Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Man Of Steel From Warner Home Video On Nov. 12 As A Three-SKU Product Launch


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Warner Home Video has let the next “shoe” drop in its post-Labor Day hit parade with the selection of Nov. 12 as the street date for director Zack Synder’s summer super hero blockbuster, Man of Steel.

The ARR for this three-SKU product launch — double-disc DVD edition, plus two Blu-ray/DVD Combo Packs, one with and one without a 3D viewing option (all releases feature UltraViolet) — is 151 days.   Ticket sales were a robust $289.6 million.

A Brit as an iconic American comic book super hero … a bold move.   That is whom producer/writer Christopher Nolan (three Oscar nominations — writing for both Memento and Inception, plus Best Picture nod for Inception) hit upon as Superman/Clark Kent in this reboot of the series, Henry Cavill from The Tudors cable series (also such films as Immortals, Blood Creek, Whatever Works, etc.).

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
It worked (reviews and the box office gross say so), even the story, which is faithful to the comic books (in terms of mythology and origins), the 1948 Superman serial (with Kirk Alyn) and the 1978 Superman theatrical launch (with Christopher Reeve) … all of the elements are there.   

Nolan and co-writer David S. Goyer (Batman Begins, Dark City, etc.) have just moved things around a bit and broaden the action.   Which, if the truth be known, is the only negative in that it made the film — at times — seem like a dozen other CGI-laden, overly loud super hero movies of late (a long list).   A little less of that and a little more character development (relationships) would have been welcomed.   

Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Russel Crowe as Jor-El and Michael Shannon (perhaps best knows as Van Alden in the Broadwalk Empire cable series, plus Oscar-nominated as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Revolutionary Road in 2008) as General Zod were all excellent casting decisions on the part Nolan and company. 

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph TribbeyIn short, Man of Steel works … a sequel in this re-launch of the series is planned for 2015 (Superman vs. Batman, which has already stirred controversy with the selection of Ben Affleck as Batman).

As to bonus nuggets, there are three production featurettes included on all three SKU selections — “Strong Characters, Legendary Roles,” “All-Out Action” and “Krypton Decoded” — while those choosing the Blu-rays will have two additional featurettes  as bonus goodies — “Journey of Discovery: Creating Man of Steel” and “Planet Krypton.”

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report




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