Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown Blu-ray's Detailed for October Release in UK and USA

Although other territories have seen Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction released on Blu-ray, neither the US nor the UK have had official versions land on their store shelves.  Jackie Brown, often wrongly seen as the poor relation, has had an equally difficult journey; however it appears the wait is almost over, as the pair are set for an October release.

Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown will go on sale in the USA on the 4th October, while UK retailer Play.com has a place-holder for the pair's release on the 17th October.  Excellent news, however it gets better, as both films have been remastered  in 1080p, with the process supervised by Tarantino, plus they'll get new HD audio tracks too.

Although all the previous bonus material from the DVD releases will be included, Pulp Fiction will have a new set of retrospective cast interviews while both Pulp and Jackie Brown will get a 'Critics Corner: Then and Now' featurette.  Whether this is the final feature list or not isn't clear.

So, amazingly, we've got another two great films ready for release on Blu-ray this year!

Yamaha add A1010 Blu-ray Player to Aventage Range

Hot on the heels of their Aventage line of A/V Receivers, Yamaha has added the Aventage BD-A1010, a 3D-capable Blu-ray player to the range.  Of course, Yamaha are pushing it as a perfect companion to the 3D receiver range, but judging by the specification and surprisingly reasonable price (for a Yamaha player), a lot of other people are going to be picking the A1010 up too.

The A1010 is a universal player, so accepts 3D Blu-ray, DVD, SACD and DVD-A discs, plus it has a wide-range of digital codecs to its name, including AVCHD, DivX Plus, WMV, WMA, MP3 and AAC file types.  Both DTS-HD and Dolby True-HD are supported, and the HDMI sends 1080p/24Hz images to your screen, and x.v Color and Deep Color enhancements are onboard for a great-looking image.  There's a front and a rear mounted USB socket, plus an RS232C port too.

Although you'll need to plug in an Ethernet cable, the A1010 has an extensive library of online content ready to stream from providers including Netflix, Blockbuster-on-Demand and the living room-friendly YouTube Leanback service.

The Yamaha Aventage BD-A1010 should be on sale soon with a retail price of $499.

Sony Launch New 3D Blu-ray BDV-3985WH All-in-One System

Anyone wanting to start out in home cinema, but doesn't want to break the bank by going down the all separates route, is well-advised to look at an all-in-one system.  While they were once a cheap and cheerful way of bringing surround sound into your home, they've evolved to challenge many entry-level speaker/amp combinations; and this new Sony BDV-3985WH is a great example.

The set consists of four tall speakers, a horizontally mounted centre speaker, a subwoofer and an iPod/iPhone docking station; plus the main control box.  The Blu-ray player incorporated here can play 3D discs, plus there are two HDMI inputs to attach other devices too.  The rear speakers are wirelessly connected to the main unit, and you can plug in a Wi-Fi adaptor to gain access to the Bravia Internet Video content and other online video sources.

The system is said to be available now from Sony dealers in the USA for $1599, but it has yet to appear on Sony's website, therefore some key information is missing from the spec list - namely the power output.  We'll update here when Sony makes the information available.

X-Men: First Class Blu-ray Announced

Coinciding with a special promotion at ComicCon, Marvel and 20th Century Fox has announced the availability of X-Men: First Class on Blu-ray later this year.  The film is an 'origin' story for several familiar X-men, but in particular Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr (Magneto).

ComicCon attendees had the chance to pre-order the Blu-ray at a reduced price, and the first 1000 to do so received a limited edition T-shirt, apparently aping the Twilight series by featuring 'Team Charles' or Team Erik'.  That's enough of that sort of thing please!

Anyway, the film hits retail shelves on the 9th September in the USA, but has yet to get a UK date; however we do have a list of extra features:

• 10 Marvel X-Men Digital Comics with exclusive Backstory Comic.  These are available as downloads with a 'redeemable code'.
• Cerebro Mutant Tracker: The complete interactive Mutant Database.
• Children of the Atom: An eight-part behind-the-scenes featurette on pre and post production, visual effects and costume design.
• "X" Marks the Spot: An interactive, scene-specific feature with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Extended and Deleted Scenes
• Composer's Isolated Score
• Theatrical Trailer

The Blu-ray will have both Professor X and Magneto packaging, so you'll be able to choose your favourite, and you can see an example of both at the top of this post.

Burn Blu-ray Discs Without a PC Using the Sony VBD-MA1

Now this is a clever device!  The Sony VBD-MA1 is a standalone Blu-ray burner, meaning you don't have to connect it to a computer in order to record data onto a disc.  It's perfect for backing up videos and images from digital and video cameras, as it has both SD and Sony Memory Stick Duo slots, along with a USB port for directly connecting your device.

On the top of the burner is a 2.7" screen on which you can view the content before recording it to disc, which Sony say is done at the touch of a button.  Of course, if you want to connect it to a computer you can, but the beauty of the MA1 is its portability.

Sony say it's compatible with the majority of their HandyCam range of cameras, all the way up to their advanced amateur models, plus as it has composite video inputs you can even record from a VCR!  For many, the ability to digitally archive old VHS material will make the MA1 a must-have gadget.  You can even add chapters, menus and title screens to your new Blu-ray copies too.

The VBD-MA1 is listed on Sony's US website as available now for $299, and Japan should be seeing the same model very soon too, however it doesn't appear on Sony's European sites as yet.

Cars 2 Artwork and Director's Edition Set Appears Ahead of Announcment

Cars 2 is only just appearing in European cinemas, but in the USA the artwork for various Blu-ray releases has been posted to several online retail sites, including Amazon.  The sequel to one of Pixar's less successful films - but an enormously successful toy range - will be available as a 2D set with the Blu-ray and DVD, a four disc edition with the Blu, DVD, a digital copy and a 3D Blu-ray; plus a Director's Edition box set.

