Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will continue its releases of classic animation with the August 6th, 2013 arrival of The Sword in the Stone on Blu-ray Disc.

This will be the 50th Anniversary year for The Sword in the Stone, which was originally released to theaters through Buena Vista on December 25, 1963.

The film is the 18th in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, and it was the last Disney animated film released before Walt Disney passed away.

The voice cast includes Karl Swenson, Junius Matthews, Sebastian Cabot, Norman Alden and Martha Wentworth.

The Sword in the Stone was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, who was also behind films like The Aristocats, The Rescuers, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Reviews for the film were predominantly positive, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 74%, and an IMDb score of 7.1/10.

Planned features for the disc include an 1080p encode presented at 1.75:1, along with lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 5.1 channels.

The retail price is $36.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $25.89, saving 30%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Synopsis:

Disney proudly presents the 50th anniversary edition of a spellbinding and beloved animated classic. Conjure up magical family fun with the humor, adventure and Academy Award-nominated music (Best Score – Adaptation or Treatment, 1963) of The Sword In The Stone – now on Blu-ray Combo Pack for the first time ever! Take an amazing journey with a young orphan named “Wart” and the extraordinary wizard Merlin. According to legend, only someone with the purest character and inner strength can pull the enchanted sword from the stone and claim the throne of England. Armed with new found confidence and the power of friendship, Wart discovers his destiny and learns the best magic is the kind you find inside yourself!

A new 20th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition for The Fugitive has been announced by Warner Home Video, scheduled for a September 3rd, 2013 release.

This 1993 thriller film was based on the 1960s television series of the same name.

The story is about Dr. Richard Kimble, who is wrongfully convicted for his wife’s murder.

Kimble escapes from custody and sets out to prove his innocence and bring those who were responsible to justice.

As a fugitive, he is also pursued relentlessly by a team of U.S. Marshals.

The cast includes an ever popular Harrison Ford in the lead role, along with Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas and Jeroen Krabbe.

Tommy Lee Jones won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.

The Fugitive was directed by Andrew Davis, who was also directed films like Under Siege, The Guardian, Chain Reaction, Above the Law, Collateral Damage, Code of Silence, and A Perfect Murder.

The film was met with stromg reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94% and an IMDb score of 7.8/10.

The Fugitive was also a huge success in the cinema, earning $183.9M at the US box office, well in excess of the $44M budget.

Extras will include a new featurette called The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase, which will feature Andrew Davis, Harrison Ford, and Tommy Lee Jones, and the pilot for the television series on the WB.

The retail price is $19.98, or pre-order it from Amazon for $13.99, saving 30%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Extras:

• New Featurette – The Fugitive: Thrill of the Chase featuring Andrew Davis, Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones and more
• Introduction by Andrew Davis and Harrison Ford
• Commentary by Andrew Davis and Tommy Lee Jones
• On the Run with the Fugitive Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
• Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
• New to Release – The Fugitive (2000 WB Pilot)
• Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis:

Catch him if you can. The Fugitive is on the run! Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones race through the breathless manhunt movie inspired by the classic TV series. Ford is prison escapee Dr. Richard Kimble, a Chicago surgeon falsely convicted of killing his wife and determined to prove his innocence by leading his pursuers to the one-armed man who committed the crime. Jones (the 1993 Academy Award Golden Globe and Los Angeles Film Critics Award winner as Best Supporting Actor) is Sam Gerard, an unrelenting bloodhound of a U.S. marshal. They are hunted and hunter. And as directed by Andrew Davis (Under Siege), their nonstop chase has one exhilarating speed: all-out.

August 27th, 2013 will mark the arrival of the classic animated movie The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on Blu-ray from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Blu-ray.

The was originally released in March 1977 and is the 22nd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series.

The voice cast includes Sterling Holloway, John Fiedler, Junius Matthews, Paul Winchell, Howard Morris, Bruce Reitherman, Jon Walmsley and Timothy Turner.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was directed by John Lounsbery and Wolfgang Reitherman, who were behind other films including The Rescuers and The Aristocats.

The film has a very strong critical reception, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 91% and an IMDb score of 7.6/10.

Planned features for the disc include an 1080p encode presented at 1.66:1 and Disney Enhanced Home Theater audio (probably DTS-HD Master Audio).

