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‘Underworld’ Essential Blu-ray Collection and First Look at Anime!
IGN just broke the news on a new Blu-ray high-definition collection for the Kate Beckinsale stylistic action series, Underworld. Dubbed Underworld Trilogy: The Essential Collection for Underworld, the set contains the first three installments of the saga – Underworld: Extended Cut, Underworld: Evolution, and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – in addition to two tickets to see the fourth entry of the series, Underworld: Awakening, in theaters when it arrives at the box office starting January 20, 12.
The box set itself, due on Blu-ray exclusively on December 13, 2011 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, will encompass the first three films plus the exclusive never-before-seen three-part anime series Underworld: Endless War! The anime series complements the live-action iteration by incorporating the themes of the story and spotlights the characters that we know and love, making it a must-see for fans of the films. You can get your first taste at the anime above, along with full box set specs inside.
Long before vampires and werewolves were duking it out throughout the high schools of remote small towns in America, they were battling for supremacy of a fantasy world where the vampires hold sway in society, while a gang of lycans – otherwise known as werewolves – begin their ascension to a power struggle, all the while a gorgeous vampire (Beckinsale) begins to fall in love with one of the enemies, a lycan hybrid (Scott Speedman). The box set will contain bonus materials and extra features, and will ring up at the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of $45.99.
The Underworld: Extended Cut Blu-ray will feature the following bonus materials:
Commentary with Director Len Wiseman, Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman
Outtakes
Featurettes:
Fang vs.Fiction
The Making of Underworld
The Visual Effects of Underworld
Creature Effects
Stunts
Designing Underworld
The Look of Underworld
Sights and Sounds
Music Video by Finch – “Worms of the Earth”
Storyboard Comparison
You can expect the Underworld: Evolution Blu-ray to contain these special features:
Filmmakers’ Commentary
Featurettes:
Bloodlines: From Script to Screen
The Hybrid Theory
Making Monsters Roar
The War Rages On
Building a Saga
Music and Mayhem
Music Video “Her Portrait In Black” by Atreyu
Finally, the Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Blu-ray will bolster these supplemental goodies:
Filmmaker Commentary
Behind the Castle Walls: Picture-in-Picture
Lycanthropes Around the World Interactive Map
Featurettes:
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – From Script to Screen
The Origin of the Feud
Re-Creating the Dark Ages: The Look of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Music Video: “Deathclub (Wes Borland/Renholder Remix)” By William Control Feat. Matt Skiba
Editorials
Arrow Video’s ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ is the Ultimate Collector’s Box Set for Fans
Available as of today from Arrow Video is a new box set that might arguably be the definitive way to watch Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things.
At the very least, Stranger Things: The Complete Series puts emphasis on “complete.” That’s evident in its special features alone.
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series are available for purchase now, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material: a 148-page booklet, exclusive art cards, a Hellfire Club patch, double-sided posters for each season, and much more.
This limited-edition release features all 42 episodes of the show’s five season run on more than 25 discs, all housed in a set featuring gorgeous artwork by Juan Ramos. “We always dreamed that Stranger Things could be owned in its entirety,” said Matt and Ross Duffer, “not just as a collector’s set, but as a way to preserve the show for decades to come.”
Their imprint looms large over the release, including writing in the 148-page book that also includes original design sketches, concept art, and storyboards. All of which would warrant the steep price tag alone for the diehard Stranger Things fan, but Arrow Video upped the ante with collectible surprises as well. Arcade patches, stickers, Hellfire Club dice, and an extremely detailed map of Hawkins, Indiana- double-sided to account for the Upside Down, of course – are among the highlights for this all-ages set.
Adorn your walls with posters representative of your favorite season! That’s also an option with this set’s offerings.
All of which to say that it’s rare for Netflix to make the jump into physical media, and they’ve enlisted Arrow Video to give it the best possible treatment. They certainly brought utmost care and attention to this release. As such, both the standard and deluxe sets come with steep price tags that start at $160 depending on format. While that’s likely a deterrent to the casual viewer, it’s more than worth it for fans.
It may be less convenient than hitting play on Netflix, sure, but there’s a lot to be said about the potential for quality upgrades to your viewing. No spotty internet or compression issues to be found here when it comes to the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray discs.
That’s really the biggest takeaway from this release: the untapped potential still of Netflix’s streaming library of originals that are ripe for similar treatment. Series and films that could receive Arrow Video levels of treatment on physical media.
Fans of Stranger Things can venture into the Upside Down one last time this spooky season at Halloween Horror Nights, but there may be no better way to ring in the series’ tenth anniversary than a rewatch with this expansive, well-curated box set.
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