"Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection" on Blu-ray

Like most long running horror franchises, the Friday the 13th series became tired as it went along. However, the first two entries were solid efforts and remain scary and watchable, some three decades later. Even later entries, including Jason Takes Manhattan, were fun to watch, at least for their sense of humor. Regardless of the quality of each film, I have to admit to watching all of them. Yes, even Jason X and Freddy vs. Jason. I am loyal if nothing else. Even though there is no Friday the 13th during the month of October this year, the films are perfect for viewing around Halloween.


Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection

Synopsis: The 10-disc collection includes the twelve films on nine Blu-ray discs, as well as a killer DVD bonus disc full of special features on the making of the famous franchise. The must-own set will be presented in a collectible tin case with 11 hours of previously released special features and a 40-page soft cover book. The book is excerpted from Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday The 13th, a fan-favorite volume that’s viewed as the ultimate memoir of the series, and highlights some of the 200 interviews, 600 photos, storyboards, concept art and more. Also included is a brand new, official Camp Crystal Lake embroidered Counselor Patch.

Films in the Collection include:
· Disc 1 - Friday the 13th (1980)
· Disc 2 - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
· Disc 3 - Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D (1982)
· Disc 4 - Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 5 - Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985) / Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 6 - Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) / Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) NEW TO BLU- RAY
· Disc 7 - Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) / Jason X (2002) NEW TO BLU-RAY
· Disc 8 - Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
· Disc 9 - Friday the 13th (2009) (Theatrical Version and “Killer Cut” Extended Version)
· Disc 10 – Killer Bonus DVD Disc

Special Features: Includes UltraViolet™ so you can enjoy the film on many different compatible devices.

Alfred Hitchcock Blu-ray Singles Wave 1 Includes "Rope" and "Shadow of a Doubt"

Last year Universal Studios released a 15-disc Alfred Hitchcock box set, The Masterpiece Collection, featuring many of the legendary director's classic films. Those films are going to be released individually beginning October 1, 2013. The first five titles, part of "Wave 1," are listed below. 

 

 

James Stewart and Doris Day star in the international thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much directed by Alfred Hitchcock. While vacationing in Morocco, Ben and Jo McKenna are suddenly immersed in a dangerous situation after a French spy dies in Ben's arms. Discovering that their son has been kidnapped and taken to England, the McKennas are caught up in a nightmare of espionage, assassinations and terror. Soon, all of their lives hang in the balance as they draw closer to the truth that leads to a chilling climax in London's famous Royal Albert Hall. Featuring the Academy Award® winning song “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)” sung by Doris Day, this remake of his own 1934 film is an unforgettable classic from the Master of Suspense.

Inspired by a real-life murder case, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope is a shocking spellbinder starring James Stewart. Two friends (Farley Granger and John Dall) strangle a classmate for intellectual thrills and then proceed to throw a party for the victim’s family and friends - with the body stuffed inside the trunk they use for a buffet table. As the killers turn the conversation to committing the “perfect murder," their former teacher (Stewart) becomes increasingly suspicious that his students have turned his intellectual theories into brutal reality. Filmed in only nine different takes almost entirely on a single sound stage, the first color film from the Master of Suspense is a chilling look into the dark side of humanity.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur is a riveting wartime thriller following an innocent man who suddenly finds himself in a very deadly situation. After aircraft factory worker Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) witnesses his plant’s firebombing by a Nazi agent, he finds himself falsely accused of sabotage and killing his best friend. To clear his name, Kane begins a relentless cross-country chase that takes him from Los Angeles to Boulder Dam and New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The suspense builds to a climactic finale atop the Statue of Liberty that has become one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed by the Master of Suspense.

One of Alfred Hitchcock’s most chilling films, Shadow of a Doubt, was considered a personal favorite by the director himself. After her charming Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotton) comes to visit in the sleepy town of Santa Rosa, his favorite niece and namesake, “Young Charlie” (Teresa Wright), begins to suspect him of being the infamous Merry Widow murderer. As she draws closer to the truth, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse begins leading to a shocking climax in this riveting psychological thriller from the Master of Suspense.

