Home Media Magazine - September 2-8, 2007 - (Page 46) NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com Fox Details Blu-ray Slate ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ Due Oct. 2; ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ Nov. 20 By Chris Tribbey PRODUCT 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has released details on two of its more anticipated Blu-ray Disc titles, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer on Oct. 2 and Live Free or Die Hard Nov. 20. Both come out the same day as the DVD. Live Free or Die Hard comes out on the same day as the Blu-ray Die Hard Trilogy. Three Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer DVD releases include a single-disc with widescreen and full-screen options and a pair of commentaries ($29.98); a “Power Cosmic Edition” with a bonus disc including five featurettes, a documentary, deleted scenes, an interactive image gallery and a still gallery ($34.98); and both “Fantastic Four” movies packaged together ($34.98). The Blu-ray release for Fantastic Four ($39.98) will include deleted scenes, a full-length making-of documentary, several behind-the- scenes featurettes, commentaries, a “Who Dares Defy Galactus?” multiplayer strategy game (Fox’s first for Blu-ray) and a “Saving the World One Question at a Time” trivia game. “I’m thrilled that both of my ‘Fantastic Four’ films are available on Blu-ray,” said director Tim Story. “You can really see spectacular detail in the CGI visual effects we used to create the Silver Surfer character. Plus, fans of the Fantastic Four will have the added bonus of continuing the battle between Galactus and the Silver Surfer through the really cool interactive games that are only available on the Blu-ray release.” Fox also revealed an aggressive, allareas marketing campaign for Fantastic Four, which pulled in $267 million in the box office. “It’s an embarrassment of riches,” said Steve Feldstein, SVP of corporate and marketing communications with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. “We’re the first big release in the fourth quarter, and it’s important [we market it effectively].” Fox has partnered with everyone from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to Dodge to put the second “Fantastic Four” movie in front of consumers: I AAA, in its first-ever integrated national campaign, according to Fox, will have ads in 23 of its club magazines; a “4 Ways to Win!” national sweepstakes; directmail inserts; e-mail and Web site ads; point-of-purchase materials in more than 1,000 AAA locations; and themed vacation offers. I Continental Tires will offer a “Power of Four Sweepstakes” with the grand prize being a Fantastic Four customized Dodge Charger. I Dodge, the official “FantastiCar” sponsor of the film, will feature DVD signage and will play movie clips at four major car shows through the rest of the year. I Kellogg’s will feature the movie on the side panel of many of its products, with a consumer offer to save $3 off the DVD, and a full-page ad in People Magazine. I Levitz furniture will promote the release with a “Fantastic Deals on 4- piece room collections” campaign, through TV, print and online ads, and with on-site movie screenings and a national sweepstakes. I Panasonic will feature the title as its lead release for all fourth-quarter tie-ins to its PTX-7 theater systems. The DVD also will show up on Panasonic’s nationwide “Living in HighDefinition” tour. I USPS will promote the DVD in the lobbies of 1,475 post offices and online, as part of its 2007 Marvel Super Heroes stamp collection launch. The Live Free or Die Hard Blu-ray Disc release will include a “Die Hard” music video by Guyz Nite, a making-of documentary, actor and director commentaries, a multilevel strategy game called “Black Hat Intercept!” (which includes an introduction from Kevin Smith), as well as the standard fare: deleted scenes, featurettes, a visual effects breakdown, alternate endings, side-by-side comparisons and more. ‘High School Musical’ Star Nabs Role in MGM DVD Premiere By Stephanie Prange D T V MGM has inked High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale for the lead in Picture This, a DVD Premiere feature that went into production last week. “Ashley is clearly a huge talent,” said Jason Weiss, VP of MGM’s DVD Premiere division. “She has built an incredible following and has become an icon for today’s teen audience.” Picture This tells the comedic misadventures of Mandy (Tisdale), an ordinary high school girl who suddenly finds herself the object of affection by the most popular boy in school. Grounded, Mandy must find a way to make it to his party while preventing her father from finding out. “Picture This is a perfect vehicle for [Tisdale] to showcase both her acting and singing talents,” Weiss said. Written by Temple Matthews (The Little Mermaid II, Return to Neverland), the feature is shooting in Montreal. Stephen Herek (Mr. Holland’s Opus) will direct; Brian Reilly and Patrick Hughes will produce. One of Teen People’s “25 Hottest Stars Under 25,” Tisdale is best known for her role in the Disney Channel original movies High School Musical JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update * Live Free or Die Hard STREET DATE Amazing Grace BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) The Tripper TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE Live Free or Die Hard 11/20 10/24 $133.2 Action DVD $29.98, BD $39.98 Fox. 2007. Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Timothy Olyphant. This latest installment in the “Die Hard” action series about detective John McClane is also available in an unrated two-disc edition that highlights never-before-seen footage and a feature-length making-of documentary. Amazing Grace 11/13 10/17 $21.3 Drama DVD $29.98 and High School Musical 2. High School Musical 2, which premiered on the Disney Channel Aug. 17, ranked as the most-watched cable telecast ever. Tisdale also is known for her role as Maddie in the Disney Channel series “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and as the voice of Candice in the animated series “Phineas and Ferb.” Tisdale’s debut album for Warner Bros. Records, Headstrong, sold more than 70,000 copies during its first week, and her new version of “Kiss the Girl” is featured on the special edition DVD of The Little Mermaid. Fox. 2006. Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon. Based on the true story of William Wilberforce, a leader in the British abolition movement. Special features include audio commentary and the documentary “How Sweet the Sound: The Story of ‘Amazing Grace.’” The Tripper 10/23 10/3 $0.02 Horror DVD $27.98 DATE CHANGE. Fox. 2006. Directed, produced and co-written by David Arquette, this horror satire is about a group of hippies who are stalked by a psychopath with an eerie resemblance to Ronald Reagan. Includes director and cast commentary and more. Shanghai Kiss 10/9 9/6 DTV Romance DVD $26.97 Starz. 2007. Hayden Panettiere, Ken Leung, Kelly Hu, Joel David Moore. A struggling Chinese-American actor in Los Angeles meets and befriends a pretty young woman, but their budding romance is challenged when he moves to Shanghai. Conversations With Other Women 10/9 9/11 DTV Comedy DVD $14.98 Arts Alliance. 2005. Helena Bonham Carter, Aaron Eckart. This film-festival winner is about a man and woman who meet at a wedding and get along as if they have known each other forever, and perhaps they have. Includes interviews with Bonham Carter and Eckhart. * In order of box office, then prebook date 46 Home Media Magazine September 2–8, 2007 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.