Lions Gate will be releasing Belly on Blu-ray Disc on August 12th, 2008. To be honest, with a sub-$10M box office take and less than 5/10 on the IMDb, this 1998 movie seems like a strange choice for Blu-ray release.

Hey Lions Gate - if you are going to release stuff that won’t sell volumes on Blu-ray, how about releasing something good!

Retail has been set at $29.99, bargain hunters will find it at Amazon for $26.99.

This week marks the release of my favourite film ever, Diva, on a super special edition DVD. It has been through a number of lackluster releases in the past but this time Lions Gate has released it as part of their Meridian Collection. So what is the problem you ask? I would think it is obvious - where the hell is my Blu-ray version? And a Blu-ray for Red Violin would be nice too while you are at it.

I think it is fair to say that serious movie lovers tend to be on the leading edge of home theater and many are yearning for releases like this on Blu-ray. As part of the ‘Cinema du Look’ movement, this film is visually stunning to say the least. If it is worth doing right, it must surely be worth doing in High Definition! And not Toshiba ‘we can make DVDs look like HD DVD’ HD - real HD.

When we see news that Criterion is going to release on Blu-ray, and that Eureka Entertainment will bring at least one of their Masters of Cinema series to Blu-ray, you would think that Lions Gate, a strong early adopter of Blu-ray, would bring us their Meridian Collection on Blu-ray, alongside their other ‘classic’ releases like Witless Protection and Delta Farce.

So this week the Raspberry award goes to Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

Amazon has listed a new Dirty Dancing Collectors Edition, apparently to be released by Lions Gate on August 12th, 2008. This title was already released just over a year ago, so it is not out of the question that a new version could be coming. The retail price is $19.98, you can pre-order it at Amazon for $13.95.

Platinum Disc has announced some pairings of their movies for release on July 29th, 2008. Firstly Salvage & Mortuary is set at $28.98 retail, pre-order at Amazon for $25.50. Artie Lange’s Beer League & The Big White will also be at Amazon for $25.50.

The girls just keep on going wild - Girls Gone Wild: The Perfect Pair will be released by Mantra Films on August 12th, 2008. The retail price will be $24.95, pre-order at Amazon for $16.95.

Amazon is having another sale with discounts up to 50% off retail.

This one looks to be across many studios including Sony, Lionsgate, Fox and Disney, so if you are looking to catch up on some catalogue titles, check it out…!

Today Oliver Stone fans can rejoice - Lions Gate Home Entertainment has The Doors coming to Blu-ray on August 12th, 2008. Retail for the Jim Morrison biopic featuring Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan has been set at $29.99, bargain hunters will find it at Amazon for only $20.95. I am personally looking forward to this one!

In the horror genre, Shutter will be released by Fox Home Entertainment on July 15th, 2008. Retail will be $39.98, the Amazon price - only $27.95.

Lastly, Image Entertainment has The Secret coming to Blu-ray on August 12th, 2008. This film featuring David Duchovny and Lili Taylor was a French production though it is in English. The retail price is $35.98, you can pre-order it at Amazon for only $24.95.

So it is looking like May 20 may not be such a huge week after all.

A quick check of the Amazon Pre-order page shows that all of the pre-order dates for the Paramount re-issues have changed from May 20 to June 3rd.

Also, I guess Mr Hunt at Digital Bits had it right and Cloverfield and There Will Be Blood will also be June 3rd as originally announced. It looks like Bee Movie may also have been moved back to June 3rd.

In any case, June 3rd is going to be a big day, with releases like Dirty Harry Ultimate Collector’s Edition, Semi-Pro, Signs, Weeds - Season Three and Meet The Spartans also being released that day.

Things are shaping up well! … albeit a couple of weeks later than expected.

The twin pack of National Treasure / National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets has reached the number one position in the Amazon DVD rankings, beating out the Indianna Jones collections and the DVD versions of National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets.

Looks like this will be a key franchise for Disney Blu-ray.

There are some other interesting discounted titles at Amazon today.

Fans of Prison Break can get Prison Break - Season 1 for only $39.95, a savings of 60% of the $100 retail price. Also from Fox, Kingdom of Heaven (Director’s Cut) is down to $17.95, a savings of 55%. A nice deal given the $40 retail on most Fox title.

A couple of Lionsgate pre-orders are also currently discounted - Rambo and The Eye are both currently $22.95, a savings of 43% of the $40 retail. Both of these titles will come with Digital Copy.

Fans of Anime will be pleased to hear that Funimation has announced Dragon Ball Z - The History of Trunks / Bardock: Father of Goku for Blu-ray on July 15th, 2008. Retail price is set at $34.98, you can pre-order at Amazon for only $25.99.

One of my favourites this year, The Bank Job, has been freshly listed by Lions Gate Home Entertainment - scheduled for a July 15th, 2008 release. This blandly titled crime thriller features Jason Statham and was directed by New Zealander Roger Donalson (who also directed The World’s Fastest Indian). The retail price will be $39.99 - pre-order at Amazon for $27.95.

As expected, Sony Pictures will be releasing Exorcism of Emily Rose along with the other horror titles on Blu-ray Disc on July 22nd, 2008. Retail will be $28.95, the Amazon price - only $19.95.

We also have a couple of titles coming from the smaller distributors - Umvd/Visual Entertainment is planning to release Postal on August 26th, 2008. This title will retail for $34.99, the Amazon price - only $23.95.

Also Life Before Her Eyes will be released by Magnolia on August 19th, 2008. The retail price will be $34.98, pre-order at Amazon for $23.95.

The new releases are being listed thick and fast this weekend!

Lions Gate Home Entertainment has announced Step Into Liquid for Blu-ray on June 24th, 2008. The retail for this surfing documentary will be $29.99, the Amazon price - only $19.95.

Walt Disney Video has College Road Trip coming to Blu-ray on July 15th, 2008. The retail price is $34.99, you can pre-order it at Amazon for only$23.95.

Step Up 2: The Streets has been freshly listed by Touchstone / Disney, scheduled for a July 15th, 2008 release. The retail price will be $34.99, pre-order at Amazon for $23.95.

The Paramount titles are starting to show up thick and fast at Amazon today.

Paramount is planning to release Cloverfield on May 20th, 2008. Retail will be $39.99, only $27.95 at Amazon.

The Spiderwick Chronicles has also been freshly listed by Paramount, scheduled for a June 24th, 2008 release. Retail is set at $39.99, pre-order at Amazon for only $27.95.

Thirdly Paramount has announced award winning There Will Be Blood for Blu-ray on May 20th, 2008. Retail has been set at $39.99, bargain hunters will find it at Amazon for only $27.95.

It is great to see these Paramount titles finally appear. These will definitely help Blu-ray market share, especially the Day and Date titles.

Additionally Lions Gate Home Entertainment has announced Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns for Blu-ray on July 1st, 2008. This title featuring Angela Bassett will retail for $39.99, pre-order at Amazon for $27.95.

Lastly independent distributor First Look Pictures is planning to release The Proposition on August 19th, 2008. The retail price is $19.98, you can pre-order it at Amazon for only $13.95.