Optimum HD / Blu Ray Releases

From 12th November 2007, Optimum are going to be stepping up their involvement in the expansion of the new high def formats, with the release of three key titles on both Blu Ray and HD DVD. The titles in question are the gritty, nerve-shredding Wolf Creek, comic-horror epic The Host, and the enchanting, Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth. Each will combine the crispest picture and sound, alongside a host of extras on each disc. To date we have published four key catalogue titles on HD-DVD - The Pianist, Mulholland Drive, La Haine and The Deer Hunter courtesy of Studio Canal's collaboration with Toshiba.

Optimum are taking an agnostic stance in terms of the relative values of each format, so we are now in a position to extend the line-up to include the afore-mentioned key titles on both formats for the Christmas period. Although we're remaining non-partisan about the result of the format war, we do recognize the need to support the evolution of DVD in the hope of restoring value to the market. Our release of these three titles is our response to the demand for a greater variety of product, which we are sure will increase considerably as the new wave of cheaper hardware appears this autumn.

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Visionary director Guillermo del Toro brings his compelling and beautiful vision to the screen in Pan's Labyrinth. Fresh from its massive UK box office and DVD sales success, this enchanting yet dark fairytale can be seen as a companion piece to the haunting The Devil's Backbone and is del Toro's most personal film yet.

The Host (2006)

From the director of Memories of Murder comes Bong Joon-Ho's The Host, a fantasy monster movie, which expertly mixes humour and horror. On its release in its native Korea it broke box office records, taking the opening weekend record and the highest single-day admissions ever. Combining state of the art visual effects from the team behind Superman Returns, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Sin City with the dark and offbeat humour synonymous with Korean cinema, The Host is one of the most original monster movies to emerge for decades.

Wolf Creek (2005)

Based on terrifying true events, Wolf Creek is unforgettable, shocking and genuinely scary. A cinematic hand grenade, Wolf Creek unites all the elements of classic horror movies to create a uniquely Australian "Boogieman" in Mick Taylor. Written and directed by Greg McLean, Wolf Creek is not based on any one story but echoes some of the elements of recent crimes of hideous unparalleled violence and brutality.

Please note - Disc special features are subject to change, may differ from format to format and/or may differ from region to region.