Following last month’s somewhat muted launch of the new Blu-ray format for high definition home cinema buffs it was with more than a little bit of piqued interest that SPOnG received the news earlier today that Disney/Buena Vista has now confirmed its first batch of titles on the new format.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment has announced that it will begin releasing Blu-ray movie titles in September, with the first batch of films to include Walt Disney's Dinosaur and Eight Below; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (yay!) and The Great Raid. Closely followed in October by Glory Road, Haunted Mansion, Dark Water, Gone in Sixty Seconds and The Brothers Grimm.

"The Blu-ray Disc represents a major technological breakthrough in our industry, and just as DVD revolutionised home entertainment, the Blu-ray Disc promises to deliver a new and unparalleled consumer experience," said BVHE president Bob Chapek. "We are confident that the Blu-ray Disc will be the high-definition choice for the home entertainment future."

BVHE is next in line amongst the major movie studios to announce Blu-ray titles, following on from Warner, Sony and Lionsgate.

Paramount, Universal and Warner (the format whores! - Ed) have also released HD-DVD discs.

What with Sony pretty much betting the PlayStation farm on the Blu-ray format, it will be interesting to see how the above-mentioned studios tackle the format, particularly post-PS3 launch later this year and into early 2007.

SPOnG will keep you posted with more Blu-ray updates as soon as we hear about them. Meanwhile, let us know in the forum below what you think about the Blu-ray/HD DVD battle, bound to be hotting up over the coming months as we approach the launch of the PS3.

Have you already made an informed choice between the two formats? Are you confused as to their relative merits? Do you even care?