I have to express my disappointment, however, that the studios have yet to dig deep into their catalogue releases to afford us nice, new high-def transfers of horror classics like the iconic black-and-white Universal monster films of the thirties and forties, or those fantastic, blood-red Eastman-color Hammer spectacles from the fifties and sixties. It’s a shame that such important classics perpetually get treated like second-class citizens by the major studios. I mean, even the DVD releases of groundbreaking Hammer releases The Curse of Frankenstein and The Horror of Dracula have only been offered in bare-bones, albeit relatively handsomely-transferred DVD editions. Why not assemble a new special feature packed collector’s edition Blu-ray, while some stars of the films are still willing and able to participate? And though Universal’s classic monster DVD editions are wonderful to behold, brimming with documentaries and commentary tracks, they could really use a high-def face lift, if you ask me.

All right, sorry for the rant. I know it’s only a matter of time before all of those amazing films find their way to Blu. I just hope we see them sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out all the awesomeness now available to us in high-def. Some of these discs, newly released and listed below are truly great and are must-haves for all film fans!

Happy Blu-Halloween!

10. IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN

The third prime-time animated Charlie Brown special has been a Halloween classic for almost fifty years now. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was released in 1966 and looks pretty decent on Blu, considering its age. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack also includes It’s Magic, Charlie Brown as well as a short 14-minute featurette on the history of the animated specials.

Amazon: $18.49

9 . MANIAC

William Lustig‘s Maniac is one crazy-ass serial killer flik. It’s got Joe Spinell giving a sometimes nuanced, sometimes crazy performance of a lifetime as murderer Frank Zito and more gory make-up effects than you can shake a stick at, thanks to Dawn of the Dead splatter-guru Tom Savini. The new Blu-ray from Blue Underground looks pretty grim (black crush, noise and an overall dull image presentation) but packs a wallop in the extras department, with two commentary tracks, a host of interviews in HD and more spread over this two-disc set.

Amazon: $17.99

8. VAMPIRE GIRL VS. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL

I don’t want to beat a dead horse here but I think FUNimation‘s Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl is a pretty fun little piece of fluff. I covered the Blu-ray release in more depth in the full review of the disc (which you can read in full here) so I don’t want to go overboard heaping the praise on this bad boy, but let me just say in short, that if you think you might enjoy seeing monsters that look like attractive Japanese schoolgirls hacking away at each other while showers of blood spray the screen red, well, you’re in for a treat!

Amazon: $19.49

7. SPLICE

Ahhhh Splice. It’s been a week since my viewing of this film and I still don’t know how I feel about it. It’s pretty creepy, that’s for sure – following Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley‘s misadventures with genetic mashups and the strangely attractive, sometimes naked girl-thing that the experiments produce. The disc looks and sounds pretty great and has a few featurettes that give a fairly decent look behind the scenes of the production. All in all, pretty cool, in a gross, Cronenberg kind of way…

Amazon: $26.99

6. RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD

BRAAAAAIIINNNSSS!!! I’m pretty sure that no zombie had ever moaned for brains before Dan O’Bannon‘s groundbreaking Return of the Living Dead. Am I wrong? These are some damn chatty living dead! The film is equal parts horror and comedy and eighties rock and roll through and through. The Blu-ray presents the film looking and sounding way better than ever and includes a nice selection of bonus features (commentary, featurettes, zombie-subtitles and more). Fans will want to scoop this one up immediately!

Amazon: $11.49

5. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

I can’t get over just how stunning the Rocky Horror Picture Show disc looks and sounds on this newly released Blu-ray disc. I mean, I’m not a huge fan of the film. I’ve seen it a number of times over the years but never, ever has it been so visually vivid or sonically dynamic! The image is derived from a 2K/4K master struck from the original camera negatives and the audio is presented in a haunted-house rocking DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1! This is one amazing Blu-ray disc, packaged in a really nice hardcover digi-book and brimming with special features. It’s a must-have for any fan of the film!

