Blu-ray Alert: Gladiator Spearheads Period Bargains

A re-priced Gladiator heads a slate of Blu-ray period classics to be released next month by Universal Pictures Videos.

The 2001 Oscar-winner is being discounted to $35 from May 5-June 16, which coincides with Universal releasing for the first time on Blu-ray Apollo 13, Pride & Prejudice, the two Elizabeth movies and Atonement for $30 each (along with a special edition of Stardust for $40).

However, be aware that a remastered Blu-ray of Gladiator reportedly is in the works after fans blitzed Internet forums with blistering criticism of the original release (the same happened with The Fifth Element, leading Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to re-master the sci-fi favourite).

However, even with its imperfections, Ridley Scott’s lumbering blockbuster about the rise and fall of one Roman’s empire has never looked or sounded better. All of the extras from the previous special edition are included and there are spectacular new interactive features that plumb Gladiator’s production and historical details with encyclopaedic scope.

Meanwhile, you have until the end of the month to snap up some of Paramount Home Entertainment’s biggest-selling Blu-ray bargains: The Godfather Trilogy ($99.99); Eagle Eye, Ghost and Top Gun: Special Edition ($39.99); and Bee Movie, Dreamgirls: Special Edition, Incredible Hulk, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 1 and 2, Shrek the Third, Transformers and Tropic Thunder ($29.99).