Set against a picturesque New England backdrop, Alfred Hitchcock’s The Trouble With Harry is a dark comedy starring Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine and Jerry Mathers. The trouble with Harry is that he is dead and, while no one really minds, everyone feels responsible. After Harry’s body is discovered in the woods, several of the local residents must determine not only how and why he was killed but what to do with the body. Featuring romance, humor…and several unearthings of the corpse, this quirky romp showcases a decidedly different type of story from the Master of Suspense.

New on DVD and Blu-ray: "Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright"

 

The latest Scooby-Doo adventure taps into contemporary popular culture and the overabundance of talent shows that now infiltrate the airways all year long. In the new original movie Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to Chicago where Fred and Daphne are participating in the hit TV show Talent Star. In fact, the duo have been chosen as finalists and will perform live and compete with several other singers and musicians. Not to be outdone, Shaggy and Scooby formulate a plan to impress the producer of the show so that they too can be a part of the action. Good luck with that. The talent competition is being held in an old opera house that is home to a phantom (or two, or three), who plans to disrupt Talent Star by causing problems for many of the contestants.

 

The blending of the old (the Phantom of the opera) with the contemporary (television talent competitions) is nothing new for Scooby-Doo and the gang. For instance, the voice talents include Frank Welker, who has portrayed Fred for decades, and he is joined by Mindy Cohn (Velma), Grey DeLisle (Daphne) and Matthew Lillard (Shaggy), who have made the classic characters their own in recent years. The talented guest stars who lend their voices include Wayne Brady, Vivica A. Fox and John O'Hurley.

 

Music has been a staple of various Scooby-Doo series and films over the years and this music centric entry features four songs that are performed as part of the talent competition and range from the silly "Homewrecker" to the romantic "I Love You," which is one of the songs performed by Fred and Daphne and serves to further their ongoing would be romance. The animation is vibrant and colorful and the adventure is classic Scooby-Doo, complete with a variety of suspects and several red herrings. There are also familiar nods to the history of the series with the usual tongue in cheek delivery.

Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright is now available from Warner Home Video in a Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet Combo Pack.

 

For additional information go here.

 

Watch a clip from Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright below.

 

Classic Monsters Wave 2 Blu-ray: "Dracula," "Frankenstein," "The Bride of Frankenstein" and "The Wolf Man"

The following Blu-ray releases are scheduled to drop on September 17 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Synopsis: The original Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, launched the Hollywood horror genre and defined the iconic look and frightening character of the famed vampire. Towering ominously among the shadows of the Carpathian Mountains, Castle Dracula strikes fear in the hearts of the Transylvanian villagers below. After a naive real estate agent succumbs to the will of Count Dracula, the two head to London where the vampire hopes to stroll among respectable society by day and search for potential victims by night. The inspiration for hundreds of subsequent remakes and adaptations, this classic film directed by Tod Browning is the signature adaptation of Bram Stoker’s story with its eerie passion, shadowy atmosphere and thrilling cinematography.

Synopsis: An unforgettable masterpiece, the original Frankenstein stars Boris Karloff as the screen’s most tragic and iconic monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Tampering with life and death, Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) pieces together salvaged body parts to bring a human monster to life. The mad scientist’s dreams are shattered by his creation’s violent rage as the monster awakens to a world in which he is unwelcome. Featuring groundbreaking makeup by Jack Pierce, director James Whale’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece novel blends themes of horror, isolation and compassion, and remains one of the most shocking movies of all time.

Synopsis: In one of the most popular horror films of all time, The Bride of Frankenstein, Boris Karloff reprises his role as the silver screen’s most misunderstood monster who now longs for a mate. Continuing exactly where the original left off, the critically acclaimed sequel introduces Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) as a deranged scientist who forces Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) to help him create a companion for the monster. Once again directed by James Whale and adapted from Mary Shelley’s classic novel, the sequel features outstanding makeup and special effects, instantly making the Bride of Frankenstein (Elsa Lanchester) one of the most recognizable monsters of all time.

