Heavy Metal (1981) Blu-ray - 1/25/11

[Katatonia]

I'm definitely excited about this. It sounds like all of the old DVD special features won't be ported over, but who knows.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5451


Sony Pictures has announced that on January 25, 2011, it will release the 1981 animated movie Heavy Metal (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Heavy-Metal-Blu-ray/17917/). This anthology film is based on stories from the science fiction/fantasy comics magazine of the same title (itself an adaptation of the French magazine Métal Hurlant). It features animated segments based on work by various writers and artists, including Dan O'Bannon, Richard Corben, Juan Giménez and Bernie Wrightson.


Special features include:

Documentary: Imagining Heavy Metal
Deleted scenes

[Shannafey]

This is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time, but that being said, it really has to be a top notch transfer for me to even care about upgrading. I have Universal HD on my cable and when they ran the film, my DVD looked better. If it is the same transfer as Universal and no new extras, I won't even bother. I remember how excited I was when it finally came out on VHS, then even more so when the DVD came out. More than anything, I was excited about the soundtrack on CD and I still have the vinyl as well!!

[scott71670]

I remember going by myself to see this when I was 9 (being dropped off) in 1979 and having this be one of the major reasons I fell in love with the movies... I think this may be my first blu-ray.

[Shlockjock81]

*prepares his cheesing harness*. Can't wait.

[crikan]

It appears a little light on features. I have the VHS and DVD already so I'll upgrade only if the transfer gets very positive reviews.

[Dobby]

I don't like Sony and they're crap DVD ports over sub standerd shit to BLU. Lately though WB has been pulling that shit allot. BLU RAY is starting to become a shit gimmic. I love this movie also I have a framed poster of it too.

[crikan]

I don't like Sony and they're crap DVD ports over sub standerd shit to BLU. Lately though WB has been pulling that shit allot. BLU RAY is starting to become a shit gimmic. I love this movie also I have a framed poster of it too.

Are you saying that you don't like the transfers or the selection?

[jcannon]

Always wanted to pick up the DVD, so I'm in.

[Nailwraps]

Sad news; the Blu-Ray has been cancelled:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5575

"Three weeks ago (see Blu-ray.com, November 15), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment had announced Heavy Metal for Blu-ray release on January 25, 2011. Now the studio has unceremoniously pulled this cult animated movie from its schedule. No reason is given for this cancellation, and no new release date is available.

A couple months ago, another Sony catalog title, Big Daddy, was also announced and later pulled from the schedule, only to resurface later as a Best Buy exclusive (see Blu-ray.com, October 11). At the moment there is no information as to whether that will happen or not with Heavy Metal as well."

[buck135]

Sad news; the Blu-Ray has been cancelled:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5575

"Three weeks ago (see Blu-ray.com, November 15), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment had announced Heavy Metal for Blu-ray release on January 25, 2011. Now the studio has unceremoniously pulled this cult animated movie from its schedule. No reason is given for this cancellation, and no new release date is available.

A couple months ago, another Sony catalog title, Big Daddy, was also announced and later pulled from the schedule, only to resurface later as a Best Buy exclusive (see Blu-ray.com, October 11). At the moment there is no information as to whether that will happen or not with Heavy Metal as well."

Well, that blows. I was looking forward to this.

[Damage]

The DVD is one of my favourites from my collection. The feature length storyboard rough cut is one of the coolest features I've seen.

[Katatonia]

Sad news; the Blu-Ray has been cancelled:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5575

"Three weeks ago (see Blu-ray.com, November 15), Sony Pictures Home Entertainment had announced Heavy Metal for Blu-ray release on January 25, 2011. Now the studio has unceremoniously pulled this cult animated movie from its schedule. No reason is given for this cancellation, and no new release date is available.

A couple months ago, another Sony catalog title, Big Daddy, was also announced and later pulled from the schedule, only to resurface later as a Best Buy exclusive (see Blu-ray.com, October 11). At the moment there is no information as to whether that will happen or not with Heavy Metal as well."

Well that's lame! Hopefully it will still be rescheduled as a future Blu-ray release.

[Katatonia]

It will now be a Best Buy exclusive on February 1st:

Heavy Metal (Best Buy Exclusive) (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Heavy+Metal+(Best+Buy+Exclusive)+-+Blu-ray+Disc/1769472.p?id=2184817&skuId=1769472&st=1769472%20&lp=1&cp=1&AID=10597222&PID=3594900&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FHeavy%2B Metal%2B%28Best%2BBuy%2BExclusive%29%2B-%2BBlu-ray%2BDisc%2F1769472.p%3Fid%3D2184817%26skuId%3D17 69472%26st%3D1769472%2520%26lp%3D1%26cp%3D1&ref=39&CJPID=3594900&loc=01)

You can pre-order it to pick up in store.

