Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Out Now

A friendly reminder that Transformers: The Movie 30th Anniversary Blu-ray is now out. Not sure how widely available it will be so check your local retailer's websites first just to verify or order from Amazon: Standard | Limited Edition

The movie comes on two discs, both with the 4k restoration. One is the full screen version, helpful if want to relive watching it old school via TV re-runs and VHS or you can watch it widescreen like it appeared in theaters or on DVD. Besides the 4k restoration, there are three new featurettes. The main one is the "Til All Are One: Looking Back at Transformers: The Movie" with interviews with some still living members of the voice cast as they discuss making the movie along with talking about the soundtrack with Stan Bush and Vince Dicola. The others is "Transformers: The Restoration" which provides an overview of the 4k restoration and "Rolling Out The New Cover" with Blu-ray cover and long time IDW Transformers artist Livio Ramondelli. From the 20th Anniversary DVD release they carried over special features include three featuettes (The Death of Optimus Prime, Cast & Characters, and Transformers Q&A), commentary track with story consultant Flint Dille, Susan Blu (Arcee) and movie director Nelson Shin, storyboards, trailers and TV spots.

Another thing to be aware of is the digital copy download is the not the traditional version from other movie purchases that let you use iTunes, Google Play, Ultraviolet, etc. to redeem. Instead it is a Shout Factory specific website that asks for unlock code and email address. From there I could download the movie or watch it through my browser. The files sizes are 1080p (5.03GB), 720p (2.43GB), 540p (1.74GB), and 360p (914MB) in mp4 format. To access later, there is no password, instead you go to the VHX website click "Sign In" at the bottom, enter your email address and they send you a link that auto-logs you into the website. So on the plus there is no password to track but make sure you bookmark the site. Additionally the code only lasts a year and so needs to be used before it expires on September 17, 2017 but I assume access and download will last as long as Shout Factory supports this method of digital downloading of which Transformers: The Movie seems to be their first time using it. If a fan of Shout Factory releases, this could be a sign of things to come from them.

Overall if you are buying this it is because you want the closest to movie theater experience you could have had outside of seeing it in theaters in 1986. Versions since then were either edited for television (full screen, removed cursewords) or was a so-so VHS and DVD transfer.

3 comments:

  1. It's the prettiest I've ever seen the movie. Excellent Release.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What format is the download ?

    ReplyDelete

 
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