Sony has announced a 20 January release of Vacancy 2. This horror sequel starring David Moscow and Brian Klugman will arrive with a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, a cast-and-crew commentary track, some featurettes, and a slate of deleted scenes. SRP is $24.96.




















We have received early word that Sony is preparing a 20 January Blu-ray Disc release of The Pink Panther. This remake of the hit Peter Sellers movie starring Steve Martin will arrive with a 1.85:1 1080p transfer, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, and a slate of bonus features that have yet to be confirmed. SRP is $28.95.




















20 January will also bring the Sony Blu-ray Disc release of 13 Going on 30. This Jennifer Garner comedy will arrive with a 1.85:1 1080p transfer, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, and a bonus slate that is still TBD. SRP is $28.95.





















Peace Arch Entertainment will release The Deal on Blu-ray Disc on 20 January. This comedy starring Meg Ryan and William H. Macy will arrive with a 1080p transfer, but audio specs and bonus features (if any) have yet to be released. SRP is $34.95.




















BBC Warner has announced last-minute plans to release The BBC Earth Collection on Blu-ray Disc on 18 November. This box set will include high-def editions of Planet Earth and Earth: The Biography, each of which comes with the same 1080p transfers and tracks found on its initial Blu-ray Disc release. No new bonus features will be exclusive to this set. SRP is $129.95.



















Early word has been offered for the 13 January Blu-ray Disc release of Ghost in the Shell 2 from Bandai Visual. This hugely popular hit sequel to the groundbreaking anime film will arrive with a 1080p transfer, but audio specs and bonuses are still TBD. SRP is $39.98.




















We’ve just received our first look at box art for the 27 January Paramount release of The Love Boat: Season 2, Volume 1. This latest release of the goofy series will arrive with 1.33:1 transfers and stereo tracks. No bonuses will be included. SRP is $36.98.




















Warner and New Line have announced a 20 January Blu-ray Disc release of Amusement. This creepy-crawly horror flick starring Katheryn Winnick will arrive with a 2.40:1 1080p transfer and a Dolby TrueHD track, but no bonus features will be included. SRP is $35.99.




















Sony has announced plans to release The Partridge Family: The Complete Fourth Season on 3 February. This final season of the hit singing-family sitcom will arrive with 1.33:1 transfers and mono tracks. It doesn’t look as though any bonus features will be included. SRP is $29.95.




















More specs have been released for Fox’s 24 February Blu-ray Disc release of Vanishing Point. This car-chase epic from 1971 will arrive with a 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, three new featurettes, a trivia track, an in-movie trivia challenge, a Super Soul Me BonusView feature with interviews with various music contributors to the film, a seamless branching version of the film with ten additional minutes of footage, a commentary track by director Richard Sarafian, and some TV spots. SRP is $34.99.


















Sony will release Boogeyman 3 on 20 January. This horror flick starring Erin Cahill and Kate Maberly will arrive with a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, some featurettes, and deleted scenes. SRP is $24.96.




















Final specs have been made available for Universal’s 23 December Blu-ray Disc release of Death Race. This Jason Statham/Joan Allen actioner will arrive with a 2.35:1 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, a commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt, a set of featurettes, some U-Control and BD-Live features, and a digital copy of the feature. SRP is $39.98.




Acorn Media will release Taggart: Set 1 on 24 March. This set of British mysteries was originally slated to be released on 3 March, but has been pushed back a few weeks. This inaugural set of episodes will arrive with 1.33:1 transfers, stereo track, a featurette, some fun facts, and previews for other Acorn titles. SRP is $49.99.




It turns out that we were wrong with our info on Fox’s The French Connection 1 & 2 release dates – they’re both arriving on 24 February instead of the first in January and the second in February. Both of these suspense classics will arrive with 1.85:1 1080p transfers, DTS-HD 5.1 tracks, and bonuses. French Connection will come with a new introduction from director William Friedkin, two commentary tracks (one with Friedkin, one with Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider), a trivia track, a 5.1 isolated score track, a trailer, some deleted scenes (with another Friedkin intro), and nine featurettes. French Connection II will arrive with a commentary by director John Frankenheimer, two featurettes, a stills gallery, and an isolated 5.1 music track. SRP for each title is $34.99.
















20 January will bring the Blu-ray Disc release of Peter Jackson’s King Kong from Universal. This CGI-heavy revamp of the classic ape-flick will arrive with a 2.35:1 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, both the original and extended versions of the film, some BD-live and U-Control features, and a commentary by Jackson and co-screenwriter Phillipa Boyens. SRP is $29.98.



















Buena Vista has announced a 10 February Blu-ray Disc release of Pretty Woman. This classic romantic comedy starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts will arrive with a 1080p transfer, but audio specs and the bonus slate are still TBD. SRP is $34.99.




















