The Towering Inferno - Australian release?

[MainTitle]

Twentieth Century Fox has released this classic film on a Region-A coded Blu ray disc in the US. Warner Home Video (which owns the film's international distribution rights) has announced a slew of back catalogue product - including TTI - for November release in the UK. Let's hope it sees the light of day here in Australia!

As the very first co-production between two major motion picture studios, "The Towering Inferno" has a vast following and from all reports the picture and sound quality on the Region A disc are outstanding.

Unfortunately, we never got the 2-Disc Special Edition DVD released in 2005 (from which this new BD release is taken) due to the anomalies associated with the distribution rights to this property. The inferior 2001 DVD we do have has IMHO substandard picture quality and Dolby 2.0 Surround is all that is featured. This version is still available albeit only narrowly in stores like JB Hi-Fi.

I can't see that Warners will not release it in this country but stranger things have happened. At least if it doesn't come out here, then Aussie fans can import the UK version upon issue.

Just as an aside, I imported the US Region A-coded Blu ray last week which features a slimline transparent blu ray cover. [Don't know why?] Naturally it won't play on my Sony S-550 player (coded Region B), however, I had my hopes up as the disc initially loaded and on came a disclaimer screen with Fox background that announced:

"This disc is coded to Region A. Please eject this disc from your machine and play in a Region A player"

It staggers the mind that movie studios insist on this Region coding issue but now allow all six DVD regions to be played on most BD players, but not anything other than what the BD region is locked in as. Go Figure!

[BluRayNuts]

I agree with your comments. I don't really understand how/why older movies such as this need to have to be region coded at all. This is an old film and is not having a cinematic release. As such, there is no timing issue of releasing the Blu in one country when in another country it may still be in the cinema.

I've already ordered this from Amazon UK as a region B, but I don't think it comes out till November the 16th....

An Aussie release may be some time away......

[MainTitle]

Further to my original post, Warner Home Video (UK) has released a Region-B coded Blu ray disc of this title. It features Dolbgy True HD 5.1 sound as opposed to the US version's DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track. Aside from that the picture and sound quality in high definiton is quite stunning.

Warner has distribution rights on this title around the world and almost all of the 'extras' have been ported over from the 20th Century Fox US Region-A BD release.

Missing is the 'AMC Backstory' and 'Scene Specific Commentaries' on several action sequences by Mike Vezina and Branko Racki, but everything else appears intact on this British release, which plays perfectly on my Australian Sony player.

I am still advised by Warner Home Video here in Australia that they have not slated it for release even after the first quarter of 2010, which is surprising knwoing the popularity of this title around the world. So I urge any Aussies who want it to purchase it via Amazon UK. You won't be disappointed.