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Blu-ray releases on July 29th, 2008
Here we are just two years after the launch of Blu-ray and for the first time ever there are 24 titles released in one week. We wish this is a glimpse of what it's like to have almost every studio on board (Weinstein's first release is next week), but looking forward, we don't expect to have another week this big again until September. Either way, every studio has something this week, including a few day-and-dates from Sony, Universal, MGM, and Warner. Stargate: Continuum looks like it'll be the biggest Blu title this week, but the ones we're most looking forward to is the Jack Ryan Collection from Paramount. These are just a few of the titles that HD DVD fans had access to for some time, and are finally finding their way to Blu-ray. August looks like it'll breat records in the shear number of titles released, but none that really jump out at us as hot titles, but either way the holiday season can't get here fast enough for ol' Blu. Blu-ray 693Blu-ray The Band's Visit (Sony) Beowulf: The Director's Cut (2007) (Paramount) The Big White (Echo Bridge) Clear and Present Danger (Paramount) Dark City (New Line) Doomsday (Universal) Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (New Line) Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (New Line) Human Body: Pushing the Limits (Image) The Hunt for Red October (Paramount) The Lost Boys (Warner) Lost Boys: The Tribe (Warner) Mortuary (Echo Bridge) Never Back Down (Summit) Patriot Games (Paramount) Perhaps Love (Tai Seng) Robin Hood: Season One (BBC) Salvage (Echo Bridge) Shine a Light (Paramount) Stargate: Continuum (MGM) The Sum of All Fears (Paramount) The Tiger Blade (BCI) Top Gun (Paramount) Vengeance (2006) (BCI)
Blu-ray releases on July 22nd, 2008
This week is finally the week, it's finally the week when Universal Studios releases its first Blu-ray Disc, and by the looks of the reviews, the big U is getting started with a bang. The biggest two titles from the new Blu studio are the first two installments of the Mummy franchise, released in preparation for the third movie due in theaters next week. We've seen over and over again this summer, that there is no better time to release a catalog title then just before the sequel is released on the big screen. But even if you aren't the biggest Brendan Fraser fan, you may want to check this out as the reviews seem to indicate that Universal didn't slouch on its first Blu-ray titles. The specs are a good start with BD-50, VC1, and the best in audio at DTS-HD MA 48kHz/24bit; but Hi-Def Digest review sums up the picture quality with "It's as close to a reference-caliber disc as any catalog title I've seen," while the audio was "absolutely excellent -- this is a demo-worthy presentation." But even if Mummy movies are your thing, you can check out Sony's date-and-date 21, or maybe a few older horror titles like Urban Legend or I know What You Did Last Summer. As big as this week is though, next is even bigger as just about every studio has something on the calendar with a total of 24 new releases in one week. Blu-ray 669Blu-ray 21 (Sony) The BBC High-Definition Natural History Collection (BBC) Daft Punk's Electroma (Vice Records) Earth: The Biography (BBC) The Exorcism of Emily Rose (Sony) I Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony) Kiss of the Spider Woman (City Lights) The Mummy Returns (Universal) The Mummy (1999) (Universal) The Perfect Storm (Warner) The Scorpion King (Universal) Urban Legend (Sony)
Blu-ray releases on July 15th, 2008
Another slow week for blu-ray, but not as slow as last week as there are a few day and date releases. The biggest title this week is from the British imported Jason Statham, who has made quite a few fun action movies lately, but surprisingly The Bank Job did pretty well on IMDB too, with a score of 7.6 out of 10. Fox's new release on the other hand, is at the other end of the spectrum with a pitifully low 4.7. Disney has a couple of movies this week that look funny; if you like Martin Lawrence you may look past the bad reviews College Road Trip received, and laugh anyways. Or, maybe you'd prefer -- we doubt it -- Step Up 2: The Streets, since part one was so unforgettable. Meanwhile, Warner has a classic catalog, that must be before our time with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Next week the real fun starts as Universal finally goes Blu, but we wish the big U would've launched with a better franchise than the Brendan Fraser Mummy series. Blu-ray 657Blu-ray The Bank Job (2008) (Lionsgate) College Road Trip (Walt Disney) Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks/Bardock: Father of Goku (FUNimation) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Warner) Shutter (Fox) Step Up 2: The Streets (Walt Disney)
Blu-ray releases on July 8th, 2008
After nine months of waiting, Blu-ray fans will finally get to watch Batman Begins in HD on their preferred format. And just in time too as the new Batman movie hits theaters in a few weeks. Sure it's hard to call Batman Begins the hottest new release when it is barely a new release, but when you look at the rest of the titles this week, it isn't hard to understand. In fact, the only other title we considered was The Ruins. Sleepwalking also looked like a decent flick, but we just don't think it has that much appeal for the average HD junkie. Next week's lineup isn't much better though, but the week after, Universal jumps in with three new titles including two installments from the successfully Mummy franchise. Blu-ray 651Blu-ray Batman Begins (Warner) Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set) (Warner) Batman: Gotham Knight (Warner Premiere) Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre (Image) The Moody Blues: Lovely to See You - Live at the Greek (Image) Roy Orbison: A Black & White Night (Image) The Ruins (Paramount) Sleepwalking (Starz)
