source was also caught blabbing about Apple's plans to overhaul the MobileMe service to store pictures, video, and other online content sometime this year. Better yet, it could drop from $99 per year to free -- something already reported by the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago.
Clash of the Titans sequel will be another 2D-to-3D conversion, and Inception too?
After a poor response to the first Clash of the Titans movie and its substandard 3D effects, courtesy of a rushed conversion process, you'd think they would never try that again, and you'd be wrong. Director Jonathan Liebesman, fresh off of Battle:LA is helming sequel Wrath of the Titans and says was talked into doing the conversion process again (but shooting with that in mind, Piranha 3D-style) on this flick by a series of demos including, Christopher Nolan's Inception. This is notable both because no 3D re-release has been announced for the visually engrossing flick, but also because Nolan himself has suggested 3D would be a bad choice due to the dimming effect of the glasses. Warner Bros. could only manage to tell Cinematical "At this time, the plans for Inception 3D cannot be confirmed," leaving the possibility of a return alongside Star Wars, Titanic and others to twist in the wind for now.
Sony Music Unlimited now streaming tracks to the US
Let's hope Sony's new streaming music service -- just launched today for the US, Australia, and New Zealand -- isn't as unwieldy to use as its "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" moniker suggests. The service features six million tracks from Sony Music Entertainment, Universal, EMI, and Warner and is available on Sony's own devices including the PS3, Blu-ray disc players, Bravia televisions, and VAIO PCs. It'll also be available on Android smartphones soon with an iOS app coming later this year, assuming Apple's new subscription debacle doesn't derail Sony's plans. A basic membership provides an interactive radio experience for $3.99 per month while a premium $9.99 per month service gives subscribers on-demand access to the Music Unlimited library with the ability to manage your music through playlists and the like. Sony also provides a useful service that scans your local library and playlists to "jump start" the organization of your Music Unlimited collection. Wonder how it'll work on the NGP and PlayStation tablet?
Warner packages movies as iOS apps, starting with The Dark Knight and Inception
Online rentals and purchases of movies are still just a tiny fraction of the home video pie, but Warner's latest effort to expand that is similar to Paramount's recent efforts on Windows Phone 7 (Thanks SteveyAyo), offering its highest profile flicks as apps for iPhones and iPads. The Dark Knight and Inception are the first two releases out of the gate, offering free apps with some bonus content and the first five minutes of the movie, then charging $9.99 and $11.99, respectively to unlock the rest. According to Warner, it offers a different experience than simply purchasing the flick over iTunes because of the extras which include Twitter and Facebook integration among the extras, plus the ability to offer the digital version in countries where iTunes doesn't sell movies yet, like China, Brazil and the Netherlands. There's a video demo and press release after the break, but the downside of being locked to portable devices is keeping us from clicking the buy button for now, but if you could sprinkle some Ultraviolet on it, we might change our tune. %Gallery-116925%
Warner releasing A Clockwork Orange & Kubrick boxed set on Blu-ray May 31st
It'll be a good spring for classic movie lovers, as Warner Bros. has announced plans to deliver Stanley Kubrick's classic A Clockwork Orange (MSRP: $34.95) in a Digibook Blu-ray release, as well as a ten-disc, nine-movie boxed set of the director's movies. The boxed set (MSRP: $148.95) includes Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut and two other films not currently available or yet announced on Blu-ray in Lolita and Barry Lyndon. Check the press release after the break for a pic of the A Clockwork Orange set and details on extras and packaging for both releases.
Yogi Bear comes home on DVD, Blu-ray & Blu-ray 3D March 22nd
Aimed at the cross section of movie fans that love Justin Timberlake and hate movies about Facebook, Warner's scheduled a day-and-date Blu-ray 3D release for Yogi Bear March 22nd. The 80-minute feature has plenty of extras in Full HD 3D, including a tour around Jellystone, some 3D test footage and even a Rabid Rider Looney Tunes short. The Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D combo packs sport $35.99 and $44.95 MSRPs, respectively.
Will Warner release Friends Season 1 on Blu-ray this year?
One of the first big Blu-ray rumors of 2011 is this one from Zona DVD that suggests Warner will bring release season 1 of Friends on Blu-ray this year. TV2 in New Zealand apparently started the show reformatted in widescreen HD last month, and this release would be the same using the original shots, just like the remastered episodes of Seinfeld currently in syndication. After those two and the digitally-available episodes of The West Wing any other shows that just missed the switch to high definition that you'd like to see get freshened up and re-released?
The Ten Commandments comes to Blu-ray in six or two-disc sets March 29th
Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 Biblical classic is getting an appropriately epic release on Blu-ray and DVD this spring when The Ten Commandments hits Blu-ray in two different editions. The six disc Blu-ray/DVD gift set and two disc Blu-ray pack both include the fully restored main feature with 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack split across two Blu-ray discs including commentary plus HD trailers and footage from the premiere. The gift set version includes three Blu-ray discs with matching DVDs while the third disc adds a silent film version of the movie from 1923 and matching special features, a new 75-minute Making Miracles documentary and more all encased in two stone tablets. MSRPs are set at $69.99 for the gift set and $24.99 for the two disc, with the added bonus of being able to bring them by Grandma's for Easter and watch Charlton Heston get his Exodus on in HD, commercial-free this time.
Engadget HD Giveaway: win Inception on Blu-ray!
It's the time of year where we give gifts to the people we care about most -- and for us at Engadget that means you, the reader. In this case, we have a copy of Inception on Blu-ray to give away. Already one of our favorites, we're sure this will find a nice home with one of the randomly selected commenters on this post. Of course, this entire contest could just a dream inside of a dream, wrapped in another dream, but just in case it's real and you are awake, doublecheck the rules below and drop us a note to enter. Thanks to Warner for providing the disc.