Amazon: $18.49

4. HOUSE (HAUSU)

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this Criterion Collection Blu-ray release of House (also known as Hausu in its native Japan) forever! After almost a year of hints that the film would join the collection, House finally hits shelves this week and it is tremendous. As you’d expect from any Criterion release, the film has never looked or sounded so good and never been released in any home video edition that featured as many special features as this. For a full rundown of the disc, read our previously published article here: Criterion announces October Blu-ray titles: Seven Samurai, The Magician, Paths of Glory, House, The Darjeeling Limited

Amazon: $34.99

3. POLTERGEIST

This isn’t the first release of Tobe Hooper‘s (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) Poltergeist on Blu-ray. In fact, the initial 2008 digi-book release is superior to this newly released one in one critical way – the hardcover digi-book packaging! That said, this is a great, genuinely spooky movie, with a solid script and some wonderful performances. The Blu-ray disc is the same as in the 2008 package, featuring a really rock-solid transfer, a surprising killer Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track and a 30-minute, two-part look at real-life ghost hunters.

Amazon: $15.99

2. PSYCHO

Alfred Hitchcock‘s horror classic Psycho has never looked or sounded better than on this brand new, remastered 50th Anniversary Blu-ray edition. The previously available DVD transfer was sorely lacking and Universal has gone to great pains to improve upon it for the films high-def debut. The robust collection of supplemental material is truly impressive, featuring all of the DVD extras in addition to a brand new commentary track, “Hitchcock/Truffaut” audio interviews and a couple of featurettes.

Amazon: $17.99

1. THE EXORCIST

This incredible two disc Blu-ray edition of The Exorcist is, hands down, the finest new horror release on the format this season. Aside from the fact that the film is probably the best of the bunch on my list, the rest of the package also reigns supreme, featuring a gorgeous, hardcover digi-book, both versions of the film (original theatrical and extended cuts) and so many special features it’ll make your head spin (pun intended)! Read our previously published article for a full breakdown of the 2-disc Blu-ray set details: The Exorcist coming to Blu-ray in October.

Amazon: $25.99

ALSO NEWLY AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS HALLOWEEN
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

READ MORE: Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Halloween 2009

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1. THE EXORCIST

This is it! This is the big one in a week full of amazing releases. William Friedkin‘s The Exorcist, an adaptation of William Peter Blatty‘s novel of the same name, was one of the most terrifying films of the seventies and remains so today. This new Blu-ray editiion features both the original 1973 cut of the film and the updated 2000 extended director’s cut of the film. I’m happy to report that neither have received the revisionist colour-timing that Friedkin inflicted on the Blu-ray release of his film The French Connection. Both versions of The Exorcist remain as pure as they ever were and, in fact, look better than I’ve ever seen them. The new high-def transfers are wonderful!

Between the great audio/visual presentation here and the bevy of bonus features, grabbing up this disc set is a no-brainer, as they say back in my home town. Don’t wait for the holidays for this one, folks. You want to be showing off your HD set-up with this bad boy in the lead-up to Halloween, when The Exorcist has the greatest power to terrify impress!

For more information, including quotes on the disc from Friedkin and WHV, read our previous post here: The Exorcist coming to Blu-ray in October

Special Features:

Disc 1 – Extended Director’s Cut (2000)

• Commentary by William Friedkin
• NEW BD Exclusive: Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist — set footage produced and photographed by Owen Roizman, camera and makeup tests, and interviews with director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair, author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty and Owen Roizman.
• NEW BD Exclusive: The Exorcist Locations: GeorgetownThen and Now — Featuring a tour of the iconic locations where the film was shot.
• NEW BD Exclusive: Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist — with director William Friedkin and author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty discussing the different versions of the film and featuring outtakes from the film.
• Trailers, TV Spots & Radio Spots from the film’s 2000 release
• Trailers
  • The Version You’ve Never Seen
  • Our Deepest Fears
• TV Spots
  • Most Electrifying
  • Scariest Ever
  • Returns
• Radio Spots
  • The Devil Himself
  • Our Deepest Fears

Disc 2 – Theatrical Cut (1973)

• Introduction by William Friedkin
• Commentary by William Friedkin
• Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects Tests
• The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist [1998 BBC documentary
• Additional Interviews with William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty
  • The Original Cut
  • Stairway to Heaven
  • The Final Reckoning
• Original Ending
• Sketches & Storyboards
• Trailers
  • Nobody Expected It
  • Beyond Comprehension
  • Flash Image
• TV Spots
  • Beyond Comprehension
  • You Too Can See The Exorcist
  • Between Science & Superstition
  • The Movie You’ve Been Waiting For

