STAR TREK comes to Blu-ray this week. FIGHT CLUB takes a bow on Blu-ray and GALAXY QUEST gets the Blu-ray treament as well.
STAR TREK comes to Blu-ray this week. FIGHT CLUB takes a bow on Blu-ray and GALAXY QUEST gets the Blu-ray treament as well.
STAR TREK on Blu-ray and DVD
* From our feature article on the visual effects work that went into the film:
"What I thought was ingenious about our story was its own parallel universe," J.J. Abrams suggests. "It was all about treating it with believability… with reality… [And] it had to work at a higher resolution, not just because of IMAX but [also] because the audience is very sophisticated now and it had to work on a level they didn't have to worry about in '66."
Press Release from Paramount
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- This year audiences thrilled at the triumphant voyage of the Starship Enterprise and her young and vibrant crew in movie theaters across the planet--and on November 17, 2009, the world will go where no one has gone before when STAR TREK debuts as a three-disc Blu-ray with digital copy, two-disc DVD with digital copy and a single-disc DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment. Bursting with "spectacular action" (Hollywood Reporter) and "pure filmmaking exhilaration" (Rolling Stone) director J.J. Abrams' sensational reinvention of the "Star Trek" franchise was hailed by critics and embraced by long-time and new fans alike, earning over $375 million at the worldwide box office.
Starring a hot young cast including Chris Pine (Carriers), Zachary Quinto ("Heroes"), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Karl Urban (The Bourne Supremacy), John Cho (Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle), Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), the global smash hit also features seasoned actors such as Eric Bana (Munich), Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Winona Ryder (Girl, Interrupted) and the original Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy. "I cannot wait for fans of Star Trek to check out the home entertainment release of the film. The behind-the-scenes features on the DVD -- and especially the Blu-ray -- give a wonderful look at the crazy hard work and incredible fun that went into making this movie," said J.J. Abrams. "The cast and crew were truly extraordinary to work with -- watching these special features, you'll see why. And for people who didn't catch Star Trek in the theater, I hope they do now, as Paramount has done an exceptional job with this release; the picture and sound quality are both excellent."
The STAR TREK DVD and Blu-ray will boast out-of-this-world special features to take viewers even further into the new universe of the rousing space adventure. The two-disc DVD and three-disc Blu-ray include in-depth explorations of the reimagining of the franchise, the phenomenal cast, the spectacularly real action sequences, the powerful score and the captivating aliens, commentary by J.J. Abrams, the writers and producers, a gag reel and a digital copy of the film. Additionally, the discs feature compelling deleted scenes that reveal a side story involving Nero with a first-ever look at Abrams' version of the infamous warrior Klingons. The STAR TREK Blu-ray boldly ventures beyond the final frontier with over three hours of sensational bonus footage including branching pods that allow for enhanced exploration, more fascinating features on the starships, planets, props, costumes and sound of STAR TREK, as well as a Starfleet Vessel Simulator and access to the latest NASA news about real-life space exploration via BD-Live. The two-disc DVD and three-disc Blu-ray will also offer a home entertainment first: groundbreaking augmented reality technology. Using a webcam, a Star Trek visual cue will morph into a 3D holographic tour of the U.S.S. Enterprise on the screen, providing a unique immersive and interactive experience.
DVD:
The STAR TREK two-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Special features are as follows:
Disc 1:
* Commentary — By director J.J. Abrams, writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Bryan Burk.
* A New Vision — J.J. Abrams’ vision was not only to create a Star Trek that was a bigger, more action-packed spectacle, but also to make the spectacle feel real. Every aspect of production—from unique locations to the use of classic Hollywood camera tricks—was guided by this overall objective.
* Gag Reel — Bloopers featuring the entire principal cast.
Disc 2:
* Digital Copy
* Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
* Spock Birth
* Klingons Take Over Narada
* Young Kirk, Johnny and Uncle Frank
* Amanda and Sarek Argue After Spock Fights
* Prison Interrogation and Breakout
* Sarek Gets Amanda
* Dorm Room and Kobayashi Maru (original version)
* Kirk Apologizes to the Green Girl
* Sarek Sees Spock
* To Boldly Go — Taking on the world’s most beloved science fiction franchise was no small mission. Director J.J. Abrams, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof, and executive producer Bryan Burk talk about the many challenges they faced and their strategy for success.