Synopsis: “Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." In 1941, The Wolf Man introduced the world to a new Universal movie monster and the mythology of the werewolf was redefined forever. Featuring a heartbreaking performance by Lon Chaney Jr. and groundbreaking make-up by Jack Pierce, this story of a cursed man who transforms into a deadly werewolf when the moon is full has not only become a masterpiece of the horror genre, but of all time.

The Second Season of "Grimm" arrives on DVD and Blu-ray September 17

I am an avid viewer of Grimm and have enjoyed watching the series become better over time. Grimm appeared to hit its stride during the second season and I am hoping for the series to fully reach its potential during season three, which begins in the fall. Look for the second season to be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 17.


Synopsis: Grimm is back, and delves even deeper into the unseen evils around us in all 22 “addictively entertaining” Season Two episodes.  Now fully embracing his identity as a Grimm, Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt tackles even more gruesome and bizarre crimes linked to creatures of lore. With the help of his partner Hank and Wesen confidants Monroe and Rosalee, Nick must face an ancient royal bloodline linked to the mysterious Captain Renard, all while fighting to keep from losing the love of his life forever.  Watch every chilling and evocative episode back-to-back and uninterrupted of the hit series critics say is “impossible not to love.”

DVD Recommendation: "Doubt" (2008) - Starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman

I recently had the opportunity to watch the 2008 movie Doubt, which is available on DVD and Blu-ray, for the first time since its theatrical debut. Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, the film details the conflict between Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) at a New York Catholic school. Aloysius suspects that Flynn is having an inappropriate relationship with a male student and goes to great lengths to try to make him admit the alleged indiscretion. The scenes featuring Streep and Hoffman going head to head are memorable, as are the supporting characters played by Amy Adams, as Sister James, and Viola Davis, as Mrs. Miller. The film is the epitome of a master class in acting. 

You can read my original review of the film here.

"The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector'​s Edition" arrives on Blu-ray September 2​4th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

All Three Films, New Special Features, and Memorabilia

 

Burbank, Calif. – Christopher Nolan’s reimagining of the Batman franchise beginning with 2005’s Batman Begins enjoyed phenomenal critical and box-office success. Now on September 24, Nolan’s three Batman films – Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises – will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment as The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition. The six-disc set will feature all three films with their existing extra content, two new featurettes and exclusive new collectible memorabilia. This must-own collection for fans of DC Comics’ Caped Crusader is available in premium packaging and will sell for $99.97 SRP.

 

About the Ultimate Collector’s Edition (UCE):

  *Disc 1 – Batman Begins Feature and Special Features

  *Disc 2 – The Dark Knight Feature

  *Disc 3 – The Dark Knight Special Features

  *Disc 4 – The Dark Knight Rises Feature                    

  *Disc 5 – The Dark Knight Rises Special Features

  *Disc 6 – Bonus Disc of New Special Features (details follow)

 

NEW Special Features:

• The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy - The inside perspective on the fascinating story behind the creation of one of the most celebrated franchises and how it changed the scope of movie making….forever.  Full of never-before-seen footage, rare moments, and exclusive interviews with  Guillermo Del Toro, Damon Lindelof, Michael Mann, Richard Roeper, Zack Snyder and others.

·         Christopher Nolan & Richard Donner: A Conversation - For the first time, Directors Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Richard Donner (Superman) sit down to discuss the trials and triumphs involved in bringing the two most iconic superheroes of all time to the big screen, and how Superman influenced Nolan when developing Batman Begins.

 

·         IMAX® Sequences: The Dark Knight; The Dark Knight Rises - See your favorite scenes as they were intended in the original IMAX^© aspect ratio

 

Exclusive NEW Memorabilia:

·         Premium Mattel Hot Wheels Vehicles: Batmobile, Batpod and Tumbler

·         Newly commissioned collectible art cards by Mondo featuring Scarecrow, Joker, Bane, Harvey Dent, and Ra's al Ghul

·         48-page hardcover book featuring production stills and behind the scenes images from all three movies

 

 

About The Films

 

 

Batman Begins (2005)

Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight’s emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents’ murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

 

The Dark Knight (2008)

The follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves effective, but soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Heath Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast as Rachel Dawes. Returning from Batman Begins are Oldman, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.

