World War Z (Blu-ray SteelBook) (WEA)-Embossed & Numbered (Entertainment Store) [UK]

[digitalbabe]

Release Date: October 21st, 2013
Pre-order: Click Entertainment Store
Price: £26.99

Official announcement:

The Entertainment Store is proud to announce the release of its latest Steelbook: World War Z.
The Entertainment Store Exclusive World War Z 2D & 3D Blu-Ray Steelbook features sequential laser etched numbering on each copy, a world first for a Blu-Ray Steelbook.

Limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies worldwide, the Entertainment Store Exclusive World War Z 2D & 3D Blu-Ray Steelbook features:

- Includes 2D and 3D Blu-Rays (2 discs)
- Embossed red Z on front
- Numbering will be at the bottom right on the front
- Entertainment Store Exclusive sticker
- Pile of Zombies will have a black/grey matte finish
- White area is white (not silver) and will feature a "zero finish", described here via Scanavo's website:

Zero varnish is a neutral, low-gloss finish but it maintains high color intensity and brightness. Zero varnish has a high resistance to scratching.

Spoiler

Specs:

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Audio: English Audio Description ; German;Italian;Castilian Spanish;Parisian French
Subtitles: English;English SDH;German;Dutch;Italian;Danish;Swedish;Norwegian; Finnish;Castilian Spanish;Parisian French
Region: FREE
It is the unrated cut (8mins of extra footage), although this is on the 2D disc only (for some reason Paramount didn't do it on the 3D disc)

Spoiler: Old infos

Update 8/20/2013​

Below is an informative 'Road to an ES Steelbook' interview that the team at 'The Entertainment store' provided exclusively to HDN

READ MORE HERE:

Spoiler

HDN: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for this special HDN Exclusive community feature. We hope you can share with our members what kinds of processes and considerations are part of your Steelbook releases-provide a ‘peek behind the curtain’ so to speak!

Q-HDN: How do you determine what titles will receive the Steelbook treatment?

A-ES: The process for new release titles (i.e. those that have just been out in the cinema and are being released in Steelbook at the same time as they are in amaray) and for catalogue titles (older films) is quite similar. We ask ourselves a number of questions before starting discussions...
1.Is it a cool title that would offer something extra above the standard release?
2.Can we make it exclusive and premium?
3.Is it a title that people will want to buy in Steelbook? We can’t imagine anyone ever wanting a Steelbook of a teen romcom movie, regardless of whether it includes 3D!

Q-HDN: What is the most challenging aspect of moving a release from concept to the market?

A-ES: There’s no one area which is more challenging than any other to be honest – artwork selection, finish options, release date etc etc can all be difficult. It tends to vary from release to release. Everyone involved in the process, whether here at ES or at the studio, wants the same thing – a great product that people will love.

HDN: Who chooses the art and any special finish on the Steelbook? The studio or the retailer?

A-ES: It’s a bit of both really. The studio ultimately has the final say on what artwork can be used on a steelbook since they own or license the film, and they may in turn need to get the artwork signed off by the director, production company or the actors. Generally the bigger the film, the more likely someone involved in actually making the film will need to say yes or no on what artwork can be used – this is often why you see the same artwork used all over the world. It’s not the studios being lazy!

Special finishes (e.g. embossing, gloss, slip covers etc) tend to be down to time – in theory on a catalogue title this is endless, since there is no particular reason why something like Forbidden Planet needs to be released in November and not December, but other factors can influence this timing. There is a desire to have new release Steelbooks come out at the same time as their amaray counterparts, so like with Star Trek Into Darkness what we’d hope we could do we ultimately ran out of time on.

That all sounds like the studios dictate everything, and retailers like The Entertainment Store have no say in the finish product. We always try to influence the end product as much as we can and a lot of the time we go to the studio with an idea and the end product isn’t too far from that original idea (Forbidden Planet and Natural Born Killers are pretty much what we asked for). Of course, like all retailers we ultimately have the ability to say ‘no’ if we feel the release isn’t to our liking.

Q-HDN: What, to you makes a perfect Steelbook release?

A-ES: A film that you love with great artwork that captures the essence of what the film is about, with the best disc(s) that are available in the UK inside.

The UK Warner Bros. wave of classic titles that used the original poster art (e.g. Maltese Falcon) were fantastic and a great example of titles that didn’t need to be overly embossed or glossed to look gorgeous – they just used the full space available on a Steelbook to display the art well.