[scott71670]

I'm glad it is coming out and all (when I heard it was cancelled I thought- oh, music rights issues again), and the price is great, but what I am really concerned about is if the staff at best buy will be able to find those 2 sopies that land at each store!

[Dobby]

I'm glad it is coming out and all (when I heard it was cancelled I thought- oh, music rights issues again), and the price is great, but what I am really concerned about is if the staff at best buy will be able to find those 2 sopies that land at each store!

Yeah they're inventory stocking is the worse!

[Nailwraps]

Man, you beat me to it Katatonia. Agreed though, this is great news.

[Katatonia]

I'm glad it is coming out and all (when I heard it was cancelled I thought- oh, music rights issues again), and the price is great, but what I am really concerned about is if the staff at best buy will be able to find those 2 sopies that land at each store!

Yeah they're inventory stocking is the worse!

Yeah, Best Buy employees are mostly what I like to call "stupidiots" – at this local store at least. They never know anything, and can never find a damn thing in the store.

I'm pre-ordering one to pick up in store, so hopefully one should be reserved.

[dave13]

Yeah, Best Buy employees are mostly what I like to call "stupidiots" – at this local store at least. They never know anything, and can never find a damn thing in the store.

I'm pre-ordering one to pick up in store, so hopefully one should be reserved.

i remember a few years ago when criterion rereleased salo. my local best buy showed 2 copies of it in stock. but nobody could find them. i went repeatedly for what must have been a few weeks, but they never turned up. eventually i gave up and ordered it online. a few months later i finally saw it on their shelf. they're complete drones. it never fails to surprise me just how little the people that work in these stores (hmv is the same) know about the product they're selling. you'd think they'd make a point of hiring at least one or two people who actually like movies to work in these departments. when i worked at a bookstore i was able to hold real, subjective conversations with customers about the products we sold. but if you ask a best buy employee where they keep their criterion titles, more often than not, they'll ask you what criterion is.

[Grim]

you'd think they'd make a point of hiring at least one or two people who actually like movies to work in these departments. when i worked at a bookstore i was able to hold real, subjective conversations with customers about the products we sold. but if you ask a best buy employee where they keep their criterion titles, more often than not, they'll ask you what criterion is.

I remember when I was 16 I applied to Best Buy and requested to be in the movies and music section. I told them about my vast knowledge of film, music, pop culture, etc. and that I would be incredibly useful in that department. The manager interviewing me decided that I would do real nicely in the home theater department. They're idiots.

[bigdaddyhorse]

The whole Best Buy system is fucked!
Today I was asking about a blu-ray for another member here. It wasn't in stock so I had a guy look it up on the computer, which read that the store I was in had -1 copy in stock. We both had to laugh at that, not sure how it gets minus 1, but it did.:lol:

[Dobby]

Yeah, Best Buy employees are mostly what I like to call "stupidiots" – at this local store at least. They never know anything, and can never find a damn thing in the store.

I'm pre-ordering one to pick up in store, so hopefully one should be reserved.

That's what happens when your entire staff is a bunch of kids.

[Katatonia]

That's what happens when your entire staff is a bunch of kids.

I think it's really just poor management/training/organization. Kids work at other stores where the job demands far more, and they aren't nearly as inept.

[Dobby]

I think it's really just poor management/training/organization. Kids work at other stores where the job demands far more, and they aren't nearly as inept.

They don't even have floor employees at BB near me. It's all volunteers now in white shirts. So yeah poor management in an understatement.

[Katatonia]

Here's what the Blu-ray artwork will look like. I believe these were taken with a cell phone, so the quality isn't too great:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a287/dawnofwinter/HMBR1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a287/dawnofwinter/HMBR2.jpg

Best Buy will advertise it for $14.99 in their upcoming weekly flyer ad.

[Shannafey]

It looks like everything from the DVD. I got a $5 rewards coupon, but in all honesty I want to read some reviews first. If it is anything like the print I saw on Universal HD, it isn't worth an upgrade!

[Katatonia]

It looks like everything from the DVD. I got a $5 rewards coupon, but in all honesty I want to read some reviews first. If it is anything like the print I saw on Universal HD, it isn't worth an upgrade!