First Look Entertainment will release Sharks in Venice on 27 January. This Stephen Baldwin thriller will arrive with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. No word yet as to bonus features. SRP is $19.98.




















6 January will bring the Blu-ray Disc release of Friday Night Lights from Universal. This football epic will arrive with a 2.35:1 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, some BD-Live features, a set of deleted scenes, six featurettes, and a commentary track by director Peter Berg and screenwriter Buzz Bissinger. SRP is $29.98.




















Universal has announced a 10 February Blu-ray Disc release for Street Fighter. This Jean-Claude Van Damme actioner will arrive with a 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, a blooper reel, some deleted scenes, a set of storyboard sequences, a commentary by director Steven de Souza, a making-of featurette, and some BD-Live features. SRP is $29.98.



















Vivendi Visual Entertainment has announced a 6 January Blu-ray Disc release of An American Carol. This comedy from director David Zucker will arrive with a 1080p transfer, but that’s all the info we have so far. SRP is $34.99.




















It’s too early to provide specific details, but we have it on good authority that Warner is preparing Blu-ray Disc releases of Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz for sometime in 2009. Aside from the great improvements only high definition can provide, and what are promised to be copious bonus features, we have no specs for you yet.



















Sony will release Baghead on 30 December. This Steve Zissis comedy will arrive on DVD with a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, an English mono track (mono?), a commentary by directors Mark and Jay Duplas, and two featurettes. SRP is $28.96.




















Bad news for “Big Bottom” fans… MGM has announced that the Blu-ray Disc release of This is Spinal Tap, originally slated for 20 January, has been indefinitely postponed. No reason has been given for the delay, but we’ll let you know when it is rescheduled.




















The Weinstein Company and Genius Products have announced a 10 February Blu-ray Disc release for Clerks II. This hit Kevin Smith sequel will arrive with a 1.85:1 1080p transfer, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, and a set of bonuses that will probably be identical to the film’s HD DVD release (commentaries, making-of documentary, deleted scenes, and a blooper reel). SRP is $34.95.



















The gang-violence drama Talento de Barrio is coming to Blu-ray Disc from Maya Entertainment on 25 November. The film will arrive with a 1080p transfer; audio specs and bonus features (if any) are still TBD. SRP is $34.98.




Final specs have been announced for Paramount’s 3 February Blu-ray Disc release of the original Friday the 13th. The slasher flick will arrive with a 1080p transfer, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track, a commentary by director Sean Cunningham, four featurettes, the film’s trailer, and a pair of brand-new featurettes (The Friday the 13th Chronicles: Part 1 and Secrets Galore Behind the gore: Tom Savini on Part 1). SRP is $29.99.



















We have final specs for HBO’s release of Summer Heights High, slated to hit shelves on 24 February. This comedy series starring Chris Lilley will arrive with 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers, stereo tracks, some deleted scenes, and a blooper reel. SRP is $29.98.




















Image Entertainment will release Hurricane on the Bayou on Blu-ray Disc on 10 February. This documentary about the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath will arrive with a 1.78:1 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, but no bonus features will be included. SRP is $24.95.




















24 March will bring the Blu-ray Disc release of UFC: The Best of 2008 from First Look Entertainment. This collection of fights originally showcased on Spike TV will arrive with a 1.78:1 1080p transfer, but audio specs and the disc’s bonus slate are still undetermined. SRP is $19.98.




More details have been made available for Sony’s 27 January Blu-ray Disc release of Groundhog Day. This Bill Murray comedy will arrive with a 1080p transfer and a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track; bonus specs are still TBD. SRP is $28.95.




















The Robert DeNiro comedy What Just Happened is coming to Blu-ray Disc from Magnolia Entertainment on 20 February. This Hollywood satire will arrive with a 1080p transfer, although audio specs and the release’s bonus slate are still TBD. SRP is $34.98.




















Early specs have been released for Anchor Bay’s 6 January edition of Righteous Kill on Blu-ray Disc. This Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino drama/thriller will arrive with a 1080p transfer, a commentary track (participants TBD), two featurettes, and some trailers. Audio specs are still undetermined. SRP is $39.98.




















Final specs have been announced for Fox’s Blu-ray Disc release of Babylon A.D.. This Vin Diesel apocalyptic actioner will arrive with a 2.40:1 1080p transfer, a DTS-HD 5.1 track, a set of featurettes, a graphic novel prequel to the film, a stills gallery, and a BD-exclusive Scene Evolution interactive BonusView feature. SRP is $39.99.




















Paramount has announced a 27 January DVD release for The Invaders: The Second Season. This Hank Simms series will arrive with 1.33:1 transfers and mono tracks. No bonuses will be included. SRP is $36.98.