The retail price is $36.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $25.89, saving 30%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Extras:

• Disney Intermission – Press “pause” during the movie and find out what happens! The narrator invites younger viewers to play along with the Hundred Acre Wood friends in a variety of engaging activities.
• Pooh Play-Along – In this bonus feature, the narrator invites viewers to play along with Pooh and his friends.
• 5 “Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh” Shorts: “If I Wasn’t So Small,” “Piglet’s Drawings,” “The Expedition,” “Geniuses” & “The Honey Song”
• “A Day for Eeyore” – Classic Animated Short
• “The Story Behind the Masterpiece” – Making of Featurette
• “The Winnie the Pooh Theme Song” – Performed by Carly Simon

Synopsis:

Experience the very first time Tigger “pounces” Pooh; laugh out loud when Pooh’s rumbly tumbly gets him stuck in a hilariously sticky situation… All your favorite Hundred Acre Wood characters come alive in this timeless motion picture overflowing with rich animation, masterful storytelling and unforgettable songs. Stuffed with extraordinary bonus features including the beloved theatrical short film “A Day For Eeyore,” five “Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh” shorts, Disney’s groundbreaking “Intermission” activity and much more, The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh: The Original Classic will make fans of all ages shout “Hip Hip Pooh-Ray!”

I have been surprised to note of late that Amazon has been adding pre-orders for movies as they open in the cinemas!

This is true for the Blu-ray release of Iron Man 3, which opened in US theaters this weekend.

Similarly, the latest Tom Cruise movie Oblivion was listed for Blu-ray pre-order last week.

Another film that is still on the big screen list at Amazon is Olympus Has Fallen.

Personally I find it interesting to see Amazon taking orders for these films so early, though I guess they have enough experience that they feel capable of taking orders with a low price guaranty!

In any case, if you are interested in having pre-orders for these titles, using the links here will financially benefit the site when the disc finally ships.

I have also been posting new pre-order links to our Facebook Page, so like us on Facebook for more regular pre-0rder and bargain updates!

May 14th, 2013 will mark the arrival of the Showtime Entertainment Blu-ray release for Dexter: The Seventh Season.

Fans of the show will get a chance to relive the season in the highest possible quality before the new season starts in late June 2013.

The story arc from season seven will continue over the course of the eighth season as well – no spoilers – you’ll know if you saw it already (or check the synopsis below)!

The cast for the show includes Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez, James Remar, Desmond Harrington, David Zayas and C.S. Lee.

The show is a cult favourite and currently has an IMDb score of 9.1/10.

The retail price is $57.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $44.96, saving 22%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Synopsis:

Dexter returns to DVD and Blu-ray in explosive fashion with Season 7, as Dexter is finally forced to confront his greatest fear, as Debra witnesses his insatiable, ritualistic slaying of a killer. Now Deb knows the secret of his Dark Passenger, his undeniable thirst for blood, and the Code that their father Harry instilled in him as a young boy. But as Deb tries to reconcile the unfathomable idea that her beloved, mild-mannered brother is Miami’s most notorious serial killer, Dexter is still pulled by his natural impulses to seek out the guilty and exact his brand of vigilante justice.

Crime comedy Identity Thief has been announced by Universal Studios Home Entertainment, scheduled for a June 4th 2013 release.

The movie tells a story about a man whose identity is stolen by a woman, and his quest to get it back and clear his good name.

The cast features Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Favreau, John Cho, Morris Chestnut, Amanda Peet, Génesis Rodríguez and Robert Patrick.

Identity Thief was directed by Seth Gordon, who has helmed films like Four Christmases, Freakonomics, and Horrible Bosses.

The movie was met with largely negative reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 21%, though did a bit better at the IMDb with a score of 5.7/10.

Identity Thief had a great run at the cinema though, reaching $130.7M at the US box office.

The film is currently the second highest grossing domestic release of 2013.

Planned features for the disc include a 1080p encode and lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 5.1 channels on a dual layer BD50.

The retail price is $34.98, or pre-order it from Amazon for $23.99, saving 31%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Synopsis:

Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) and Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) lead an all-star cast in this hilarious blockbuster hit. Unlimited funds have allowed Diana (McCarthy) to live it up on the outskirts of Orlando. There’s only one glitch: she’s financing her shopping sprees with an ID stolen from Sandy Patterson (Bateman), an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Patterson is forced to extreme measures to clear his name. From the director of Horrible Bosses and the producer of Ted, critics are calling Identity Thief “smart, funny and surprisingly touching” – Rafer Guzman, Newsday.

Be sure to watch for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Academy Award winning Silver Linings Playbook from Anchor Bay Entertainment on April 30th, 2013.

The movie is a romantic comedy adapted from the novel by Matthew Quick.

It is the story of a man with bipolar disorder who is released from a psychiatric hospital.

A recently-widowed sex addict tells him that she will help him get his wife back if he enters a dance competition with her.

The film received eight Academy Award nominations, including all four acting categories, with Jennifer Lawrence taking the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Along with Lawrence, the cast includes Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Julia Stiles and Anupam Kher.

Silver Linings Playbook was directed by David O. Russell, who directed Three Kings, and The Fighter, though is perhaps best known for his ranting at Lily Tomlin on the set of I Heart Huckabees.

Reviews for the movie were excellent, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% and an IMDb score of 8/10.

Silver Linings Playbook was a sleeper hit in the cinema, reaching $129.1M at the US box office and roughly the same in foreign territories.

