Angels and Demons on Blu-ray and DVD, Shorts on Blu-ray and DVD, Plus More

ANGELS & DEMONS on Blu-ray and DVD, SHORTS comes to Blu-ray and DVD, SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES comes to DVD, SANTA BUDDIES gets the Blu-ray and DVD treatment and GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 comes to Blu-ray.

ANGELS & DEMONS on DVD and Blu-ray

* Read our VFXWorld article on the visual effects work in the film.

Press Release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (September 7, 2009) – The team behind the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code returns for the box office smash Angels & Demons, coming to 2-Disc Extended Edition DVD and Blu-ray Disc November 24 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on 1-Disc Theatrical DVD, PSP, and for digital download. Two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks (Best Actor: Forrest Gump, 1994 Philadelphia, 1993), Academy Award winner Ron Howard (Best Director and Best Picture, A Beautiful Mind, 2001), and bestselling author Dan Brown team up with Ewan McGregor (Star Wars trilogy, Big Fish), Ayelet Zurer (Adam Resurrected, Vantage Point), and Stellan Skarsgård (Mamma Mia!) on a thrilling journey through Rome as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) discovers the shocking truth about the Illuminati, an ancient secret brotherhood who will stop at nothing to destroy its eternal enemy, the Catholic Church.

Bonus materials on the two-disc Blu-ray and the two-disc Extended Edition DVD include seven behind-the-scenes featurettes, including "Angels & Demons: The Full Story," a complete behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film; "Characters in Search of the True Story," where the cast share their experiences of bringing Dan Brown's characters to the screen; "Rome Was Not Built in a Day," which follows filmmakers as they share their secrets to creating the world of Angels & Demons and "CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge" a look at one of the world's largest and most respected scientific research centers.   The two-disc DVD and Blu-ray will also include the Hans Zimmer Music Studio.  Powered by Sequel 2, the Hans Zimmer Music Studio is a DVD-ROM application which will give users the opportunity to create their own version of the Angels & Demons score using original Hans Zimmer tracks.

Exclusives to the two-disc Blu-ray include both the Theatrical and Extended film versions, as well as the interactive map "The Path of Illumination," in which viewers follow Robert Langdon's journey through Rome, exploring architecture, discovering new facts, seeing additional behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from each location, and discovering more about the four altars of science — all in the quest to unlock the path of illumination.  In addition, the Blu-ray Disc includes the newest BD-Live feature from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: "movieIQ." movieIQ allows movie fans to immediately access continuously updated information on the cast and crew and explore relevant trivia such as production facts, music and soundtrack information all tied to scenes within the movie (powered by Gracenote).  The Blu-ray release also comes with a Digital Copy of the extended version of the film for the PC, PSP, Mac or iPod.

The $480 million plus worldwide box office smash will be available on two-disc Blu-ray for $39.95 SRP, two-disc Extended Edition DVD for $36.95 SRP, single-disc Theatrical Edition DVD for $28.96 SRP and UMD Theatrical Edition for $24.94 SRP.

SYNOPSIS:

In Ron Howard's thrilling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, expert symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) follows ancient clues on a heart-racing hunt through Rome to find the four Cardinals kidnapped by the deadly secret society, the Illuminati. With the Cardinals' lives on the line, and the Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor) desperate for help, Langdon embarks on a nonstop, action-packed race through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, and the most secretive vault on Earth!

Based on the novel by Dan Brown, Angels & Demons was directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman. Dan Brown and Todd Hallowell serve as executive producers, with Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and John Calley as producers.