Q-HDN: How long does it generally take from initial discussion to production for a Steelbook?

A-ES: It varies incredibly, but at a minimum 2-3 months from the initial conversation to the finished product landing on people’s doormats.

Q-HDN: Given the significant amount of feedback our community shares daily, would you consider releasing a Steelbook where the art was designed by a member of our community?

A-ES: The short answer is yes, we would. See 2 questions up for the artwork constraints we work within though...

Q-HDN: Can you share what would be on your own ‘personal dream list’ of titles that you would love to see released in Steelbooks?

A-ES: This is a tough one, because some of the titles on our dream list here at ES are films that we hope someday we can release on steelbook ourselves! There are also a whole raft of titles that are unlikely to ever get a blu-ray release, let alone a steelbook. But, since you asked here are some suggestions from Team ES (that sadly will probably never see the light of day):

1.Baraka – the photography on this is so beautiful and varied that you could potentially do 3 or 4 steelbooks, each on a different theme from the film.
2.Team America – it’s already being released, but a version of this which uses the Russian style propaganda posters in Kim Jong Il’s palace for all of the artwork would be amazing.
3.Cross of Iron – a great Peckinpah film that has so much metal imagery in it (barbed wire, machine guns, actual Iron Crosses) it’s practically begging for a steelbook.
4.Dollars Trilogy done as individuals using character shots as the front covers. You could even do 3 steelbooks for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
5.More westerns!

Q-HDN: Is there anything else you would like to share with the community?

We’re looking forward to announcing more exclusive Steelbooks in the coming months through HDN.

HDN is a great online community, and we’re proud to work closely with you guys through our contact at Play – you’re the reason the ES sticker was created!
We’re happy to take any follow up questions you may have…

HDN: Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us. We look forward to seeing what else the Entertainment Store has planned for the months ahead.[

Spoiler

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Update 8/19/2013
Hello HDN!

We're thrilled to be the first to bring you exciting news and an inside look about the next Steelbook release from
'The Entertainment Store' ...within the next day!

Be right @HDN in this same thread for the official 'reveal' of their next Steelbook™ on 8/20/2013.
Don't want to miss the news? Subscribe to the thread to stay updated.

Enjoy and thanks for being part of our community at HDN!

Spoiler

Since its arrival in March 2013 The Entertainment Store has been working closely with Paramount Home Entertainment and have already teamed up to release exclusive Blu-Ray Steelbooks such as GI Joe: Retaliation, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and Star Trek: Into Darkness but this latest release looks to be the most exciting yet. The E-tailer distributes product directly from the Studio warehouses so the product is guaranteed as authentic and of the highest quality.

The Entertainment Store Exclusive World War Z 2D & 3D Blu-Ray Steelbook will be available to pre-order at midday (BST) Friday 23rd August 2013 on Play.com, when the price and release date will be revealed.

[/spoiler

 

[federalist93]

Hey guys, an update about the content on the disc in this edition:

Wait, "It is" makes it sound like the unrated version is the only version on the disc. That can't be right, right? The theatrical version has to be on there too...I assume.

 

[Jnavotheman]

This is going to be a beauty, cant wait to get it in hand

 

[Punker76]

Hope there's both theatrical and extended cuts - would like to be able to watch the theatrical cut with my son, if it's just a harder cut (18 cert?) on the disc then it won't be one we can enjoy together

 

[NAT1976]

I have just read that the maximum amount per customer is 3 copies, this will affect the GB unfortunately

Seller Comment: Brand new and sealed. All pre-orders are shipped so you receive your item on the day of release. Maximum 3 copies per customer.

 

[Kashby]

I have just read that the maximum amount per customer is 3 copies, this will affect the GB unfortunately

It shouldnt affect it as It didn't affect the Star Trek group buy and that was 3 per customer.

 

[Bunk]

Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in!

I wasn't originally going to be part of this GB, because there'll apparently be a French steelbook of World War Z that will probably cost between €25/€28 if it includes 3D. And also because before the ES price was officialized, I had made the (incorrect) calculation that getting in on the GB would mean paying £47 (€55), shipping included.

It didn't mean I disliked this ES exclusive. Their insistence on the white colour and the laser etching numbering had made me droll, but I was thinking not with my heart but with my wallet, especially since it's released in a very crowded October.

But this morning's results of Naughtius' giveaway have made me change my mind .

