The Wonder Years

Here’s a show that has many hurdles to overcome to ever be released on DVD and Blu-ray.  It is a fantastic show that deserves a great release with interviews and features galore.  The show would be an instant hit on DVD, and could potentially help to bring back some of the DVD market that has hit a slump with the current recession.  I think that the time to restore all of the footage should be taken to make the release worth owning.

The biggest problem that the series faces in ever being released is the music.  More precisely: BMI and ASCAP.  These two companies own the licensing rights to pretty much all of the music that is released by a record label.  They are in place to help artists make a fair amount whenever their songs are used in tv shows, movies, and the like.  If the companies were able to reach out to all of the artists whose music appears in the series, and were able to make deals with all of them, it would be the smartest thing for all of them.

You see, the music in the show cannot be replaced with different, cheaper, songs.  There are a lot of DVD releases with music replacements, and for the most part I haven’t noticed anything odd.  But in The Wonder Years, the lyrics speak to what is happening in the episode, and sometimes the dialogue between the characters is also reflective of that.

Right now, not a single artist involved in The Wonder Years is making any money from the series apart from anything they might be making with the show in syndication.  Neither is BMI, nor is ASCAP.  But I offer a simple solution that can make all of them a lot of money.  Make a deal, get the series released while people still remember it in larger numbers.

I know that I’m over simplifying the whole thing, but perhaps I’m not.  Perhaps the studios are simply over complicating it.  There will have to be compromise, for sure, but can’t we all agree that some money is better than no money at all?

The Wonder Years not being released on DVD or Blu-ray is bringing in money for nobody involved.  And it’s the number one most requested DVD release on the website TVshowsonDVD.com with 6,565 requests for the release.  It’s topped the list for years without any progress.

Back in 1998, there were two Wonder Years DVDs released: The Best of the Wonder Years and The Best of the Christmas Wonder Years.  There isn’t much data about the changes to the music in the Christmas release, but the other disc had most, if not all, of the music replaced with either covers of the songs, or generic music, negatively effecting the presentation.  The Best of the Wonder Years also includes only a couple of episodes, and a special highlights episode, the “Looking Back” special.

But that is not enough.  It’s been twelve years since these releases, and the DVD market is much larger than it was back in 1998.  Let’s get this show onto our shelves as soon as possible.

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There is no word of a DVD release yet, but the studio is working on it.  It was created as a direct-to-DVD feature film, but since the rights to the TMNT have been sold to Nickelodeon, there are issues that need to be tied up.

I don’t want to spoil all of the fun for anyone that grew up watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, but let’s just say, there are cameos galore.  Keep your eyes peeled for many of the characters from the older cartoons to appear in different scenes, sometimes in the foreground or background for a few seconds.

The writing is very good, as is the directing.  Just when you thought it couldn’t get any cooler, they bring in some very unexpected characters, and the whole thing gets more exciting.  I know that is very vague, but I suspect that, if you’re a Turtles fan, the prospect of the team up has already caught your interest.  If you’re not, nothing I say will convince you otherwise.

The one downside is the voices of the ’88 Turtles.  They didn’t get the original cast members back, and I wish that I knew why.  If you know, please comment.  The voices are pretty close, though, overall… though Leonardo’s is very drastically different.

I can’t wait to own this on Blu-ray (if possible).  If not, then DVD will suffice.

Watch it on 4Kids TV while it’s available: Turtles Forever

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Ghostbusters Blu-ray Cover Art

Personally, I never really liked the green slime art of the Ghostbusters DVDs that were released a few years ago. I love the original box art with the logo on black, as well as the sequel art with the Ghostbusters in front of the logo and the red stripe around the outside. The original DVD cover art wasn’t all that bad either, though a little too busy. I think that this blue slime is a lot nicer looking than the green slime was. For one thing, the green slime seemed to overtake the logo, and drew attention to itself far too much. The blue color of this cover focuses your eyes on the logo, as the red seems to pop out much nicer, and it’s a lot kinder to your eyes.

The Press Release follows:

America’s favorite paranormal psychologists are back to save the world, this time with unsurpassed picture and audio quality and advanced new bonus features in the Ghostbusters Blu-ray Disc, releasing worldwide the week of June 16, 2009.

The simultaneous launch of Ghostbusters: The Video Game, the highly anticipated videogame from Atari, celebrates the film’s 25th anniversary, with an all-new adventure from by the film’s original writers. Ivan Reitman’s sci-fi blockbuster comedy stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis. The high-def set oozes with special features and interactivity including collectible 32 page scrapbook, Slimer Mode, a picture-in-picture graphical viewing experience, a featurette on the refurbishing of Ecto-1, and more.

‘This great franchise is one of the crown jewels in the studio’s library,’ said Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Senior Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing. ‘With Ghostbusters 25th anniversary upon us and the forthcoming release of an eagerly anticipated new video game, this is the perfect opportunity to release this exciting new edition on Blu-ray Disc.’

Directed and produced by Ivan Reitman (Meatballs, Stripes), with the screenplay written by Dan Aykroyd (My Girl, The Great Outdoors) and Harold Ramis (Knocked Up), Ghostbusters stars Bill Murray (Meatballs, Stripes), Dan Aykroyd (My Girl, The Great Outdoors), Sigourney Weaver (Aliens, Copycat), Harold Ramis (Knocked Up), Annie Potts (TV’s ‘Designing Women’), and Rick Moranis (Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Spaceballs).

