Disney press release on the 12/4 Blu-ray release of POTC 3 From madonnasmanone post on the main DVDtalk page. Looks like the stops are being pulled out on this one.


Press release:

#1 Worldwide Box Office Hit of 2007 Washes Ashore on Disney DVD & Blu-ray Disc(R) on December 4; The Most Thrilling Adventure Yet in the Blockbuster Franchise

BURBANK, CA -- 07/26/07 -- Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment presents "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" like you have never experienced it before on Disney DVD and stunning high-definition Blu-ray DiscŪ loaded with an armada of bonus materials. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush lead a stellar cast in the biggest, most thrilling installment of the blockbuster franchise, filled with spectacular visual effects, exotic locales and breathtaking action. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" arrives in time for the holidays on multiple platforms including 2-disc DVD and 2-disc 75GB Blu-ray sets featuring hours of extra material highlighted by bloopers and extensive behind-the-scenes content -- plus the Blu-ray exclusive Enter the Maelstrom: a BD-Java feature that takes Blu-ray interactivity to an astounding new level! Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Gore Verbinski, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which catapulted to become the #1 global box office hit of 2007 to date with over $946 million generated at the box office, arrives December 4 on multiple platforms, including a 2-disc DVD for the SRP of $34.99, 2-disc 75GB Blu-ray for the SRP of $35.99, and single-disc DVD for the SRP of $29.99.

Captain Jack Sparrow returns in a massively entertaining epic adventure beyond the very ends of the earth in the #1 worldwide box office phenomenon of 2007. Join Elizabeth, Will, and Captain Barbossa as they navigate through treacherous lands, mysterious lore, and supernatural wonders of the pirate world. Meet the legendary pirate lords as they prepare for a titanic clash with the ruthless Lord Beckett and Davy Jones' fearsome Flying Dutchman.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" 2-disc Disney DVD set immerses users in hours of behind-the-scenes content and pirate lore from the four corners of the earth. Features include a behind-the-scenes documentary, "Keith & the Captain"; "Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom"; "The Tale of the Multiple Jacks"; "Hoist the Colors"; "Masters of Design"; "Inside the Brethren Court"; "The Pirate Code: Revealed"; "The World of Chow Yun Fat"; "The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer"; "Bloopers of the Caribbean"; and much, much more!

Relive the breathtaking action and mind-boggling special effects in glorious high-definition detail with the "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" Blu-ray 2-disc release. The Blu-ray Disc high-definition feature film presentation was created from the original digital source files, delivering an unequaled, demo-worthy home viewing experience. Marvel at the wondrous 1080p detail of Davy Jones' slimy, barnacle-encrusted crew and tremble at the ground-shaking cannonade of ship to ship battles with 7.1 channels surround, 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio -- you'll swear you smell the gun powder and feel the salty sea-spray splash across your face!

The Blu-ray Disc release includes all of the standard DVD bonus content re-mastered in high-definition, plus exclusive BD-Java enhanced features including "Enter the Maelstrom," an extensive interactive look at the climactic sequence of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and the return of the Jolly Roger host, who navigates users through animated menus with state-of-the-art BD-Java enabled artificial intelligence. This scurvy scallywag entertainingly guides you through the pirate waters of your Blu-ray experience, responding to your actions (and inactions) with humorous commentary.

About "Enter The Maelstrom"

"Enter the Maelstrom," the exclusive showpiece of the Blu-ray Disc, takes you deep into the perilous whirlpool of the Maelstrom, a sequence of unimaginable scale. The colossal battle between the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman stands as one of the most impressive action set pieces in cinema history with its photorealistic blend of live-action footage and computer-aided FX wizardry. Jerry Bruckheimer hosts the BD-Java feature -- a one-hour immersive, interactive tour that explores the sequence from stem to stern, covering everything you would want to know and more about this awe-inspiring cinematic achievement. Explore the Palmdale hanger that housed the sets from floor to ceiling seamlessly through an interactive, time-lapse footage interface. In-feature pop-ups and selectable icons appear throughout the time-lapse footage over different areas of the massive set; navigating to each of these reveals multimedia content about how the Maelstrom was created, from set construction to special effects. Discover the Maelstrom on your own, or take a tour of the highlights of the set with Jerry Bruckheimer, who also provides optional commentary throughout the feature.

"Enter the Maelstrom" is a BD-Java interactive feature that was developed and produced by Disney and programmed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory. Panasonic is a key technology provider for BD-Java or Blu-ray Disc Java, which is the interactive platform supporting advanced content for Blu-ray Disc. BD-Java allows bonus content on Blu-ray Disc titles to be far more sophisticated then bonus content provided by standard definition DVD. Panasonic also handled the film's AVC video compression (Advanced Video Coding; a digital video codec standard that is noted for achieving very high data compression) direct from digital intermediates as well as menu authoring for Disc 1 of the Blu-ray 2-disc set.

Synopsis

Just when he's needed most, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), that witty and wily charmer of a pirate, is trapped on a sea of sand in Davy Jones' Locker. In an increasingly shaky alliance, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) begin a desperate quest to find and rescue him. Captain Jack's the last of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court who must come together united in one last stand to preserve the freedom-loving pirates' way of life. From exotic Singapore, to World's End and beyond, from Shipwreck Island, to a titanic battle, this adventure's filled with over-the-edge action, irreverent humor and seafaring myth and magic. Everything has led to this twisting, turning, wild swashbuckling ride in this final chapter of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy.

"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END"

2-Disc Disney DVD Bonus Materials

DISC 1


-- Feature Film Presentation
-- Bloopers of the Caribbean - hilarious outtakes of cast and crew


DISC 2


-- Anatomy of a Scene: The Maelstrom - a detailed breakdown of one of
cinema's most complex and impressive action set pieces
-- Keith & the Captain - A revealing look at the dynamic relationship
between living legends Keith Richards and Johnny Depp
-- Tale of the Multiple Jacks - an in-depth look at the mind-blowing FX
that went into creating multiple Captain Jacks
-- Hoist the Colors - reveals the inspiration for the "Hoist the Colors"
original composition
-- Masters of Design - five individual documentaries highlighting the
talented design teams behind this immense production
- #1: Jim Byrkit and The Map
- #2: Crash McCreary and the Krusty Pirates
- #3: Rick Heinrichs and the Singapore Set
- #4: Penny Rose and the Captain Teague Costumes
- #5: Chris Peck and the Pirate Code Book
-- Inside the Brethren Court - a closer look at the legendary Pirate Lords
and their costume designs, origins and unique personalities
-- The Pirate Code: Revealed - explores the pirate code and the history
of piracy
-- The World of Chow Yun Fat - a look at the man behind devious Captain
Sao Feng, international sensation Chow Yun Fat, and his meteoric rise
to fame
-- The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer - meet the renowned
composer who created the film's rousing score


"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END"

Blu-ray 2-Disc Bonus Materials

DISC 1


-- Feature Film Presentation
-- Jolly Roger Host - BD-Java Exclusive


DISC 2


-- Enter the Maelstrom - BD-Java Exclusive
-- All Standard DVD Bonus Content - available in high-definition


"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END"

Single Disc Disney DVD Bonus Materials

DISC 1


-- Feature Film Presentation
-- Feature Audio Commentary
-- Bloopers of the Caribbean



TITLE INFORMATION
2-Disc Disney DVD SRP $34.99 U.S.; $41.99 Canada
Blu-ray Disc SRP: $35.99 U.S.; $45.99 Canada
Single Disc Disney DVD SRP: $29.99 U.S.; $37.99 Canada
Running Time: Approximately 150 minutes
MPAA Rating: U.S. PG-13 for Intense Sequences of
Adventure Violence, Including Frightening
Images; Bonus Material Not Rated
Languages: U.S. DVD: English, Spanish; Canada DVD:
English, Spanish; Blu-ray Disc: English,
Spanish, French
Subtitles: U.S. DVD: English SDH, Spanish; Canada DVD:
English SDH, Spanish; Blu-ray: English SDH,
Spanish, French
Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom,
Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Chow Yun Fat,
Tom Hollander and Jonathan Pryce
Director: Gore Verbinski
Writers: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Blu-ray Disc Sound: 5.1 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed sound
(English)
5.1 Dolby Digital
(English, French, Spanish)
Blu-ray Disc Encoding: AVC
Blu-ray Disc Resolution: 1080p


Artwork is available at www.BVHEpublicity.com

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray DiscŪ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.

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Does the Blu-ray release contain the audio commentary?

The press release does say this, so I would imagine so: But, oddly enough though the 2-Disc DVD doesn't list the commentary track either. So who knows? Maybe a typo.

This is gonna be one damn good looking and sounding disc to be sure.

I am looking forward to finally seeing this. Hopefully, Sony will issue a firmware upgrade for the BDPS300 by then to help with the Java load times.

I certainly hope so. Even with 2.0 loaded, the 300 takes a painfully long time to load POTC 1 & 2.

LXG and Big Fish also had slow load times on my BDPS300, everything else loads normal though.

The first two Pirate films on BD are some of the best discs on either format for PQ, AQ, and extras, so I expect AWE to follow suit.

Agreed! Looking forward to completing my BR Trilogy with this one.

ick! what was wrong with the original one sheet artwork??

Terrible cover art. When did they start that corny "Beyond High Definition" tag?

I think they've always had it.

no doubt! especially since the first 2 movies had 'em on Blu....very odd

They never really did the same-style poster art for the 3rd film, so I expected something new for the DVD/BD. The blue color scheme is odd though, they look like ghosts...

Hopefully they'll sell the trilogy as a box set too... not that a box really matters but I still like em.

Not too excited about the cover art. Then again Artman does make a point. I can understand that they would try to make cover art to match the other two.

I am excited that the BD Pirates trilogy will be complete this December