As promised, we've got one last post for you today before we all head on down to San Diego for Comic-Con.

We're pleased today to offer you Rob Siegel's latest Golden Hollywood column, featuring a look at the making of Fox's The Longest Day, as well as MGM's A Bridge Too Far and Battle of Britain. There's a ton of great information and artwork to check out, so enjoy!

In release news today, Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for Paramount's DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Iron Man. There will be single-disc and two-disc special edition DVD releases (SRP $34.99 and $39.99), as well as a Blu-ray edition (SRP $39.99). The discs will street on 9/30 according to the retailer, confirming our Rumor Mill report from a few weeks ago (here and here). We expect an official announcement soon, and word is that Marvel will be promoting the title in its booth at Comic-Con. You can read more here at Video Business. The story also confirms our report that Indiana Jones IV is expected in October, with Kung Fu Panda set to follow in November.

Now then... we'll be out of the office at the Con until Sunday, so our next major update will be on Monday morning. However, Sarah may check in on Friday with a gallery of fun pictures from Comic-Con for you all to enjoy. So check back in on Friday afternoon (at this page) for those.

Also, we wanted to mention that we've been getting a TON of reader e-mails over the last few weeks, and we appreciate all the feedback and comments. We try to answer as many e-mails as we can, but there's just no way we can respond to everyone. We do, however, try to read them all... just so you know. We're actually NOT going to be checking our mail while we're down in San Diego, however. Sometimes you just need to unplug, you know?

Anyway, we'll see some of you at our Comic-Con panel on Thursday afternoon (one last time, it's on from 3-4 PM in room 5AB at the Convention Center). For the rest of you, watch for Sarah's Con photos on Friday, and we'll check back as usual on Monday with an update on all the latest DVD and Blu-ray developments from the convention, as well as a new High-Definition Matters from Barrie Maxwell.

Meanwhile, don't forget that Fox's The X-Files: I Want to Believe feature film hits theatres on Friday (see the official website here), so check that out if you're interested and let us know what you think. Also, for you Battlestar Galactica fans, Sci-Fi.com has just posted the first promo spot for the upcoming prequel series, Caprica. Looks PRETTY damn interesting, I have to admit. I'm far more intrigued than I expected to be, based on the early descriptions of the series. Fingers crossed on this one, but I like what I see so far...

Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay tuned!

7/22/08

Okay, we're pleased today to bring you a whole bunch of new Blu-ray Disc reviews. I've given Warner's Batman Begins: Limited Edition Giftset a look, as well as Paramount's Top Gun: Special Collector's Edition and Patriot Games, and Sony's new Starship Troopers. And when I get back from Comic-Con next week, I've got more Blu-ray reviews coming, as well as reviews of a number of new and recent DVDs from Criterion and other studios. So stay tuned for that.

Also today, we've updated the Upcoming DVD Cover Art section as well today, with all the latest DVD and Blu-ray Disc cover scans and Amazon preorder links.

In announcement news today, Universal has set The Strangers for release on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 10/21. Also announced by the studio is Dog Gone for release on DVD on 10/7.

Sony has set a Can't Hardly Wait: 10th Anniversary Edition for release on DVD and Blu-ray on 9/30, along with new Blu-ray versions of My Best Friend's Wedding, Maid in Manhattan and Mona Lisa Smile, and Buried Alive on DVD only.

And Warner Home Video has announced the BBC's Primeval: The Complete Series 1 & 2 on DVD on 11/4, as well as Quo Vadis: Special Edition on both DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 11/11. [Editor's note: We're hearing that the Quo Vadis Blu-ray may street early in 2009 - we'll work to confirm that.]

Also finally coming to Blu-ray from Warner is Constantine on 10/14 (SRP $28.99, includes In-Movie Experience and all extras from the HD-DVD version) as well as Oliver Stone's JFK (SRP $34.99) in 'hardbook' packaging on 11/11. A 3-disc JFK: Ultimate Collector's Edition will also be available on DVD (SRP $39.98) on 11/11, as we've revealed previously (we posted the artwork here a few weeks ago).

Meanwhile, Amazon.com has posted the cover art for MGM's forthcoming James Bond Blu-ray Disc releases (due 10/20), and now has them available for pre-order. Available are individual versions of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Thunderball, Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only and Die Another Day, along with a pair of collections including the James Bond Blu-ray Collection Three-Pack: Volume 1 (Dr. No, Die Another Day and Live and Let Die) and the James Bond Blu-ray Collection Three-Pack: Volume 2 (For Your Eyes Only, From Russia with Love and Thunderball). Word is, Sony is also working on a new Blu-ray Deluxe Edition of Casino Royale for release around the same time. Additional details are available at the excellent MI6 U.K. Bond website. (Thanks to Bits reader Tim H. for the link.). Here's a look at the covers...





And the Japanese Amazon site has revealed that Warner's Matrix Trilogy Blu-ray Disc set (due in Japan on 11/19) will come packaged in a replica of the Nebuchadnezzar. (Thanks to Bits reader Jim J. for that link.) Warner has acknowledged to The Bits that it's coming this year, so we expect The Matrix Trilogy to be announced for release here in the U.S. very soon.

We'll be back tomorrow with a new Golden Hollywood column from Rob Siegel, as well as a new High-Definition Matters from Barrie Maxwell, in what will be our last post before we head down to Comic-Con in San Diego. Stay tuned!

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