Having been chosen to be the recipient of the Black Swan steelbook, I was very happy to pay the £4.95 shipping fee until Naughtius made me an offer I couldn't refuse : shipping it with steelbooks I might have asked for in his Group Buys. Problem was, I wasn't part of any of his GBs. Yet...

I am taking him up on this gracious offer to combine Black Swan and World War Z into a single shipping, so now I'm in on the GB for WWZ. £35.81 / €41.90 for both steelbooks makes World War Z seem a lot more affordable.

And my two cents of the 3-copy limit : I'm glad Naughtius has set this limit, he's doing this GB by himself, and this way more people can have the opportunity to get one. I'm never going to buy more than 1 copy but I get that some people would want 2 copies, even a third one if you want to open one, keep one sealed and offer/sell back the last one to a friend/the Internet. But who needs 5 copies? Three of the exact same steelbook (minus the numbering obviously) is a fair limit, imo.

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

I have just read that the maximum amount per customer is 3 copies, this will affect the GB unfortunately

Hi NAT - there is no worries over the GB, I have the blessing from ES/Play

 

[apsmith21]

I have just read that the maximum amount per customer is 3 copies, this will affect the GB unfortunately

Hi NAT - there is no worries over the GB, I have the blessing from ES/Play

Correct, we've always gotten special permission for our group buy hosts.

Thanks play & ES! (and David)

 

[himanshu]

Please let it be either World War Z, Pacific Rim or Man of Steel

Man of Steel

 

[Arbsy]

Cant wait for this! It wil be pricey for us US and Canadian buyers though but I think it will be worth it.

 

[sam tyler]

This one will be a pass for me,

To start with I would need confirmation that this also contains the unrated cut of the film but for £26.99 I would also have expected significantly different artwork on the back to the design on the front cover. It just looks too similar for me especially when charging a premium price.

I may go for the French release somewhere down the the line but will probably just import the US amaray

 

[Konflick]

This one will be a pass for me,

To start with I would need confirmation that this also contains the unrated cut of the film but for £26.99 I would also have expected significantly different artwork on the back to the design on the front cover. It just looks too similar for me especially when charging a premium price.

I may go for the French release somewhere down the the line but will probably just import the US amaray

This is confirm that the steel is made of unrated cut

 

[hoppusdelonge]

Hope there's both theatrical and extended cuts - would like to be able to watch the theatrical cut with my son, if it's just a harder cut (18 cert?) on the disc then it won't be one we can enjoy together

I'll be very surprised if the extra material raises the UK rating. Don't be fooled by the unrated label, trims were made to achieve a PG-13 rating in America so the version we're getting most likely would have been rated R.

At the most I'm expecting changes similar to Live Free or Die Hard, a few blood sprays, maybe an extra swear word and some non contentious material to pad out the runtime.

 

[nekromantik]

I'll be very surprised if the extra material raises the UK rating. Don't be fooled by the unrated label, trims were made to achieve a PG-13 rating in America so the version we're getting most likely would have been rated R.

At the most I'm expecting changes similar to Live Free or Die Hard, a few blood sprays, maybe an extra swear word and some non contentious material to pad out the runtime.

Agreed. Unrated dont always mean an 18 in the UK.
Another example Taken 2 got upgraded from 12 to 15.

 

[sam tyler]

This is confirm that the steel is made of unrated cut

Okay well that's nice to know but I'm still not convinced on the rear artwork or the price

 

[Konflick]

Okay well that's nice to know but I'm still not convinced on the rear artwork or the price

If you are in UK just remember this is free delivery. And also just imagine your ordering steel from china and this is free customs

 

[MENTAL MAGPIE]

This looks good! Just hope the price isn't to expensive

its £26.99

 

[Flloydo]

Happy this has the extra footage. Couldn't see any reason why It shouldn't

 

[sam tyler]

If you are in UK just remember this is free delivery. And also just imagine your ordering steel from china and this is free customs

I am in the UK but there is a top price I will pay for a steelbook which is nowhere near £27 especially when I can get the US Amaray for £17.

If the UK steelie was priced at £20 or less and the rear artwork was significantly different from the front then I probably would have gone for it to save importing, but for me it seems a bit of a lazy effort to have the similar artwork on both sides and then expect a premium price just because it's an exclusive.

 

[smileyx9]

just read that the German Extended Cut Release will be 123 min. Have to switch the Disks because the ES Version is only 116 min. According to the Play.com Side.