Amazon: $23.99

2. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE and THE MALTESE FALCON

Believe me, it was a tough call placing both The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon in the second slot this week but there's just no competing with the deluxe 2-disc, digibook extravaganza that is The Exorcist. That said, these two classic John Huston fliks starring Humphrey Bogart are both must-haves for all film fans, representing the finest presentation either has ever seen on home video, with Treasure actually looking quite spectacular! Both feature enough special features to please any fan or to educate any budding film student. Check it out!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Maltese Falcon

• Commentary by Bogart Biographer Eric Lax
• Featurette: The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird
• Breakdowns of 1941: Studio Blooper Reel
• Makeup tests
• Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart
• Warner Night at the Movies 1941 – Short Subjects Gallery:
  • Newsreel
  • Musical Short: The Gay Parisian
  • Two Classic Cartoons:
    • Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt
    • Meet John Doughboy
• Trailers
  • The Maltese Falcon
  • Sergeant York
  • Satan Met a Lady (1936 previous Falcon movie adaptation)
• Audio-Only Bonus: Three radio show adaptations – two featuring the movie's original stars, plus another starring Edward G. Robinson

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

• Commentary by Bogart biographer Eric Lax
• Featurette: Discovering Treasure: The Story of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
• Feature-length documentary profile: John Huston
• Outtakes
• Classic Cartoon: 8 Ball Bunny
• Warner Night at the Movies 1948 – Short Subjects Gallery:
  • Newsreel
  • Joe McDoakes Comedy Short: So You Want to Be a Detective
  • Classic Cartoon: Hot Cross Bunny
• Trailers:
  • The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
  • Key Largo
• Audio-Only Bonus: Radio show adaptation featuring the movie's original stars

Amazon: $17.49 each

3. THE KARATE KID

Okay, honestly, this Karate Kid remake is quite great. That's right. It's not just good. It's great. Nevermind that it's more Kung Fu now than Karate, with the location of the film transplanted from the California, USA of the original 1984 classic film to China 2010. And nevermind that aged Japanese sensei Mr. Miyagi has been replaced by Jackie Chan's far more genuinely skilled, and far more Chinese Mr. Han. This is a faithful representation of the tone and themes of the original with a whole new modern spirit and vastly improved photography and musical score. The Blu-ray disc is damn-near flawless, sporting one of the best transfers we've seen all year. The Karate Kid is a winner on Blu-ray!

Amazon: $22.99

4. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

The Last of the Mohicans is probably one of the most long awaited titles to make it to the world of high-def. And this week, it makes its debut on Blu is a fairly strong transfer that should please most fans. It’s a bit on the darker side and has a handful of scenes that border on murky but generally exhibits a great amount of detail and an overall accurate representation of the film. Fans of director Michael Mann won’t want to miss out on his thorough commentary track here. It might not be overly engaging, but if you follow his work or care for the film you’ll be enthralled. There’s also a great 42-minute “Making Of” documentary feature presented in 1080i for those who’d like to delve in a little deeper. The new HD transfer and doc definitely make this Blu-ray disc a worthy upgrade from the DVD!

Amazon: $18.49

5. GRINDHOUSE

FINALLY! How long have we been waiting for this combined Grindhouse release, featuring both Planet Terror and Death Proof? Like, forever?! Well, now you can have that theatrical experience all over again, with shorter cuts of both films and all the fake-trailers you can stomach (including Machete!) There are a lot of special features on this bad boy, but sadly, no lossless audio.

Amazon: $22.99

ANIMATION SPOTLIGHT

DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: DIAMOND EDITION

Don’t miss out on this incredible Diamond Edition of Disney‘s Beauty and the Beast. I swear, it’s absolutely magnificent. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen from the moment the film began. This is a truly beautiful Blu-ray that shouldn’t be missed by animation or high-def fans.

Read our full review here: Beauty and the Beast: Diamond Edition Blu-ray Disc Review

Amazon: $24.99

THE SECRET OF KELLS

Incredible. That’s about all I can say about The Secret of Kells. Every frame of this independently created 2D animation film can stand on its own as a stunning frame of art. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at this past years Academy Awards for good reason. I haven’t seen the Blu-ray disc but understand it looks and sounds pretty close to perfect. I’ll be picking this one up as soon as I can!

