Big Picture Big Sound

With a domestic box office gross tickling the $200M mark (despite a budget rumored to have been $250M), it's no wonder that Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is turning out to be one of the most anticipated home video releases of the year. (A look at Joe Lozito's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides movie review will bring even the sorriest landlubber up to speed.) Good news for fans, or those waiting for home video to make then fans: The Blu-ray is now up for pre-order on Amazon.com in a variety of configurations to suit all tastes.

Amazon is calling the entry-level model a "Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack" (available in either Blu-ray or DVD packaging), meaning that this $39.99 set is ideal if you want to watch the movie in high-definition in the home theater and keep a standard copy handy in the car or the kids' room, or if you're planning on upgrading to HD in the near future. The Blu-ray 3D version however is being touted as a "Five-Disc Combo," with the 3D, 2D, DVD and Digital Copy discs, which any math major will tell you still leaves room for one more platter, making us wonder if there is perhaps an exclusive bonus disc available in this edition...? Disney has not yet issued a formal press release for this title, but we do know that the Five-Disc 3D price is $49.99.

Of course, mega-fans will want to consider the 15-Disc Pirates of the Caribbean Four-Movie Collection Blu-ray Combo Pack. This lavish, drool-inducing keepsake--housed in its own treasure chest for Pete's sake--is built upon the original Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (containing 2003's The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2006's Dead Man's Chest and 2007's At World's End), adding quite a bit more content to hit that lofty total. We can only speculate that there will be lots of extra features, possibly Digital Copies and more, possibly standard-definition DVDs as well, a la last year's Toy Story Ultimate Toy Box 3-Movie Collection. Details will hopefully follow shortly, in the meantime we can expect to pay $169.99 (MSRP) for the Pirates Four-Movie Collection.

Then again, all of the prices indicated here are full "list price," so don't be surprised to pay less as a result of substantial discounts being offered by top software retailer Amazon. And take comfort in their Pre-Order Price Guarantee too, assuring us of the lowest price available between when you order and when your items ship.

Where to Buy:

• Pirates of the Caribbean Four-Movie Collection (15-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack including The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End) on Amazon.com
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Blu-ray 3D Five-Disc Combo Pack with Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy on Amazon.com
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo (in Blu-ray Packaging) on Amazon.com