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Friday, 31 January 2014 17:05

Walking with Dinos, Mandela, Cowboys & Aliens: Extended, Iron Sky: DC & Arthur Rankin, Jr RIP

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All right, we’re closing out the week with more new release announcements today, plus we take a moment to mark the passing of an animation legend.  First up, though, that release news…

20th Century Fox has set Walking with Dinosaurs for Blu-ray 3D Combo, Blu-ray Combo and DVD release on 3/25.

Anchor Bay will release Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/18. [Read on here…]

Lionsgate has set Reasonable Doubt for Blu-ray release on 3/18 as well.

While we’re talking Lionsgate, they’ve also just set the new Flowers in the Attic film for DVD only release on 4/15.

We don’t yet have an official announcement for this title yet, but Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders on Universal’s Lone Survivor, directed by Peter Berg. Click here for the pre-order page.

Speaking of Universal, they have a re-issue of the Cowboys & Aliens: Extended Edition coming to Blu-ray on 3/11. It runs some 136 minutes, which is 17 minutes longer than the theatrical cut. It's been available previously on Blu-ray. Extras include UltraViolet digital copy plus Second Screen, Conversations with Jon Favreau, Igniting the Sky: The Making of Cowboys & Aliens, and audio commentary with Favreau.

Acorn and Image Entertainment has set George Gently: Series 6 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 4/1.

For you music fans, Sony Legacy is releasing Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration on Blu-ray and DVD on 3/4.

And for those of you who enjoyed Iron Sky, Entertainment One is apparently releasing an Iron Sky: Director’s Cut on Blu-ray in Steelbook packaging on 3/11. It’s 20 minutes longer apparently, which – having seen the original version – I can’t imagine is a good thing. I really wanted to like Iron Sky, but it suffers badly from Episode I-itis, by which I mean that the actors and story seem to be working in service of the visual effects rather than the other way around. Ah well.

Finally today, we have a bit of sad news to report. Legendary animator, producer and director Arthur Rankin, Jr. has passed away. As in the Rankin of Rankin/Bass Productions and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Mad Monster Party fame. He was 89. You can read more here. We tip our hats today in his honor.

We’ll leave you today with a look at the Blu-ray cover art for Fox’s Walking with Dinosaurs (both versions), Anchor Bay’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, eOne’s Iron Sky: DC, Universal’s Cowboys & Aliens: Extended Edition and Sony’s Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration...

Walking with Dinosaurs (Blu-ray 3D)    Walking with Dinosaurs (Blu-ray Disc)    Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (Blu-ray Disc)

ironskydcbrd    Cowboys & Aliens: Extended Edition (Blu-ray Disc)    Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration (Blu-ray Disc)

Have a great Super Bowl/Puppy Bowl (or what have you) weekend! Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt