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'Damn dirty apes' coming to Blu-ray

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HCC News Team - 15 August 2008 - 9:24am

20th Century Fox has announced that it is bringing the original Planet of the Apes series to Blu-ray in the UK on December 1. The Region B Planet of the Apes: 40 Year Evolution Blu-ray Collection features newly remastered hi-def transfers of all five films with newly created DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. There's no word on pricing yet, although the US release arriving in November has a retail price of $160.

The set doesn't skimp when it comes to extra features either. The cornucopia of bonus material includes all of the additional content from the earlier DVD box sets, plus newly created HD features in the form of a Science of the Apes Bonus View mode for the first film, Evolution of the Apes documentary, Impact of the Apes featurette and more. Here's a look at the US box art (which will hopefully be replicated over here in all of its glory), followed by a full rundown of all of the extras taken straight from the press release...

  • NEW Science of the Apes BONUSVIEW - Scientists, anthropologists and sociologists discuss the facts and fiction of the first film
  • NEW Beyond the Forbidden Zone adventure game
  • NEW "A Public Service Announcement From ANSA" in HD - A mission report from the agency regarding their brave astronauts
  • NEW "Evolution of the Apes"- HD featurette tracing the apes story from the original novel to the screen
  • NEW "Impact of the Apes" - HD featurette on how to market a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The story behind the marketing and merchandising of one of the first ever film franchises and the series' lasting influence on pop culture through the years
  • NEW HD Making-of Featurette for Each Sequel:
    -- Beneath the Planet of the Apes - "From Alpha to Omega: Building a Sequel"
    -- Escape from the Planet of the Apes - "The Secret Behind Escape"
    -- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes - "Riots and Revolutions: Confronting the Times"
    -- Battle for the Planet of the Apes - "End of an Epic: The Final Battle"
  • NEW Each Apes sequel will have an isolated score track in 5.1 DTS Master Audio
  • Commentary by Composer Jerry Goldsmith
  • Commentary by Actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and Makeup Artist John Chambers
  • Text Commentary by Eric Greene and Author of "Planet of the Apes as American Myth"
  • Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary - Includes all new interactivity and timeline
  • Behind the Planet of the Apes Promo (1988)
  • Planet of the Apes Makeup Test with Edward G. Robinson (1966)
  • Roddy McDowall On-set Footage
  • Planet of the Apes Dailies and Outtakes (No Audio)
  • Planet of the Apes NATO Presentation (1967)
  • Planet of the Apes Vintage Featurette (1968)
  • A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes (1972)
  • Don Taylor Directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes
  • J. Lee Thompson Directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
  • Six Original Theatrical Trailers
  • Original Sketches by Costume Designer Morton Haack
  • Photo Gallery
  • Planet of the Apes Timeline
  • Interactive Pressbooks
  • Vintage Apes Newspaper Galleries
  • Advertising and Lobby Card Galleries
  • Behind-the-Scenes Galleries
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