Buena Vista Home Ent. (BVHE) announced that it will begin releasing titles beginning summer of 2006 on the Blu-ray Disc format in conjunction with the hardware manufacturer's release of Blu-ray Disc products. Titles will include Walt Disney Pictures DINOSAUR; Quentin Tarantino's KILL BILL: VOL. 1; HERO; DARK WATER; LADDER 49; THE BROTHERS GRIMM; THE GREAT RAID; ARMAGEDDON, directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer; Kevin Smith's JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK; and the documentary EVEREST narrated by Liam Neeson. These 10 titles mark the first wave of an ongoing release strategy from BVHE, which will support the Blu-ray format.
BVHE president Bob Chapek stated, "The Blu-ray Disc represents a major technological advance in our industry, and just as DVD revolutionized home entertainment, the Blu-ray Disc promises to be the next step in our ability to satiate the consumer's appetite for entertainment by providing the ultimate user experience. The possibilities are endless and we've just begun to bridge the future of digital entertainment."
At launch, BVHE's Blu-ray titles will feature seamless, high resolution overlay pop-up menus, which will allow for a first-time-ever continuous movie play experience; dynamic and unparalleled, high-definition picture; up to 7.1 channels of surround sound; new layering coating technology that provides a scratch resistance surface; and new sleek packaging. Other Disney Blu-ray feature technologies being developed include unparalleled interactive features; simultaneous on-screen chapter selection; and compelling online content, including web connectivity, which will allow users to connect to live events hosted by the studio and more.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc., a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista videocassette and DVD product. Buena Vista Home Ent. Inc. is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
