The 1994 film “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on March 29th, 2022 via Arrow Video. The film, directed by Kenneth Branagh and from a script co-written by Frank Darabont, starred Robert De Niro, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Hulce, Aidan Quinn, Kenneth Branagh, and Ian Holm.
The movie has received a new 4K restoration, as noted below.
“New 4K restoration from the original camera negatives by Sony Pictures Entertainment”
The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and Uncompressed 2.0 Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound.
UPDATE #2: You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. Online retailer Zavvi will be getting an exclusive 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook release of the film, now available for preorder (pictured below).
The bonus materials and also physical extras (in first pressing) set to be included with the 4K UHD Blu-ray are listed below.
Brand new audio commentary by film historians Michael Brooke and Johnny Mains
Brand new interview with composer Patrick Doyle
Brand new interview with costumer designer James Acheson
Brand new interview with make-up designer Daniel Parker
Mary Shelley and The Creation of a Monster, a brand new documentary featurette on the origins and evolution of the Frankenstein story, featuring Gothic specialists David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk
Dissecting Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a brand new featurette with David Pirie, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk on the differences between the novel and Kenneth Branagh’s screen adaptation
Frankenstein: A Liberal Adaptation from Mrs. Shelley’s Famous Story for Edison Production (1910): The first screen adaptation of Shelley’s story in a 2K restoration by the Library of Congress, with music by Donald Sosin
Original trailers
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Laz Marquez
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Jon Towlson and Amy C. Chambers
As promised, a “Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition“ box set, now with a new release date, is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 16th, via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The 31-disc box set includes all six of the Peter Jackson-directed film adaptations of the J.R.R. Tolkein stories “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” via trilogies for each. The theatrical and extended versions of each of the six films will be included in this box set, and those films consist (chronologically) of the following:
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)
“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012)
“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (2013)
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” (2014)
MAJOR UPDATE: the original release date of late October (10/26 specifically) for this has now been pushed back to a new release date of November 16th.
The tech specs for the releases include 2160p video presentations for each film in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound. The theatrical versions of the film are on one BD-100 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc, while the Extended Cuts are presented on two BD-100 4K discs (as part 1 and part 2). This set will also come in the form of a “combo pack,” meaning that it will include the Blu-ray Disc counterparts (remastered in 1080p HD) for both trilogies and for both theatrical and extended cut for each. Then, there’s a bonus disc that I’ll discuss a bit further below, which makes this a 31-disc set. Also, you’ll get a digital code (copy) of each of the six films and of each version — compatible with Movies Anywhere.
You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray of the “Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition“ available for preorder over at Amazon. The bonus materials set to be included with the release will feature all of the extras found on the previous Blu-ray (and DVD) releases as well as include an exclusive Bonus Disc. The contents of that disc are listed below.
Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Disc includes:
Alamo Drafthouse: The Lord of the Rings Cast Reunions (hosted by Stephen Colbert)
“The Fellowship of the Ring” – RT: 39:38 (with Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood)
“The Two Towers” – RT: 32:24 (with Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortenson)
“The Return of the King” – RT: 29:48 (with Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, and Peter Jackson)
Festival De Cannes Presentation Reel
Also, as you’d expect, the audio commentary tracks will be included for each film, and (as mentioned) the extras will be physically included this time around as well. This set will contain a lot of physical extras and some rather impressive packaging that features the ability to change the slipcase into different configurations (as pictured below).
The physical extras included are detailed briefly below and further below I’ve included some further glimpses at the artwork and contents for this 4K set.
Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Disc
64-Page Booklet of Costume Sketches, Photography and Production Notes
7 Travel Postcards
Lastly, I’ll remind you that this 4K set technically has yet to be officially announced by the studio [Warner], however, it’s obviously coming according to Amazon, but stay tuned for an update with confirmation and for further details.
UPDATE: This has been officially announced today [9/9] and you can find the full info regarding the release listed below.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on December 1st via Warner. Specifically, the trilogy is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray in the form of a standard release on the format, a 4K UHD Blu-ray Giftset (pictured below), plus as a 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook exclusive to retailer Best Buy (also pictured, further below). The box set will include the films “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings” (2001), “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002), and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003) — all directed by Peter Jackson. The three films starred Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Viggo Mortensen, Sala Baker, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Billy Boyd, John Bach, Brad Dourif, Marton Csokas, and Bernard Hill.
UPDATE #7: Alright. I have now received the official announcementdirectly from my contact at the studio (Warner) and I have the PRESS RELEASE which you will find at the very, very bottom of this already lengthy post. I’ll try to be condensing this and putting as much based on the final word of this announcement in the coming hours. So, without further ado! Alright, the tech specs for both trilogies (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit) will both include 4K presentations in the HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range, along with Dolby Atmos sound. In fact, here’s a short bit (from the press release) regarding that.
“The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs of The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen, frame by frame. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs of The Hobbit Trilogy and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy will also feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.”
