My Two Cents
Monday, 22 August 2016 17:42

Independence Day: Resurgence on 10/18, plus Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 4K, 1492 on Blu, Star Trek: Animated date & more!

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We’ve got a short post for you today, but it has some good stuff in it...

For starters, we’ve got a new review for you this afternoon, thanks to our own Tim Salmons, featuring Stars’ new Ash vs Evil Dead: The Complete First Season on Blu-ray Disc. The title arrives in stores tomorrow, and it’s pretty damn good. Do give it a look.

The big announcement news today is that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just officially set Independence Day: Resurgence for release on Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray 3D Combo, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on 10/18, with the Digital HD version expected on 9/27. [Read on here…]

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Extras on all disc-based formats will include audio commentary by director Roland Emmerich, 8 deleted scenes with optional commentary, the Another Day: The Making of Independence Day: Resurgence documentary, 2 featurettes (The War of 1996 and It’s Early, ABQ!), a gag reel, a gallery of concept art, and trailers and TV spots. Audio will be Dolby Atmos on 4K and 7.1 DTS-HD MA on the Blu-ray versions. Here’s a look at the final cover artwork (click on each to pre-order on Amazon)...

Independence Day: Resurgence (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray)   Independence Day: Resurgence (Blu-ray Disc)   Independence Day: Resurgence (Blu-ray 3D)

Also today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set director Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for release on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format on 10/18. It will also be re-issued that day on regular Blu-ray and as a new Supreme Cinema Series edition Blu-ray. Audio will be Dolby Atmos on 4K and 7.1 DTS-HD MA on the Blu-ray versions. Extras on both 4K and Blu-ray will include audio commentary with Ang Lee and producer James Schamus, audio commentary with cinematographer Peter Pau, 6 never-before-seen deleted scenes (in 4K with HDR on the 4K version), all-new retrospective interviews with Lee, Schamus, and editor Tim Squyres, and legacy features including the A Love Before Time music video, 2 featurettes (The Making of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and A Conversation with Michelle Yeoh), a photo gallery, and the film’s theatrical trailer. The 4K version will also include an exclusive new introduction to the film and the deleted scenes by Lee. Here’s the cover art for that (we’ll add Amazon pre-order links as soon as they go live)...

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Supreme Cinema Series (Blu-ray Disc)   Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Blu-ray Disc)   Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray)

Kino Lorber has revealed that they’re working on a long-awaited Blu-ray and DVD release of Ridley Scott’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), as well as Loophole (1981). Street dates are TBA. Already set for release in November are Fritz Lang’s Western Union (1941) on Blu-ray on 11/8, Tom Gries’ 100 Rifles (1969) on Blu-ray on 11/22, and Finders Keepers (1984) and Biggles: Adventures in Time (1986) on both Blu-ray and DVD on 11/29.

Meanwhile, Star Trek.com and a number of retail sources have dated Paramount’s Star Trek Beyond for release on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and DVD (plus various retailer exclusives) on 12/31. But that doesn’t seem right to us so we’re checking. (For one thing, it’s a Saturday, not the usual Tuesday – unless the timing is somehow designed to promote the January debut of Star Trek: Discovery on CBS, which is possible.) On the other hand, a couple of our retail sources are now telling us to expect Paramount and CBS to release Star Trek: The Animated Series as a stand-alone Blu-ray release on 11/15, and that seems right on the money. We’re working to confirm both dates, but the TAS street date seems more reliable.

Here’s something cool: Warner Bros Home Entertainment is working on the animated Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 11/1, and it features the voices of Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar as Batman, Robin, and Catwoman. Should be pretty cool.

Speaking of Warner, there’s more reaction online to their $800 Middle-Earth Blu-ray box set to be found over at TheOneRing.net and Ars Technica that’s worth a look. Seems as if pretty much everyone has the same reaction to the set we did. Anyway, it turns out that the set is indeed Amazon-exclusive, and Warner’s now posted a video in which Merry himself (actor Dominic Monaghan) shows you what you get in the set. Though I hope Monaghan buys it for you and personally delivers it to your house with a big bag of the Halfling’s Leaf, because you’ll need it after spending that kind of bread. Anyway, watch and weep. Looks like a dandy shelf, packaging, and swag. Just wish it came with new content and a more consumer-friendly price.

Back tomorrow with more. Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt (@BillHuntBits)

 

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