Amazon: $34.99

ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY THIS WEEK
Clicking an image will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about and purchase the Blu-ray disc:

Related posts

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• [VIDEO] The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut Blu-ray Trailer (0)
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• Last of the Mohicans Blu-ray announced and detailed (0)
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Just watching this trailer for the new Blu-ray edition of The Exorcist gives me chills. This is honestly one of the most terrifying films ever made. And I’m anticipating its Blu-ray release being one of the finest and most complete high-def releases of the year. If you haven’t done so yet, read all about the amazing looking 2-Disc set here: The Exorcist coming to Blu-ray in October

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This has been a frustrating week. I’ve had to perform something of an exorcism on The Blu-ray Blog over the last couple of days, as some jerk (or jerks, as the case may be) had taken over the RSS feed, replacing Blu-ray titles and details with pharma-spam. It’s only fitting then that we return, now playing a little announcement catch-up, by giving you the rundown of Warner‘s upcoming 2-Disc Blu-ray release of William Friedkin‘s The Exorcist!

Included in the set are both versions of the famous 1973 film. Friedkin says, “After my final cut of the original The Exorcist, I took out 12 more minutes before we actually released it in theatres. Years later, Bill Blatty asked if I’d consider reviewing some of that rejected footage (which he always felt should have remained) with an eye towards putting it into a new version. Bill gave me the best piece of material I’ve ever received and because of that and because the film had such a major reputation over some 25 years, I agreed to revisit all these scenes. When I saw them, I came to realize that Bill was, in fact, right. With technical advances, scenes that didn’t work then could now be fixed with CGI and there were others that I thought strengthened the spiritual aspect of the film. Warner agreed and released a whole new theatrical print in 2000 which we called The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen. And I now agree with Blatty that this is the best and most complete version.”

And apparently both edits will look and sound pretty decent on Blu, at least according to WHV Executive VP & General Manager, Theatrical Catalog, Jeff Baker, “Generally speaking, sourcing relevant and provocative film assets for older films (30 years and older), is difficult, and more often than not, proves to be unsuccessful. The never before seen behind the camera treasure trove of material that consumers will see in The Exorcist Blu-ray release is one of the great finds in modern day home entertainment history. Laurent Bouzereau, an acclaimed documentarian, has blended this archival rare footage with updated present day interviews to create a masterpiece that will be treasured and studied for decades to come.”

Now, there’s always the chance that Friedkin has butchered the films for their Blu-ray presentation, as he did The French Connection release a couple of years back. Let’s pray that it won’t be the case but rest assured the Bouzereau docs and bonus features alone will make this set worth owning, whatever the state of the films.

Special Features:

Disc 1 – Extended Director’s Cut (2000)

• Commentary by William Friedkin
• NEW BD Exclusive: Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist — set footage produced and photographed by Owen Roizman, camera and makeup tests, and interviews with director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair, author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty and Owen Roizman.
• NEW BD Exclusive: The Exorcist Locations: GeorgetownThen and Now — Featuring a tour of the iconic locations where the film was shot.
• NEW BD Exclusive: Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist — with director William Friedkin and author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty discussing the different versions of the film and featuring outtakes from the film.
• Trailers, TV Spots & Radio Spots from the film’s 2000 release
• Trailers
  • The Version You’ve Never Seen
  • Our Deepest Fears
• TV Spots
  • Most Electrifying
  • Scariest Ever
  • Returns
• Radio Spots
  • The Devil Himself
  • Our Deepest Fears

Disc 2 – Theatrical Cut (1973)

• Introduction by William Friedkin
• Commentary by William Friedkin
• Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects Tests
• The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist [1998 BBC documentary
• Additional Interviews with William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty
  • The Original Cut
  • Stairway to Heaven
  • The Final Reckoning
• Original Ending
• Sketches & Storyboards
• Trailers
  • Nobody Expected It
  • Beyond Comprehension
  • Flash Image
• TV Spots
  • Beyond Comprehension
  • You Too Can See The Exorcist
  • Between Science & Superstition
  • The Movie You’ve Been Waiting For

  Related posts

  • [VIDEO] The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut Blu-ray Trailer (0)
  • Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 5 (0)
  • Top 10 New Blu-ray Discs for Halloween 2010 (4)
  • Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of October 12 (1)
  • Top 5 New Blu-ray releases for the Week of June 8 (1)
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