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September 18, 2006 10:04 PM Eastern Time 

On October 10 ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,'' ''Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,'' ''Batman Begins,'' ''Tim Burton's Corpse Bride'' and ''The Polar Express'' Debut on HD DVD; ''Syriana'' and ''16 Blocks'' Debut on Blu-Ray

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2006--

  Warner Passes "50 Titles" Benchmark in High Definition  

“A feast for the eyes and the imagination.”



With the release of seven new high definition titles on October 10, Warner Home Video continues to be the leader in high definition media. Making their debut on HD DVD are "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" two uniquely different versions of the story about a boy who discovers a magical world after finding the winning golden ticket in a bar of chocolate. In addition, making their HD DVD debuts are "Batman Begins" and two animated titles: "Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" and "The Polar Express" - an animated Christmas Classic and one of Warner Home Video's all-time best-selling family DVD's. Making their Blu-Ray debut will be "Syriana" and "16 Blocks." This latest selection of releases marks the release of over 50 high definition titles by WHV (55) which is 70% higher than that of any other studio in the marketplace.

"Batman Begins" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" make their HD DVD debut with In-Movie Experience (IME), the interactive feature allowing viewers to enjoy new ways of accessing interviews and other material -- while the movie is running. The IME for "Batman Begins" gives viewers a window into director Christopher Nolan's personal journey bringing a new look and new direction to Batman, illustrated with comics, cast comments and behind the scenes footage that gives each scene new meaning. The IME for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" offers rare glimpses into director Tim Burton's creative process, scene by scene, that is at once insightful and turned on its head with comic Oompa Loompa interjections, unexpected chocolate fun facts and pop-ups.

The October 10 HD DVD titles will be available for $28.99 SRP and the two Blu-Ray Discs will be available for $34.99 SRP. All bonus materials on the Standard Definition versions of these titles will be included on the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions.

HD DVDs

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - Starring 2-time Oscar(R) nominee Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, this exciting retelling of Roald Dahl's beloved children's book is a delectable treat for the whole family that Entertainment Weekly calls "A feast for the eyes and the imagination." The adventure begins when Charlie Bucket discovers a Golden Ticket, catapulting him into a fantastic world of chocolate rivers, nutty squirrels, and mischievous Oompa-Loompas.

"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" - Stars Gene Wilder and tells the story of a poor little boy who wins a ticket to visit the inside of a mysterious and magical chocolate factory. When he experiences the wonders inside the factory, the boy discovers that the entire visit is a test of his character.

"Batman Begins" explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride" - Set in a 19th century European village, this stop-motion animated feature follows the story of Victor (voiced by Johnny Depp), a young man who is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride, Victoria, waits bereft in the land of the living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian upbringing, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love.

"The Polar Express" is based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children's book by Chris Van Allsburg about a doubting young boy who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

About the Blu-ray Movies

"Syriana" - Set against the extensive global oil industry network, Syriana unfolds a complex series of interconnecting stories that challenge the morality and integrity of all those involved.

"16 Blocks" - Loyalty is put to the test when Jack (Bruce Willis), a burnt-out NYC detective, has to transport a fast-talking convict from jail to the courthouse 16 blocks away. Jack faces one obstacle to the next when his ex-partners try to stop him from arriving at the courthouse through an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting car chase adventure.

Warner Home Video HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs offer resolution six times higher than standard definition DVDs, as well as extraordinarily vibrant contrast and color and beautifully crisp sound. The new formats also provide a higher level of interactivity, with instant access to extra features via a seamless menu-bar where viewers can enjoy features without leaving or interrupting the film.

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Contacts

Warner Home Video
Ronnee Sass, 818-977-6439
ronnee.sass@warnerbros.com
or
Carl Samrock Public Relations Inc.
Karen Penhale, 818-260-0777
karenpenhale@cs-pr.com
Marie Remelius, 818-260-0777
marie@cs-pr.com
or
For Questions about HD Formats:
Edelman Public Relations
Anna Vrechek, 323-202-1908
anna.vrechek@edelman.com
http://www.whvdirect.com

Company Information Center

Warner Home Video RSS feed for Warner Home Video

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