Thank the gods that Fox backed down and settled with Warners, or we wouldn’t be suffering the ridiculous wealth of Watchmen goods about to assault our wallets in less than a couple of months time. First out of the gate and streeting March 3rd, just three days before the feature film hits theatres, is the Watchmen Motion Comic Blu-ray. Apparently it’s the whole graphic novel, all twelve comic book issues brought to life with limited animation, voice actors and sound effects all crafted under the watchful eye of Watchmen artist, Dave Gibbons. Extras include a preview of Warner Home Video’s upcoming Wonder Woman DTV and the “Prison Break Scene” from the live-action film (for those unwilling or unable to wait a few days to see it in context and in the cinema.) Also in the package, a cool $7.50 in movie cash.

Expect a release of the animated Black Freighter shortly after March 6 with the eventual release of the feature film directed by Zak Snyder hitting shelves on DVD and Blu-ray near the end of June.

It’s been all but confirmed by Paramount that we’ll see some Star Trek on Blu-ray in May, released to coincide with the upcoming J.J. Abrams cinematic reinvention of the franchise. Bill Hunt at TheDigitalBits.com uncovered the details from studio sources, after package art for the European release was leaked last week.

“…Star Trek I-VI will be released on Blu-ray in the U.S. in May in a 6-film “Kirk/Spock” box set, each with remastered picture and sound. This set will include Star Trek V here in the States, though other regions may offer different disc configurations/packaging options. Star Trek I, II and VI will each be the original theatrical versions. (If I’m not mistaken, this would mark the first time that The Undiscovered Country has EVER been available on home video in its theatrical version – even on VHS – and the first time that The Motion Picture has been available in its theatrical version since its VHS and Laserdisc release. Note that we also expect the remaining Next Generation films to be released in a 4-film Blu-ray box set at a later date.) At least some new extras have been created for this release, including “famous fan” commentary tracks for each film, as well as a featurette offering select scenes from a Klingon performance of Hamlet by the Commedia Beauregard (filmed in St. Paul, Minnesota – see the group’s original press release and this previous report at Trek Movie). It’s unknown yet whether these will be BD-exclusive, or if there will be a simultaneous standard DVD release. What’s more, we’ve learned that CBS will finally release Star Trek: The Original Series – Season One on Blu-ray on the same street date in May as the movies. The release is currently planned to include BOTH the original broadcast versions as well as the new Remastered versions of each episode. ”

Here’s a look at the Norwegian package art:

PRETTY WOMAN (February 10th)

• Video – 1.85:1 1080p AVC
• Audio – 5.1 24-bit PCM soundtrack
• Blooper Reel—Hilarious laughs from behind-the-scenes of the film.
• Live From The Wrap Party—Julia Roberts sings with Richard Gere while he plays the piano. Director Garry Marshall backs them both up on the drums in an impromptu performance of Elvis Costello’s rendition of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”
• Audio Commentary with Director Garry Marshall
• LA: The Pretty Woman Tour—A guided tour with director Garry Marshall and visit the Los Angeles hotspots from the film.
• Production Featurette — Interviews with Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and Garry Marshall on creating the memorable characters that they brought to life during filming.
• “Wild Women Do” — Music video performed by Natalie Cole.
• Original Theatrical Trailer

MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (February 10th)

• Video – 2.35:1 1080p AVC
• Deeds Not Words—Pull up a chair with Director Spike Lee and World War II veterans at the historic Harlem Veterans’ Club as they share their intimate experiences from the Great War and discuss how their service to their country is remembered and immortalized in the annals of history and in the films of Hollywood.
• The Buffalo Soldier Experience—Trace the history of the Buffalo Soldier with historians, Director Spike Lee and the cast, and hear rare firsthand accounts of the deep personal bond that was forged between the soldiers and the Italian citizens during World War II.
• Deleted Scenes

GIGI (March 31st)

• Video - 2.40:1 1080p, Audio - 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack
• New Commentary with Leslie Caron and Film Historian Jeanine Basinger
• The Million Dollar Nickel [1952 MGM short]
• The Vanishing Duck [1958 MGM cartoon]
• Theatrical Trailer
• Thank Heaven! The Making of Gigi – The story of how 1958′s Best Picture winner (the last of the classic MGM musicals) survived a turbulent production that included censorship battles over its daring sexual content and creative struggles between a studio in turmoil and a demanding, visionary director. Featuring an all-new interview with star Leslie Caron, and a rare interview with Oscar-winning director Minnelli
• Original 1949 Nonmusical version of Gigi starring Daniele Delorme in the title role and directed by Jacqueline Audry (in French Mono with English subtitles)

