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Bonus View Digest - February 10, 2012
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 02:00 PM ETTags: The Bonus View Digest, Aaron Peck, Fun Stuff, The Bonus View (all tags)
It's already February, where has the time gone? One thing is for sure though, The Bonus View hasn't slowed down in its coverage of everything HD. Whether it be in the theaters or on the small screen we've got you covered.
This week we continued to roll out more Sundance Film Festival coverage. We also covered a few mid-season series premieres so people know what's happening on TV. Check out everything this week had to offer.
Blu-ray News
You'll want to take a look at our Blu-ray Highlights post this week. Josh outlines a few stellar picks, such as 'Lady and the Tramp'. It isn't all good though, that one vampire vs. werewolf movie came out too and I'm not referring to the franchise with a leather-clad Kate Beckinsale.
With his Full Metal Jackets post of the week, Tom Landy discusses the Future Shop steelbook for 'The Immortals' for all you collectors out there.
Theatrical News
Wonder what you should see this weekend at the movies? Well, Luke Hickman has seen just about everything being released and he's got a rundown of the movies you should see and the ones you should skip completely. See what Luke thinks about the releases of 'Journey 2,' 'The Vow,' and 'Safe House.'
We still have some Sundance coverage that we're putting up so this week you'll be able to find reviews on Josh Radnor's 'Liberal Arts,' the fantastic little time travel movie 'Safety Not Guaranteed,' the funny gross-out R rated girl comedy 'For a Good Time, Call...' and a story about a kid, a couple goats and David Duchovny with a wily beard in 'Goats.'
E, covered the trailer front, looking at a couple trailers for two new horror movies that are coming out. Check out what he thought about the previews for 'ATM' and 'Silent House' in this week's Trailer Park.
Finally, as awards time fast approaches Luke takes a look at the SAG Awards winners and wonders if they'll predict the upcoming Oscar winners.
TV Recaps
This week saw the beginning of a couple new series, which we made sure we covered for you. Aaron took on the series premiere of 'The River' which he surprisingly enjoyed, while Josh checked out NBC's new musical drama 'Smash.'
Other shows that we covered with recaps this week include: 'Grimm,' 'Fringe,' and 'Alcatraz.' Don't forget, 'The Walking Dead' starts back up this Sunday and we'll pick up right where we left off with that show. So remember to join in on the discussion. When this 'Walking Dead' season started we had quite a few lively discussions about the episodes, so it should be fun.
Special Features
This week's Weekend Roundtable we discussed our favorite acting performances of 2011. What were yours? Make sure to let us know. Leading up to the Oscars our Mid-week Poll asked who you think will win in the major acting categories and also who you think should win. Make sure to vote if you haven't already.
Thanks for joining us here at The Bonus View for another week of movies, TV and fun. Please continue to comment. We love hearing what you have to say.
'About a Boy,' 'Definitely, Maybe,' and 'Meet Joe Black' Blu-rays Announced
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Universal, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Three more catalog titles are on their way to Blu-ray in May.
In an early announcement to retailers, Universal is working on 'About a Boy,' 'Definitely, Maybe,' and 'Meet Joe Black' for a Blu-ray release on May 1.
'About a Boy' with Hugh Grant will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with directors Chris and Paul Weitz, Spotlight on Location: The Making of About a Boy featurette, Full version of "Santa's Super Sleigh" song, and English to English Dictionary.
The Ryan Reynolds romantic comedy 'Definitely, Maybe' will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with director Adam Brooks and Ryan Reynolds; Creating a Romance; and The Changing Times of Definitely, Maybe.
'Meet Joe Black' starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Spotlight On Location: The Making of Meet Joe Black featurette and Production photographs montage.
Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $19.98.
You can find the latest specs for 'About a Boy,' 'Definitely, Maybe,' and 'Meet Joe Black' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under May 1.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- About a Boy (Blu-ray)
- Definitely, Maybe (Blu-ray)
- Meet Joe Black (Blu-ray)
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' Blu-ray Announced and Detailed
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, 20th Century Fox (all tags)
The third film in the family franchise is coming to Blu-ray in March.
In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox will be releasing 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' on Blu-ray on March 27.