This release includes a DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet Digital Copy code.

The retail price is $39.99, or you can pre-order it from Amazon for $24.99, saving 38%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Synopsis:

Based on best-selling book by Matthew Quick, Silver Linings Playbook is the riotous and poignant story of how a man (Bradley Cooper) who has lost everything… his house, his job, his wife – reconnects with himself and creates his own silver linings from the bonds he forms with his family and friends.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters has been announced by Paramount Home Entertainment for release on Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc June 11th, 2013.

The movie is an action-horror dark fantasy film that continues the classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

In this re-imagining of the story, the now adult Hansel and Gretel have become  professional witch hunters.

The film was a full 3D production.

The cast includes Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Pihla Viitala, Peter Stormare and Thomas Mann.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters was directed by Tommy Wirkola, the man behind Dead Snow.

Reviews for the film were mostly negative, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 15%, though it did better with the public, scoring 6.4/10 at the IMDb.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters did ok in the local cinema, earning $55.3M at the US box office, though was a bigger success overseas and took in over $215M internationally.

Due to the commercial success of the film, which was planned as the first part of a series, its sequel is currently in development.

Planned features for the disc include an MVC stereo 3D 1080p encode with lossless 5.1 Dolby True HD sound.

The retail price is $49.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $24.99, saving 50%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

The regular Blu-ray is currently also half off at Amazon for $19.99 (Blu-rayStats Wishlist).

Extras:

• Reinventing Hansel & Gretel
• The Witching Hours
• Meet Edward the Troll

Synopsis:

Get ready for a twisted take on the classic tale as Hansel (Jeremy Renner) and Gretel (Gemma Arterton) have turned pro, coping with the trauma of their childhood captivity by slaying witches for hire. But when the seemingly unstoppable bounty hunters meet their match in an enemy so evil, it’ll take all their training, weapons and courage to survive. Revenge is sweeter than candy.

Paranormal romantic zombie comedy Warm Bodies has been announced by Summit Entertainment, scheduled for a June 4th Blu-ray release.

The film is based on Isaac Marion’s novel of the same name and relates the development of the relationship between a young woman and a zombie.

The story is told from the zombie’s perspective, and the film presented new possibilities with the marriage of the romantic comedy with the zombie genre.

The cast includes Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton, Cory Hardrict and John Malkovich.

Warm Bodies was directed by Jonathan Levine, the director behind films like The Wackness and 50/50.

The critical response to the movie was pretty positive for a romantic comedy, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 79% and an IMDb score of 7.3/10.

Warm Bodies did well in the cinema, reaching $65.3M at the US box office, which was well in excess of the $35M budget.

Planned features for the disc include an 1080p encode presented at 2.40:1, lossless DTS-HD Master Audio with 7.1 channels.

An audio commentary, deleted scenes and a whole swag of featurettes are also planned.

The retail price is $39.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $27.99, saving 30%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Extras:

• Boy Meets, ER, Doesn’t Eat Girl
• R&J
• A Little Less Dead
• Extreme Zombie Make-Over!
• A Wreck in Progress
• Bustin Caps
• Beware of The Boneys
• Whimsical Sweetness: Teresa Palmer’s Warm Bodies Home Movies
• Zombie Acting Tips with Rob Corddry
• Audio Commentary with Director Jonathon Levine and Actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary with Screenwriter/Director Jonathan Levine
• Shrug and Groan Gag Reel

Synopsis:

A funny new twist on a classic love story, Warm Bodies is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human – setting off an exciting, romantic and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.

Fox Home Entertainment is planning a June 4th, 2013 Blu-ray release for the latest Die Hard film A Good Day to Die Hard.

This fifth installment in the Die Hard film series sees John McClane travel to Russia to help get his estranged son out of prison.

Perhaps needless to say he gets caught up in a terrorist plot.

The cast includes Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch, Yuliya Snigir and Cole Hauser.

A Good Day to Die Hard was directed by John Moore, the action director behind films like Behind Enemy Lines, The Omen (2006), Flight of the Phoenix, and Max Payne.

The film was met with mostly bad reviews, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 15%, though it did better with the public earning an IMDb score of 5.6/10.

A Good Day to Die Hard also took in $66.6M at the US box office, though four times that overseas, coming in just under $300M worldwide.

Planned features for the disc include both theatrical and unrated versions of the movie.

The retail price is $39.99, or pre-order it from Amazon for $27.99, saving 30%!

Alternatively you can add it to your Blu-rayStats Wishlist.

Synopsis:

Bruce Willis is back in action – mind-blowing, heart-stopping, rip-roaring action – as John McClane, the heroic New York cop with a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time. John’s latest predicament takes him all the way to Russia to track down his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney), who has been imprisoned in Moscow. But the mission takes a deadly turn as father and son must join forces to thwart a nuclear weapons heist that could trigger World War III!