Blu-ray releases on July 1st, 2008
We have fourteen new titles for Blu-ray this week and believe it or not it is a slow start to the biggest Blu month to date. The biggest week is at the end of the month, when twenty four new releases hit the streets thanks to some help from Universal's first Blu-ray titles. Although there are plenty of new titles this week, there really isn't much to talk about. The biggest title is easily Vantage Point, but that isn't saying much as one of the only other day-and-date releases up against it was Meet the Browns, which with its IMDB rating of 2.2 puts it at number seventy on the list of all time worst movies. There are a few good catalogs this week though, like In the Line of Fire, there are also a few concerts. Next week doesn't have as many new releases with only eight, but it is Batman week as the nine month wait for a Blu-ray version of Batman Begins is finally over. Now Warner, about The Matrix... Blu-ray 643Blu-ray Batman: The Movie (Fox) Batman: The Movie (Limited Edition) (Fox) Ganges (BBC) Gangs of New York (Walt Disney) Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd Out of Control, (Warner) In the Line of Fire (Sony) Korn: Live at Montreux (Eagle Rock) Mad Men: Season One (Lionsgate) Meet the Browns (Lionsgate) Point Break (Fox) Sex and Death 101 (Starz) Vantage Point (Sony) War, Inc. (First Look) Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Concert (Sony BMG)
Blu-ray releases on June 24th, 2008
After last week's abysmal lineup, it is good to see a few good titles this week as we count down the last month before every major studio is releasing Blu-ray movies. But while we wait for Universal to get on board, we still have a good selection coming our way. This also happens to be the very last week with an HD DVD new release, but the last title from a major studio were about a month ago. 10,000 B.C. is probably the biggest title on this week's slate, but The Spiderwich Chronicles and Persepolis aren't slouches either. These titles help round out a pretty good month, but July should be the best yet -- but it does get off to a slow start. Blu-ray 629Blu-ray 10,000 B.C. (Warner) House of Fury (Tai Seng) National Geographic: Sea Monsters (National Geographic) Persepolis (Sony) The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount) Step Into Liquid (Lionsgate) ZZ Top: Live in Texas (Eagle Rock)
Blu-ray releases on June 17th, 2008
After an impressive run the past month, we have the weakest lineup of releases in some time. We thought Be Kind Rewind was due last week, but evidently it was pushed back. So while it was just a foot note last week, it is the biggest title this week, with only Fool's Gold giving it any competition. This might not be that bad of a week for Blu though in the DVD vs Blu front, as DVD really doesn't have any releases worth mentioning either. There are two catalogs this week as well, and while we sure someone wants to see So I Married an Axe Murderer, we're more interested in seeing Men in Black in HD for the first time. Next week will have a few hot titles in store for us though, and also happens to be the last week there are any HD DVD titles left on the schedule -- although not from a big studio. With the summer in full swing, we have a nice lineup looking forward to July including the very first Blu-ray titles from Universal set to hit the streets in just over a month. Blu-ray 622Blu-ray Be Kind Rewind (New Line) Fool's Gold (Warner) Men in Black (Sony) So I Married an Axe Murderer (Sony)
Blu-ray releases on June 10th, 2008
Although any week would look weak compared to last's, we can't help but feel let down. Sure, there are a few pretty hot day-and-date titles like Jumper, The Bucket List and The Other Boleyn Girl; but of the three, only one has much Blu appeal and it has an unbelievably low IMDB score of 5.9. But we still can't help but want to check it out based on the rave reviews that the audio and video got -- what's not to love about DTS-HD MA 48kHz/24bit? The best news for Blu this week though, is that unlike most other weeks, DVD doesn't have any exclusives to talk about. There are a few comedies that should be worth a look though, like Be Kind Rewind and Witless Protection, as well as a few catalog westerns like Broken Trail and The Professionals. This is pretty much what June has to offer though, as there are only 10 titles left on the schedule, and only two that we think people will get excited about. Blu-ray 619*Blu-ray Be Kind Rewind (New Line) Broken Trail (2006) (Sony) The Bucket List (Warner) Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre (Image) Girls Gone Wild: Hottest Moments Ever (Mantra) Heart: Alive in Seattle (Image) Jumper (Fox) The Missing (2003) (Sony) National Geographic: Sea Monsters (National Geographic) Natural Born Killers (Warner) The Other Boleyn Girl (Sony) The Professionals (Sony) The Signal (2007) (Magnolia) Witless Protection (Lionsgate) * Blu-ray total does reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially unavailable.