The Chipmunks, Chipettes, and their caretaker Dave Seville (Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl") embark on the trip of a lifetime aboard the Carnival Dream cruise ship. Seeking fun and excitement, the Chipmunks turn the luxury cruise liner into their own personal playground. But the ultimate vacation quickly becomes a disaster when the Chipmunks, Dave, and the Carnival cruise pelican mascot - who turns out to be the chipmunks' old manager, Ian Hawke (David Cross, 'Megamind') - accidentally fall overboard and find themselves 'chipwrecked' on a remote island. Stuck in an unfamiliar territory, the six furry castaways are separated from Dave and must figure out a way to survive on their own for the first time in their lives.
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Munk Music & Dance Machine segments, Four behind-the-scenes featurettes, Music videos & sing-a-longs, Two Fox Movie Channel featurettes, Extended Scenes, Promotional featurettes, and Theatrical Trailers.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray will be Chipwrecked: Coloring with Chipmunks.
The release will also include a DVD and digital copy.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 27.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Blu-ray)
Over Half of Homes Have an Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii - PS3 and 360 Play Time Up Significantly
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii (all tags)
By comparison, only 39% own an iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad.
It seems like everyone has an iPhone these days, but the reality is that more homes boast a current-gen game system than Apple's incredibly popular phones. Current gen, of course, means a PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or Wii.
The National Polling Data Group (NPD) says that you'll find one of these consoles in 56% of homes, which means that a majority of US homes have at least one gamer in them. That number doesn't count dedicated gaming PCs, which means the total should go even higher. No wonder those anti-game laws get shut down so quickly.
Over the last year, time spent gaming has also increased. On average, gamers have added 7% to their gaming time. That number is hugely significant for the two HD consoles, considering that Wii play time was down 22% over the last year.
Source: GameSpot
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Panasonic Prices and Dates Plasmas and LCDs for Japan
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 12:00 PM ETTags: Panasonic, Plasma TVs, LCD TVs (all tags)
Details on the US versions of the sets aren't available yet, but we can glean plenty from the Japanese pricing.
There's a three stage cycle to TV releases from Japanese companies and we're at the really frustrating one. The first step is showing off new sets at CES. That's an exciting one. The final step is releasing the TVs in the US - also exciting. Right now, we're at the point where companies are going to be releasing their sets in Japan, which does us very little good. Still, we can get a little glimpse of what to expect from the US releases by what's announced for Japan.
Panasonic revealed that its upcoming VT50 series of plasmas will be hitting Japanese stores on April 20th. the 50" version runs 360,000 yen or $4,664, while the 60" set comes in at 500,000 yen, or around $6,478. Pricing tends to be a bit lower in the US, but don't expect to see huge drops.
LCD TVs will be coming out on March 9th along with GT5 plasmas. Of particular interest is the ET series, which is the first from Panasonic that uses passive 3D glasses.
Source: Engadget
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Sales Report: Blu-ray the Majority Format for 3 of the Top 5 Movies Last Week
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 12:00 PM ETTags: Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray (all tags)
57 percent of the sales of ‘Drive’ were Blu-ray, while ‘In Time’ and ‘The Thing’ boasted similar numbers.
Blu-ray sales tend to make up between 20 percent and 30 percent of total disc retail sales, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. On an individual basis, Blu-ray is bringing in some big numbers.
Last week, Blu-ray sales accounted for 57 percent of ‘Drive’ sales, the number one selling title. They did similar numbers for other flicks in the top five like ‘In Time’ (54 percent) , ‘Real Steel ‘(42 percent) and ‘The Thing’ (55 percent). Action movies clearly do well on the high definition format.
The one title in the top five sold that didn’t bring in much in the way of Blu-ray sales was ‘Treasure Buddies.’ It totaled at 18 percent Blu-ray sales. It’s not a big share, but considering the movie, that’s not too much of a surprise.
Source: Home Media Magazine
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Namco Bandai is Forming a Studio Focused Solely on Game Development
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 11:30 AM ETTags: Namco Bandai, Tales Studio, Soul Calibur, Tekken (all tags)
And yes, everyone from the former 'Tales' team will be coming along.
When we heard about the 'Tales' team was being dissolved, we saw is as a bad sign for the franchise. As it turns out, this was the start of a bigger move for the studio as a whole.
Namco Bandai has long been both a publisher and developer of games, but now it seems that's too much to put under one roof. The company is splitting off its developers into a separate studio that's focusing purely on development.