This boxset will not only contain Cars 2, but the original Cars and the spin-off Mater's Tall Tales too, all of which will come on a Blu-ray, a DVD and a digital copy.  A 3D version of Cars 2 will also be included, as will a disc of bonus features for the new film. 

The real attraction here though is the set itself, which has a Cars toy atop the pedestal case.  It looks to be an announcer or race commentator, and the HDRoom suggests it's an exclusive to the set.  If so, the Cars toy collectors will be very keen to get their hands on this one, and with a pre-order price of $79.99, it's quite reasonable too.

While we've got the box art to look at, the release date is still a mystery, but it's likely to be around the end of the year in time for the holiday season.

What's in the Basket? A Blu-ray! Basket Case Coming Soon...

If you're a fan of grimy, budget exploitation, then Frank Henelotter's cheapy classic Basket Case is bound to be a favourite.  Already available through Something Weird on DVD, the company has announced they'll be bringing the film to Blu-ray later this year.

Now, before you start to question how Basket Case is going to benefit from being on Blu-ray, you'll be pleased to know that it has been given a new HD transfer in the original full-frame ratio.  Will it look good?  Only time will tell, but it can't look any worse than the dodgy VHS I first saw it on!

Director Frank Henenlotter has recorded a new introduction to the film, which sadly appears to be the only new bonus feature on the disc, as it repeats the content seen on the current DVD release.  Here's what you're going to get:

• Commentary with Henenlotter, producer Edgar Ievins and actress Beverly Bonner.
• Outakes and behind-the-scenes footage taken from the director's personal collection.
• Trailers and a TV spot.
• In Search of the Hotel Broslin.
• Radio Spots.
• Image gallery.

Basket Case will spring from its open basket on the 30th August in the USA.

West Side Story Headed for UK and US Blu-ray

One of the most famous musicals of all-time has been announced for release on Blu-ray in both the UK and the USA.  West Side Story, the 1961 Oscar winner, will make its debut in the UK, however there is some confusion on the exact date as Amazon give a 17th October release, while HMV say it's going to be out on the 24th October.  Both are Mondays, so it could be either.  There's no such confusion for the US release though, which is scheduled for the 15th November.

While the UK online retailers have placeholders with unconfirmed artwork, the official press release in the USA shows two editions - a digibook and a limited edition box set.  The box will contain four discs - the film on both Blu-ray and DVD, a Blu-ray with bonus features and a tribute CD, plus lobby car reprints and a commemorative book.

Both the digibook and the box set use the famous poster image, which so far doesn't appear on the UK's edition - a crime which will hopefully be rectified by the time it's released! 

Here are the bonus features set to appear with this 50th anniversary release:

• Pow! The Dances of West Side Story.  A featurette analysing several famous dance sequences from the film - Prologue, Dance at the Gym, Tony and Maria's Cha Cha, America, The Rumble, Maria's Roof Dance and Cool.

• A Place For Us: West Side Story's Legacy.  A featurette in two parts - Creation and Innovation and A Timeless Vision.

• Song Specific Commentaries by lyricist Stephen Sondheim for the following songs:
• Prologue.
• The Jet Song.
• Something's Coming.
• Dance at the Gym.
• Maria.
• America.
• Tonight.
• Gee, Officer Krupke.
• I Feel Pretty.
• One Hand, One Heart.
• Quintet.
• Somewhere.
• Cool.
• A Boy Like That/I Have a Love.

• West Side Memories.  Documentary.
• Music Machine.  Chapter stops for each song.
• Storyboard to Film Comparison.
• Trailers.

UK prices have yet to be confirmed, however the limited edition will cost $49.99 and the digibook $19.99 in the USA.

New Onkyo BD-SP809 Announced, Will Wear £499 Price Tag

Despite the cost of Blu-ray players falling all the time, Onkyo obviously believe there's still plenty of people willing to stump up a little more cash for a high-end player; hence the announcement of the BD-SP809.  It's the follow-up to the SP807 and like that player has been certified by THX, one of several reasons for the hefty price-tag.

It's a big brute too, weighing 6kg, and comes with a vibration-reducing top cover, gold-plated analogue audio outputs and that super-cool minimalist design Onkyo have favoured recently.  Around the back of the machine you'll find dual-HDMI ports, a USB port and an Ethernet connection, plus the SP809 has DLNA 1.5 certification allowing users to stream content from other devices with the minimum of setup.

Onkyo has squeezed in plenty of playback options too, including 3D Blu-ray, DVD, CD, SACD and file formats such as DivX HD, MP3 and WMA.  Of course, both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are supported, plus the player makes use of Qdeo processing to upscale DVD to the very highest quality.

The BD-SP809 will be available in black or silver from August in the UK.

Macgo Software Provides Native Blu-ray Playback for Macs

Seeing as Apple are unlikely to start offering standard Blu-ray drives or their own Blu-ray playback software anytime soon, it's time to start looking elsewhere for help.  There are many external and internal Blu-ray drives available, but what about dedicated Mac software?

Macgo has released the Mac Blu Ray Player, a native Mac OS X player, which they claim is the very first universal media player for both Mac and PC owners to offer Blu-ray support.  The player comes with a free 90-day trail, so you can give it a go without committing early on, and it'll cost you a reasonable $39.99 to continue using - forever - after the trial expires.

So is it any good?  I've not got a Blu-ray drive for my Mac so can't give it a try, but a TUAW writer indicated the software could do with a few tweaks, as the playback often resulted in some image problems.  Over at CNET, their coverage points out that Macgo needs an Internet connection to validate Blu-ray disc playback, so don't expect any offline HD fun.

Still, as it has a generous trial period, if you've got a Blu-ray drive for your Mac it's probably worth a download to see how it performs.