Archived On The Mark Updates - July/August, 2007
August 27, 2007 - Here are DVD set QuickViews of Buena Vista Home Entertainment's "Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season - The Bettyfied Edition" and "Desperate Housewives: The Complete Third Season, The Dirty Laundry Edition."
August 21, 2007 - Not long after the Paramount announcement, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment along with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Fox distributed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment show solidarity with two press releases that I have posted below and I've added the titles where applicapable as well as made changes with regard to the Paramount titles in the Upcoming DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc Calendar within the Coming Soon section, which can be reached by clicking here or on the button above. The Sony and Fox/MGM press releases are detailed below.
SONY
PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
SEPTEMBER
BLU-RAY DISCTM
SLATE
THE
REPLACEMENT KILLERS, A FEW GOOD MEN, BLACK BOOK, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA,
TEKKONKINKREET AND UNDERWORLD
AMONG TITLES
Other
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment titles coming exclusively to Blu-ray High-DefTM
this fall include Spider-Man3,
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Reign Over Me, Surf’s Up and Hostel:
Part II.
Oscar®
winner Mira Sorvino (1995 Best Supporting Actress, Mighty
Aphrodite) and International superstar Chow Yun-Fat (John Woo's Hard-Boiled)
star in The Rep
·
Featurette:
Chow Yun-Fat Goes
·
Featurette:
“Where The Action Is” (Edited
HBO special)
*Bonus
material presented in Standard Definition
The
acc
·
Director’s
Commentary with Rob Reiner
·
Documentary:
Code of Conduct
·
Featurette:
From Stage to Screen
*Bonus
material presented in Standard Definition
In
the darkest days of World War II, Jewish fugitives attempt to escape occupied
·
‘Making-of’
featurette
·
Director’s
Commentary
*Bonus
material presented in Standard Definition
A
Cinderel
·
Production
Audio Commentary
·
Rob
Marshall and John DeLuca Audio Commentary
·
Featurette:
Sayuri’s Journey – From the Novel to the
Screen
·
Featurette:
The Road to
·
Featurette:
Geisha Bootcamp
·
Featurette:
Building the Hanamachi
·
Featurette:
The Look of Geisha
·
Featurette:
The Music of “Memoirs”
·
Featurette:
A Geisha’s Dance
·
Featurette:
The World of the Geisha
·
Featurette:
The Way of the Sumo
·
Featurette:
Rob Marshall
·
Featurette:
A Day With Chef Nobu Matsuhisa
·
Enhanced
Photo Gallery (high definition)
·
Index
·
Blu-meter
·
Bookmarks
·
AV
pop-up menus
*Except
where noted, bonus material presented in Standard Definition
A
brutal elegy for our changing times as well as a tour-de-force of visual
artistry, Tekkonkinkreet is a
deeply resonant story with a heart. The title Tekkonkinkreet
is a p
steel
and concrete cities amassing against the powers of the imagination. Added-value
features on the Blu-ray version of the film include:
·
The
Making of Tekkonkinkreet - Director Michael Arias’ 300-Day Diary
·
A
Conversation with Director Michael Arias and British Music Duo Plaid
·
Filmmaker
Commentary
·
Blu-meter
·
Bookmarks
·
AV
pop-up menus
*Bonus
material presented in Standard Definition
Kate
Beckinsale and Scott Speedman star in this modern-day, action-packed tale of
ruthless intrigue and forbidden passion set against the dazzling backdrop of a
timeless, Gothic metropolis. Underworld
on Blu-ray offers an assortment of added-value features, including:
·
Director
and Cast Commentary
·
Blooper
Reel: Outtakes
·
Documentary:
Fang vs. Fiction
·
Featurette:
Making-of ‘Underworld’
·
Featurette:
The Visual Effects of ‘Underworld’
·
Featurette:
Creature Effects
·
Featurette:
Stunts
·
Featurette:
Designing ‘Underworld’
·
Featurette:
The Look of ‘Underworld’
·
Featurette:
Sights and Sounds of ‘Underworld’
·
Storyboard
Comparisons
·
Music
Video: Finch – “Worms of the Earth”
*Bonus
material presented in Standard Definition
29 Titles To Debut Packed With Soon-to-Be-Announced BD Industry ‘Firsts’ -
PLUS – Fox’s First TV Title ‘PRISON BREAK’
FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER And
LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD and Other Titles
To Debut Day-and-Date on BD/DVD
-- Blu-ray Out-Performing HD DVD 2-to-1 At Retail in 2007 --
LOS ANGELES – August 20, 2007 -- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE)
today unveiled an aggressive global Blu-ray Disc release strategy including 29
new release and “must-have” catalog titles that runs through the end of the
2007 calendar year. Among the many highlights of the impressive worldwide
slate are six day & date BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including
the $241 million box-office family favorite FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER
SURFER and the $335 million box-office action powerhouse LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD,
four day & date BD/DVD (U.S. only) new theatrical releases from MGM, 19
‘must-have on BD’ films from the two studios’ libraries, Fox’s
first-ever TV release on BD – PRISON BREAK -- and Fox’s intention to release
at least one state-of-the-art title per month featuring numerous BD
‘firsts.’