 

Dark Knight Rises (2012)

It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.

 

But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane. Christian Bale stars, along with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Morgan Freeman.

Blu-ray Spotlight: "The Jurassic Park Trilogy"

I recently had the opportunity to see the re-release of Jurassic Park in 3D and was pleasantly surprised at how well the film holds up, some two decades after its original release. I also took the time to watch the second and third installments in the franchise, The Lost World and Jurassic Park III, as well as the numerous special features that are included on the Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy Blu-ray edition, which was released in 2011. You can read my thoughts on Jurassic Park here.

The original film is, without a doubt, the best in the series, followed by Jurassic Park III and The Lost World, which was very disappointing. Released in 1997 and directed by Steven Spielberg, The Lost World: Jurassic Park boasts a very talented cast, including Julianne Moore, the late Pete Postlethwaite, Vince Vaughn and the returning Jeff Goldblum, as chaos expert Dr. Ian Malcolm. The Lost World also has not one, but two T. Rex dinosaurs who wreck havoc on the principal characters in response to them taking their baby, which was in need of medical attention. The story centers around the infiltration of dinosaurs on Isla Sorna, which is the neighboring island to Isla Nubar, where the events of the first film took place. Once they are discovered, Dr. Malcolm is asked to join a team of researchers to document their findings on Isla Sorna. Complicating matters are a team of mercenaries who are trying to capture certain dinosaurs for placement in a park in San Diego. Of course, messing with the dinosaurs, especially the large ones, can only lead to disaster.

Unfortunately, the talented cast never seems to develop the rapport that viewers might expect and none of the characters are particularly likable. In addition, a supporting character, who will not be named, is completely unnecessary and is involved in a ludicrous scene involving raptors that features a gymnastic move that almost made me stop watching the film completely. Outside of the dinosaurs and the special effects, there is little to enjoy in The Lost World.

Jurassic Park III, on the other hand, is a marked improvement over The Lost World. Returning for the third installment is Sam Neill, as Dr. Alan Grant, and Laura Dern as Dr. Ellie Degler, who plays a supporting role and does not interect with the dinosaurs. The story centers around two missing tourists who were last seen para sailing around Isla Sorna. Later, Dr. Grant is approached about leading a tour of Isla Sorna, by air, at the request of a couple, Paul and Amanda Kirby (William H. Macy and Tea Leoni). Dr. Grant agrees, but soon learns that the Kirbys intend to land on the island and need his help in finding their son, who is one of the missing tourists. Shortly after they land, a Spinosaurus appears and when the group try to fly away, their plane is damaged and crashes in the forest. They are now trapped on the island and soon discover so-called "super dinosaurs" which have evolved over the years. 

Despite a couple of annoying characters, Jurassic Park III is a lot of fun to watch. The addition of several new, huge and frightening dinosaurs add to the tension throughout the film, as the survivors literally run for their lives almost from start to finish. Director Joe Johnston takes over for Spielberg and crafts an enjoyable and exciting film that is reminiscent of the original.

The abundance of special features, both new and old, is a real treat for fans of the trilogy. Each of the three discs boast many behind the scenes featurettes and the original theatrical trailers. The Lost World also includes deleted scenes, while Jurassic Park III features commentary with the special effects team. Even with the substandard second installment, the Jurassic Park Ultimate Trilogy is great fun and a good primer for viewers who are anticipating the fourth installment, which is due in the summer of 2014.

Blu-ray Spotlight: "Zombieland" Starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg

I originally reviewed Zombieland in 2009 and was surprised by the quality of the film and how much I laughed from beginning to end. The story centers around a plague that has devastated the country and turned many of its residents into zombies. While that may not sound funny, the execution results in tongue in cheek hilarity. Four of those who remain unaffected, Tallahassee (Woody Harrleson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), must find a way to coexist after a rough start and join forces in an effort to save all of their lives. The result is a mostly amusing, sometimes touching, well acted and clever effort that deserves a sequel. If nothing else, I want to know how Tallahassee is dealing with the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands and the uncertain future of the Twinkie. Now that is scary to think about! Oh, and Bill Murray is sensational in a cameo that features some of the best work of his career. 