1-Disc Theatrical DVD Bonus Features Include:

* "Rome Was Not Built in a Day" - The Filmmakers share their secrets to creating the world of Angels & Demons

* "Writing Angels & Demons" - Dan Brown and the screenwriters discuss adapting his bestselling book into a movie

* "Characters in Search of the True Story" - The cast share their experiences of bringing Dan Brown's characters to the screen

* "CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge" - A look at one of the world's largest and most respected scientific research centers

2-Disc Extended DVD Bonus Features Include:

All special features included on the single-disc DVD, plus:

* "Handling Props" - The filmmakers discuss bringing the props from Dan Brown's book to life

* "Angels & Demons: The Full Story" - A complete behind-the-scenes look at making the film

* "This is an Ambigram" - Meet ambigram artist John Langdon the inspiration for Dan Brown's leading character

* Hans Zimmer Music Studio Powered by Sequel 2

2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features Include:

All special features on the 2-Disc Extended DVD, plus the following Blu-ray exclusives:

* Both Theatrical and Extended Film Versions

* 5.1 DTS-HD MA Audio

* movieIQ—Fans can immediately access continuously updated information on cast and crew and explore relevant trivia such as production facts, music and soundtrack information all tied to scenes within the movie

* cinechat—Send on-screen instant messages to your friends around the world while you watch the movie together

* "The Path of Illumination" - Follow Robert Langdon's journey through Rome and see if you can unlock the path of illumination

* A Digital Copy of the Film for PC, PSP, Mac or iPod

The Blu-ray Disc version of Angels & Demons is BD-Live enabled, allowing users to get connected and go beyond the disc via an Internet-connected Blu-ray player. Download exclusive content, register for rewards, give feedback through our survey and more!

Get rewarded for registering your Sony Blu-ray Discs! The Sony Pictures Blu-ray Club rewards consumers in the U.S. for purchasing and registering BD-Live enabled Sony Blu-ray movies.  Members can redeem accumulated points for cool Sony products, plus enter to win cash and prizes in daily sweepstakes and more.  For details visit www.sonyrewards.com/bluray.

The Theatrical Version of Angels & Demons has a running time of approximately 138 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.  The Extended Version has a runtime of approximately 146 minutes and is Not Rated.   Visit Sony Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.

SHORTS on DVD and Blu-ray

* Read our VFXWorld article on the film.

Synopsis:

Shorts is set in the suburb of Black Falls, where all the houses look the same and everyone works for BLACK BOX Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, whose Mr. Black's BLACK BOX is the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget that's sweeping the nation. Other than keeping his parents employed, however, Mr. Black's BLACK BOX has done nothing for 11- year-old Toe Thompson, who just wants to make a few friends... until a mysterious rainbow-colored rock falls from the sky, hits him in the head and changes everything. The Rainbow Rock does Mr. Black's BLACK BOX one better: it grants wishes to anyone who holds it. Before long, wishes-gone wrong have left the neighborhood swarming with tiny spaceships, crocodile armies, giant boogers... and outrageous magical mayhem around every corner. But it's not until the grown-ups get their hands on the Rock that the trouble really starts. Now Toe and his newfound friends must join forces to save their town from itself, discovering along the way that what you wish for is not always what you want.

SPECIAL FEATURES

* Ten Minute Film School: Shorts Shorts

* Ten Minute Cooking School: Chocolate Chip Volcano Cookies

SUPERMAN: THE COMPLETE ANIMATED SERIES on DVD

Number of Discs: 8

Number of Episodes: 54

Running Time: 1182 mins

Retail Price: $53.82 (US$)

Audio/Video Information:

Video: Full Frame (1.33:1)

Audio: Unknown

Features:

* Commentary by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Dan Riba, Glen Murakami, Curt Geda, Jason Hillhouse, James Tucker, and Butch Lukic on many episodes

* Selectable Pop-Up Trivia Tracks

* SUPERMAN: Learning to Fly - Explores the Creation of the Series

* Building the Mythology: Superman's Supporting Cast- Showcases the Supporting Players in the SUPERMAN Saga

* Menaces of Metropolis: Behind the Villains of SUPERMAN - The Origin and Evolution of Superman's Adventures

* SUPERMAN: Behind the Cape - David Kaufman (The Voice of JIMMY OLSEN) Takes You Behind the Scenes with the Show's Creative Team

* Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of SUPERMAN - Excerpt From the New Documentary Produced by Bryan Singer and Kevin Burns

* Bonus Disc Featuring the All-New Documentary The Despot DARKSEID: A Villain Worthy of SUPERMAN

SANTA BUDDIES on DVD and Blu-ray

Press Release from Disney

SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS – Disney's irresistible talking pups are back in SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, a heartwarming, all-new holiday adventure coming to Blu-ray combo pack and DVD on November 24, 2009 from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The beloved pups take a fantastic journey to the North Pole in an exciting new escapade featuring more new friends, fun, and teamwork than ever before unleashing a stocking full of holiday cheer with a fun-filled film and plenty of never-before-seen bonus material. Perfectly timed for holiday gift giving, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is sure to be at the top of everyone's wish list!

