Now then… in announcement news today, Lionsgate has set the Mad Men: The Complete Collection (SRP $209.97) and Mad Men: The Final Season – Part Two (SRP $39.97) for Blu-ray and DVD release on 10/13. According to the Amazon listings, the Blu-ray and DVD are essentially the same price. Click on the title links to pre-order.
Speaking of TV series, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set Justified: The Complete Series for Blu-ray release on 10/13 as well (SRP $215.99). The 18-disc set will include all 6 seasons plus extras, a new Bonus Disc that includes 5 featurettes (Leaving Harland Alive: Making the Final Season, In Elmore’s Words, Writer’ Room Tour with Graham Yost, Harlan Revisited: Favorite Moments, and a “That’s a Wrap” Gag Reel), and a 38-page disc book. Here’s what it looks like…
PBS Home Entertainment has set their Civil War: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition for Blu-ray and DVD release on 10/13 (SRP $129.99 and $99.99).
HBO has set Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – The HBO Special for Blu-ray and DVD release on 10/6 (SRP $34.95 and $24.95).
And here’s a total surprise that I’m really excited about: At the recent Otakon convention, FUNimation announced that they’ve picked up the U.S. release rights to the original Japanese Speed Racer animated series and they’re going to be releasing it on Blu-ray and DVD. But here’s the kicker – it appears that in addition to releasing the dubbed American version most of you are already familiar with in HD, they’re also going to include the original Japanese versions with English subtitles! And the set will apparently include episodes that were never released here in the States! Very, very cool. As soon as additional details are available, we’ll post them here.
Note that FUNimation is also going to be releasing Kazuya Nomura’s new Ghost in the Shell: The Movie (2015) on Blu-ray and DVD too. Street date and additional details are TBA.
Finally today, Kino Lorber has set their new 2-disc The Phantom of the Opera (1929) Blu-ray for release on 10/13 (it will also street on DVD that day). The 1929 theatrical version has been fully restored from the archival 35mm elements by Film Preservation Associates, complete with the Technicolor Bal Masque sequence and meticulously hand-colored sequences (replicating the Handschiegl Color Process). From the press release, the film “is presented at two different historically-accurate projection speeds, each with two different soundtrack options.” You also get the 1925 theatrical version (which only survived in poor-quality prints, but contains scenes that were removed from the 1929 release version). Additional extras include the original screenplay as a 91-minute video scroll, a 13-minute still montage, a 9-minute interview with composer Gabriel Thibaudeau, and 2 travelogues by Burton Holmes, depicting Paris in 1925 (Paris from a Motor and A Trip on the Seine).
All right, that’s all for now. We’ll leave you with look at some Blu-ray cover artwork with Amazon pre-order links if available…
Stay tuned...
- Bill Hunt