Space:1999 S1 Blu in November

Source: Blu-ray.com

Oh the 1970's when the future looked so bright ...

Oh wait, in the first episode of Space:1999 a space garbage nuke goes off sending the Moon spiraling out of orbit along with the hundred of people stationed on Moonbase Alpha. And there only hope for survival is to find a new home while being trapped on a one way Moon ticket out Milky Wayville?

Crap dude ...

Well the almost 40 year old BBC SciFi series Space:1999 is getting all of the advantages of Blu-ray for its first season. On November 2nd you will have the opportunity to join Martin Landau and the "Alphans" on their cosmic journey, fully restored from the original 35mm film and remastered for the highest quality possible of course.

No details on extras are available yet, but stay tuned!

Apocalypse Now Blu in October

"My mission is to make it up into Cambodia. There's a Green Beret Colonel up there who's gone insane. I'm supposed to kill him."

Source: Blu-ray.com

That's right!

Francis Ford Coppola's '79 masterpiece Apocalypse Now is getting the Blu-ray treatment. This Blu-ray transfer was directly supervised by Coppola himself, meaning the video and audio quality should be amazing if he dedicated as much time as he did with the restoration of the first two Godfather films. Adapted from the Joseph Conrad's classic novella "Heart of Darkness" the film follows a disenfranchised Army Captain (Martin Sheen) sent on one last mission to find and assassinate a Green Beret Colonel (Marlon Brando) that has gone rogue. As if you didn't already know Apocalypse Now is a descent into madness with the tumultuous Vietnam War as a backdrop.

On October 19th you will have a choice between two Apocalypse Now releases. The first is a 2-Film set that features both the original theatrical cut of Apocalypse Now as well as the re-released deluxe edition Apocalypse Now Redux. Your second option is Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition which along with both versions of the film will include the infamous making of documentary Hearts of Darkness. The documentary parallels the films descent into madness with the film crew, actors and even Coppola himself losing their grasp on reality showing how dangerously close Apocalypse Now came to not being completed.

Although details have not yet been released on additional special features the 2-Film Apocalypse Now set will feature over 9 hours of bonus materials along with both versions of the film. While Apocalypse Now: Full Disclosure Edition will feature, along with everything from the 2-Film set, a third-disc with the documentary Hearts of Darkness as well as a 48-page booklet featuring storyboard art, photos, essays and more!

I will be sure to keep you updated on specs and official cover art as they become available!

E3: Goldeneye Is Back!

Source: Kotaku

Damn it ... I am going to have to finally buy a Wii because the greatest video game of all time (no hyperbole necessary) is coming back.

Goldeneye was the video game of my childhood. I did not own an N64 (I was still rocking the NES!) but looking back I almost feel sorry for the friends I mooched off of for untold countless hours of Mountain Dew fueled deathmatches.

Enough of the nostalgia! Time to get into some details:

• Goldeneye will exclusively be for the Wii.
• It comes out sometime in November.
• The game will feature 8 classic Bond playable characters. (Yes, Oddjob is one of them for you d-bags out there.)
• It will have both classic split-screen and online multiplayer and it looks like the original single player campaign is back.
• There will be 16 game modes including such classics including; Paintball, Melee Only and You Only Live Twice

And here is the kicker: Pierce Brosnan’s Bond has been replaced by Daniel Craig!

This does not make up for the disorder in MGM that has delayed the next 007 adventure from hitting the big screen anytime soon, but it sure doesn't hurt!

If you can stop dancing around from childish ecstasy for a moment you can check out the E3 teaser for Goldeneye yourself:

What other classic games would you guys like to see get re-released, if any? I was going to say NBA Jams, but apparently that too is on the way! BOOM-Shakka-lakka!

Ocean's 11: 50th Anniversary Edition in October

Source: Blu-ray.com

It was the beginning of the 1960's, there was class, there was sophistication, there was the rat-pack.

On October 5th the original Ocean's 11 will get a special anniversary Blu-ray release. I doubt I need to tell you but the film starred the likes of "Ol' Blue Eyes" himself Frank Sinatra along with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop and more.

So if you want amazing tunes and a touch of elegance that may have emulated but few obtained this Blu-ray is for you.

Luck me some extras:

• Commentary with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
• Interactive Las Vegas Then and Now Map
• The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson excerpt featuring guests Frank Sinatra and Angie Dickinson
• Theatrical Trailer

Flash Gordon

Source: Blu-ray.com

On June 15th see the Savior of the Universe battle tyrant Ming the Merciless of the planet Mongo on glorious Blu-ray.

Director Mike Hodges' 1980 take on the Flash Gordon 1930's sci-fi comic and film serials had it all; cheesy special effects, campy acting and costumes that suit Lady Gaga more than an interstellar hero. It is a movie that does not take itself seriously, full of tongue-in-cheek humor and general ridiculousness, and is just plain fun.

But if there is a single thing that makes this film awesome it is the Queen score which could possibly be the greatest soundtrack of all time. I am not ashamed to say that I have rocked out to their Flash Gordon theme on more than one occasion, at least not totally ashamed.

30 years later and this is a movie continues to entertain and with the Blu-ray release you will of course get some extras.

Extras Include:

• Alex Ross, comic artist who did the cover artwork for the Blu-ray, talks about Flash Gordon
• Writing a Classic: Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr.
• Original episode of the Flash Gordon 1936 serial
• BD Live and more

For your viewing pleasure and to get your Memorial Weekend off to a rocking start here is the original trailer for Flash Gordon:

Roger Corman Cult Classics

Source: Blu-ray.com

You interested in such fare as Piranha and Humanoids from the Deep on Blu-ray? Well then Shout! Factory has a double serving for you come August 3rd!

Piranha was released in 1978 and has all of the camp that goes along with that glorious decade of horror cinema. This is the film that inspired the infamous James Cameron sequel and the much anticipated Piranha 3D coming out later this summer.

Extras include:

• Commentary with Director Joe Dante and Producer Jon Davison
• Behind the Scenes Footage
• Making of Piranha Featurette
• Additional Scenes from the Network Television Version
• Original Theatrical Trailer, with Commentary

Humanoids from the Deep was the New World World Pictures follow up two years after the success of Piranha. The gore fest flirted with an "X" rating at the time and controversy surrounded the release which had to be heavily edited, but now with this Blu-ray release you can finally see the film as it was made to be seen.

Extras include:

• Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes
• Leonard Maltin interview with Roger Corman on the making of Humanoids
• The Making of Humanoids of the Deep Featurette

The Magnificent Seven Collection

Source: Amazon.com

The Magnificent Seven is the quintessential Western and since its release in 1960 it has not lost any of its potency.

The film was based of the Kurosawa film Seven Samurai but transplanted into the Wild West. It featured a ridiculous cast of screen legends such as Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Eli Wallach among others. Following the success of The Magnificent Seven three sequels were created and all of these are included in the collection, while these films might lack the magnificence of the original they are still quality Westerns in their own right.

On May 11th you can get your hands on the complete collection of four magnificent films. The collection includes:

• The Magnificent Seven
• Return of the Magnificent Seven
• Guns of the the Magnificent Seven
• The Magnificent Seven Ride!

Nota Bene: Just like all of the great Westerns The Magnificent Seven had an amazing score. If you haven't heard this song I would question your decision to live under that rock!