* Casting — The producers knew their greatest task was finding the right cast to reprise these epic roles. The cast, for their part, talk about the experience of trying to capture the essence of these mythic characters. The piece concludes with a moving tribute to Leonard Nimoy.
* Aliens — Designers Neville Page and Joel Harlow talk about the hurdles they faced creating new alien species, recreating the Romulans and Vulcans, and designing the terrifying creatures on Delta Vega for the new Star Trek.
* Score — As a fan of the original series, composer Michael Giacchino embraced the challenge of creating new music for Star Trek while preserving the spirit of Alexander Courage’s celebrated theme.
* DVD-Rom:
* STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for XBOX 360
* Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PC
* Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PlayStation Network
The STAR TREK three-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition with English 5.1 Dolby TrueHD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital with English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Special features are as follows:
Disc 1:
* Commentary — By director J.J. Abrams, writers Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Bryan Burk.
* NASA News — This BD-Live feature gives viewers access to the latest NASA news about real space exploration. Learn about new mission developments and check out featured imagery from around the universe.
Disc 2:
* To Boldly Go - See description above.
* Branching Pods:
* The Shatner Conundrum
* Red Shirt Guy
* The Green Girl
* Trekker Alert!
* Casting - See description above.
* A New Vision - See description above.
* Branching Pods:
* Savage Pressure
* Starships - Abrams and production designer Scott Chambliss were careful to pay tribute to the design of the original Enterprise, but they also wanted to make it futuristic and cool for a modern audience. This chapter focuses on the unique stories behind the creation of the film’s starships.
* Branching Pods:
* Warp Explained
* Paint Job
* Bridge Construction Accelerated
* The Captain’s Chair
* Button Acting 101
* Shuttle Shuffle
* Narada Construction Accelerated
* Aliens — See description above.
* Branching Pods:
* The Alien Paradox
* Big-Eyed Girl
* Big Bro Quinto
* Klingons
* Drakoulias Anatomy 101
* Planets— From the frozen landscape of Delta Vega to the desert plains of Vulcan, Scott Chambliss and the art department had a number of radically different planets to create. Abrams’ desire to shoot on real locations whenever possible led the production team to a number of strange and surprising locations.
* Branching Pods:
* Extra Business
* Confidentiality
* Props and Costumes - Property master Russell Bobbitt had the unique challenge of designing props that were both true to the original series and pertinent to today’s technology. Likewise, costume designer Michael Kaplan talks about how he designed costumes that paid homage to what came before yet were relevant and timeless.
* Branching Pod:
* Klingon Wardrobe
* Ben Burtt and the Sounds of Star Trek - When famed sound designer Ben Burtt was hired to create sounds for the first Star Wars film, he took his inspiration from the original “Star Trek” series. Burtt jumped at the opportunity to pay tribute to the sounds that sparked his career with the sounds he created for the new Star Trek.
* Score — See description above.
* Gene Roddenberry’s Vision — J.J. Abrams, Leonard Nimoy, previous Star Trek writers and producers, and scientific consultant Carolyn Porco describe and commend the optimistic and enduring vision of Gene Roddenberry.
* Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary — See details above.
* Starfleet Vessel Simulator — Explore extensive data on the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Romulan ship, the Narada. Submerse yourself in breathtaking 360 views and close-ups and review detailed tech information.
* Gag Reel — See description above.
Disc 3:
* Digital Copy
* STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for XBOX 360
* Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PC
* Weblink to the STAR TREK D-A-C Free Trial Game for PlayStation Network
The STAR TREK single-disc DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. The single-disc DVD includes the commentary, “A New Vision” and the gag reel.
FIGHT CLUB on Blu-ray
* with commentary by Fincher, production designer Alex McDowell and vfx designer Kevin Haug
Press Release from Twentieth Century Fox
“Quit your job. Start a fight. Prove you’re alive. If you don’t claim your humanity you will become a statistic. You have been warned.Clever, savagely witty and dark, Fight Club: 10th Anniversary Edition, arrives on Blu-ray on 23rd November from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Acclaimed filmmaker and Academy Award-nominee David Fincher (Se7en, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) spent hours analyzing every shot in his cult classic, making painstaking alterations to almost every frame for this ultimate high-definition release.
Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Choke), Fight Club is a pitch-black comedy that follows a ticking-time-bomb insomniac (Edward Norton; The Incredible Hulk) seeking an escape from his mundane existence and white-collar job in American society. Finding solace only in feigning terminal illness and attending support groups, he meets the feisty chain-smoking vixen Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter; Terminator: Salvation; Harry Potter films) who immediately gets under his skin with her unconventional outlook on life. Upon returning from a business trip, he stumbles upon a more intriguing character, the subversive soap salesman, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt; Mr. and Mrs. Smith). The two quickly become friends, bonding over a mutual disgust for corporate hypocrisy and find release in an eccentric, shocking new form of therapy – Fight Club.
A brutal, bare-knuckle underground secret society run by the premise that men are only able to find freedom when they are willing to risk death, the club escalates to a whole other level, where the boxing matches and harmless pranks soon lead to an out-of-control spiral full of twists and turns towards oblivion and ironically, self-discovery.
The Fight Club: 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray is packed full of punches with all-new bonus materials including two interactive featurettes – “A Hit In The Ear: Ren Klyce and the Sound Design of Fight Club” which allows users to remix four key scenes themselves with the help of Oscar-nominated sound designer Ren Klyce; and “Insomniac Mode: I Am Jack’s Search Index,” giving viewers the ability to access any part of the disc’s extensive bonus material via interactive tools.
The Blu-ray also features behind-the-scenes with Fincher, Pitt and Norton as they accept the Guy Movie Hall of Fame honor for Fight Club at SPIKE TV’S 2009 GUYS CHOICE Awards, commentary by David Fincher, Chuck Palahniuk, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter, “Welcome To Fight Club” featurette, seven deleted scenes, a music video, photo gallery and much more.”The Bluray will include a whole slew of special features, some new, some pulled from previous DVD releases of the film:
New A Hit In The Ear: Ren Klyce and the Sound Design of Fight Club
* Welcome To Fight Club
* Angel Faces Beating
* The Crash
* Tyler’s Goodbye
* New Flogging Fight Club
* New Insomniac Mode: I Am Jack’s Search Index, Commentary Log, Topic Search
* New Guys Choice Award
* New Work: Production, Visual Effects, On Location
* New Edward Norton Interview
* Commentary by David Fincher
* Commentary by David Fincher, Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter
* Commentary by Chuck Palahniuk and Jim Uhls
* Commentary by Alex McDowell, Jeff Cronenweth, Michael Kaplan and Kevin Haug
* Seven Deleted Scenes and Alternate Scenes
* Theatrical Teaser, Theatrical Trailer, The Eight Rules of Fight Club
* 12 TV Spots
* Public Service Announcements
* Music Video
* Five Internet Spots
* Promotional Gallery
* Art Gallery
GALAXY QUEST on Blu-ray
From Amazon.com:
* Actors: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell
* Directors: Dean Parisot
* Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
* Language: English
* Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
* Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
* Number of discs: 1
* Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
* Studio: Dreamworks Video
* DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
* Run Time: 101 minutes
Synopsis:
For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector -- "Commander Peter Qunicy Taggart" (Tim Allen), "Lt. Tawny Madison" (Sigourney Weaver) and "Dr. Lazarus" (Alan Rickman) -- set off on thrilling and often dangerous missions in space...and then their series was canceled! Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beamed up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. With no script, no director and no clue, the actors must turn in the performances of their lives in this hilarious adventure.
Blu-ray Features:
* Galactopedia
* Historical Documents: The Story of Galaxy Quest
* Never Give Up. Never Surrender: The Intrepid Crew of the NSEA Protector
* By Grabthar's Hammer, What Amazing Effects
* Alien School: Creating the Thermian Race
* Actors in Space
* Sigourney Weaver Raps
* Deleted Scenese
* Thermian Audio Track
* Theatrical Trailer HD
