Batman Begins on HD DVD Oct. 10
UPDATE: Warner also will release The Polar Express
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 9/18/2006
SEPT. 20 | Warner Home Video’s Batman Begins will bow on HD DVD on Oct. 10, months after it was originally expected but in time for the key fourth-quarter sales period.
Warner's new titles will have HD DVD-exclusive bonus features.
The studio also will release Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and The Polar Express on the format the same day.
Also on Oct. 10, Warner will street Syriana and 16 Blocks on Blu-ray. Those titles are already available on HD DVD.
Warner has now committed to 55 releases in high-definition formats, topping all other studios.
Batman Begins and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory include HD DVD-unique bonus features. Warner had continued to push back the release of Batman, originally scheduled for spring, in order to fine-tune these extras.
In Batman, viewers can watch director commentary and behind-the-scenes footage while the feature film is running.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory similarly provides this picture-in-picture option, which Warner has dubbed the In-Movie Experience. Viewers will be treated to seamless commentary, Oompa Loompa interjections and other pop-up items.
The HD DVD titles are priced as $28.99 each, and the Blu ray discs are tagged at $34.99. All bonus features included in these films standard-definition editions also will be in the HD-DVD and Blu-ray versions.
