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Video Business' High-Def Update features recent product news, reviews and a listing of upcoming titles on both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.



Here are Video Business' most recent high-def stories.

Magnolia puts Blu-ray title in Dell space

Magnolia’s title offers footage from the 2005 launch.
Magnolia Home Entertainment is bundling a copy of its Blu-ray Disc title HDNet World Report Special: Shuttle Discovery’s Historic Mission inside the first boxes of Dell notebook computers to feature a Blu-ray drive.

Featuring TV programming from network HDNet, Shuttle Discovery includes live coverage of the events surrounding the 2005 launch, including footage from mission control.

Dell began selling these bundled laptops Dec. 11 at its Web site, www.dell.com. Magnolia did not specify what quantities of Dell computers will come packed with Shuttle Discovery.

Click here for the full story.

Panasonic focuses on Blu-ray's bigger picture

Panasonic’s 130-inch HDTV set is the world’s largest plasma screen.
LOS ANGELES—Panasonic continues to steer its stand-alone Blu-ray Disc player into upscale specialty electronics stores, matching its TV merchandising strategies.

During a Dec. 5 stop here on its U.S. product publicity tour, Panasonic showed off its 103-inch HDTV set, billed as the world’s largest plasma screen. At the same time, the company drummed up buzz for its Blu-ray player and other plasma TV models, ideally hoping to sell the high-end consumer on a high-definition entertainment bundle. Click here for the full story.

Fox sets Blu-ray action for new year

Mr. & Mrs. Smith will be on Blu-ray in March.
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has slated its Blu-ray releases for the first quarter, featuring mostly action and drama catalog titles.

On deck first for Jan. 23 release are AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Men of Honor and Courage Under Fire. The Marine, The Sentinel, Broken Arrow, Planet of the Apes (2001), Chain Reaction, Entrapment and Phone Booth hit retail on Feb. 13. Then arriving March 13 are Ice Age, Dodgeball, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Commando, the latter of which was originally set for Jan. 23 but delayed. Click here for the full story.

ADDITIONAL HIGH-DEF NEWS

Online users show little love for Blu-ray? Digital Trends, Dec. 8

Blu-ray DVD drive no bonus for some PS3 buyers ZDNet News, Dec. 8

Weinstein Co. drops more hints at HD DVD January lineup High-Def Digest, Dec. 7

Optical HD battle may be over Digital Trends, Dec. 6




The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1
The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1
HBO/Warner, Blu-ray Disc, Street: Dec. 19, $129.95; reviewed on Samsung 61-inch widescreen DLP HDTV with HDMI connection

Cable TV’s most popular show arrives on Blu-ray in a pricey edition that’s skimpy on extras (like its standard-DVD counterpart), but the sterling images and dynamic audio track make up for it. Resolution-wise, The Sopranos’ Blu-ray image is absolutely stunning. The details in the sets and scenery, which we’ve never seen on TV broadcasts, shine through as though they were created just for the high-definition version. Click here for the full review.



Miami Vice: Unrated Director’s Edition
Miami Vice: Unrated Director’s Edition
Universal, HD DVD, available now, $39.98; reviewed on LG 42-inch widescreen DLP HDTV with HDMI connection

Though we usually discuss the downside of video noise on high-definition discs—the fluttering, grainy appearance frequently found in still-moving shots of backgrounds, skies and solid-colored clothing—in Michael Mann’s Miami Vice, the noise often works—whether intended or not (we’re thinking it wasn’t). The stormy, colored skies of Miami are positively electric in Mann’s theatrical variation of his trend-setting ’80s TV show, and the noise that’s heard in the frequently-shot skies makes them crackle with energy. This is best seen in a sequence with stars Colin Farrell and Gong Li on a speedboat to Cuba. Click here for the full review.



Below is a list of upcoming titles on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

For a complete list of upcoming HD DVD and Blu-ray titles, click here. For a list of all HD DVD and Blu-ray titles now available, click here.

Dec. 19
All the King’s Men Sony; prebook Nov. 16; BD $39.95
Drama: Sean Penn, Jude Law and Anthony Hopkins star in this remake.

