Home Media Magazine - Agent DVD - July 2008 - (Page DVD31) *SCI-FI/FANTASYFILES ‘Blu’ Planet THE CLASSIC ‘PLANET OF THE APES’ FILMS HEAD TO BLU-RAY THIS FALL BY CHRIS TRIBBEY I f you’re a Blu-ray Disc fan, get ready to go ape. In time for Christmas, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases the original five “Planet of the Apes” films in one deluxe Blu-ray set. Tentatively set for early November, the collection will take advantage of everything Blu-ray has to offer: bonuses galore, interactive features, Internet connectivity and pristine 1080p picture. “We’re making a Blu-ray statement with this collection,” says Richard Ashton, director of classics for Fox. “For the past 40 years, [‘Planet of the Apes’ has] lived in the television environment, [on] VHS, Laserdisc and DVD. … Now it will be breathtaking. It’s like getting Lasik eye surgery.” From the iconic 1968 original film starring the late Charlton Heston and co-written by “Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling, to 1973’s Battle for the Planet of the Apes, every angle of the film series will be updated and explored, Ashton says. “We have a lot that we’re throwing into this,” he adds. “We’ve gone back and done all new high-def features.” Ashton says the bonus materials will explore the evolution of the “Planet of the Apes” film series, delve into the original 1963 book, La planète des singes (Monkey Planet) by French novelist Pierre Boulle, and offer an in-depth look at the work of producer Arthur P. Jacobs and co-writer Michael Wilson. Ashton assures “this is a relevant upgrade from the DVD” versions. Every special feature from the original DVDs will be included in this Blu-ray release. “It’s the first time [these movies] are being taken seriously,” Ashton says. “It’s one of the seminal sci-fi films of all time. … It’ll look great in high-def.” Ashton also shared that one of the films will be restored completely to its original, unrated version. “This is going to kick ass,” he says. “If you like ‘Apes,’ you’ll love this set.” Rolling Out on Blu-ray ‘TRANSFORMERS’ FINALLY MAKES IT TO BD AFTER CONTROVERSY LAST YEAR BY THOMAS K. ARNOLD ichael Bay feels vindicated. Paramount Home Entertainment is finally releasing his box office hit Transformers on Blu-ray Disc, nearly a year after the studio’s decision to issue it only on the rival HD DVD format triggered an angry Web tirade from the director. “I’ve been waiting for Transformers to be released on Blu-ray for a long time, and it was worth the wait,” Bay says. He calls the Sept. 2 release of the two-disc set “the complete high-definition package for fans.” “It looks stunning and really allows you to engage this movie in new ways,” Bay says. Last August, when Paramount announced its exclusive support for HD DVD, Transformers was the flashpoint of the controversy. It was Paramount/DreamWorks’ biggest title heading into the holiday season, and a Blu-ray Disc edition was reportedly ready for release. On his Web site, Bay blasted Paramount’s decision. “I want people to see my movies in the best formats possible,” he wrote. “For [Paramount] to deny people who have Blu-ray sucks! M No Transformers 2 for me.” Bay subsequently backtracked, writing in a post the next day that he “overreacted” and “might be back on” for the sequel. The Blu-ray Disc edition of Transformers that Paramount is preparing includes a commentary from Bay and two documentaries that provide an in-depth look at the film’s human and robotic stars. Segments include an interview with executive producer Steven Spielberg, a look at the casting process, a profile of the military weapons in the movie, and a chronicle of the evolution of the robots from Hasbro toys to big-screen stars. Paramount also will use BD Live technology to give viewers a variety of Web-enabled features. Among them are an onscreen dashboard that provides information about the robots and their weapons, their strength levels, a GPS locator and more; a “Profiler” that allows viewers to access detailed information about the cast, voice talent and filmmakers at any point in the movie; and menus that can be customized by fans. Principal photography on the second film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, is now underway, with Bay back in the director’s seat. Most of the first film’s cast is returning, including Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and Peter Cullen as the voice of Optimus Prime. 30 AGENTDVD JULY 2008 AgentDVD.com http://agentdvd.com
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