TV & DVD: But wait, there’s more

Criterion goes Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection is already a vaunted place for classic films—its wizards pump out five or six flicks each month with sparkling visuals and special features up the wazoo. Now that the dust is settling from the format wars for the next DVD generation, Criterion is stepping in. It’ll start releasing titles in the stunning high-definition Blu-ray format in October; more than a dozen are already slated to receive the treatment, including The Last Emperor and Contempt.

Games from our youth
This fall’s video games are looking mighty nostalgia-laden. Prince of Persia (late fall on Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360), a favorite action-puzzler, is getting a highly anticipated update for the newer platforms. Then there’s the two-things-become-one-awesome-thing LEGO Batman (September 23 on Windows, DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360). And Sub-Zero finally does battle with the Flash in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (November 10 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360).

Futurama: Bender’s Game
This fall marks the one-year anniversary of the return of Futurama, the space-age Fox cartoon resurrected via movie-length DVDs. (Each is later carved into four episodes to air on Comedy Central.) Bender’s Big Score hit last November, followed by Beast with a Billion Backs in June. Bender’s Game is up November 4, and we’re excited for two reasons: (1) So far, each DVD has been better than the last, and (2) this one is predominantly a Lord of the Rings parody. November, $29.98.

Read more in our 2008 Fall Preview.

Check out the other sections in our 2008 Fall Preview:

ART | BOOKS | CLUBS | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | GAY & LESBIAN | KIDS | MUSEUMS & CULTURE | MUSIC | OPERA & CLASSICAL | RESTAURANTS & BARS | SHOPPING | SPORTS & REC | THEATER | TV & DVD