Dark Knight and other upcoming Warner Bros. DVDs

Warner Home Video has announced "The Dark Knight" will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Dec. 9. Both the Blu-Ray and regular DVDs will consist of 2 discs. The Blu-Ray version will have 3 hours of special features, including documentaries on the psyche of Batman and his arsenal of weapons and a digital copy of the film.

Also coming from Warner HV: "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Get Smart" (the movie) on Nov. 11 and "The Powderpuff Girls' 10th Anniversary Collection" on Jan. 20.

Warner Bros. picks Blu-Ray

Warner Bros. announced Friday that it is abandoning HDTV DVDs and will make Blu-Ray its HD format of choice.
In a written statement issued by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO of Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, the two said the company will continue to release in HD TV until May.
Here's their complete statement:

“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.

“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”

“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”

What does this all mean? It means the battle for the HD format isn't over, but the tide is toward Blu-ray with only two companies -- Paramount and Universal -- releasing in HD TV.

Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Disney release their high-definition videos exclusively for Blu-ray, which is owned by Sony. Paramount and Universal Pictures release for HD DVD -- which is backed by Toshiba and Microsoft. The WB is the biggest seller of DVDs, with 18 to 20 percent of the market, according to the AP.

Soon on the shelves -- upcoming DVD releases (Revised 1/3/08)