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (March 31st)

• Video - 1.33:1 1080p VC-1 encode
• Audio - 1.0 Dolby Digital soundtrack
• Concerto of a Commentary hosted by Patricia Ward Kelly and featuring rare, often previously unheard interviews with Gene Kelly, Vincente Minnelli, Arthur Freed, Alan Jay Lerner, Johnny Green, Saul Chaplin, Michael Feinstein, Preston Ames and Irene Sharaff and new observations by Leslie Caron and Nina Foch
• 1938 MGM short: Paris on Parade
• 1951 MGM cartoon: Symphony in Slang
• Theatrical trailer
• 2002 American Masters Documentary: Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
• ‘S Wonderful: The Making of An American in Paris, an all new documentary, produced especially for this release. A dynamic history of the making of the film, which reveals how George and Ira Gershwin’s classic songs, the dazzling art of the French impressionists and the ultimate teamwork of MGM’s legendary “Freed Unit” came together to create a musical masterpiece. Featuring ten new interviews, including co-stars Leslie Caron and Nina Foch
• Outtakes: Georges Guetary performing Love Walked In and Gene Kelly performing I Got a Crush on You (audio only)
• Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron promotional radio interview with Dick Simmons
• Love Walked In Outtake
• Audio Outtakes
• Alternate Main Title
  • But Not for Me Guetary
  • But Not for Me Levant Piano Solo
  • Gershwin Prelude #3
  • I’ve Got a Crush on You
  • Nice Work if You Can Get It
  • ‘S Wonderful
• Radio Interviews
  • Johnny Green
  • Gene Kelly
  • Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

Four more James Bond films hit Blu-ray, along with Quantum of Solace on March 24th

Well, will you look at that? We might have been shafted out of the James Bond Volume Four Collection Box Set (rumoured to contain GoldenEye, License to Kill and Diamonds Are Forever) for the time being but MGM has instead decided to gift us with a Blu-ray of Connery‘s final turn in the role in the unofficial Bond film, Never Say Never Again. The Collector’s Edition (SRP $34.99) will include:

• Commentary with director Irvin Kershner and James Bond historian Steven Jay Rubin
• 3 featurettes (The Big Gamble, Sean is Back and The Girls of Never Say Never Again)
• Theatrical trailer
• Photo gallery

The other three films, Goldfinger, Moonraker and The World is Not Enough (SRP $34.99 individually, or $89.98 in a Volume Three collection box set) street with all of the special features found on the previous DVD editions, some upgraded to high-def.

All discs will hit the shelves on March 24th.

I’ve given this a think, since reading the news this morning that Twilight on Blu-ray would be available exclusively at Best Buy and Target from March 21st until May 5. I’ve got to tell you, it doesn’t make a whole heck of a lot of sense to me. The news broke over at Video Business with the announcement that Summit Home Entertainment would be focusing on selling the 2 disc Special Edition DVD, keeping the Blu-ray for exclusive sale and rental and the single DVD for the rental market. Steve Nickerson, president of the company seems to think that the best way to sell the film is to focus in on where and how it’s young female fan group consume media – DVD and downloads.

“This is an unprecedented place, where you have the size of the [Twilight] box office versus this targeted audience,” said Nickerson.

Is this a battle? How does limiting availability help anyone? Sure, the majority of Blu-ray buyers are statistically male, according to recent NPD Group surveys but how is ostracizing any part of a fan base good for business? I’ve had a passing interest in picking this up but seeing as how I live nowhere near a Best Buy (we don’t even have Target up here in the great white north) and I’m sure my enthusiasm won’t stretch into May (yes, I’m fickle) I can safely say that Summit has sacrificed one potential sale right here. I’ve got to imagine I’m not the only one…

Announced extras for this release include:

• Audio Commentary by director Catherine Hardwicke, and stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart
• 5 Extended Scenes with introductions by the director
• 5 Deleted Scenes with introductions by the director
• 3 Music Videos from Muse, Paramore and Linkin Park
• “The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen” — A seven-part documentary
• Comic-Con Phenomenon featurette