Today sees more discounted Blu-ray titles at Amazon, including the Batman Begins (Limited Edition Gift Set) for only $14.49 - saving 71%.

New titles listed for $11.49 include Pale Rider and TMNT - a 67% saving for TMNT.

Additionally, A Scanner Darkly is now reduced to $9.99, The Searchers is listed for $7.99 and the ever popular Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series is only $47.99.

See more after the break.

Continue reading “More Warner Blu-ray Discounts Include Batman Begins Set 70% Off!”

CBS has set BD Live to ’stun’ this week and taken aim at Star Trek fans with new exclusive BD Live material.

The new content will hit the Star Trek: The Original Series - Season 1 portal on CBS-BDLive.com, kicking off from this week.

Using the Season One Blu-ray discs, fans will have access to new bonus video including roundtable discussions with special effects producers Mike and Denise Okuda, Dave Rossi and Neil Wray, also David Gerrold, Tribble inventor and writer of the fan-favorite Trouble with Tribbles episode.

Trekkies will find the experts’ views on the Season One Blu-ray bonus features, as well as what there is to look forward to in Season Two.

Additionally CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment are planning a Tribble extravaganza for the eagerly anticipated Season Two Blu-ray Disc release.

So watch out for the new content in the coming weeks.

Amazon continues to discount their Warner Blu-ray titles with a new deeper discount for The Matrix.

Right now you can get The Matrix 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Book for $13.99, a saving of 60%.

Be aware though that they appear to have burned through their current inventory so it might take a while to ship.

Also look for Beetlejuice, License to Wed and Rumor Has It for only $14.49.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is the latest title to be unleashed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment aimed at the young teens - released on Blu-ray June 30th, 2009.

The Jonas Brothers, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, are a teen boy band who gained popularity on the Disney Channel children’s television network.

The band has released four albums, starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock and sold over eight million albums.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is pretty much what it says - a 3D taping of a show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden arena that was in presented in theaters in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D.

The concert includes special guest appearances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift and the live 3D music footage is intercut with 2D behind the scenes and candid footage.

The 3D on this title uses Cyan and Red colour separation glasses - 4 pairs are included in the package - and a 2D version of the concert movie is also an option.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience was directed by Bruce Hendricks, who also directed Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour.

The movie was pretty much hated by critics - it earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 23% and IMDb score of 1.3/10.

The low IMDb score is no doubt due to the adverse reaction to the squeaky clean Christian teen band from pretty much anyone over 20 years of age.

In the cinema Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience earned $19.2M at the US box office.

The video on the disc is an AVC 1080p encode and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Check out the details page for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience to see full resolution PNG screen captures.

Both 3D and 2D images are there - with the Cyan Red glasses you will see the 3D effect even with the screen caps!

The main audio is lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 7.1 channels.

The disc is a dual layer BD50 and is coded for Region A.

Special features include not only a Digital Copy for both iTunes and Windows, Disney also included a standard DVD of the concert movie so the kids can watch in the car or in their own room, etc.

As well as already being an extended film with songs not included in the theatrical release, there are also two additional songs in the supplements.

Up Close and Personal is a behind the scenes and backstage featurette covering the design of the tour and everything that went in to making it happen, narrated by the fan friendly brothers.

While the Jonas Brothers may not be the taste of many Blu-ray home theater owners, it is certainly something that the younger ones in the family might enjoy.

Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience is a wide ranging release from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, offering High Definition 3D and 2D, a DVD copy and a digital copy.

This is certainly a kid friendly release from the studio that specializes in titles for the younger family members.

The retail price is $44.99, or order it right now at Amazon for $25.99, saving 42%!

Extras:

• Extended Movie In 3D and 2D Includes Songs Not Seen In Theaters
• 2 Bonus Songs
• Up Close And Personal
• Standard DVD - Extended Movie In 2D
• Digital Copy for iTunes and Windows

Synopsis:

Put yourself in the middle of the Jonas Brothers’ motion picture debut with the ultimate Extended 3D Concert experience only on Blu-ray Hi-Def. It doesn’t get any better than this as Kevin, Joe and Nick invite you inside their personal world for an all-inclusive look at the band. The 3D picture looks so incredible, you’ll think you can reach out and touch the brothers, and the theater-quality sound will have you jumping out of your seat! This 3D movie event launches music’s hottest trio straight into your living room and includes guest appearances by chart-topping artists Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift! Secure your backstage pass to this once-in-a-lifetime 3D experience with the Jonas Brothers - complete with exclusive bonus features, including unseen performances, additional songs, and an extra DVD copy of the movie. You’ll feel like you’re part of the movie. You’ll feel like you’re part of the Jonas family with this deluxe up-close-and-personal Blu-ray Combo Pack for the ultimate fans!

Warner has added a number of new titles to the $11.49 sale price point.

New titles discounted 60% to $11.49 include Blow, 2001 - A Space Odyssey, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, V for Vendetta, The Mask and Unforgiven.

Certainly an excellent deal.

Full list of $11.49 Warner titles after the break.

Continue reading “Amazon Expands Range of $11.49 Warner Blu-ray Titles”

Amazon has a number of Walt Disney Studios and Buena Vista Home Entertainment Blu-ray Disc titles at half off retail right now.

Titles priced at $14.99 include Unbreakable, Hidalgo, The Rock, Remember the Titans and King Arthur.