From Warner Home Video:
1/1/08 Shoot 'Em Up
1/8/08 All-New Superfriends Hour: Season 1 Vol. 1 (Warner Home Video) 1 1/8/08 Aviator, The
1/8/08 Broadway Melody of 1929
1/8/08 Cimarron (1931)
1/8/08 Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane
1/8/08 I am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and Peta
1/8/08 The Life of Emile Zola
1/8/08 Lovejoy: The Complete Season Two
1/8/08 Mrs. Miniver
1/8/08 NFL Greatest Super Bowl Moments: XLI Update
1/8/08 Personal Best
1/8/08 Two and a Half Men: The Complete Second Season
1/8/08 The Waltons: The Complete Sixth Season
1/8/08 What's New Scooby-Doo: Complete Third Season
1/15/08 Alex Haley's Queen
1/15/08 All Creatures Great & Small Complete Collection
1/15/08 Allo 'Allo!: The Complete Series 7
1/15/08 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition
1/15/08 The Marva Collins Story
1/15/08 The New Adventures of Old Christine: The Complete First Season 1/15/08 The Royle Family: The Complete Second Season
1/22/08 ER: The Complete Eighth Season
1/22/08 Hustle: The Complete Season 4
1/22/08 NHL: Just Like Me - Profile of NHL legends and the new crop of NHL stars 1/22/08 Torchwood: The Complete First Season
1/22/08 Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume Five
1/29/08 Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Sixth Season
1/29/08 Martin Scorsese Presents: Val Lewton
1/29/08 NFL The Leaders: Breaking Racial Barriers in the NFL
1/29/08 The Val Lewton Collection, The (w/ Martin Scorceses Documentary)
From Sony:
1/15/08 Earth Vs. Flying Saucers
1/15/08 It Came From Beneath the Sea
From A&E:
1/15/08: Criss Angel Mindfreak: Complete Season 3
From Paramount:
1/1/08: The Tudors: The Complete First Season
1/8/08: Gunsmoke: The Second Season, Volume One
1/8/08: Rob & Big: The Complete Seasons 1&2 - Uncensored
1/8/08: The Naked Brothers Band Season One 2 Disc Box Set
1/8/08: Zodiac Director's Cut (2-Discs) DVD
1/15/08: Clue
1/15/08: Dora The Explorer: Undercover Dora
1/15/08: Dragonlance
1/15/08: Oswald's Ghost
1/15/08: Sabrina, The Teenage Witch: The Third Season
1/22/08: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 3: Fire Volume 2
1/22/08: Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season
1/22/08: The Odd Couple: The Third Season
1/29/08: JAG: The Fifth Season
1/29/08: Pioneers of Television
1/29/08: SpongeBob SquarePants To Love a Patty
Also
1/22/08 Make Room For Daddy Season 6
From Disney:
1/22/08 The Game Plan
1/29/08 Hannah Montana: One In A Million
1/29/08 Twitches Too: Double Charmed Edition
From Shout Factory:
1/22/08 Swamp Thing: The Series Video
1/22/2008 Medabots: The Complete First Season
From Rhino:
1/29/08 Barry Manilow – Songs From The Seventies (DVD)
From Universal:
1/1/08 Seaquest DSV Season 2
Also:
1/1/08: Weird Science: The Complete Seasons 1 and 2
From Warner Home Video:
2/5/08 Americanizing Shelley
2/5/08 Black Woman's Guide to Getting Married
2/5/08 George Lopez: America's Mexican
2/5/08 Legion of Superheroes: Volume 2
2/5/08 Perfect Strangers: The Complete First & Second Seasons
2/5/08 Third Watch: The Complete First Season
2/5/08 You've Got Mail: Deluxe Edition
2/12/08 Batman: Mask of Phantasm Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero 2/12/08 Battle of the Bulge Featuring Bone Crusher
2/12/08 Beatrix Potter Collection
2/12/08 Blade: The Series
2/12/08 Dallas: The Complete Eighth Season
2/12/08 Joan Crawford Collection Vol. 2
2/12/08 NBA Street Series - Volume 5
2/12/08 Tell Me You Love Me: The Complete First Season
2/12/08 Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle & Mr. Jeremy Fisher & Other Stories (Beatrix Potter)
2/12/08 Tale of Pigling Bland and Other Stories (Beatrix Potter)
2/12/08 WB Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Award® Animation Collection 15 Winners, 26 Nominees
2/12/08 Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Presents: Academy Awards® Animation Collection, 15 Winners
2/12/08 World of Peter Rabbit & Friends, The (Beatrix Potter)
2/19/08 Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town: Deluxe Edition
2/19/08 Father Ted: The Definitive Collection (DVD)
2/19/08 Helen Mirren at the BBC
2/19/08 In the Valley of Elah
2/19/08 Les Miserables (1995) (BBC)
2/19/08 Michael Clayton
2/19/08 My Dog Skip/ Shiloh 3: Saving Shiloh (DBFE)
2/19/08 Peanuts: It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Deluxe Edition 2/19/08 Riverdance: Live from Radio City Music Hall: Collector's Edition 2/19/08 Swordfish/Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (DBFE)
2/26/08 Justice League: The New Frontier
2/26/08 Justice League: The New Frontier Special Edition
2/26/08 The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1
From A&E:
2/26/08: Los Angeles Dodgers 1988 World Series Collector's Set
From Sony
2/5/08: Across the Universe
From Shout Factory:
2/5/08 Maggie And The Ferocious Beast Recipes For Trouble
2/5/08 Maggie And The Ferocious Beast Rain Showers & Spring Flowers
2/5/2008 Comic Relief: The Greatest…And The Latest
2/5/2008 Kurt Cobain: About A Son
2/19/2008 Punky Brewster: Season Four
From Paramount Home Video:
2/5/08 Beauty and the Beast: The Third Season
2/5/08 Best of Comedy Central Presents
2/5/08 Black Rain / Fatal Attraction Double Feature
2/5/08 Blackout
2/5/08 Blue Hawaii / Paradise, Hawaiian Style Double Feature
2/5/08 King Creole / G.I. Blues Double Feature
2/5/08 Soul Food - The Series: The Third Season
2/5/08 The Hours / Heartburn Double Feature
2/5/08 The Hunt for Red October / K-19: The Widowmaker Double Feature
2/5/08 The Jewish Americans Standard DVD
2/5/08 The Talented Mr. Ripley / School Ties Double Feature
2/12/08 Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav: Uncensored!
2/12/08 Family Ties: The Third Season
2/12/08 Girlfriends: The Third Season
2/12/08 Into the Wild Special Edition DVD
2/12/08 Into the Wild Special Edition HD
2/12/08 Into the Wild Standard DVD
