Blog Posts

Fox Home Entertainment will release the 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes in separate R-rated & Unrated editions on June 20th. Each will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 audio tracks (the R-Rated version will also include a 1.33:1 fullscreen transfer). Extras will include an audio commentary (by director Alexandre Aja, screenwriter Gregory Levasseur & producer Marianne Maddalena), A behind-the-scenes documentary made up of a collection of featu...ettes, a music video & trailers.

New Line will release the teen-horror flick Final Destination 3 in separate widescreen and fullscreen "Thrill Ride" Editions on July 25th. Both versions will be include English DTS 6.1 ES, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX & 2.0 audio tracks. Extras will include an audio commentary (by director and co-writer James Wong, co-writer Glen Morgan & director of photography Robert Mclachlan), a "Choose-Their-Fate" Interactive feature, two featurettes ("Dead Teenager Movie" & "Planned Accidents"), a "Kill Shot: The Making of ...inal Destination 3" documentary, an "It’s All Around You" animated short, a deleted scene, and the theatrical trailer.

UMD looks like its on its way out, with Wal-Mart purportedly taking UMD off the shelves, studios stopping UMD production, and backlash building against proprietary formats.

Warner Home Video will release the Harrison Ford & Paul Bettany thriller Firewall on June 6th. This disc will be presented in a 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Extras will include a conversation with Harrison Ford & director Richard Loncraine, a "Firewall: Writing a Thriller" featurette, & the theatrical trailer.

Fox Home Entertainment will release the Martin Lawrence comedy Big Momma's House 2 on May 9th. This disc will include both anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen transfers, along with a Dolby Digital 5.1 (English) audio track. Extras will include an audio commentary (by director John Whitesell, producer David Friendly, & actor Zachary Levi), a "Big Momma's Secrets" Featurette, 12 deleted/extended scenes (with optional commentary), & a collection of trailers.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment will release the basketball drama Glory Road (starring Josh Lucas) on June 6th. This disc will be presented in separate 2.35:1 anamorphic and fullscreen versions, both with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio tracks. Extras will include two audio commentaries (the first with director James Gartner & producer Jerry Bruckheimer; the second with screenwriters Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois), deleted scenes, extended interviews (with the actual UTEP players), two featurettes ("The ...eal Coach Haskins" & "Coach Haskins' Practice Schedule") & a music video by Alicia Keys.

Just so you all know - UPCD is undergoing a big redesign right now. In addition to a new aesthetic treatment, there will be a tonne of great new features added and functionality improvements - long needed things like spam filters on comments, for instance. Also, DVD Battle will return to review pages, along with renewed and reinvigorated hardware and game reviews sections.

So, stay tuned! And if you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at rod@upcomingdiscs.com....Also, if you'd like a sneak preview of the new site, drop me a line, and I'll hook you up!

Well, eat my hat - looks like Blu-ray has an official launch date for hardware and titles - May 23, as reported by Engadget. Here's the official release from Sony, which in addition to the date, drops the list of release titles:

The first Blu-ray Disc titles from SPHE and MGM Home Enterta...nment willinclude: 50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, AKnight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse and XXX.
BD titles streeting June 13 include: Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall,Robocop (MGM), Stealth, Species (MGM), SWAT and Terminator (MGM). UnderworldEvolution will debut in early Summer day and date with the DVD.

Here's a quick one from Engadget: Sony and NEC have and optical drive joint venture underway, slated to get rolling this spring. The key finding here is that Sony has a 5% edge in the JV, implying that it will be to manufacture BR drives exclusively - which takes a major hardware manufacturer out of the running for HD-DVD production.

CNET has a good round up article on the recent issues with Blu-ray DVD technology, and the business fallout that's resulted. After starting hot, Blu-ray has been beset by delays; its now reached the point where the PS3 is rumoured to be delayed as a result, and CNET is actively comparing Blu-ray to Beta. Good luck, Sony!