Day and Date titles at $17.49 include Deja Vu, The Recruit, The Game Plan and Kill Bill - Volume One.

See more after the break.

Continue reading “Half Price Disney Blu-ray Titles at Amazon”

A few months ago now I mentioned the listing of a whole swag of Sony Blu-ray titles at Amazon.

Some now have release dates, including a pair of western titles.

Sony is planning to release the Lawrence Kasdan movie Silverado        on September 8th, 2009.

The retail price will be $28.95, pre-order at Amazon for $22.99.

Additonally, Sam Raimi fans will be happy to see The Quick and the Dead        is also scheduled for a September 8th release.

Again retail has been set at $28.95, bargain hunters will find it at Amazon for only $22.99.

Last week saw the release of a movie from one the more popular MGM franchises - The Pink Panther 2 - released on Blu-ray Disc June 23rd, 2009.

The movie features a great international cast, including Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Aishwarya Rai, John Cleese, Lily Tomlin, Jeremy Irons, Johnny Hallyday and Geoffrey Palmer.

Steve Martin brings his own style to the role of Inspector Clouseau, and the movie contains a lot of slapstick, physical humour.

While the cast and the locations are great, if slapstick isn’t your thing, this is not the movie for you.

Perhaps needless to say, overall it is a very silly film. Very silly indeed.

Like its predecessors, this edition is yet again the story of the Pink Panther diamond and Inspector Clouseau’s bumbling efforts to protect it from expert thieves.

This time around the thief has been stealing treasures from all over Europe and a dream team of detectives is formed to help solve the crime - headed by Clouseau himself.

The Pink Panther 2 was directed by Harald Zwart, the man behind One Night at McCool’s and Agent Cody Banks.

The critical response to the movie was pretty damning - it earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 12% and IMDb score of 4.8/10.

The Pink Panther 2 was however a mild success at the cinema, reaching $35.9M at the US box office.

The video on the disc is an AVC 1080p encode at 34 Mbps, and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Check out the details page for The Pink Panther 2 to see full resolution PNG screen captures taken directly from the disc.

The main audio is lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 5.1 channels - 24 bits resolution at 48 kHz.

The disc is a dual layer BD50, with 36.6 GB used and is coded for Region A.

Special features are a tidy set and include a Digital Copy for both Windows and iTunes.

Bloopers are presented in the gag reel and a behind the scenes featurette reveals a lot about the stunts and such needed to pull this style of movie off successfully.

An additional featurette focuses on the casting for the movie and the international talent that ranges from Bollywood to France, England and Japan.

There is also a BD-Java based trivia game included on the disc.

The inclusion of 27 of the original Pink Panther cartoons is an especially nice touch - though these are presented on standard DVD, not in HiDef.

The Pink Panther 2 is technically a great release from MGM Home Entertainment - that said this style of comedy is not for everyone.

However if you are a fan of slapstick humour or can’t get enough Pink Panther, this disc is a great choice for you.

The retail price is $39.99, or order it right now at Amazon for $26.99, saving 33%!

Extras:

• Gag Reel
• Drama Is Easy…Comedy Is Dangerous Featurette
• A Dream Team Like No Other Featurette
• Trivia Game: Master Thief - Golbal Crime Showdown!
• 27 Classic Pink Panther Cartoons (DVD)
• Digital Copy for iTunes and Windows

Synopsis:

Steve Martin returns to the scene of the fun as the brilliant, bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau in this side-splitting slapstick comedy for the whole family! When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther diamond, Clouseau is assigned to a dream team of international detectives who are under pressure to bring the master thief to justice before he strikes again. Co-starring Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Andy Garcia, Lily Tomlin and John Cleese, The Pink Panther 2 will steal your heart…and keep you laughing!

The Blu-ray market share versus DVD dipped below 10% for the first time in 9 weeks for the week ending June 21st, according to Home Media Magazine.

While the 8% market share is perhaps a little disappointing, revenues were actually pretty strong - over $20M for the week.

The top seller for the week was again Gran Torino, with the Friday The 13th remake a close second.

The top five was rounded out by Ghostbusters, Transformers and Taken.

Lost: The Complete First Season took 7th place on the chart, though Lost: The Complete Second Season didn’t make the chart.

New HBO mini-series release John Adams took 17th position.

The per title market share was a little subdued this week, with no titles above 20%.

However, Friday The 13th, The Dark Knight, The International, Taken and Valkyrie were all between 15 and 20% market share for Blu-ray.

That said, popular title Gran Torino sold less than 5% on Blu-ray, contributing to the low market share for the format.

If you got this far you are probably an avid reader of the market share reports.

I am thinking about changing the way these are presented, since Home Media Magazine has started publishing various data at different times of the week.

My thought is to break this into three posts - the top 20 chart, the overall market share and revenue, and lastly the per title market share chart.

If you have any opinions about whether these posts are desired or perhaps unnecessary, please add a comment.

They take quite a while to compile, so if there is not much interest I may drop them altogether.

I have become quite a fan of the Digibook packaging from Warner, and right now there are a few of these at Amazon for $14.99.

Titles include Amadeus, Dirty Harry, How the West Was Won, Natural Born Killers and The Matrix 10th Anniversary Edition.

The $14.99 pricing represents a saving of  over 57% on these titles!