In announcement news today, director Bryan Singer and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have announced (from the set of X-Men: Apocalypse) that the rumored X-Men: Days of Future Past – Rogue Cut is finally coming to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD on 7/14. Details are still TBA, but this version will be some 17 minutes longer than the theatrical cut, complete with new scenes and visual effects.
Meanwhile, Warner Home Video has announced a new Peanuts: Emmy Honored Collection for release on DVD only on 9/15 (SRP $26.99). But here’s what’s disappointing about this: There’s no Blu-ray release planned, even though the studio’s press release clearly indicates that these specials “have been brilliantly remastered in all-new 4K Ultra HD transfers”. That’s just insane. It’s like rubbing people’s noses in it. “Hey, we’ve given these specials great new 4K transfers... but you don’t get to see them!” In any case, included in the DVD set will be You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown, She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, It’s Magic, Charlie Brown, Someday You’ll Find Her, Charlie Brown, Is this Goodbye, Charlie Brown?, Life is a Circus, Charlie Brown, What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown?, It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown, Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown, Why, Charlie Brown, Why?, and You’re a Good Sport, Charlie Brown. We’re as disappointed by the lack of a Blu-ray announcement as you guys probably are, and we’ve certainly asked the studio what’s going on. We’ll let you know.
Seriously, it’s stuff like this that just makes your ears bleed, doesn’t it? Studio home video execs wonder why Blu-ray consumers think physical media is dying. This is why, right here. Did nobody at WHV think this one through? Did nobody realize Blu-ray fans might take issue with this? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If the Hollywood studios don’t start making better decisions on this stuff, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is going to be dead on arrival.
Speaking of Warner, the studio has also announced a new original full-length animated film featuring the Looney Tunes characters. It’s called Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run and it’s also due on DVD only on 8/4. Surprise.
Also today, Lionsgate has announced a few more titles for July release, including ‘71 on DVD and digital on 7/7, and Little House on the Prairie: Season Six – Deluxe Edition on Blu-ray and DVD, and Poltergeists: Real-Life Hauntings and Black Beauty on DVD only, all on 7/14.
Scream Factory has set their double feature of Ghosthouse and Witchery for Blu-ray release on 6/30. Extras include the theatrical trailers for each film.
Cinedigm is releasing Blindsided, starring Michael Keaton, on DVD only on 6/2.
Don’t forget: Anchor Bay’s The Drownsman arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/12.
Finally today, the winners of the latest Home Media Awards (for 2014) have just been announced and, as you might expect, the Batman ’66: The Complete Television Series Blu-ray set did pretty well. You can read all the details and see a full list of the winners here.
We’ll leave you with a look at a little more new Blu-ray cover artwork (plus the Peanuts DVD), with Amazon.com pre-order links if available...
Stay tuned...
- Bill Hunt