Okay... reviews, reviews, reviews. They're coming. First, more news...

Disney has just offered more official details on their forthcoming slate of Platinum edition classic animated titles on Blu-ray Disc. Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast are all in the works. According to the studio's press release, "Each will be available for a limited time only, in new multi-disc sets featuring rarely seen footage and an array of new bonus features." Obviously, the Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition will debut on Blu-ray on 10/7 here in the States, timed with the U.S. launch of Disney's BD-Live Network. The Pinocchio: Platinum Edition will debut on Blu-ray in the spring of 2009. The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition will follow in the fall of 2009, and will debut Disney's BD-Live Network worldwide. The Fantasia: Platinum Edition and Fantasia 2000: Platinum Edition will both arrive on Blu-ray Disc in early to mid-2010. Some of you may have wondered why Destino (the unfinished animated feature collaboration between Walt Disney and painter Salvador Dali) was delayed from its originally announced DVD debut as part of the current wave of Walt Disney Treasures titles. This is why: It's now set to arrive on disc (hopefully, on both DVD and Blu-ray) at the same time as the Fantasia Blu-rays in 2010. Finally, the Beauty in the Beast: Platinum Edition will arrive on Blu-ray Disc in the fall of 2010.

On the standard DVD front, Fox and MGM have just announced a MASSIVE new Hollywood Musicals Collection box set for release on 11/11. The 61-disc set (you read that right - SRP $590.98) will contain 50 classic musical films on DVD, including A Chorus Line, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Apple, Alexander's Ragtime Band, March of the Wooden Soldiers (A.K.A. Babes in Toyland), Beach Blanket Bingo, Belle of the Yukon, Bloodhounds of Broadway, Call Me Madam, Carmen Jones, The Clambake, Daddy Long Legs, De-Lovely, Down Argentine Way, The Fantasticks, Flaming Star, Follow That Dream, Frankie and Johnny, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Goldwyn Follies, Guys and Dolls: Deluxe Edition, Hair, Hans Christian Andersen, Hallelujah, I'm a Bum, Hello Dolly, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Kid Galahad, Kid Millions, Moon Over Miami, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Dolly Sisters, All That Jazz: Music Edition, Can-Can (2-disc), Carousel: 50th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), New York, New York: 30th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), Oklahoma!: 50th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), Sound of Music: 40th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), South Pacific: Collector's Edition (2-disc), State Fair: 60th Anniversary Edition, The King and I: 50th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 25th Anniversary Edition (2-disc), There's No Business Like Show Business, West Side Story: Special Edition (2-disc), Whoopee, Wild in the Country, With a Song in My Heart, Love Me Tender: Special Edition, The Fiddler on the Roof, Moulin Rouge (2-disc) and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Special Edition (2-disc).

Also, we have some cool new Blu-ray release news from Genius Products... look for ESPN's 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story - Collector's Edition in 1080p high-definition on 11/4 (SRP $34.95), followed by Lucky # Slevin and Awake on 11/18 (SRP $28.95). And here's some great news... Genius will finally release Planet Terror and Death Proof on Blu-ray Disc on 12/16 (SRP $28.95). Extras, however, appear to be identical to the prevoius DVD editions. Then on 12/23, Genius will debut Fanboys on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc (SRP $19.97 and $34.99). We'll post more details on these titles as they become available.

Back later, so stay tuned...

(LATE UPDATE - 8/27/08 - 5:45 PM PDT)

We've been a little busy tracking down more release information this afternoon, so we'll post more of those Blu-ray reviews tomorrow. But since we've been tracking down release info, we thought you might like to hear about a little bit more of it...

Specifically, for you music fans, we've just learned that Universal Music Enterprises will be releasing four new Blu-ray Disc titles on 10/21, including ABBA: The Movie, B.B. King: Live, Oasis: Lord Don't Slow Me Down and Michael Apted's Sting: Bring on the Night. Also coming that day are two more music titles on standard DVD, including The Four Tops: Reach Out and Johnny Cash: Cash for Kenya - Live in Johnstown.

Stay tuned...

(EARLY UPDATE - 8/27/08 - 1:45 PM PDT)

Okay, we've got more release news for you this morning, then we'll check back in with reviews later today.

First up, the Business section of The New York Times is reporting today that Disney will release five more Platinum animated classic titles on Blu-ray Disc in the next two years, including Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, Fantasia and Fantasia 2000. Pixar's Finding Nemo will also arrive in 2009. (The title was delayed from this year.) Thanks to Bits reader Al M. for the heads-up.

Paramount has just set DreamWorks' Old School: Unrated Edition for release on Blu-ray Disc on 12/16, along with CBS' Petticoat Junction: The Official First Season on DVD. "Come ride a little train as it's rollin' down the track to the junction..." Paramount has also set 'Paramount Centennial Collection' DVD re-issues of Sabrina (1954), Sunset Boulevard and Roman Holiday for release on 11/11. We're not sure yet if any new extras will be included, but we'll let you know as soon as we can find out.

Meanwhile, Universal has set The Gregory Peck Film Collection for DVD release on 11/4 (SRP $59.98), expected to include Arabesque, Cape Fear (1962), Captain Newman, M.D., Mirage, To Kill a Mockingbird and The World in His Arms. Also newly announced for DVD release on 11/11 is The World's Most Amazing Videos: Volume One (SRP $14.98).

On the Warner side of things, it looks like The Shawshank Redemption Blu-ray Disc release has been reslated for 12/2 (SRP $28.99). New Line's Run, Fat Boy, Run has also been set for DVD and Blu-ray release by Warner on 9/23. In other Warner announcement news, Battle Beneath the Earth/The Ultimate Warrior, Moon Zero Two/When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth and World without End/Satellite in the Sky have all been set for DVD release on 10/7 (SRP $19.98). They're currently available as Best Buy exclusives. The New Adventures of Old Christine: The Complete Second Season is expected to arrive on DVD on 10/21. NBA Champions 2007-2008 follows on Blu-ray Disc on 11/4. Finally, a new Superman Doomsday: 2-Disc Special Edition is expected on DVD on 11/25.

Now then, we've saved the best for last: The Joker says you might want to check out The Rumor Mill today for anticipated street dates on a trio of MAJOR Warner DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles coming in November and December, along with a big Universal title as well...

Stay tuned!

Bill Hunt, Editor
The Digital Bits
billhunt@thedigitalbits.com