I don’t really talk about imports at Amazon USA very often, since usually you can get a better deal buying them from the Amazon in the country of origin.

When it comes to Australia though, there is no Amazon there to make life easy for us.

It appears that some upcoming Australian releases from Icon have been listed at Amazon, due roughly a week after the Australian release.

The titles cover both international art house titles and New Zealand / Australian titles, all of which seem unlikely to get a US release soon, if ever.

Down under movies include The Piano, Once Were Warriors and Eagle vs. Shark, while Amelie, Emma, Scoop, The Motorcycle Diaries and Rules of Attraction add international flavour.

I am hoping that Amelie will finally be a good quality release with English subtitles!

The prices range from $23.99 to $27.99, so while they are not cheap, they are still in line with new US releases - not too bad for import titles.

Warner Home Video has announced perhaps the year’s best comedy The Hangover        for Blu-ray on December 15th.

Expect the release to have unrated and theatrical cuts, picture in picture, Digital Copy and BD Live.

Retail has been set at $35.99, find it at Amazon for only $19.99.

Interesting to see yet another heavily discounted new release.

Additionally Warner Home Video will be releasing Fame        on Blu-ray Disc on January 26th, 2010.

Retail is set at $28.99 - at Amazon for only $20.49.

Another popular summer movie has been scheduled for Blu-ray release just in time for the Holiday Season.

Universal Home Video has announced the release of Inglourious Basterds        for December 15th, 2009.

I really enjoyed this stylish though violent Quentin Tarantino movie in the cinema and am looking forward to the Blu-ray release.

Retail will be $39.98, only $27.99 at Amazon.

No sooner did Amazon list the four latest hot Holiday Season titles from Warner and New Line that they also discounted them 44% to only $19.99.

Pre-orders are finally up for the Warner Home Video release Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince        on Blu-ray on December 8th, 2009.

This latest Harry Potter movie earned $300M at the US box office.

Retail will be $35.99, with the Amazon price 44% off at only $19.99.

New Line has the holiday comedy Four Christmases        , starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, coming to Blu-ray on November 24th.

Again retail will be $35.99, only $19.99 at Amazon.

The latest Robert Rodriguez family movie Shorts         will also be released by Warner Home Video on November 24th, 2009.

Retail will be $35.99, the Amazon price again $19.99.

Terminator Salvation        featuring Christian Bale will be released by Warner Home Video on December 1st, 2009.

This latest addition to the Terminator franchise was directed by McG.

Retail will be $35.99, also only $19.99 at Amazon.

With these great prices for such high profile releases, I am sure that Amazon will take a great market share this holiday season!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced The Ugly Truth        for Blu-ray on November 10th, 2009.

This ‘battle of the sexes’ comedy features Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.

This release will feature Deleted Scenes, Alternate Endings, a Gag Reel, Commentary from Director Robert Luketic and Producer Gary Lucchesi and a pair of behind the scenes featurettes.

The ‘Blu-ray only’ bonus materials will include movieIQ with real-time in-movie information about the cast, crew, music and production via BD-Live and a Digital Copy of the film for PC, Mac or iPod.

Sounds like a pretty full featured release from Sony.

Retail has been set at $39.95 - bargain hunters will find it at Amazon for only $27.99.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has formally announced some new releases today, including Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape         and the Da Vinci Code sequel Angels & Demons        .

Sex, Lies and Videotape is a long time favourite movie of mine and I am excited about this release.

Written and directed by Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh, this great indie film features great performances from James Spader and Andie MacDowell.

The Blu-ray release is scheduled for Nov 17, 2009 and will feature the movieIQ BD Live feature.

The retail price will be a nice $24.95, and you can pre-order it at Amazon for only $18.99.

Sony Pictures is also releasing The Professional        on November 17th.

This Luc Besson film is another favourite of mine, with a young Natalie Portman along with Jean Reno and Gary Oldman.

Retail again will be $24.95, and $17.49 at Amazon.

On November 24th Sony Pictures will release Angels & Demons        with Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor.

The movie had $133M gross at the box office and will no doubt be a key title for the holiday season.

The Blu-ray release will be loaded with features including both Theatrical and Extended versions, movieIQ, cinechat, and Digital Copy for Windows, PSP, Mac or iPod.

Retail will be $39.95 and this title is discounted to $27.99 at Amazon.

One of my favourite action comedy science fiction movies has been listed for release on Blu-ray Disc.

Dreamworks has announced the release of Galaxy Quest        for November 17th, 2009.

The retail price is $29.99, you can pre-order it at Amazon for only $20.99.

If art house is more your cup of tea, Criterion is planning to release the Italian crime film Gomorrah        on November 24th, 2009.

Retail will be $39.95, only $26.99 at Amazon.

Lions Gate is releasing the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Red Heat        as part of their budget series on November 10th, 2009.

Retail will be only $19.99, the Amazon price $13.99.

Lions Gate will also be releasing Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark        on Blu-ray Disc on November 10th, 2009.

Again the retail price is $19.99, you can pre-order it at Amazon for only $13.99.

Fans will be pleased to read that Paramount is planning to release Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen        on October 20th, 2009.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was a huge hit this year for maverick director Michael Bay, with almost $400M earned at the domestic box office! 

The release will be a 2 Disc special edition, with disc 2 loaded with features.

Retail will be $39.99, the Amazon price - only $27.99.

See the extensive list of features listed after the break.

(more…)

Woody Allen fans will be happy that Whatever Works        has been listed by Sony Pictures for a October 27th, 2009 release.

Woody set this one back in New York and the cast features Larry David and Rachel Even Wood.

Retail is set at $39.95, pre-order at Amazon for only $27.99.

If Tony Scott is more your speed, The Taking of Pelham 123        featuring Denzel Washington and John Travolta has also been announced by Sony, due to street November 3rd, 2009.

Again retail will be $39.95, only $27.99 at Amazon.

Disney has some new announcements that will no doubt excite Kevin Smith fans.

Chasing Amy        is planned by Miramax for November 17th.

Retail will be $39.99, only $27.95 at Amazon.

Miramax is also releasing Clerks        on the same day.

Retail is set at $39.99, pre-order at Amazon for only $27.95.

Remember that these two were shot on 16mm film so don’t expect the image quality we see on modern 35mm movies.

I am also a little troubled by Disney’s pricing as of late - it seems that they have bumped their prices up on some Blu-ray releases.

I am now wondering how widespread this will be…!