Universal finally unveils Blu-ray plans for 2008

" Universal Unveils Blu-ray plans for 2008.

Blu-ray and DVD news

By Henning Molbaek
First published Apr 18, 2008

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.

After almost two months of silence Universal talks about their Blu-ray plans for 2008.

"Beginning this summer with Doomsday, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will release all of its new releases the same day on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, division president Craig Kornblau announced April 17." according to Home Media Magazine.

Universal hopes to bring 40 Blu-ray titles to the market in 2008 including the studio´s five big feature films of the summer. Among them, The Incredible Hulk, with Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; Wanted, the action thriller from director Timur Bekmambetov that stars Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie; Guillermo del Toro´s Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Mamma Mia, the adaptation of the Abba musical, starring Meryl Streep; and the sequel The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with Jet Li, Maria Bello and Michelle Yeoh joining the returning Brendan Fraser and John Hannah.

First Blu-ray release will arrive on July 22 with a trio of films from its "Mummy" action-adventure franchise: The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, both starring Fraser, and the spinoff The Scorpion King, with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Catalog titles planned for 2008 also include American Gangster, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 and Land of the Dead, among others.

August 26th will see the first and second season of Heroes on the format. Season two will also street on DVD that day.

"Creating Web-enabled content for our Blu-ray releases is a top priority at Universal," Kornblau said. "We are aggressively pursuing some very exciting opportunities for our tentpole titles that are nothing short of groundbreaking. Our BD Live features will create a wholly immersive, interactive environment that will connect movie fans in innovative ways."

Universal released more than 120 titles on HD DVD before abandoning the format in February 2008.

Source: Home Media Magazine

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.

Discuss

the_dvd_chef

Apr 18, 2008 - CDT 1:11 PM

Member since:
December 2007

My links

View profile »

Battlestar Galactica? I need it now. Seasons 1, 2, and 3. When Universal? When?

Love Hendrix!

Apr 18, 2008 - CDT 1:28 PM

says... Thanks for visiting DVDTOWN, and enjoy the news!

Member since:
June 2006

My links

View profile »

And let's hope that titles like the recent AMERICAN GANGSTER get re-mastered, and this time with the 'extended version' released on Blu-ray hi-def (unlike it's appearance now only on the DVD side of the HD-DVD/DVD combo disc), as noted in this excerpt from the May issue of Home Theater Magazine's review (pg. 94) -

"And what happened with this transfer? The 1.85:1 image is frustratingly soft throughout, with contrast and detail generally low, especially in the frequent dark scenes where the film wallows in a murky gray. Ridley Scott may have been going for a hazy look, but I don't think it works to the film's advantage, especially in HD. Add to that no HD soundtrack and the fact that the extended version of the film is only available on the DVD side of this combo disc, and you have to wonder when Universal will release the real HD version."

-JIMI LOVE (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Apr 18, 2008 - CDT 1:29 PM]

kucoloco

Apr 18, 2008 - CDT 10:13 PM

Member since:
September 2007

My links

View profile »

U. is aliveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! finally!

bladerunner1

Apr 19, 2008 - CDT 12:34 AM

Member since:
March 2008

My links

View profile »

So now I'm suppose to re-buy my hd-dvdone collection. Uhhhhh I don't think so. And Jimi, your wish is a pipe dream. You know that they are not going to remaster this movie. But you probablly will get the extended cut in all of it's crappy high def. glory.

Falcon01

Apr 19, 2008 - CDT 10:57 PM

Member since:
July 2006

My links

View profile »
View collection »

Blade, I'm gonna assume that Universal read the reviews for the HD DVD version of American Gangster and they're gonna release a better version on bluray. I'd be surprised if it was the same transfer to be honest. While it's nowhere near as bad as some may think it is, it does deserve a better transfer in my opinion.