Casino Universal; prebook Nov. 7; HD $29.98
Crime: Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone star in this 1995 move about the Mob in Las Vegas.

Invincible Buena Vista; prebook Nov. 7; DVD $29.99/BD $34.99
Drama: Mark Wahlberg stars as the real-life footballer who won his way into the major leagues.
Bonuses: featurette about real footballer portrayed in movie, two commentaries, high-def-exclusive featurette “Recreating the Vet.”

Jet Li’s Fearless Universal; prebook Nov. 14; HD Combo $39.98
Adventure: This foreign martial arts film grossed $24 million at the box office.
Bonuses: unrated and theatrical versions, deleted scene, featurette.

Lady in the Water Warner; prebook Nov. 14; HD Combo $39.99/BD $34.99
Fantasy: Paul Giamatti discovers a woman living beneath his apartment building’s pool in this $42.3 million-grossing film from M. Night Shyamalan.

Pearl Harbor Buena Vista; prebook Nov. 7; BD $34.99
Drama: Two best friends fall in love with the same woman during World War II.
Bonuses: making-of featurette, “Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor” featurette, music video.

The Scorpion King Universal; prebook Nov. 7; HD Combo $34.98
Adventure: The Rock stars in this sequel to The Mummy.

The Sopranos: Season 6, Part 1 HBO/Warner; prebook Dec. 5; HD or BD $129.95
Drama: The first part of the last season of HBO’s hit Mob show.
Bonuses: four commentaries.

Dec. 26
The Breakfast Club Universal; prebook Nov. 14; HD Combo $34.98
Comedy: John Hughes’ 1985 movie is about five high school students from different backgrounds who find common ground while in detention together.

The Deer Hunter Universal; prebook Nov. 14; HD $29.98
Drama: This 1978 film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep and looks at how the Vietnam war affected the lives of soldiers and their families.

The Descent Lionsgate; prebook Nov. 29; 50GB BD $39.99
Horror: This $25.9 million-grossing movie about six women who become prey as they get trapped in a hidden cave.
Bonuses: both R-rated theatrical version and unrated version, picture-in-picture commentaries, making-of featurette, deleted scenes, storyboard and scene comparison, stills gallery, cast and crew bios, outtakes, interview with director Neil Marshall about U.K. vs. U.S. ending, spelunking featurette.

Transporter 2 Fox; prebook Nov. 8; street Dec. 26; BD $39.98
Action: Jason Statham tries to save the child he has been hired to protect.

Jan. 2
The Covenant Sony, prebook Nov. 30; BD $38.95
Horror: Four young students who have inherited special powers are threatened when someone like them moves to town.
Bonuses: director’s commentary, behind-the-scenes featurette.

Jan. 9
Crank Lionsgate; prebook Dec. 13; BD $39.99
Action: Jason Statham stars as a professional hit man who only has a few hours left to live in this $27.8 million-grossing film.
Bonuses: commentary, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, three exclusive high-def featurettes.

Jan. 16
Discovery Atlas: Australia Revealed Image; prebook Dec. 5; HD $24.99
Documentary: The Discovery program examines the history and culture of Australia.

Discovery Atlas: Box Set Image; prebook Dec. 5; HD $79.99
Collection: This set includes Discovery programs about China, Italy, Brazil and Australia.

Discovery Atlas: Brazil Revealed Image; prebook Dec. 5; HD $24.99
Documentary: The Discovery program examines the history and culture of Brazil.

Discovery Atlas: Italy Revealed Image; prebook Dec. 5; HD $24.99
Documentary: The Discovery program examines the history and culture of Italy.

Employee of the Month Lionsgate; prebook Dec. 20; BD $39.99
Comedy: Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson star in this $28.2 million-grossing movie about two superstore workers who compete for the love of a sexy check-out girl.
Bonuses: commentaries, featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers.

Online Editor: Samantha Clark
VideoBusiness.com


This message was sent to smclark@reedbusiness.com.



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