Fox/MGM Blu-ray Discs this Winter
20-08-2007 22:13 | 6674 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
After a long hiatus Fox and MGM Home Entertainment have finally confirmed their return to the High Definition market with 29 titles exclusively on Blu-ray Disc later this year.
Amongst these titles are 6 day-and-date BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Live Free or Die Hard (aka Die Hard 4.0), 4 day-and-date BD/DVD (U.S. only) new theatrical releases from MGM, and 19 catalog titles from the two studios’ libraries. Also announced is Fox’s first TV release on BD with Prison Break and Fox’s “intention to release at least one state-of-the-art title per month featuring numerous BD’firsts.’”
The press releases goes on to state that…
“Among the BD industry ‘firsts’ from the Studios’ upcoming global release slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to in-movie features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD remote and the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and trivia games to date. The Studios’ slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and “web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact with other broadband BD users worldwide. “
Further on they confirm “the vast majority of the Studios’ upcoming global slate will be presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature numerous Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials…” Expect “AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as well as enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search indexing, trivia and other title specific games and high-definition bonus materials.”
“Upcoming BD-J features exclusive to priority catalogue titles from Fox and MGM include an "Alien Scavenger Hunt" (INDEPENDENCE DAY) that challenges players to earn points by identifying the correct number of aliens in select scenes to unlock additional bonus features; a “Global Warming Trivia Track” (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) where users must correctly answer questions about global warming to keep the Earth’s temperature from rising and being destroyed; and a historical and geographical pop-up map (MASTER & COMMANDER) that tracks the location of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his enemies. “
Below Is the upcoming slate of titles from Fox and MGM excluding new theatrical day & date BD/DVD releases.
Amongst these titles are 6 day-and-date BD/DVD new theatrical releases from Fox including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Live Free or Die Hard (aka Die Hard 4.0), 4 day-and-date BD/DVD (U.S. only) new theatrical releases from MGM, and 19 catalog titles from the two studios’ libraries. Also announced is Fox’s first TV release on BD with Prison Break and Fox’s “intention to release at least one state-of-the-art title per month featuring numerous BD’firsts.’”
The press releases goes on to state that…
“Among the BD industry ‘firsts’ from the Studios’ upcoming global release slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to in-movie features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD remote and the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and trivia games to date. The Studios’ slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and “web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact with other broadband BD users worldwide. “
Further on they confirm “the vast majority of the Studios’ upcoming global slate will be presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature numerous Blu-ray exclusive high-definition bonus materials…” Expect “AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as well as enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search indexing, trivia and other title specific games and high-definition bonus materials.”
“Upcoming BD-J features exclusive to priority catalogue titles from Fox and MGM include an "Alien Scavenger Hunt" (INDEPENDENCE DAY) that challenges players to earn points by identifying the correct number of aliens in select scenes to unlock additional bonus features; a “Global Warming Trivia Track” (THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) where users must correctly answer questions about global warming to keep the Earth’s temperature from rising and being destroyed; and a historical and geographical pop-up map (MASTER & COMMANDER) that tracks the location of Captain "Lucky" Jack Aubrey and his enemies. “
Below Is the upcoming slate of titles from Fox and MGM excluding new theatrical day & date BD/DVD releases.
| Title | N.A. Release | Int. Release |
| Master & Commander | Oct. 2 | Oct. |
| The Day After Tomorrow | Oct. 2 | Nov. |
| From Hell | Oct. 9 | Oct. |
| The Fly (1986) | Oct. 9 | Q1 08 |
| Edward Scissorhands | Oct. 9 | Nov. |
| 28 Days Later | Oct. 9 | North America Only |
| Robocop (MGM) | Oct. 9 | Dec. |
| Amityville Horror (1979) (MGM) | Oct. 9 | North America Only |
| Battle Of Britain (MGM | Nov. 6 | Q1 08 |
| A Bridge Too Far (MGM) | Nov. 6 | Q1 08 |
| I, Robot | Nov. 13 | Q1 08 |
| Die Hard | Nov. | Nov. |
| Die Hard 2: Die Harder | Nov | Nov. |
| Die Hard With A Vengeance | Nov. | Nov. |
| Red Dawn (MGM) | Nov. | Q1 08 |
| Mr. And Mrs. Smith | Dec. 4 | Dec. |
| Independence Day | Dec. 4 | Dec. |
| Cast Away | Dec. 4 | North America Only |
| Ronin (MGM) | Dec. 4 | Dec. |
Comments
ISF Certified
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One thing: wasn't 28 Days Later shot on PAL DVCAM? What's the point of releasing it in 1080p?
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POW
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Originally Posted by pow:
I'd agree with Post #2. The above titles are hardly likely to be a match (or coming anywhere near) to the likes of Transformers or Shrek 2. Paramount have certainly won in the "jaw-dropping announcement of the day" release.
Fox are currently in last place out of the major studios this year! So they've got less to show then Paramount.
Still we got Sony and Disney! :)
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Originally Posted by Michael Mackenzie:
Christ, if this is meant to counteract the loss of an entire studio, it looks pretty tragic.
It's funny, Bill hunt of The Digital bits said in the Paramount announcement " I'll tell you what... I'm betting Fox and MGM start making Blu-ray Disc exclusive announcements and soon. You just watch."
Not only does this balance the Paramount news it pales in signifcance compared to this. Almost all of those titles are very popular releases, especially the Die hard trilogy. I've been waiting for those ever since Fox chose the Blu side. I'll probably even buy DH2, it wasn't as great as the first but it's worth having in HD.
Good news about the BD-Live launch, shame about some of the games though, if the studios truely believe that things like this are the reason people will upgrade then I hope they have something better in mind that "spot the alien" or answer some questions.
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How can Fox announcing titles be good news? It means that BD+ copy protection must be ready so be on alert for potential playback problems................
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I'll get the Die Hard series for sure along with Robocop and Ronin.
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Internet-connected consumers will enjoy unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and “web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact with other broadband BD users worldwide.
Thankfully my HC compartment is right next to my router, way to go though the BD Forum for not insisting on Wireless in the BD Spec. That was a shot in the foot for most people.
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Originally Posted by pow:
I'd agree with Post #2. The above titles are hardly likely to be a match (or come anywhere near) to the likes of Transformers or Shrek 2. Paramount have certainly won in the "jaw-dropping announcement of the day" release.
I'd take just about any of the above over Transformers which I thought was rubbish.
Once you've seen one car turn into a robot, or vice versa, how many more times do you need to see it ? And does anyone over 12 really get excited by seeing one CGI robot beating up another CGI robot. ? Give me a decent script with decent actors over a load of CGI any day.
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I think this announcement was about 24hrs too late to have any real impact. Had this been announced 2 months ago that they were officially back in the game then this could have had a huge impact.
However, all companies invloved at trying to replace dwindling DVD with the new HD formats are all acting like a bunch of fickle, gold-digging busty blondes!! Sure, they look great, you would let them into your room and enjoy what they had to offer despite the cost, but you wouldnt trust em!!