You can read my original review of the film here.

The Blu-ray special features include: Deleted Scenes, Commentary by director Ruben Fleischer and stars Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, two Featurettes, Trailers and more. 

Universal's Classic Monsters Wave 1 Blu-rays

The ever popular Universal Monsters will receive individual Blu-ray releases following a box set that included all of the famous monsters last year. The first wave of the releases begins in June, with Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and the Phantom of the Opera.

Creature from the Black Lagoon

Synopsis: Perfectly blending Universal's classic monster heritage with the science-fiction explosion of the 1950s, Creature from the Black Lagoon tells the mythical story of a dangerous half-human, half-fish creature lurking in the depths of the Amazon. After discovering a unique prehistoric claw fossil on an expedition deep in the jungle, archaeologists investigate its origins which lead them directly to a mysterious creature. Led by marine life specialist David Reed (Richard Carlson), the men try to capture the monster who has become obsessed with David's assistant, Kay (Julia Adams). Originally released in 3D, this thrilling adventure inspired sequels, TV series and more that continue to strengthen the monster's legacy to this day.

The Blu-ray edition of Creature from the Black Lagoon features 3D and 2D presentations of the film, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and the following extras:

• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver 
• Back to the Black Lagoon 
• Production Photographs 
• Trailer Gallery 
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lot 

The Mummy

Synopsis: The Mummy features horror icon Boris Karloff in a legendary performance as the Egyptian Imhotep who is accidentally revived by a team of archaeologists after 3,700 years. Imhotep was once a high priest, embalmed alive for trying to revive the vestal virgin whom he loved after she had been sacrificed. Alive again, he sets out on an obsessive and deadly quest to find his lost love. Featuring groundbreaking makeup by Jack Pierce and artful direction by Karl Freud to achieve a mysterious atmosphere, this terrifying classic inspired countless sequels, spoofs and spin-offs that continue to fuel the legacy of the monster to this day.

The Blu-ray edition of The Mummy features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and the following extras:

• Feature Commentary with Makeup Artist Rick Baker, Filmmaker Scott Essman, Screenwriter and Film Historian Steve Haberman, Sculpture Studio Owner Brent Armstrong and Collector Bob Burns 
• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Paul M. Jensen 
• Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed 
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce 
• Unraveling The Legacy of The Mummy 
• The Mummy Archives 
• Trailer Gallery 
• 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era

The Invisible Man

Synopsis: The signature adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel of the same name stars Claude Rains as a mysterious scientist who discovers a serum that turns him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, the scientist arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery. He soon discovers, however, that the same drug which renders him invisible is slowly driving him insane and making him capable of committing unspeakable acts of terror. Directed by James Whale, the horror classic features groundbreaking special effects by John P. Fulton that inspired many of the techniques that are still used today.

The Blu-ray edition of The Invisible Man features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and the following extras:

• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer 
• Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed 
• Production Photographs 
• Trailer Gallery 
• 100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters

Phantom of the Opera

Synopsis: One of the most popular stories of all time, Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera is the legendary horror tale of the masked Phantom of the Paris Opera House. Following a tragic accident that leaves him disfigured, crazed composer Erique Claudin (Claude Rains) transforms into a masked phantom who schemes to make beautiful young soprano Christine Dubois (Susanna Foster) the star of the opera and wreak revenge on those who stole his music. A heroic baritone (Nelson Eddy) tries to win the affections of Christine as he tracks down the disfigured "monster" who has begun murdering those who resist his mad demands. Inspired by the original 1925 silent film, this lavish Technicolor production remains one of the most unforgettable adaptations ever to be filmed. 

The Blu-ray edition of Phantom of the Opera features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and the following extras: 

• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Scott MacQueen 
• The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked 
• Production Photographs 
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lot

Classic and Contemporary Gangster Films on Blu-ray™ May 21 in Two Great Collections

Press Release - As part of the studio’s 90^th Anniversary celebration, eight of Warner Bros. Pictures’ greatest gangster films – from Edward G. Robinson’s 1931 classic Little Caesar to Martin Scorsese’s Oscar^®-winning masterpiece The Departed -- will now be available in two Blu-ray™ sets May 21. Released to coincide with Father’s Day gift-giving, the WB genre greats, along with one of Paramount’s best gangster films, will be offered in the Ultimate Gangster Collection: Classic and Ultimate Gangster Collection: Contemporary.