The only high-definition packaged media universally supported by the film,
music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling high-definition
packaged media. In fact, on a worldwide basis, BD is averaging nearly 70%
market-share per week of all high definition titles sold this year and, in the
U.S., it is out-performing HD DVD by a margin of 115%.
“Given that Blu-ray has consistently outsold HD DVD all year, and this is the
case for any titles released by any studio in both formats, we believe that the
time is right for us to accelerate our activities and help convert the nearly 60
million high definition households worldwide into Blu-ray households,” noted
Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
“By the end of this calendar year there will be expansive availability of
technically vibrant releases featuring never-before-seen, advanced BD-J
interactivity as well as a broad offering of playback devices at attractive
prices that will prove to any doubting consumers once and for all that Blu-ray
is the only way.”
“And as Blu-ray continues to grows stronger, it has become survival of the
fittest which is most apparent in the retail landscape where our eager and
growing global Blu-ray consumer base has caused a shift that is forcing the
allocation of more space to the format that is selling the best. And, in
many recent instances of note, top retailers in North America are choosing to
promote the Blu-ray format exclusively in their stores,” continued Dunn.
Among the BD industry ‘firsts’ from the Studios’ upcoming global release
slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound
modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to
in-movie features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD remote and
the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and
trivia games to date. The Studios’ slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live
functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy
unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and
“web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and
interact with other broadband BD users worldwide.
Cementing its leadership position within the industry - previous BD releases
NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM and X-MEN THE LAST STAND rank in the Top 20 best-sellers -
the vast majority of the Studios’upcoming global slate will be presented on 50
GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature numerous
Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials that further realizes BD’s
incredible potential. Consumers will enjoy the superior video and audio elements
of AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as well as
enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search indexing,
trivia and other title specific games and high-definition bonus materials.
Upcoming BD-J features exclusive to priority catalogue titles from Fox and MGM
include an "Alien Scavenger Hunt" (INDEPENDENCE DAY) that challenges
players to earn points by identifying the correct number of aliens in select
scenes to unlock additional bonus features; a “Global Warming Trivia Track”
(THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) where users must correctly answer questions about
global warming to keep the Earth’s temperature from rising and being
destroyed; and a historical and geographical pop-up map (MASTER & COMMANDER)
that tracks the location of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his
enemies.
Listed below are the upcoming Blu-ray Disc releases from Fox and MGM excluding
new theatrical day & date BD/DVD releases. EXACT TITLE CONFIGURATIONS
TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING WEEKS.
TITLE
N.A. RELEASE INTERNATIONAL RELEASE
MASTER &
COMMANDER OCT.
2 OCT.
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW OCT.
2 NOV.
FROM
HELL
OCT. 9 OCT.
THE FLY
(1986)
OCT. 9 Q1
08
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
`OCT. 9 NOV.
