Posted Mon Aug 8, 2011 at 01:25 PM PDT by Dick Ward
by Dick Ward
So you've been going out to the beach, hitting the gym, going for walks, visiting amusement parks and doing other summery things. We get it, you can't always be up on the latest news in the world of HD entertainment. Lucky for you we stay inside to chronicle all of the best news of the past few weeks into a handy digest.
Blu-Ray News
Best Buy Gets 'Rio ,' 'Ice Age,' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia' 3D Blu-Rays Early
If you're planning on picking up one or all of these flicks, they're available now at Best Buy while other retailers have to wait until the 30th. You'll get a $10 discount if you buy two, and a $15 discount if you pick up all three.
'Straw Dogs' Announced for Blu-ray
The combination of Dustin Hoffman and Sam Peckinpah in this dark thriller makes 'Straw Dogs' a very good watch. Supplements have yet to be detailed for this one, but we hope to find out more before its September 6th release.
'Smallville: The Complete Tenth Season' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
'Smallville' may be over, but you can still enjoy the final season of the long running show when it hits Blu-ray on November 8th. Features include commentaries on two episodes, unaired scenes and featurettes.
'Pulp Fiction' & 'Jackie Brown' Blu-rays Detailed
Both of Quentin Tarantino's flicks feature brand new digital mastering, lossless soundtracks and a bevy of special features. Both 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Jackie Brown' will be hitting shelves on October 4th.
'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' Collector's Edition Blu-ray Delayed
As much as we know you'd love to get your hands on the collector's edition classic film with Gene Wilder as Wonka and the special features that accompany it, you'll have to wait just a bit longer. It's been pushed back from October 4th to October 18th - two more weeks of waiting!
'Cape Fear' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray
Remakes are usually disappointing, but Martin Scorsese brought new life to 'Cape Fear' with an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis. You'll be able to pick this one up on October 18th.
If you haven't seen this incredibly dark love story set against the backdrop of 1990s Detroit then you really should. It's a cult classic and the final performance of Brandon Lee, who died far too young during the shooting of this film. The Blu-ray hits shelves on October 18th, just in time for Halloween.
Gear and Industry News
Pioneer Elite LCD TVs are Back!
The Pioneer Elite brand hasn't been involved in televisions for some time, but a licensing agreement with Sharp puts them back on the market. Can Sharp's take on the sets live up to the Pioneer legacy? We'll find out this week when the 60 inch model reaches retail.
Logitech CEO Steps Down - Revue Price Drops to $99
With all the problems it has, the Logitech Revue was a hard sell at $299, especially since the upgrade to improve functionality is still on the way. At $99 though, it's a much easier purchase, and may even end up being a very smart one.
LG Announces Its New LW9800 TVs
LG's high end sets boast offer smart TV features, 2D to 3D conversion, and Nano Full LED backlighting technology. LG's president even goes so far as to refer to the series as "the crown jewel of TVs." They'll be shown publicly this September, and hopefully priced and dated around the same time.
Sony Making Big Changes to its TV Business
While Sony may still be a big name in the home theater space, their TV business isn't exactly thriving. CEO Masaru Kato says that big changes are on the way, some of which have already been implemented.
Panasonic Announces Its First Full HD 3D Home Theater Projector
Panasonic has waited a while to put out its first 1080p 3D home theater projector, but from the specs it seems as if the wait has paid off. The projector boasts Overdrive Technology to help eliminate 3D crosstalk and employs a Red-Rich lamp for strong luminance of red colors.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.