In addition to the excellent Criterion Blu-ray news we reported earlier today, we have two more items that will please HD cinephiles.  First up, Blu-ray.com confirms a story we ran a couple weeks ago that hinted the Blu-ray of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse was on the way.  While there are no details about the set (although Edgar Wright said he did a commentary track for his fake trailer, Don't), you should mark your calendars for October 5th.  I'm excited to see these films put back together because that's how they were meant to be seen.

Hit the jump for news on the highly-anticipated Alien Anthology box set.

I am convinced that studios are conspiring to bankrupt me on October 26th because that's when Alien Anthology hits shelves.  It also happens to be the date when the Blu-rays of the Back to the Future trilogy and Seven Samurai are released.  But Alien Quadrilogy is one of the best DVD box sets ever made.  I'm not even the world's most die-hard fan of the franchise and I love that set.  And rather than try to simply go for a hi-def double-dip, the producers of Quadrilogy have once again gone above and beyond with Anthology.

In addition to all the kick-ass features from the Quadrilogy, IGN reports that " There will also be new, previously unreleased content, such as original screen tests of Sigourney Weaver prior to filming the original Alien, unseen deleted scenes, the previously unseen original cut of "Wreckage and Rage: The Making of Alien3" and more."  The 6-disc set carries an MSRP of $139.99.  There's also a special box set that will put the discs inside a xenomorph pod.  I would pay even more if a face-hugger popped out and handed you the disc you wanted.

Check out the full list of special features below.  Oh, and if you going to Comic-Con, "Fox Home Entertainment will have a display in their booth featuring a life-size replica of the Nostromo's hibernation chamber as seen in Alien. Fans will actually be able to get inside the pods and have their picture taken."  The only thing better would be a giant John Hurt where you could burst out of his chest.

Here's a rundown of what's on each disc:

Disc One: Alien

  • 1979 Theatrical Version
  • 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction
  • Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O'Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
  • Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott
  • Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
  • Composer's Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Two: Aliens

  • 1986 Theatrical Version
  • 1991 Special Edition with James Cameron Introduction
  • Audio Commentary by Director James Cameron, Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Alien Effects Creator Stan Winston, Visual Effects Supervisors Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak, Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung, Actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn and Christopher Henn
  • Final Theatrical Isolated Score by James Horner
  • Composer's Original Isolated Score by James Horner
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Three: Alien3

  • 1992 Theatrical Version
  • 2003 Special Edition (Restored Workprint Version)
  • Audio Commentary by Cinematographer Alex Thomson, B.S.C., Editor Terry Rawlings, Alien Effects Designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Producer Richard Edlund, A.S.C., Actors Paul McGann and Lance Henriksen
  • Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Elliot Goldenthal
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Four: Alien Resurrection

  • 1997 Theatrical Version
  • 2003 Special Edition with Jean-Pierre Jeunet Introduction
  • Audio Commentary by Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Editor Herve Schneid, A.C.E., Alien Effects Creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof, Conceptual Artist Sylvain Despretz, Actors Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon and Leland Orser
  • Final Theatrical Isolated Score by John Frizzell
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Five: Making The Anthology

In addition to over 12 hours of candid, in-depth documentaries, you now have the ability to go even deeper into Alien Anthology history with nearly five hours of additional video Enhancement Pods created exclusively for this collection, presenting behind-the-scenes footage, raw dailies and interview outtakes from all four films. At topical points in the documentaries, you may access these pods to enhance your experience, or watch them on their own from the separate Enhancement Pod index.

The Beast Within: Making Alien

  • Star Beast: Developing the Story
  • The Visualists: Direction and Design
  • Truckers in Space: Casting
  • Fear of the Unknown: Shepperton Studios, 1978
  • The Darkest Reaches: Nostromo and Alien Planet
  • The Eighth Passenger: Creature Design
  • Future Tense: Editing and Music
  • Outward Bound: Visual Effects
  • A Nightmare Fulfilled: Reaction to the Film
  • Enhancement Pods

aliens_1986_movie_poster_01

Superior Firepower: Making Aliens

  • 57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
  • Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
  • Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
  • This Time It's War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
  • The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
  • Bug Hunt: Creature Design
  • Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
  • Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
  • The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
  • The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
  • Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film
  • Enhancement Pods
alien_3_1992_movie_poster_01

Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien3

  • Development Hell: Concluding the Story
  • Tales of the Wooden Planet: Vincent Ward's Vision
  • Stasis Interrupted: David Fincher's Vision
  • Xeno-Erotic: H.R. Giger's Redesign
  • The Color of Blood: Pinewood Studios, 1991
  • Adaptive Organism: Creature Design
  • The Downward Spiral: Creative Differences
  • Where the Sun Burns Cold: Fox Studios, L.A. 1992
  • Optical Fury: Visual Effects
  • Requiem for a Scream: Music, Editing and Sound
  • Post-Mortem: Reaction to the Film
  • Enhancement Pods
alien_resurrection_1997_movie_poster_01

One Step Beyond: Making Alien Resurrection

  • From the Ashes: Reviving the Story
  • French Twist: Direction and Design
  • Under the Skin: Casting and Characterization
  • Death from Below: Fox Studios, Los Angeles, 1996
  • In the Zone: The Basketball Scene
  • Unnatural Mutation: Creature Design
  • Genetic Composition: Music
  • Virtual Aliens: Computer Generated Imagery
  • A Matter of Scale: Miniature Photography
  • Critical Juncture: Reaction to the Film
  • Enhancement Pods
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience to Access and Control Enhancement Pods

Disc Six: The Anthology Archives

Alien

  • Pre-Production
    • First Draft Screenplay by Dan O'Bannon
    • Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes
    • Storyboard Archive
    • The Art of Alien: Conceptual Art Portfolio
    • Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests with Select Director Commentary
    • Cast Portrait Gallery
  • Production
    • The Chestbuster: Multi-Angle Sequence with Commentary
    • Video Graphics Gallery
    • Production Image Galleries
    • Continuity Polaroids
    • The Sets of Alien
    • H.R. Giger's Workshop Gallery
  • Post-Production and Aftermath
    • Additional Deleted Scenes
    • Image & Poster Galleries
  • Experience in Terror
  • Special Collector's Edition LaserDisc Archive
  • The Alien Legacy
  • American Cinematheque: Ridley Scott Q&A
  • Trailers & TV Spots

Aliens

  • Pre-Production
    • Original Treatment by James Cameron
    • Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics with Commentary
    • Storyboard Archive
    • The Art of Aliens: Image Galleries
    • Cast Portrait Gallery
  • Production
    • Production Image Galleries
    • Continuity Polaroids
    • Weapons and Vehicles
    • Stan Winston's Workshop
    • Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
    • Video Graphics Gallery
    • Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
  • Post-Production and Aftermath
    • Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned
    • Deleted Scene Montage
    • Image Galleries
    • Special Collector's Edition LaserDisc Archive
    • Main Title Exploration
    • Aliens: Ride at the Speed of Fright
    • Trailers & TV Spots

Alien3

  • Pre-Production
    • Storyboard Archive
    • The Art of Arceon
    • The Art of Fiorina
  • Production
    • Furnace Construction: Time-Lapse Sequence
    • EEV Bioscan: Multi-Angle Vignette with Commentary
    • Production Image Galleries
    • A.D.I.'s Workshop
  • Post-Production and Aftermath
    • Visual Effects Gallery
    • Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
  • Alien3 Advance Featurette
  • The Making of Alien3 Promotional Featurette
  • Trailers & TV Spots

Alien Resurrection

  • Pre-Production
    • First Draft Screenplay by Joss Whedon
    • Test Footage: A.D.I. Creature Shop with Commentary
    • Test Footage: Costumes, Hair and Makeup
    • Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Rehearsals
    • Storyboard Archive
    • The Marc Caro Portfolio: Character Designs
    • The Art of Resurrection: Image Galleries
  • Production
    • Production Image Galleries
    • A.D.I.'s Workshop
  • Post-Production and Aftermath
    • Visual Effects Gallery
    • Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
  • HBO First Look: The Making of Alien Resurrection
  • Alien Resurrection Promotional Featurette
  • Trailers & TV Spots

Anthology

  • Two Versions of Alien Evolution
  • The Alien Saga
  • Patches and Logos Gallery
  • Aliens 3D Attraction Scripts and Gallery
  • Aliens in the Basement: The Bob Burns Collection
  • Parodies
  • Dark Horse Cover Gallery
  • Patches and Logos Gallery
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience