Why So Blu?

New Lionsgate Blu-ray Disc Titles Arriving December 13th and January 3rd

Lionsgate is proud to announce the Blu-ray Disc (plus Digital Copy) release of The Expendables Extended Director’s Cut, plus the Blu-ray Disc debuts of Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version, Velvet Goldmine and City of God, all available on December 13^th, 2011 Lionsgate also presents She’s All That and Serendipity, available for the first time on Blu-ray Disc on January 3, 2012.  It’s safe to say that December and January are going to be hot months for sure!  

December 13, 2011

The Expendables Extended Director’s Cut

This holiday season, experience the explosive action phenomenon in a new way as Lionsgate releases The Expendables Extended Director’s Cut on Blu-ray Disc (including digital copy). Headlined by a powerhouse cast of action heroes, the new cut of the film includes 11 additional minutes of footage! The Blu-ray Disc will also include a newly recorded introduction to the film by Sylvester Stallone, a featurette on Stallone and his directing career, “Inferno,” a feature-length behind-the-scenes documentary that provides a unique perspective on the filmmaking process from Stallone’s distinctive point of view plus Spike TV program, “Action: The Expendables” and a music video from Sully Erna of Godsmack.

Directed by Sylvester Stallone from a screenplay by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, with a story by David Callaham, The Expendables Extended Director’s Cut follows a team of hardened mercenaries – including Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Giselle Itie, Charisma Carpenter, Gary Daniels with Terry Crews and Mickey Rourke – who are sent on what becomes a suicide mission to overthrow a ruthless dictator. The film had an explosive impact on the box office in 2010, making it the #1 film in America two weeks running, and bringing in over $274 million worldwide.

Pricing: Blu-ray Disc + Digital Copy – $24.99

Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version Blu-ray Disc

Velvet Goldmine Blu-ray Disc

City of God Blu-ray Disc

Three acclaimed Miramax films from celebrated directors make their Blu-ray Disc debut this December as Lionsgate releases Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version, Velvet Goldmine and City of God. Each film is Oscar^®-nominated and revered by critics.

Heavenly Creatures: The Uncut Version

Called “a visionary triumph” (Rolling Stone), Academy Award^®-winning director Peter Jackson (Best Director, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003) presents a true crime drama involving two friends separated by their parents. Oscar^®-winner Kate Winslet (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, The Reader, 2008), in her big screen debut, stars alongside Melanie Lynskey (Up in the Air) in the Oscar^®-nominated screenplay (Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, 1994) co-penned by Jackson and his writing partner Frances Walsh (The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy). The Uncut Version features ten minutes of footage not seen in the released theatrical version.

Based on the shocking true story, two teenage girls form an unwavering bond rooted in a fantasy world that only they share. When their parents become disturbed by the intensity of the friendship, they separate the girls and threaten to keep them apart permanently. Scarred by the decision and blinded by their anger, the two girls hatch a devastating plan and vow murderous revenge on their families.

Velvet Goldmine

Hailed as “a ravishing rock dream” (Entertainment Weekly), the Oscar^®-nominated film (Best Costume Design, 1998) delves into the glam-rock world of the 1970s with an all-star cast including Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge!), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Showtime’s “The Tudors”), Toni Collette (Showtime’s “United States of Tara”), Eddie Izzard (Valkyrie) and Oscar^®-winner Christian Bale (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, The Fighter, 2010). Velvet Goldmine is written and directed by Academy Award^® writer-director Todd Haynes (Best Writing, Original Screenplay, Far from Heaven, 2002).   The Blu-ray includes an all-new audio commentary with Haynes and producer Christine Vachon.

It’s been ten years since Brian Slade (Meyers) faked his own death and escaped the spotlight of the glam-rock scene. Now, investigative journalist Arthur Stuart (Bale) is on assignment to uncover the truth of the rocker’s strange disappearance. Stuart gets an unabashed look at the flamboyance and excess behind the larger-than-life stars of the 1970s music scene and what’s become of them since the turn of the new decade.

City of God

Nominated for four Academy Awards^® (2003) — Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing — and more than 50 other awards internationally, City of God is one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Movies of All-Time” and number 18 on IMDb.com‘s “Top 250.” Directed by Fernando Mereilles and adapted from the novel by Paulo Lins (Orfeu), the story follows two young boys who grow up in a violent neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, each of whom takes a different path in life. The Blu-ray Disc includes the documentary, “News from a Personal War.”

Spanning more than 20 years in Brazil, two boys grow up in the same violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Li’l Zé (Leandro Firmino, Cheating in Chains) owns the city and instills fear and violence in the community without mercy. Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues, Forbidden to Forbid) only wants to pursue his passion for photography. But gang violence continues to rage in the City of God and the friends slowly get lost in themselves and their city.

January 3, 2012

She’s All That Blu-ray Disc

Cozy up to Blu this Valentine’s Day, as Lionsgate premieres the romantic teen comedy She’s All That on Blu-ray Disc for the first time. A favorite from the ’90s, this fun Miramax film, now featuring 1080P High Definition Widescreen and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, stars Freddie Prinze Jr. (I Know What You Did Last Summer) and Rachael Leigh Cook (Josie and the Pussycats) as an unlikely but charismatic high school duo. Matthew Lillard (Scream), Paul Walker (Fast Five), Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (TV’s “Two and a Half Men”), Kevin Pollak (Red State), Kieran Culkin (Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World), Elden Henson (Lords of Dogtown), Gabrielle Union (Bad Boys II) and Anna Paquin (HBO’s “True Blood”) also star, alongside music sensations Usher Raymond and Kimberly “Lil’ Kim” Jones.

After being dumped unexpectedly by his gorgeous and popular girlfriend (O’Keefe), high school heartthrob Zack Siler (Prinze) bets he can turn any girl into a prom queen. He selects the school’s biggest nerd, Laney Boggs (Cook), as the subject for his popularity experiment, unbeknownst to her. After an amazing makeover and getting to know Laney, Zack falls for her. But when Laney discovers the truth about the bet, Zack is forced to realign his priorities and win back her affection.

Pricing: Blu-ray Disc – $14.99

Serendipity Blu-ray Disc

Sometimes fate just needs a little push. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Lionsgate debuts the delightful romantic comedy, Serendipity on Blu-ray Disc for the first time. The Miramax film stars Golden Globe^® nominee John Cusack (Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical, High Fidelity, 2001) and Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor) as two star-crossed lovers who are hoping to find their way back to one another years after the night that they met. Featuring a hilarious supporting cast including Molly Shannon (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Jeremy Piven (HBO’s “Entourage”), Bridget Moynahan (TV’s “Blue Bloods”), John Corbett (TV’s “Parenthood”) and Eugene Levy (the American Pie series), the Blu-ray Disc includes bonus materials with director Peter Chelsom (Shall We Dance) – film commentary, a production diary and deleted scenes with Chelsom’s commentary – along with storyboard comparisons and a behind-the-scenes featurette.

Jonathan (Cusack) and Sara (Beckinsale) meet one evening while shopping for the holidays in New York. While they’re each on a task to purchase a gift for their respective significant others, the two have instant chemistry. Despite both of them wanting to pursue a relationship, Sara decides that their love should be left up to fate – and if they are meant to be, then they will find one another again. Years later, and engaged to other people, Jonathan and Sara both find themselves wondering what could have been.

Pricing: Blu-ray Disc – $14.99