One of the last studios to release a 3D movie in theaters is joining the earliest studios to make that movie available at retail on 3D Blu-ray this fall when Universal Studios Home Entertainment releases “Despicable Me” in stores Dec. 14.
The two Blu-ray editions (standard and 3D combo pack) and a double-pack DVD of the movie will also include three original “mini movies” featuring the Minions characters from the film for a limited time.
“‘Despicable Me” is one of those rare titles that moviegoers of all ages have enthusiastically embraced,” said USHE president Craig Kornblau.
The animated comedy starring the voice of Steve Carrell as a wannabe super-villain whose life is unexpectedly changed by a trio of determined little orphans, includes interactive games, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and filmmaker commentaries.
Disney and DreamWorks, the two studios that have released the most 3D movies, are releasing almost all of those movies on 3D Blu-ray only with the purchase of 3D TVs and Blu-ray players, though Disney has said it will release “A Christmas Carol” on 3D Blu-ray in November, but has yet to officially announce specifics.
Just last week the first 3D Blu-ray titles from Warner Home Video were announced for November.
Sony Pictures Home Video, whose sister company is bundling several of Disney’s movies with Sony products, has been the only studio to release all of its 3D Blu-ray titles to retail for most of the year.
Among the bonus features is a version of Universal’s picture-in-picture “U-Control” tailored to a character in the movie that is now called “Gru Control,” which is consistent with a very slightly altered Blu-ray Disc logo in the movie itself that reads “Gru-ray Disc.”
— By Scott Hettrick
Great movie, and has a few neat things to make the 3D good also. But one BIG problem. My sister bought the Blueray 3D/2D/DVD/Digital set. When she opened it there were no glasses to go with it. Plus she found out that it can’t be watched in 3D without a 3D TV which wasn’t explained by the place she bought it from. Why on earth would the release a 3D movie that you have to own a 3D TV to watch when 3D TVs have just started coming out!?!?!?
Whoa, that’s too bad you didn’t know about the Blu-ray 3D system that was introduced nearly a year ago and that requires special glasses and TV and Blu-ray player specifically designed for the new 3D system.
Same thing as when you bought your first Blu-ray disc which would only play in a special Blu-ray player, which would only work with a new HiDef TV.
I bet your store would let you take it back and trade it in on a non-3D Blu-ray to save $10 or so. But that’s the good thing about the new combo packs with Blu-ray 3Ds: most also include a regular 2D version to play in your current Blu-ray player, and then you’ll have the 3D version if and when you decide to upgrade.
Scott