Blu-ray releases on June 3rd, 2008
This is the week that many have been waiting for. The week where Paramount finally opens the floodgates and officially releases all those titles on Blu that were previously available. The biggest Paramount release to make its HD debut is without a doubt There Will Be Blood (IMDB 8.5) followed by Cloverfield, but the rest are no slouch either. But while we wait until the end of July for the last previously Red studio to go Blu brining just about all of Hollywood together behind one format -- Fox, Warner, and MGM open the classics flood gates with some very famous titles like the Dirty Harry franchise and Patton. So while our total went up by 51 titles this week thanks to Paramount and others, there is still at least one good movie released exclusively on DVD this week in the way of Control (IMDB 8.0) thanks to Weinstein. Regardless of one missing title, we'd be surprised if there was any movie fan who couldn't find something to watch this week, so enjoy it until the next title drought. Blu-ray 605*Blu-ray Battle of Britain (MGM) A Bridge Too Far (MGM) Cloverfield (Paramount) Dirty Harry (Warner) Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collection (Warner) The Eye (2008) (Lionsgate) Fearless Planet (Image) Final Days of Planet Earth (Echo Bridge) The Longest Day (Fox) Meet the Spartans (Fox) Patton (Fox) The Poseidon Adventure (2005) (Echo Bridge) The Recruit (Walt Disney) The Sand Pebbles (Fox) Semi-Pro (New Line) Signs (Walt Disney) There Will Be Blood (Paramount) Weeds: Season Three (Lionsgate) Bee Movie (DreamWorks) Blades of Glory (Paramount) * Blu-ray total does reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially unavailable.
Blu-ray releases on May 27th, 2008
Paramount has us all messed up again this week thanks to the fact that all its releases got pushed back to June 3rd. We tried our best to be accurate last week, but still managed to list two Paramount titles that we were unable to find at Amazon or at our local Best Buy. Not a big deal as all of the titles we were expecting last week, and the 32 previously released titles, should all be available by next week -- so we can finally get rid of the asterisks. On a slow week like this, it is easy to be the best release, but that doesn't mean we aren't excited to check out the latest in the Rambo franchise as well as enjoying part two and part three in HD for the first time. Interestingly, while the new Rambo movie includes a 7.1 PCM sound track, the older three all feature 5.1 DTS-HD MA. We find this very odd and really wonder why Lionsgate wouldn't go with DTS-HD MA on all of 'em. If you're not into anything this week, don't worry as next week has something for everyone with 18 new releases, 4 Paramount titles delayed from earlier this year, and we finally expect to see the 32 previously available Paramount titles on the shelf. Blu-ray 553*Blu-ray Dragon Ball Z - Dead Zone/World's Strongest (FUNimation) Dragon Tiger Gate (Tai Seng) Rambo (Lionsgate) Rambo (Box Set) (Lionsgate) Rambo III (Lionsgate) Rambo: First Blood Part II (Lionsgate) Strauss: Die Fledermaus (Opus Arte) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on May 20th, 2008
Ah, Paramount why do you tease us? Just when we thought we were finally going to get rid of that annoying asterisks once and for all, you seemly move back all the re-issues to June 3rd, and to make it worse, the most highly anticipated Paramount titles like Bee Movie, There Will Be Blood and Cloverfield are delayed as well -- honestly we're not sure who's right at this point, but we're going to error on the side of caution on this one. But that doesn't meant it isn't a great week, as there are a number of titles to get excited about this week including what is easily the biggest in National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. Another title this week that happens to be near and dear to our childhood, that we look forward to enjoying for the first time all over again on Blu-ray is Short Circuit. And finally Warner catches Blu-ray up to HD DVD on one of the biggest titles -- still waiting for The Matrix -- with V For Vendetta. It should be noted that for the first time in a long time, DVD doesn't have any exclusives worth mentioning which should make for an interesting week when the Nielsen VideoScan numbers are released. Blu-ray 546*Blu-ray Anger Management (Sony) Company (2007) (Image) Face/Off (Paramount) National Treasure (Buena Vista) National Treasure/National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Two-Pack) (Walt Disney) National Treasure: Book of Secrets (Walt Disney) Nature: Desert Lions (Questar) Nature: In the Valley of the Wolves (Questar) Nature: Shark Mountain (Questar) Nature: Under Antarctic ice (Questar) Next (Paramount) Short Circuit (Image) V for Vendetta (Warner) WWE: Wrestlemania XXIV (WWE) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on May 13th, 2008