Next! The films as I can tell, from the hi-res images that Warner has provided me, will be like this in terms of the 4K UHD Blu-ray Discs included. And, yes, ONLY 4K discs will be included in these sets with no Blu-ray counterparts. The Lord of the Rings films will get 3 discs for each film in its trilogy, consisting of the first disc for each being the Theatrical version and the second & third discs being used for the Extended Cut split into two parts. Then, for The Hobbit films, it will be 2 discs for each film in that trilogy. It will consist of the first disc (for each) being used for that film’s Theatrical version and the second disc (for each) will be used for the Extended version (of that film). I know that’s a bit much to all take in at once. But, prepare for more.
Okay, so, it’s become apparent that there will not be any bonus materials included on these releases, likely because they didn’t have the Blu-ray counterparts for a purpose. That’s because they [Warner] actually plan to do a 2021 release of these films bundled together in what is being called the Six-film “Middle-Earth (Ultimate Collector’s Edition)” 4K UHD Blu-ray set. It will contain some specially created new extras and the original Blu-ray bonus materials on newly pressed remastered versions of the film included. The info regarding this can be found quoted below (from the press release).
“In addition, it was also announced that a 4K UHD “Middle-earth” Ultimate Collectors’ Edition featuring the theatrical and extended versions of all six films, along with new bonus content, previously released Blu-ray discs of The Hobbit Trilogy, and remastered Blu-ray discs of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy will be released in the summer of 2021. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy featuring remastered Blu-ray discs of the theatrical and extended versions of the 3 films will also be released in the fourth quarter 2021, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Deep breath. Now more on that, via the press release headline.
“Six-film “Middle-earth” Ultimate Collectors’ Edition with new Bonus Content to be released in 4K UHD in Summer 2021
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Remastered Blu-ray™ to be released in 4K UHD in fourth Quarter 2021 to celebrate 20th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”
I know. I know. Okay, so moving on with what all I just learned from this official announcement. Some stuff I had previously reported, well all of it really, but namely this can still be used and I’ll leave it as-is.
According to the actor Sean Aston (in an announcement video seen below), it is known that “Peter Jacksonoversaw the remastering” of all six of these films for the 4K releases, and they have all reportedly received a 4K DI (digital intermediate) new master for each. Meaning, it’s true 4K and was mastered in it for all of the films.
Now, finally, regarding the official info. It appears that no bonus materials will be included with these 2020 releases of the films. I’m trying to get a complete confirmation on that directly from Warner, but it sure seems that to be the case. Sorry to any fans this may upset, but this has been a hard year — I’m sure — to get physical media produced and projects finished like new extras, and so forth.
You can now find the standard 4K UHD Blu-ray version of the trilogy available for preorder over at Amazon. There will also be the aforementioned 4K UHD Blu-ray Giftset version of the trilogy, which is NOT exclusive to any retailer. It’s not only listed on Amazon but now is even listed over at retailer Best Buy!! And, there will be the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook which is exclusive to Best Buy. That’s now back available for preorder and showing as in stock again. Below you can find the full glimpses at both the Giftset and the SteelBook versions of the 4K sets. Reminder, only one of these is an exclusive — despite all the confusion from earlier yesterday!!
The 1979 Ridley Scott directed sci-fi thriller “Alien“ is getting a “40th Anniversary”4K UHD Blu-ray release on April 23rd via Fox, as officially announced today. The film featured a cast of Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, and Ian Holm. The 4K release will be sporting a new 4K restoration that was supervised by the director himself, as you can see quoted (from the press release) below.
The film was restored in 4K in 2018 by 20th Century Fox at Company 3/Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, supervised by Ridley Scott and Pam Dery, with the 4K scans were done at EFilm.
Tech specs for the 4K release include 2160p video in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range and DTS-HD Master Audio sound in 5.1 for both versions of the film and also in a 4.1 configuration for the Theatrical Version. Yes, this is the same audio as found as the previously released Blu-ray. The release will come in a form of “combo pack” with the Blu-ray and a digital copy of the film included.
UPDATE: The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for pre-order over at Amazon and quite affordable.
The 4K release will include both the original 1979 Theatrical Version and the 2003 Director’s Cut of the film. Details about and bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.
ALIEN 40th Anniversary Bonus Features:
1979 Theatrical Version
2003 Director’s Cut
2003 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott and the Cast & Crew
1999 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Final Theatrical Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Composer’s Original Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Deleted Scenes
Further below, after the break, you can find the official announcement regarding this upcoming 4K release.
The 2005 film “Lord of War“ starring Nicolas Cage is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on March 19th, via Lionsgate. The film was both written & directed by Andrew Niccol, and featured a supporting cast of Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Bridget Moynahan, and Ian Holm. Tech specs for the 4K include 2160p in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio and Dolby Vision and HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range with Dolby Atmos sound. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with a Blu-ray and Digital Copy of the film included. The 4K UHD Blu-ray is available for pre-order now over at Amazon. Bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.
Audio Commentary with Writer-Director Andrew Niccol
“The Making of Lord of War” Featurette
“Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade” Featurette
Deleted Scenes
Further below, after the break, you can find the official announcement regarding this upcoming 4K UHD Blu-ray release.
Amazon Commissions Earned