2/12/08 Things We Lost in the Fire Standard DVD
2/12/08 Things We Lost in the Fire Standard HD
2/12/08 Wonder Pets: Save The Dinosaur Standard DVD
2/19/08 Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Shape Detectives/Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 2-Pack
2/19/08 Blue's Clues: Blue's Room: Shape Detectives/Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 2-Pack
2/19/08 Charlotte's Web (1973)/Charlotte's Web 2 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Charlotte's Web (1973)/Charlotte's Web 2 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta!/Nick Jr. Favorites 4 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta!/Nick Jr. Favorites 4 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Dora the Explorer:Big Sister Dora/City of Lost Toys 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Drake & Josh: Go Hollywood/Suddenly Brothers - Volume 1 2 Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Drake & Josh: Go Hollywood/Suddenly Brothers - Volume 1 2 Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Flushed Away Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Jakers!: Treasure Hunt on Raloo Farm Standard DVD
2/19/08 Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Max & Ruby: Springtime for Max & Ruby/Afternoons with Max & Ruby 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring/Blue's Clues:Blue's Room: It's Hug Day 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Nick Jr. Celebrates Spring/Blue's Clues:Blue's Room: It's Hug Day 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Rugrats: Tales From the Crib: Snow White/Three Jacks & a Beanstalk 2-Pack Standard
2/19/08 Rugrats: Tales From the Crib: Snow White/Three Jacks & a Beanstalk 2-Pack Standard DVD
2/19/08 Shark Tale / Antz 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack with Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Shrek 2 Spring 2 Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron / The Road to El Dorado 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 SpongeBob Squarepants: Home Sweet Pineapple/SpongeBob Goes Prehistoric 2-Pack
2/19/08 The Prince of Egypt / Joseph: King of Dreams 2-Pack Spring 2-Pack w/Tattoos DVD
2/19/08 Walker, Texas Ranger: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
2/26/08 Backyardigans: Tale Of The Mighty Knights Standard DVD
2/26/08 Caillou's Family Favorites Standard DVD
2/26/08 Max & Ruby: Berry Bunny Adventures Standard DVD
2/26/08 The Fugitive: The First Season, Volume Two Standard DVD
From Disney:
2/5/08 Aristocats: Special Edition
2/5/08 Snow Buddies
2/12/08 Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive: Star Of Isis (Vol. 4)
2/12/08 Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive: Pink Emerald (Volume 5)
2/19/08 Little Einsteins(TM): Race For Space
2/19/08 Handy Manny: Fixing It Right
From Warner Home Video:
3/4/08 Ben 10 Season 3
3/4/08 Doctor Who: Ep. 81 - Planet of Evil
3/4/08 Doctor Who: Ep.104 - Destiny of the Daleks
3/4/08 Forbidden Hollywood Collection Vol. II (TCM Archives)
/4/08 Horton Hears A Who: Deluxe Edition
3/4/08 The Other Boleyn Girl
3/4/08 The UCLA Dynasty
3/11/08 Dinosaurs Unearthed (NG)
3/11/08 Last of the Summer Wine: Vintage 1976
3/11/08 Michael Palin: New Europe (DVD)
3/11/08 Nancy Drew (2007)
3/11/08 One Foot in the Grave: Season 3
3/11/08 Stompin'
3/11/08 Tom and Jerry: Tales Vol. 4
3/11/08 Wiggles: Pop Go the Wiggles
3/11/08 Extreme Alaska: Denali National Park (NG)
3/18/08 The Pebbles And Bamm-Bamm Show
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde: Special Edition
3/25/08 Bonnie and Clyde: Ultimate Collector's Edition
3/25/08 Greatest NBA Rivalries Volume I
3/25/08 NBA Boston Celtics 1985-86
3/25/08 NHL All-Access (2008)
3/25/08 Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 1
3/25/08 Warner Gangsters Collection Volume 2
From Paramount:
3/4/08 Human Giant: The Complete First Season Standard DVD
3/4/08 The Love Boat: Season One Volume One Standard DVD
3/11/08 Lil' Bush: Resident of the United States - Season One Standard DVD
3/11/08 Love American Style Season 1, Volume 2 Standard DVD
3/11/08 South Park: The Imaginationland Trilogy Standard DVD
3/11/08 The Mod Squad: The First Season, Volume Two Standard DVD
3/18/08 BET Hip Hop Awards 2007 Standard DVD
3/18/08 Go Diego Go!: Moonlight Rescue Standard DVD
3/18/08 The Untouchables: Season Two, Volume One Standard DVD
3/18/08 The Wild Wild West: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
3/25/08 Baldwin Hills: The Complete First Season Standard DVD
3/25/08 Wings: The Sixth Season Standard DVD
From Disney:
3/4/08 101 Dalmatians Platinum Edition
3/4/08 My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Friendly Tails
3/4/08 The Rookie Blu-ray™ Hi-Def
3/4/08 Disney Baby Einstein™ Babys First Sounds
3/11/08 Disney Baby Einstein™: Baby's First Sounds: Discoveries for Little Ears
3/18/08 Johnny and the Sprites: Meet the Sprites
From Warner Home Video:
4/1/08 Doctor Who: Ep. 70 - Time Warrior, The
4/1/08 John From Cincinnati: The Complete First Season
4/1/08 Terry Jones: Medieval Lives
4/1/08 The Return of Swamp Thing
4/8/08 Broadway Melody of 1936/Broadway Melody of 1938
4/8/08 Kismet (1955)
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Collection
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Impressionism and the Post Impressionists 4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Masterpieces of Sculpture
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Renaissance Masterpieces
4/8/08 Private Life of a Masterpiece: Seventeenth Century Masterpieces
4/22/08 My Boy Jack (2007)
From Paramount:
4/15/08 Melrose Place: The Fourth Season Standard DVD
4/15/08 Nick Jr. Favorites: Lullaby Time Standard DVD
4/15/08 SpongeBob SquarePants Pest of the West Standard DVD
From Warner Home Video
5/13/08 Legends, Icons & Superstars of the 20th Century
1/1/09 Brando: The Documentary