Few things are more appealing, adorable and elicit bigger enthusiasm than man's best friend. From classic Old Yeller to classy Beverly Hills Chihuahua to animated Bolt, one of Hollywood's surest ways to delight audiences of all ages lies firmly at the feet of our four-legged friends. Since the 1997 big-screen debut of the sports-minded Golden Retriever star "Buddy," audiences have thrilled to the high-stakes antics in the AIR BUD movie series with its fantastic sports-themed adventures including basketball, football, soccer, volleyball and even America's national pastime – baseball!

A quintet of adorable talking puppies followed the "Bud" movies in 2006, with the highly-anticipated launch of the BUDDIES series – and a puppy craze began as AIR BUDDIES became the biggest live-action Direct-To-DVD movie of the year!

Following in those triumphant paw prints, the wise-cracking pups went North to Alaska to compete in a daring dogsled adventure, barking up yet another #1 for 2008, as SNOW BUDDIES crossed the finish line as the best-selling live-action Direct-to-DVD of all time*! Released to Disney DVD in February 2009, SPACE BUDDIES sent the puppies where no dog has gone before, and rocketed another hit into the homes of millions. Now comes SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, arriving this holiday season on Disney Blu-Ray hi-def and DVD, and sure to be their greatest and most heart warming adventure yet.

"The overwhelming success of each of our 'Buddies' adventures really highlights how irresistible Disney Dog movies are and what great family entertainment can be," said Bob Chapek, President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. "SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS is destined to become a new holiday classic, securing the Buddies' place in the long lineage of Disney Dogs."

In SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS, the lovable "Buddies," B-Dawg, Budderball, Buddha, Mudbud, and Rosebud embark on a thrilling journey to the magical world of Santa's Workshop. When Puppy Paws, the fun-loving son of Santa Paws, gets tired of the North Pole, he checks out Santa's "naughty" list and finds Budderball's name right on top. Puppy Paws heads south to meet the Buddies and find out how "ordinary" pups spend their days. But when the world begins to forget the true meaning of the holidays and the magic of the season begins to literally melt away, it's up to Puppy Paws and his newfound Buddies to save the day in another epic adventure. Their extraordinary exploits highlight the importance of collaboration, courage and tradition in a joyous celebration of life and friendship. Sure to be a family favorite for years to come, SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS delivers enough holiday cheer to last a whole year! It's Buddy-loving fun the whole family will enjoy again and again.

SANTA BUDDIES: THE LEGEND OF SANTA PAWS stars the voices of Tim Conway (The Carol Burnett Show), Richard Kind (A Bug's Life, Spin City), Tom Bosley (Happy Days), Field Cate (Pushing Daises), Josh Flitter (Nancy Drew), and Skyler Gisondo (The Bill Engvall Show) and the acting talents of George Wendt (Cheers) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future). Robert Vince returns to produce and direct his fourth "Buddies" film.

GHOST IN THE SHELL 2.0 on Blu-ray

From Amazon:

Special Features

* Ghost In The Shell 2.0 (Original Movie)

* Making of Ghost In The Shell: Production Report

* Theatrical Trailer

* Character Profiles

* Creator Biographies

Product Description:

A film that has spawned a thousand imitations but never been bettered – Mamoru Oshii's legendary anime film GHOST IN THE SHELL returns in a stunning new edition remastered by Oshii himself. For this definitive Version 2.0 release, all the original animations are re-produced with latest digital film and animation technologies, including 3D-CGI. Set in a re-imagined Hong Kong at a time when cyberspace is expanding into human reality, the story follows top cyberwarrior Major Motoko Kusanagi as she hovers on the border of total immersion in the digital world.