Seven of the eight major movie studios have already announced titles for Blu-ray Disc (BD), including Warner, Paramount, Fox, Disney, Sony, MGM and Lionsgate. The initial line-up of movie releases consists of over 100 titles and includes recent hits as well as classics. Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD. A few studios will release in all three formats (BD, HD DVD and DVD) but so far Universal Studios has been the only film company to shun Blu-ray, choosing to stick to HD-DVD.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’s initial BD releases will arrive at retail outlets worldwide in November. Japan launches Nov. 10 and product reaches North American, Australian and European stores on Nov. 14. Movies will retail for approximately $39.98.
Warner Home Video plans to release more than 10 BD titles in European markets by the end of 2006. Titles will include recent films such as Firewall and Syriana, and classics from the extensive Warner Home Video library such as Full Metal Jacket, Training Day and Space Cowboys.
The countdown has now begun as well to Mission, Monday, Oct. 30, 2006, when “M:i:III” hits shelves on DVD, Blu-ray and HD-DVD with high definition bonus features for the HD presentations from Paramount Home Entertainment. The “M:i:III Special Collector’s Edition” DVD ($24.99), Blu-ray ($29.99) and HD DVD ($29.99) presentations are each two-disc sets fully loaded with exciting behind-the-scenes bonus material to take viewers even deeper undercover and inside the mission.
The film and the high-definition special features created exclusively for the HD presentations showcase the unprecedented picture and sound quality of the new formats. The high-definition special features on both the HD DVD and Blu-ray discs include “The Making of the Mission,” “Mission Action: Inside the Action Unit,” “Visualizing the Mission,” “Scoring the Mission,” deleted scenes, theatrical trailers and Easter Eggs. Enhanced commentary with Tom Cruise and director J.J. Abrams is on the HD DVD version.