Yeah, it sounds like pretty much all of the important stuff from the old DVD release will be ported over. I wonder if the art galleries and portfolios will be included though...

[bigdaddyhorse]

Yeah, it sounds like pretty much all of the important stuff from the old DVD release will be ported over. I wonder if the art galleries and portfolios will be included though...


This is one of the very few cases where I care about the gallery. I can leave behind the scenes pictures, but those magazine covers and art galleries are dope and would be missed.

[Shannafey]

Anyone pick this up? I went to Best Buy and there wasn't one copy in stock, so I got a rain check, but reading the reviews, they are really mixed. People say the sound is worth the upgrade. A lot of people say it looks great, but others say what I intially thought... It isn't a major upgrade from the DVD and since there are no new special features and a lot of the old ones are missing, I think I'll stick with the DVD.

[Katatonia]

Anyone pick this up? I went to Best Buy and there wasn't one copy in stock, so I got a rain check, but reading the reviews, they are really mixed. People say the sound is worth the upgrade. A lot of people say it looks great, but others say what I intially thought... It isn't a major upgrade from the DVD and since there are no new special features and a lot of the old ones are missing, I think I'll stick with the DVD.

Yeah, I bought it yesterday.

It's a nice upgrade in A/V quality. The picture is grainy, but for an early 80's animated film...that's pretty normal. Without a big restoration, this is as good as it's going to look for a long time. The lossless audio sounds great.

The only things missing from the special features are all of the photo and sketches galleries that were included on the old DVD.

[Shannafey]

Yeah, I bought it yesterday.

It's a nice upgrade in A/V quality. The picture is grainy, but for an early 80's animated film...that's pretty normal. Without a big restoration, this is as good as it's going to look for a long time. The lossless audio sounds great.

The only things missing from the special features are all of the photo and sketches galleries that were included on the old DVD.

But is it enough of an upgrade in video quality? I feel like because of the age of the film, the style of the animation and such, it probably isn't worth upgrading. I don't upgrade a lot of DVDs because of finances, so what is your opinion on this?

[Katatonia]

But is it enough of an upgrade in video quality? I feel like because of the age of the film, the style of the animation and such, it probably isn't worth upgrading. I don't upgrade a lot of DVDs because of finances, so what is your opinion on this?

No, I wouldn't call it a huge upgrade over the old DVD transfer. It is an upgrade in that there is more resolution and visible detail, and a superior AVC encode with less artifacting. But no, I wouldn't call it an essential upgrade.

The DTS HD Master Audio audio track is a worthy upgrade however. It sounds far clearer if you have a receiver that can decode the full audio stream.

[Shannafey]

Thanks! That's what I thought. I have a cheap 5.1 stereo, so I don't think I'll benefit from the audio and I'm sure it is the same print as the Universal HD version, which didn't impress me much. My DVD is just fine! I'll spend my money on other Blu-Rays!

[indiephantom]

I thought it was worth the upgrade. I didn't have the superbit, but I have the DVD CE. It's generally a very good transfer.

[ReelFear]

I really enjoyed the new Blu-Ray edition of Heavy Metal. I've owned it on LaserDisc and DVD and the picture and especially the sound are an improvement over those past versions. If you're a fan of the movie I would recommend the blu.

[Shannafey]

Thanks for the input everyone.

[JGrendel]

I went & bought this last night cause I love this movie.

[Katatonia]

Review: http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Heavy-Metal-Blu-ray/17917/#Review (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Heavy-Metal-Blu-ray/17917/#Review)

[Shannafey]

Have you guys heard about the Heavy Metal TV series? It could be cool!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48410

[indiephantom]

Have you guys heard about the Heavy Metal TV series? It could be cool!!

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/48410

French cinema has been amazing lately, so I would love to check this out.

[Katatonia]

New DVDBeaver review with screenshots: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-ray_reviews54/heavy_metal_blu-ray.htm

[JGrendel]

Anybody hear anything about Heavy Metal 2 hitting Blu-ray?

[Shannafey]

Anybody hear anything about Heavy Metal 2 hitting Blu-ray?

Do you mean Heavy Metal 2000? I picked up the Superbit for $3 at Big Lots not long ago. It isn't anywhere near as good as the original, but is a bit underrated. I like it! I still haven't bitten on Heavy Metal on Blu. I think I'll stick with my DVD on that one. Maybe when I find it dirt cheap one day, I'll grab it! I can't afford to upgrade my whole collection unless the upgrade is really worth my time!