The new group, called Namco Bandai Studio, will be formed April 2nd and will take care of projects like 'Tekken,' 'Soul Calibur,' and the 'Tales' franchise. Over 1,000 people will be employed at this new studio, including all of the staff from the former Namco Tales Studio.
Source: Gamasutra
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'Love Never Dies' Blu-ray Date Correction
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Universal, Disc Announcements (all tags)
Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to 'The Phantom of the Opera' is now coming to Blu-ray in May.
As previously reported, Universal Studios was planning to release both 'The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall' and 'Love Never Dies' on February 7, but now it looks like 'Love Never Dies' won't be available until May 29.
'The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall' stars Ramin Karimloo (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the lovestruck Phantom and Sierra Boggess (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the beautiful and gifted soprano Christine. The show also features Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson and Wynne Evans, as well as special guest appearances from the actors who originated the roles of The Phantom and Christine, Tony® Award winner Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in a memorable final curtain call.
“Phantom” aficionados will also be thrilled to know that 'Love Never Dies,' Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular follow-up musical will also arrive on Blu-rayTM and DVD for the first time on May 29. With lush visuals and a mesmerizing score that rivals the original in power and beauty, this live production of “Love Never Dies” finds Christine and the Phantom reunited in turn-of-the-century New York City after a decade apart.
“The Phantom of the Opera” premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on October 9, 1986. It has won more than 60 major theatre awards, including seven Tony® Awards and three Olivier Awards, and became the longest-running show in Broadway history on January 9, 2006 when it celebrated its 7,486th performance. “The Phantom of the Opera” has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide and been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries. Live productions of “The Phantom of the Opera” are currently playing in London, New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto.
The Blu-rays will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include Getting Past the Point of No Return ('Phantom') and Behind-the-scenes featurette with Love Never Dies creator Andrew Lloyd Webber ('Love Never Dies').
Suggested list price for the 'The Phantom of the Opera' is $39.98 while 'Love Never Dies' is $26.98.
You can find the latest specs for 'The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall' and 'Love Never Dies' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they're indexed under February 7 and May 29 respectively.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Love Never Dies (Blu-ray)
- The Phantom of the Opera: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Blu-ray)
Activision Blizzard Says 'Diablo III' Coming This Spring - New 'Call of Duty' Out This Year
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 10:30 AM ETTags: Mists of Pandaria, Heart of the Swarm, StarCraft 2, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Activision Blizzard, Diablo III (all tags)
The 'StarCraft' and 'Warcraft' expansions will likely not be out until 2013.
Activision's quarterly report yesterday brought us some new information on upcoming games, though most of it isn't surprising and the stuff that is interesting won't put a smile on your face. Certainly not in the way a $4.76 billion revenue in 2011 made Activision Blizzard happy.
CEO Bobby Kotick announced that there will indeed be a new 'Call of Duty' game coming this year. In other news, publishers and developers really like money and will continue to cash in 'Tony Hawk' style until the 'Call of Duty' franchise is dead and gone. They're also working on a new version of Call of Duty Elite, which could prove to be interesting.
On the Blizzard side of things, 'Diablo III' will launch this year. It was expected in the first quarter of 2012 but the current estimate is Spring 2012. Blizzard will be talking more about the 'Warcraft' expansion 'Mists of Pandaria' at a press event in March and there's no indicator that the 'StarCraft' expansion 'Heart of the Swarm' will hit this year. Blizzard has said that they'll be more involved with eSports moving forward though, which is a welcome change.
Source: Joystiq
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New Licensing Deal Brings Viacom Shows to Amazon Instant Video
Fri Feb 10, 2012 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Amazon Prime Streaming, Viacom, Comedy Central, MTV, Streaming (all tags)
Older shows from Spike, Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon will be added.
Amazon is working hard to add new content to its video services, and a new deal with Viacom does just that. Episodes of shows from the usual assortment of Viacom's TV channels have been added to Prime Instant Video.
The shows coming to Amazon aren't anything shocking or new - it seems to mostly be the same content that Netflix offers. Still, the addition of shows like 'Yo Gabba Gabba,' 'Jersey Shore,' and 'Chappele's Show' will certainly bring smiles to the faces of Prime members.
There's still a rumor floating around that Amazon is going to break off it streaming service into something separate from the rest of Amazon, but nothing to show for it quite yet.
Source: Engadget
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