28 DAYS
LATER
OCT. 9 North
America Only
ROBOCOP
(MGM)
OCT. 9 DEC.
AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) (MGM) OCT.
9 North
America Only
BATTLE OF BRITAIN (MGM) NOV.
6 Q1 08
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
(MGM)
NOV. 6 Q1 08
I,
ROBOT
NOV. 13 Q1 08
DIE
HARD
NOV NOV.
DIE HARD 2 DIE
HARDER
NOV NOV.
DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
NOV NOV.
RED DAWN
(MGM)
NOV Q1 08
MR. AND MRS.
SMITH DEC.
4 DEC.
INDEPENDENCE
DAY DEC.
4 DEC.
CAST
AWAY
DEC. 4 North
America Only
RONIN
(MGM)
DEC. 4
DEC
Blu-ray Disc is a next generation optical disc format
developed for high-definition video and high-capacity software applications. A
single-layer Blu-ray Disc holds up to 25 gigabytes of data and a dual-layer
Blu-ray Disc holds up to 50 gigabytes of data. This greater storage capacity
enables the Blu-ray Disc to store over six times the amount of content than is
possible with current DVDs, and is particularly well-suited for high definition
feature films with extended levels of additional bonus and interactive material.
Blu-ray also features the most advanced copy protection, player backward
compatibility with the current DVD format, connectivity and advanced
interactivity.
Fox takes advantage of the next generation format’s high definition technology
and advanced functionality to present its titles with the highest quality
audiovisual elements. Showcasing picture quality with six times the
resolution of DVD and theater quality “uncompressed” audio for the purest
digital sound, the cutting-edge discs also feature enhanced and integrated
menus, games, high-definition bonus materials and Java-encoding for more dynamic
and sophisticated interactivity.
The Studio’s commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing the
consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility
with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively
protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray companies
fully embrace the Studio’s steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy
and the preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox
is a member of the Board of Directors of the Blu- ray Disc Association.
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all
Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as
acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all
products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE
introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to
retail outlets -- from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores
and e-commerce - throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a
News Corporation company.
August 20, 2007 - I sure did not see this coming and I suspect my colleagues on other web based publications as well as some industry folk on both sides of the high definition optical disc format war. Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks Home Entertainment as well as their respective labels that they distribute for other media entities will now only support HD DVD exclusively. This means that major titles from the summer, like DreamWorks' Transformers and Shrek The Third will only be available on HD DVD and it also means that if you have any existing Paramount and DreamWorks Home Entertainment Blu-ray Disc titles or were holding off on buying one that is already available, think again because they just became collector's items for Blu-ray Disc collectors. With Universal, Weinstein Company, Paramount and DreamWorks now all being HD DVD exclusive, this means a number of films may never see release on Blu-ray Disc, like Coppola's Godfather Trilogy and both incarnations of Apocalypse Now and the majority of Director Steven Spielberg's films like Jurassic Park, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler's List, Munich, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, Duel, Minority Report, A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, War Of The Worlds, and four Indiana Jones films could all end up becoming exclusive to HD DVD.
What this means for the consumer is now the two formats are equaling up a bit and consumers who do not choose to buy one of each player or a combo player will have to now more than ever base their decisions on which format has the most films in high definition that they want. Fortunately both can still playback standard definition DVD and upconvert resolution to virtual HD quality via HDMI output. Ultimately what this also means is that there still is no way of predicting what will happen next in this format war and there still is no sure bet, which makes it an all the more scary proposition for any consumer who is looking to upgrade to next generation home video optical disc technology, but does not know what to buy. Things seem to change so fast though that for all I know, Paramount and DreamWorks could have changed their mind by the time you read this and thus the wheel of fire continues to turn.
August 19, 2007 - Here is an HD DVD review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Streets Of Fire" and a DVD review of Miramax Home Entertainment's "Renaissance." I have also updated the Upcoming DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc Calendar within the Coming Soon section, which can be reached by clicking here or on the button above
August 14, 2007 - Here is a DVD review of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's "Pathfinder: Unrated."