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 532*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) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on May 6th, 2008
Again this week the biggest news is the lack of a Blu-ray release, but this time from a studio that hasn't announced it'd go Blu. That's right, the once Red exclusive Weinstein, has been MIA in the HD movie business for a long time and no word when that might change. But I'm Not There isn't the biggest loss Blu has seen recently, and there are a few titles to get excited about. The big day-and-date title this week is from Warner with P.S. I Love You, which is the same studio that has the biggest catalog title with Twister. Sony also has a day-and-date and catalog combo with the comedy First Sunday and the Harrison Ford flick The Devil's own. Next week is another slow week, sort'a the calm before the storm because the week after Paramount comes back and with it will be the biggest release for Blu-ray ever, with 24 releases! Blu-ray 525*Blu-ray The Air I Breathe (Image) The Devil's Own (Sony) First Sunday (Sony) Helvetica (Plexifilm) Helvetica (Limited Edition) (Plexifilm) Ozzfest: 10th Anniversary (Warner Music Group) P.S. I Love You (Warner) Saawariya (Sony) Shall We Dance? (Walt Disney) Twister (Warner) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on April 29th, 2008
Not a bad slate this week, as Fox brings something for the ladies with 27 Dresses and New Line has The Golden Compass, both featuring DTS-HD Master Audio. At the same time, Warner breaks the two older Ocean's movies out, for those not interested in the trilogy box set. Also this week, Sony tries to make another buck on its painfully boring King Arthur movie from the 90's. This week was another one where the studios gave us a mix of new releases and catalogs, which should be enough to keep us interested until the big titles finally start to hit the streets this summer. Blu-ray 515*Blu-ray 27 Dresses (Fox) First Knight (Sony) The Golden Compass (New Line) Motley Crue: Carnival of Sins (Warner Music Group) Mozart: Die Zauberflote (Opus Arte) Ocean's Eleven (Warner) Ocean's Twelve (Warner) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on April 22nd, 2008
The big news this week is what's not being released on Blu-ray, as the two biggest titles released today on DVD are not available in HD. The biggest one is easily Cloverfield, which is obviously MIA because Paramount has yet to release any Blu-ray movies since going Red exclusive. But the bigger mystery is why Fox isn't releasing The Savages on Blu -- this doesn't leave Blu with much. We have two sub-par horror flicks with One Missed Call having an unbelievably low IMDB score of 2.8 out of 10 and Sublime is pretty pitiful itself at 5.2. Your best bet this week is the Global Warming documentary from National Geographic, which looks interesting but is no Planet Earth. Next week is a little better though, but still another unexciting week of releases for April. Blu-ray 508*Blu-ray National Geographic: Six Degrees Could Change the World (National Geographic) One Missed Call (Warner) The Orphanage (New Line) Sublime (Warner) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on April 15th, 2008
There's something for everyone coming out this week on Blu-ray with the number one title easily being the Academy Award winning Juno (IMDB 8.1), which features the best audio Blu-ray has to offer: DTS-HD MA (48hz/24-bit). But that's not the only title featuring master quality audio this week, as Alien vs. Predator:Requiem is sure to thrill you -- even with it's painfully low IMDB score of 5.1 and a unfun BD Live game. The somewhat unknown title this week, which also looks like it's worth a watch is Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Fox has a few catalog titles this week as well, but from the looks of the reviews, it doesn't appear Fox is very serious about releasing high quality HD catalog titles as both Predator and Commando get low marks on both audio and video quality -- perhaps the prints were so bad, Fox didn't have much to work with. Blu-ray 504*Blu-ray Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Fox) Alien vs. Predator/Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (Two-Pack) (Fox) Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Image) Commando (Fox) Juno (Fox) Mariah Carey: The Adventures of Mimi (Image) A Passage to India (Sony) Predator (Fox) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on April 8th, 2008