The four films in the Classic Collection have been remastered for their Blu-ray debuts. They include The Public Enemy and White Heat with the legendary performances of James Cagney; Little Caesar with Edward G. Robinson as hoodlum Rico Bandello; and The Petrified Forest starring Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis and Leslie Howard. The collection includes a feature-length documentary Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Drama which explores the development of the crime genre and the rise of Warner stars like Cagney, Bogart and Robinson. Also discussed are directors such as Walsh, Wellman and Curtiz; the films themselves; their influence on filmmakers worldwide; and Warner’s impact in establishing the genre.

The Contemporary Collection is a 5-disc set with five crime films that include Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas, The Departed and Mean Streets; Heat, starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer; and Paramount’s The Untouchables with Kevin Costner, De Niro and Sean Connery.

These two collections are being released in tribute to the films that remain a cornerstone in the legacy of Warner Bros. Major Hollywood studios in the ‘30s and ‘40s were each known for their distinctive styles (MGM for its musicals, Universal for its horror films, etc.). Warner Bros. was best known for firmly establishing the genre which contained socially conscious themes and a simple visual look (low key lighting and sparse sets). Nowhere were these elements more prominent than in the films featured in the Classic Edition, with the Contemporary Edition showing how a new generation of crime drama has been established.

Both Ultimate Gangster Collection: Classic and Ultimate Gangster Collection: Contemporary will include 32-page booklets with images and additional information about each film. 

Details of Ultimate Gangster Collection Classic

The Public Enemy (1931) – Now on Blu-ray!

The Public Enemy showcases James Cagney’s powerful 1931 breakthrough performance as streetwise tough guy Tom Powers, a role Cagney won only because production chief Darryl F. Zanuck made a late casting change. Cagney had a secondary role but Zanuck soon spotted Cagney’s screen dominance and gave him the star part, even after shooting had begun. From that moment, an indelible genre classic and an enduring star career were both born. Bristling with ’20s style, dialogue and desperation under the masterful directorial eye of William A. Wellman, this is a virtual time capsule of the Prohibition era -- taut, gritty and hard-hitting. Several restored scenes (deleted from subsequent reissue versions due to enforcement of the Production code) from the original release version of the film are included -- unseen for decades until they were restored by WHV for its premiere DVD release.

Special Features:

• Commentary by film historian Robert Sklar
• Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1931
• Featurette Beer and Blood: Enemies of the Public

Little Caesar (1931) – Now on Blu--ray!

“R-I-C-O, Little Caesar, that’s who!” Edward G. Robinson bellowed into the phone and Hollywood got the message. The 37-year-old Robinson, not gifted with matinee-idol looks, was nonetheless a first-class star. Little Caesar is the tale of pugnacious Caesar Enrico Bandello, a hoodlum with a Chicago-sized chip on his shoulder, few attachments, fewer friends and no sense of underworld diplomacy.

Special Features:

• Commentary by film historian Richard B. Jewell
• Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1930
• Featurette Little Caesar: End of Rico, Beginning of the Antihero

The Petrified Forest (1936) – Now on Blu-ray!

A rundown diner bakes in the Arizona heat. Inside, fugitive killer Duke Mantee sweats out a manhunt, holding disillusioned writer Alan Squier, young Gabby Maple and a handful of other hostages. The Petrified Forest, Robert E. Sherwood’s 1935 Broadway success about survival of the fittest, hit the screen a year later with Leslie Howard and Humphrey Bogart magnificently recreating their stage roles and Bette Davis ably reteaming with her Of Human Bondage co-star Howard. The film presented Bogart with his first major starring role and helped launch his brilliant movie career.

Special Features:

• Commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax
• Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1936
• Featurette The Petrified Forest: Menace in the Desert

White Heat (1949) – Now on Blu-ray!