BlockBuster Express to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release
It was only a couple of weeks ago that BlockBuster Express and Warner Bros were trialling the release of DVD titles into the former company's rental kiosks on their day of commercial release, but it seems like that's a future we're not going to see any more of. The pair have now announced a partnership whereby NCR's Blockbuster Express will offer WB's new DVD titles for rent 28 days after launch, matching Redbox and Netflix who are also subject to a four-week delay. This follows similar deals being concluded by NCR with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox, with the major benefits being lower acquisition costs and a direct relationship with the studio. Update: We initially conflated Blockbuster with Blockbuster Express-branded DVD kiosks operated by NCR. The post has now been updated to rectify this unforgivable misguidance.
Blockbuster Express kiosks test $2.99 per night new release rentals, Redbox looks unimpressed
28 days. It's more than an unappreciated flick from the turn of the millennium, it's also driving the executives at Redbox, Netflix and a smattering of other unorthodox rental companies mad. Movie studios have been hellbent on keeping their new release DVDs and Blu-ray Discs out of instant-rent hands for 28 days after release, noting that dollar-per-night rentals could drastically reduce DVD / BD sales in the all-important launch window. Now, however, it seems that at least a couple of 'em are willing to bend. Starting this week in four major cities (Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix and San Francisco, for those curious) DVDs for Warner Bros.' "Inception" and 20th Century Fox's "Knight and Day" are being slipped into NCR's Blockbuster Express kiosks. The catch? It'll be $2.99 per night to rent either of them, a nearly threefold increase in the nightly rate that Redbox charges. Additional details on the trial are few and far betwixt, but it's safe to say that Redbox isn't any closer to nabbing fresh flicks sooner, and unless you're down with a 3x price hike, neither are you.
Inception Blu-ray review
The combination of Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. added up to success in ratings and sales in 2008 with The Dark Knight, and now both return just in time for the holiday season with Inception. Already a hit in theaters, viewers have been waiting to get the disc home hoping the dreams still feel just as real. To that end, Warner's released a three disc set with 90 minutes of extras, so does it measure up to our (admittedly lofty) expectations? Check out the rest of our review after the break and find out. (Note: While we try to avoid spoilers, there are a few key ones, if you haven't seen the movie and want to remain untainted, please check the review card page for our rating only.)%Gallery-109355%
Top Gear Season 14 & 15 coming to Blu-ray January 15th
Top Gear UK fans in the US can mark their calendars, the last two seasons of the show were filmed in HD and will make their debut on Blu-ray next year. Season 14 is on three discs and includes the South America Special for its $29.99 MSRP while season 15 is on two discs and promises plenty of outtakes and special features with a $24.99 MSRP. They're scheduled for release on January 15, 2011, until then we'll have to get by with the US version on History Channel and whatever episodes we can wrangle out of the PlayStation Network.
Inception Blu-ray with Limited Edition Briefcase gift set is available in the US
For a moment it appeared that the sweet Limited Edition release of Christopher Nolan's Inception on Blu-ray would be a European only thing, but Warner Bros. has made it available for US customers as well, exclusively via its WBShop.com website. Located by a few Blu-ray.com forum posters, it looks to have all the fixings, with art cards, totem, PASIV instruction manual and of course the metal briefcase itself with Inception Blu-ray and DVD held inside. Preorders are $49.95 and ship December 6, so don't forget to figure in overnight shipping.%Gallery-107316%
Legend of the Guardians comes home on Blu-ray, 3D December 17
Queue up another 3D release for the December calendar, now that Warner has revealed Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole comes home in Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D combo packs December 17. Both editions include over two hours of Blu-ray only extras, with a PiP "Maximimum Kid Mode" music video and more. It's taken some time for the theater-to-retail trend to get started for 3D flicks, but here's hoping it keeps moving along this steadily for good.
Verizon announces more 3D VOD we can't watch
Verizon, we need to talk. It isn't that we don't love your fast and reliable internet and we still really appreciate the fact that you don't mess up our favorite channels by recompresing them, but this 3D thing is really starting to get between us. You see we love to keep up with the latest technology, which is usually a reason to love FiOS, and you continue to deprive us of 3D while giving it to others. It was bad enough when you broadcasted some 3D NFL preseason football and a Yankees game to only your New York customers, but then it really hurt when you signed a new deal with ESPN, only to delay the launch of ESPN 3D until after the end of the College Football season; adding other channels in the meantime. But now your going to offer 10 additional 3D movies via VOD starting November 16th from Disney and Warner, which can only be accessed by customers who accept your pitiful HD DVR and its 160GB hard drive. Sure, you just started shipping a 500GB model, but it's hardly widely available and still can't even render a 16x9 guide. We're not saying this is the end for us, we're just letting you know how we feel and that we're not sure how much more pain we can't take from this relationship. Sincerely, HD lovin' 3D fans who are lucky enough to live in the Verizon FiOS TV footprint.
DVD2Blu trade-up scheme lets you swap any old DVD (plus $4.95) for a Blu-ray
We may have to rethink our original stance comparing Warner's DVD2Blu trade-up program to a particular Maine shop owner, now that it's announced it will accept any DVD (only studio releases sold at retail and no porn, please) as trade towards one of its selection of 105 Blu-ray releases with most priced at $4.95 each. Add in the offer to waive the $4.95/per shipping fee for orders above $35 and you've got a pretty quick way to fatten up one's Blu-ray library, assuming you like films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, American History X, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, etc. Hit the source link for a full list of titles available and other details (U.S. only, sorry Canada.)