The reason for the celebration in Red Sox Nation

The Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector's Edition (8 disc/A&E): Didn't this happen four years ago? The Red Sox had a do-or-die hole to dig themselves out from against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series in 2004.
Fast forward to 2007. The Red Sox are again in trouble,
down three games to one against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series.
But then, it happened. Josh Beckett pitches a gem against C.C. Sabathia in Game 5 to bring the Sox within one game. Then Curt Schilling, though not as dramatic as he was in the 2004 series in the famed bloody sock game, gets the win in Game 6 to tie the series. Then Westbrook pitches a tight six innings in Game 7, then the pen takes over and the Sox explode to win the ALCS and move onto the Big Stage, the World Series.
All that and more is what makes "The Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector's Edition (A&E), a new eight-disc set that makes a nice souvenir for any Red Sox fan and a crying towel for Indians or Colorado Rockies fans.
I say nice because it could have been much nicer. Four years ago, A&E started this series of collector's boxes with a 12 disc set after the 2004 World Series. It contained all seven games of the exciting ALCS between the Sox and the Yankees, all four games of the Sox's sweep of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals and the World Series disc that was also released separately.
The first set was pretty basic and very complete. The games were presented in their entirety and included everything but the commercials.
The new set makes some trims. The first four games of the ALCS aren't included. Neither is the official World Series disc.
The biggest change, though, is that despite the fact the box labels the games as uncut, they aren't. Trims are noticeable in the video. Fade-ins to commercials, for example, are cut short. No action is missing, though. Completists will be bothered, but the trims seem so nit-picky you wonder why someone bothered to do them.
On the other side, though, the new box adds a nice feature missing in the 2004 set: the radio broadcasts for the Red Sox and Rockies' World Series games are available as alternate audio for the game broadcasts. A nice touch for the hometown fans.
Obviously, this set is targeted at Boston fans.
It's too bad it couldn't include more discs, but the set is nicely priced as it is (around $40 discounted).
And for any Boston fan still needing a refresher of the great 2007 postseason, it's (almost) all here.

Special edition watch

In which we try to give you information on some of the better limited edition specials:
Best Buy Music and Movies

Bourne Ultimatum: Steelbook cover.
Wal-Mart - Movies

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End": The widescreen single disc is bundled with the PC game.

"Live Free, Die Hard: Bonus disc with single disc versions called "Die Hard 4.1 - John McClane: Back In Action".

"Shrek 3" Single disc bundled with Beanie Baby.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix": Single disc version is bundled with a set of pins.
Search here for Amazon.com , Target and Borders Books DVD exclusives

Spider-Man 3 - 3 Disc Deluxe Widescreen Edition (w/Bonus Disc, Collectable Packaging and Production Notebook): Target has a three-disc set that includes cover art and production notes. (It's available through the link.)
(To search for these and more, use the links above and search under movies using the term "exclusive." And if you know of other good exclusives, add a comment.)

Over and over and over ....

There's no question I'm a big fan of DVDs. They've opened up a whole new world. They've freed the home viewer of the movie theater (to the theater owner's dismay).
And unlike VHS tapes, they've brought extra information in the form of special features to consumers.
But you know what I absolutely hate about DVDs? The re-packaging syndrome. The same movies over and over and over again. Yes, we're starting to see movies on their third cycle now.
Some of it is understandable. And legitimate. For example, a reissue from a better master is always a welcome thing, especially when the master originally used was in very poor condition. The reissue of "The Wizard of Oz" in 2005 was a great example of a re-release that made sense.
But now, some DVD manufacturers are reissuing just to add special features. Sure, the package will promote a remastered film, but unless you have a high-tech monitor, you're usually not going to notice the difference.
I won't count Blu-Ray or HD versions. Those are legit, though how many of your old DVDs will you replace?
Or even worse ... anniversary editions. The 50th anniversary edition of "70 Million Miles to Earth"? Why?
It all comes down to money, of course. Let's get the consumer for what we can, especially at the holidays.
Consumers, though, should be hesitant about this stuff. Don't buy a new package just because you can.
Let us know what DVDs you've seen or bought that shouldn't have been reissued.