At first glance this week looks pretty decent, but when you take a second look you'll notice the biggest release of the week is MIA. We'd hoped that Paramount would be ready to release Blu-ray titles in time for There Will be Blood, we now know we'll have to go without -- guess Paramount will just have to wait to get our money. Sony's leading the way this week with four releases though, two of which include BD Live content as well as TrueHD sound. Something also interesting to note is that the super hot, I Am Legend hits HD DVD this week, so we'll be interested to see how well it sells on next week's VideoScan numbers now that some retailers have eliminated its HD DVD shelf space. Blu-ray 496*Blu-ray The 6th Day (Sony) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Sony) Sharkwater (Warner) Space Ace (Digital Leisure) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Sony) The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Sony) Yukikaze (Bandai Visual) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on April 1st, 2008
This week's lineup has no jokes, but we wish it has more to choose from. Sure Alvin and The Chipmunks is a fun movie for the family, but hardly the reason we bought an HDTV. Blu-ray fans aren't missing much this week however, as DVD doesn't really have much to look at either. Luckily Disney has a few catalog titles this week featuring loseless (PCM) audio and the AVC codec like; Unbreakable, Hidalgo, and Coyote Ugly. Next week gets a little better though, as Sony has a bunch of movies, including a couple of BD Live titles. Blu-ray 489*Blu-ray 10.5 Apocalypse: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge) Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007) (Fox) Artie Lange's Beer League (Echo Bridge) Behind The Yellow Line (Celestial) Blackbeard (2006) (Echo Bridge) Category 7: The End of the World (Echo Bridge) Coyote Ugly (Walt Disney) The Curse Of King Tut's Tomb: The Complete Miniseries (Echo Bridge) Hidalgo (Walt Disney) The Last Sentinel (Echo Bridge) Unbreakable (Walt Disney) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
Blu-ray releases on March 25th, 2008
Here we are on the first week of the Blu-ray releases post, but that doesn't mean we won't mention Red at all, as the number one title -- to us -- this week is also available on HD DVD; Digital Video Essentials, HD Basics. This is a must own for any HDTV enthusiast because it will help you get the most out of your HDTV. We have to admit that we don't know what the difference between this long over due version, and the one previously available on HD DVD, though. The only other title worth mentioning this week is the catalog title from Warner, Bonnie & Clyde. Sony has Steep, but honestly we've never heard of it. Buy the biggest news this week is the non-release of a few titles that are from studios who were previously red, and are now MIA in the HD media landscape; including The Mist, from Weinstein, The Kite Runner, from Dreamworks, and the catalog title Lost Highway, from Universal. Nothing earth shattering, but three solid titles we'd would've like to have had the opportunity to see in HD. Blu-ray 478*Blu-ray Bonnie & Clyde (Warner) Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics (DVD International) Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Opus Arte) Naked Beneath the Water (Phoenix Group) Steep (Sony) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on March 18th, 2008
Well this it, the very last HD DVD exclusive gets released tomorrow -- at least from any studio you've actually heard of. Although HD DVD exclusives have still been selling well, we don't expect Atonement to sell anywhere near as many titles as the past few hot HD DVD exclusives. Moving forward, HD DVD only has 16 titles left on the calendar and ten are Warner titles previously released on Blu-ray. So, starting next week, this will become the Blu-ray release post, where we'll focus on Blu-ray releases vs what's available in SD on DVD. Speaking of which, Universal is releasing the first season of the now canceled show Bionic Woman on DVD, but there's no mention of an HD version. The hottest title this week is without a doubt I Am Legend. Will Smith's night crawler movie is at the top of the Amazon DVD chart (that's right, it's outselling DVDs), so we expect it'll easily take number one on the Nielsen VideoScan numbers next Friday as well. The other Blu-ray title released this week is no slouch either, as Disney's Enchanted is at nine on the Amazon charts, with the DVD version sitting at two. HD DVD 413 vs Blu-ray 473*Blu-ray Enchanted (Walt Disney) I Am Legend (Warner) HD DVD Aquarium Impressions (Navarre Corporation) Atonement (Universal) Fireplace Impressions (Navarre Corporation) Justice League: The New Frontier (Warner) Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (Warner) Mystic Forests (Navarre Corporation) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously officially available.