August 11, 2007 - George A. Romero has released five new publicity shots from his upcoming fifth entry in his "Living Dead" series of films entitled Diary Of The Dead. You can visit the official MY SPACE page to find out more and for more images and video too by clicking on this URL here: http://www.myspace.com/diaryofthedead. I can't wait to see this film!
August 10, 2007 - Here is a DVD review of Universal Studios Home Entertainment's "Flash Gordon: Saviour Of The Universe Edition" and a TV review of the SCI FI Channel Original Series Premiere Episodes of "Flash Gordon." I have also moved my TV reviews of the third season premiere of "Doctor Who" and the series finale of "Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law" to the Archived TV Reviews Page. In addition I added recent DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc announcements to the Coming Soon section, which can be reached by clicking here or on the button above. Now I'm going to step on my soap box to discuss the tornado that hit my neighborhood, just blocks from my family.
Literally just blocks from where I used to live and from where my parents, and my brother live, a tornado hit the Southwest tip of Brooklyn known as Bay Ridge. It's been all over the news and is only the sixth time in recorded history they say that a tornado has touched ground in New York City and the first time ever in Brooklyn. I imagine for people who live in states where this sort of thing is more common, the destruction might not seem like anything out of the ordinary, but collectively this storm knocked out the subway and railway lines across the city with flooding and since many of the buildings in New York were built before World War II, these old buildings simply are not cut out to withstand this sort of thing. It's a miracle that as far as I know there were no deaths as a result of the tornado in Brooklyn. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about neighboring Staten Island where a woman driving on the expressway was hit from behind by a car in an accident that was caused at least in part by the freak storm.
I woke up this morning feeling an unusual amount of humidity in the air and closed my bedroom windows, walked into my livingroom, turned on the AC and began watching a few DVDs. This was about 3:30am. At somepoint I fell asleep and was awakened again to an oppresive sky that almost blotted out the sun entirely and loud thunderous explosions and lightning that looked like something out of a movie. It was actually scary. I had no idea though that about a little more than a mile away from where I live a tornado touched down.
Now maybe I'm wrong for stating this, but after experiencing this storm indirectly, but knowing it could have happened by me and just a block or so over it could have hit my parents' home I have to say, "How can anyone deny this as another sign of global warming?" I kept thinking of the tornado scene in LA from "The Day After Tomorrow" as well as Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and all I can state is I think it can happen and will happen again in other places where this sort of thing is unheard of until more is done to reverse the damage already caused.
I grew up believing I lived in a city where aside from some miserable winter days and a few scortching summer days, there was nothing to fear from the sky. Between the terrorist attacks on September 11th and this tornado, I don't think anyone anywhere is safe and I don't count anything as being out of the realm of possibility. I wish I could say the fault was in our stars to paraphrase Shakespeare, but the truth is it's in ourselves and until we do something about it, it's just going to keep happening.
July 31, 2007 - Here is a DVD review of Warner Home Video's "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales."
July 20, 2007 - Due to a personal family matter, I was away and unable to update the site until now. Sorry for the inconvenience. Here is my DVD review of Warner Home Video's "300: Two-Disc Special Edition."
July 9, 2007 - Here is a combined QuickView of Warner Home Video's Warner Brothers Cult Film Classics "Vol. 1: Sci-Fi Terrors", "Vol .2: Women In Peril", and "Vol. 3: Terrorized Travelers." I have also moved my "On The Mark Updates For May/June, 2007" to the Archived On The Mark Updstes Page.
July 3, 2007 - LATE UPDATE - This section is still a work in progress, but I've finally opened my Quick Views section with a DVD review of Warner Home Video's "Warner Brothers Cult Film Classics: Vol. 4: Historical Epics." Happy and Safe Fourth of July to you all. Thank you.
July 3, 2007 - Here is a Blu-ray Disc review of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's "The Patriot: Extended Cut" and a DVD review of BBC Video's "Robin Hood: Season One: 5 - Disc Set."