Playing a psychotic thug, Cody Jarrett, devoted to his hard-boiled “Ma,” James Cagney gives a performance to match his electrifying work in The Public Enemy. Tightly directed by Raoul Walsh, this fast-paced thriller tracing Jarrett’s violent life in and out of jail is among the most vivid screen performances of Cagney’s career.

Special Features:

• Commentary by Film Historian Drew Casper
• Leonard Maltin hosts Warner Night at the Movies 1949
• Newsreel
• The Fountainhead theatrical trailer
• Comedy short So You Think You’re Not Guilty
• Cartoon Homeless Hare
• 1949 Trailer Gallery
• White Heat: Top of the World

Details of Ultimate Gangsters Collection Contemporary

Mean Streets (1973)

In the film considered one of his early accomplishments, Scorsese teams with Robert De Niro for the first time in this tale of young toughs in New York’s Little Italy. De Niro won the National Society of Film Critics’ Best Supporting Actor award for his role. Fans will appreciate what Leonard Maltin calls a “technically dazzling film which put Scorsese on the map deservedly so.” Mean Streets also stars Harvey Keitel, David Proval, Richard Romanus, Robert Carradine and David Carradine.

Special Features

• Commentary by Martin Scorsese

• Back on the Block – Vintage Featurettes
• Theatrical trailer

The Untouchables (1987)

Brian De Palma's The Untouchables is a must-see masterpiece -- a glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago...and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as Al Capone and Sean Connery as Malone, the cop who teaches Ness how to beat the mob.

Special Features:

• The Script, The Cast
• Production Stories
• Reinventing The Genre
• The Classic
• Original featurette: The Men
• Theatrical trailer HD

GoodFellas (1990)

Based on the true-life best-seller “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, GoodFellas was hailed as “the best mob movie ever” by Roger Ebert. The film earned six Academy Award^® nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director and was named 1990’s  Best Film by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics. Scorsese was also awarded the Silver Lion Award in Venice. Robert De Niro received wide recognition for his performance as veteran criminal Jimmy “The Gent” Conway; and Joe Pesci, as the volatile Tommy DeVito, walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar^®. Academy Award^® nominees Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino also turned in outstanding performances. GoodFellasexplores the criminal life like no other movie.

Special Features:

• Two Commentaries:
• Cast and Crew
• Cop and Crook with Henry Hill and Former FBI Agent Edward McDonald
• Featurettes:
• Getting Made
• Made Men: The GoodFellas Legacy
• The Workaday Gangster
• Paper Is Cheaper Than Film: Storyboard-to-Screen Comparisons

Heat (1995)

Written, directed and produced by Michael Mann (Collateral, Ali, The Insider), this tale of big city crime and obsession marks the first time that actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro starred together on the big screen. Heat also features Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman andNatalie Portman.

Neil McCauley (DeNiro) is an expert thief who has assembled a top-notch team of criminals whose latest string of heists has even impressed detective Vincent Hanna (Pacino). As Hanna becomes obsessed with bringing McCauley down and McCauley's crew prepares for the score of a lifetime, the two find that they are facing the toughest challenges of their careers -- on opposite sides of the law.

Special Features:

·   Commentary by writer/director Michael Mann

·   11 additional scenes

·   Five making-of documentaries featuring the cast and crew

o   Return to the Scene of the Crime

o   Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation

o   The Making of Heat: True Crime

o   The Making of Heat: Crime Stories

The Making of Heat: Into the Fire

The Departed (2006)

Set in South Boston, The Departed follows the lives of two state police officers and their all-out war to end the reign of the city’s most powerful mob boss. As they work to infiltrate and gain the trust of the city’s top organized crime ring, it becomes clear to both sides there is a mole in their midst, and now it’s a race to uncover his identity.