Synopsis:
University parapsychologists Dr. Peter Venkman (Murray), Dr. Raymond Stanz (Aykroyd) and Dr. Egon Spengler (Ramis) lose a research grant when their experiment methodology is proven to be bogus. The team decides to go into business for themselves and open ‘Ghostbusters,’ a ghost removal service. After struggling to get on their feet, they are summoned to investigate the strange happenings in Dana Barrett’s (Weaver) Central Park West apartment. What they discover is that all Manhattan is being besieged by ghosts and other worldly demons through a portal in her building.

Ghostbusters Blu-ray Disc Special Features:
All-New Exclusive Special Features
- Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
- Slimer Mode: Picture-in-Picture Graphical Viewing Experience with an examination of the spook-hunters’ firehouse headquarters, an in-depth exploration of the creatures in the Ghostbusters mythology, behind-the-scenes discussions of making the movie, new cast, crew and special effects artists interviews and much more!
- Featurette: Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car
- Ghostbusters Garage: Ecto-1 Gallery
- Collectible 32 Page Scrapbook

Additional Special Features
- Filmmakers’ Commentary with Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis and Joe Medjuck
- Featurette: 1984 – The Making of Ghostbusters – Interviews with the cast and crew
- Featurette: Interviews with Cast and Crew
- Featurette: SFX Team – Includes Before and After Multi-Angle Explorations
- Scene Cemetery – 10 Deleted Scenes
- Audio: English, Spanish (Castilian), French (Parisian), Portuguese (Brazil)
- Subtitles: English, Spanish (Latin Am), French (Parisian), Portuguese (Brazil), Dutch, Arabic
- Storyboard Comparisons
- Closed Captioned

Ghostbusters has a run time of approximately 105 minutes and is rated PG for adult language and mild violence.

The Blu-ray Disc version of Ghostbusters is BD-Live enabled, allowing users to get connected and go beyond the disc via an Internet-connected Blu-ray player. Download exclusive content, register for rewards, give feedback through our survey and more!
Get rewarded for registering your Sony Blu-ray discs! The Sony Pictures Blu-ray Club rewards consumers in the U.S. for purchasing and registering BD-Live enabled Sony Blu-ray movies. Members can redeem accumulated points for cool Sony products, plus enter to win cash and prizes in daily sweepstakes and more. For details visit Sony Rewards – BluRay – Sony Rewards.

Ghostbusters Blu-ray Disc
BD Catalog # 24946*
UPC Code: 0-43396-24946-2*
Order Date: 12/18/08*
SLP: $28.99*
*Information applies to US release only

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Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, announced today that the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game is set to release across North America on June 16, 2009 followed by the worldwide release on June 19th. Working closely with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and acclaimed development studios Terminal Reality and RedFly, Atari will bring this completely all-new chapter of the blockbuster Ghostbusters saga to advanced gaming platforms coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the film’s original theatrical release. Ghostbusters: The Video Game, based on the smash hit motion picture franchise, is penned by original Ghostbusters writers and stars Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites many of the original cast members to recapture the unique blend of humor and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation. In addition, the game will also launch Tuesday, June 16, 2009 with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s worldwide debut of the original motional picture on Blu-ray Disc(TM).

In addition to Aykroyd and Ramis, original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the original story set two years after Ghostbusters II, with Manhattan once again overrun by ghosts and supernatural forces. The player joins up as a new recruit with the original team, testing a variety of unique equipment and gadgets, to track, wrangle and trap this wide range of awe-inspiring phantasms in an all new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.

Atari will release Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation(R)2 system, the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games For Windows(R), Wii(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM). The launch will also leverage Atari’s worldwide distribution network to maximize the presence of Ghostbusters: The Video Game around the globe as Sony marks the film’s upcoming 25th anniversary. For more information on Atari’s entire line up visit www.atari.com.

Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II combined to gross over $500 million world-wide at the box office. The film spawned some of the most memorable comedic catch-phrases and scenes in motion picture history. To further celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary milestone this year, Sony Pictures Consumer Products has licensed the property for several new commemorative products including: toys, t-shirts, comic books, prop replicas, and a theme park attraction. In addition, the original Ghostbusters car (Ecto-1) has been fully restored with plans for special promotional appearances throughout the US and additional replicas touring across Europe. The Blu-ray Disc release of Ghostbusters will see unsurpassed picture and audio quality and advanced new bonus features including Slimer Mode, a picture-in-picture graphical viewing experience, a featurette on the refurbishing of Ecto-1, and more.

About the Game

When Manhattan is once again overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, players will take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team. Developed by acclaimed studio Terminal Reality, Ghostbusters: The Video Game will make its debut on the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. The PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system version and the Wii version are being developed by Red Fly Studios, and the Nintendo DS(TM) version, in which the player takes the role of one of the Ghostbusters themselves, is developed by Zen Studios. The PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC versions of the game are developed using Terminal Reality’s phenomenal proprietary Infernal Engine technology.

About the Film

Ghostbusters, released in 1984, is one of Columbia Pictures’ highest grossing films, spawning a hit sequel in 1989 and three successful animated television shows. Ghostbusters and its sequel grossed over $500 million world-wide. Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, produced and directed by Ivan Reitman, starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson as ghost hunters for hire, cleaning up Manhattan’s buildings of slime-spewing spooks.

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This release will have all of the same features as the Special Edition DVD set that was released previously: an audio commentary by director Frank Darabont, a pair of documentaries, a stills gallery, additional storyboards, a “Charlie Rose Show” interview with Darabont and star Morgan Freeman, and the theatrical trailer.

The Blu-ray, however, is going to come in “Digi-Book” packaging. It includes a collectible booklet with rare photos, production notes and other archival materials.

It’s going to be presented on a BD-50 dual-layer disc at 1080p with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound.

See the Cover Art after the break.

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