Special Features:

• Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie, and The Departed - Gritty documentary about the history of the South Boston Mob and its nefarious relationship with the FBI
• Crossing Criminal Cultures - We uncover what draws Martin Scorsese to the world of mobsters
• Nine Deleted Scenes with introductions by Martin Scorsese

Enter the Dragon 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray™ June 11

Press Release: Enter the Dragon, one of martial arts icon Bruce Lee’s last films, will debut June 11 on Blu-ray™ in the Enter the Dragon 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition giftset from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The film, which helped bring interest in the Asian martial arts genre to mainstream Western cinema, has been re-mastered for its 40^th anniversary, and will now feature new bonus materials, such as the featurette, No Way as Way, on the legacy of Bruce Lee, plus other featurettes and commentary. Memorabilia -- which includes collectible art cards, lenticular card and an embroidered patch --are also part of the giftset.

Bruce Lee was an incredible athlete and mixed martial artist who, despite making a limited number of movies during his short life, became a charismatic megastar and left a permanent mark on cinema and popular culture. Even Time Magazine agreed. They included Lee in the “100 Most Important People of the 20^th century” issue (Heroes and Icons 1999*).  Enter the Dragon continues to resonate with today’s audiences. It was a major theatrical hit 40 years ago, grossing approximately $25 million domestically – the equivalent of almost $180 million in today’s box-office. Enter the Dragon has sold more than 450,000 units on DVD and Blu-ray since 2004. In 2004, Enter the Dragon was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It also received a 95% positive rating on the critics’ review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com).

Lee was born in San Francisco on November 27, 1940. As a young boy in Hong Kong, he acted in some 20 films there and first became known in the U.S. in 1966 for his role as sidekick Kato in TV’s “The Green Hornet.” He also appeared in TV shows like “Ironside” and “Longstreet,” with his most notable American role coming in the 1969 movie, Marlowe, starring James Garner. Returning to Hong Kong, Lee starred in a number of successful films for Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest Productions and soon became a superstar in China. His enormous overseas success ultimately reached Hollywood and the attention of filmmaker Fred Weintraub and Warner Bros., who produced Enter the Dragon and tapped the actor to star. Lee died suddenly in Hong Kong, at the age of 32, of a cerebral edema. That was on July 20, 1973, less than a month before the film’s August 17 U.S. premiere. Posthumously, Enter the Dragon rocketed him to international superstardom.

Enter the Dragon producer Fred Weintraub, who also wrote the book Bruce Lee, Woodstock, and Me said: “If fans want to hail Bruce as the greatest and most influential martial artist who ever lived, you’ll get no argument from me. He was a shining star who streaked across the night sky of our collective awareness in a flash of white hot unsustainable intensity only to burn up in the atmosphere of fame, wealth, and worldwide adulation. Watching him again (this time even better on Blu-ray), you can see why he became the first international superstar from a third world country.”

The plot of the Enter the Dragon revolves around outstanding martial arts student Lee (Bruce Lee), who is recruited by an intelligence agency and then uncovers the evil Han's (Kien Shih) white slavery and drug trafficking ring located on a secret island fortress. Along with martial arts champions Roper (John Saxon) and Williams (Jim Kelly), Lee infiltrates the stronghold and enters Han’s brutal tournament. Lee and his partners fuse skills in Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, T'ai chi ch'uan and Hapkido, in a now classic fight-to-the-death epic battle, all staged by Lee himself.

Bruce Lee, John Saxon, and Ahna Capri star in Enter the Dragon, which co-stars Bob Wall, and Shih Kien and introduces Jim Kelly. Music is by Lalo Schifrin. Written by Michael Allen, the film was produced by Fred Weintraub and Paul Heller in association with Raymond Chow. Robert Clouse directed.

Special Features:

·   Commentary by producer Paul Heller

·   New Featurette No Way As Way

·   New Featurette The Return to Han’s Island

·   New Featurette Wing Chun: The Art that Introduced Kung Fu to Bruce Lee

·   Interview Gallery featuring Lee’s wife, Linda Lee Caldwell      

·   Vintage pieces

o   Backyard Workout with Bruce Lee

o   Curse of the Dragon

o   Location: Hong Kong with Enter the Dragon

o   Blood and Steel: The Making of Enter the Dragon    

o   Personal Profile Bruce Lee: In His Own Words

·    Five trailers      

·   Seven TV spots

Note: All enhanced content and memorabilia listed above is subject to change.