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'Pawn' Cover Art Added[teaser]The box art for the crime thriller starring Michael Chiklis, Forest Whitaker, and Ray Liotta has been revealed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Starz/Anchor Bay is preparing 'Pawn' for Blu-ray on April 23. An all-night diner. A cop walks in on a robbery in progress. But what happens next – and what happened just before – will change everything you think you know. The building is now surrounded. There are restless fingers on every trigger. And one very intense hostage situation is about to take some extremely shocking twists. Reuniting Academy-Award winner Forest Whitaker ('The Last King of Scotland,' 'The Last Stand') and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis ('The Shield,' 'Fantastic Four,' 'Eagle Eye') for the first time since 'The Shield,' the all-star cast includes Common ('Smoking Aces,' 'Terminator Salvation'), Stephen Lang ('Avatar,' 'Conan the Barbarian'), Nikki Reed ('Twilight'), Sean Faris ('Never Back Down,' 'Ghost Machine'), Marton Csokas ('Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,' 'Alice in Wonderland'), Jessica Szohr ('Gossip Girl') and Golden Globe nominee Ray Liotta ('Goodfellas,' 'Killing Them Softly') in this shotgun blast of a thriller about last chances, double-crosses and a deadly game of dirty deals where anyone can be a pawn. Produced by Michael Becker of Imprint Entertainment, Michael Chiklis of Extravaganza Entertainment, Brad Luff of Storyville Productions and Jeff Most of Most Films and featuring the directorial debut of renowned cinematographer David A. Armstrong (the 'Saw' films), 'Pawn' is a deadly game where everyone is expendable. The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will feature 1080p video, a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, and the disc will include a behind-the-scenes featurette. Here's a peek at the cover art: Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Pawn' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 23.Posted Wed Mar 27, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Too Good: Monoprice Sued By Klipsch[teaser]The Monoprice 9774 5.1 speaker set is the source of contention.[/teaser] Monoprice has made a name and a serious business out of providing cables at prices that make local stores high margin prices look just like that, high. Since the company's beginnings in 2002, its success has grown beyond cables, and in some cases into legal entanglements. Specifically, CNET is reporting that the Monoprice 9774 5.1 speaker set is the subject of a copy infringement lawsuit by Klipsch. Klipsch unit Energy produces the Take Classic 5.1, which retails for $399, while the Monoprice 9774, which CNET cites as nearly identical to the Energy set, sells for $249. From CNET, "The speakers aren't just similar to the Energy system, and they don't just have the same dimensions and sound quality. Other than the logos, the two systems are virtually indistinguishable. 'Nearly everything -- from the finish, to the placement of the drivers, to the positioning of the speaker connectors -- is identical.'" The lawsuit was filed March 15th, and the Monoprice 9774 is still for sale. In understanding how Monoprice normally functions, the CNET article goes on to detail multiple examples of Monoprice licensing other audio products design from the companies that do the manufacturing, leaving the designers, such as Stillwater Designs to explain while their products cost more than the Monoprice version. While making designs exclusive would raise costs for companies like Stillwater Designs, allowing sub-licensing can be a source of profit, albeit a source that must be executed stealthily and without alerting too much of the customer base. Monoprice has major success in part by removing as many middlemen between cable producers and customers as possible, and in the case of sub-licensing designs, Monoprice's position is that the license holder is responsible for avoiding copyright infringement. In the lawsuit, Klipsch is seeking to halt sales of the Monoprice product and to receive triple the court-determined damages. Source: CNETPosted Wed Mar 27, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
'Warm Bodies' Blu-ray Dated and Detailed[teaser]The zombie romance flick is slowly dragging its undead feet to Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Summit Entertainment is bringing 'Warm Bodies' to Blu-ray on June 4. A funny new twist on a classic love story, 'Warm Bodies' is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human – setting off an exciting, romantic and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world. The film stars hot young actors Nicholas Hoult ('Jack the Giant Slayer,' 'X-Men: First Class') and Teresa Palmer ('I Am Number Four,' 'The Sorcerer’s Apprentice'), along with an all-star supporting cast including Primetime Emmy® winner Rob Corddry (Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs, 'Children’s Hospital,' 2008; Rapture-Palooza), Dave Franco ('21 Jump Street'), Analeigh Tipton ('Crazy Stupid Love'), Cory Hardrict (upcoming 'Lovelace,' 'Battle Los Angeles') and Academy Award® nominee John Malkovich (Actor in a Supporting Role, 'In the Line of Fire,' 1993; 'Red,' 'Burn After Reading'). Written for the screen and directed by Jonathan Levine ('50/50') and based on the novel by Isaac Marion. The Blu-ray/Digital Copy/UltraViolet Combo Pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: deleted scenes, a gag reel, audio commentary with screenwriter/director Jonathan Levine and actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, and multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes. The suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Warm Bodies' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 4.Posted Wed Mar 27, 2013 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Parker' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The crime thriller starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez is shooting its way to Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony is preparing 'Parker' for Blu-ray on May 21. Parker (Jason Statham) is a professional thief who lives by a personal code of ethics: Don't steal from people who can't afford it and don't hurt people who don't deserve it. But on his latest heist, his crew double crosses him, steals his stash, and leaves him for dead. Determined to make sure they regret it, Parker tracks them to Palm Beach, playground of the rich and famous, where the crew is planning their biggest heist ever. Donning the disguise of a rich Texan, Parker takes on an unlikely partner, Leslie (Jennifer Lopez), a savvy insider, who's short on cash, but big on looks, smarts and ambition. Together, they devise a plan to hijack the score, take everyone down and get away clean. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Commentary with Director Taylor Hackford; Bringing the Hunter to Life: The Making of Parker; The Origin of Parker; Broken Necks and Bloody Knuckles; and Who Is Parker? Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $35.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Parker' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 21.Posted Wed Mar 27, 2013 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
'A Good Day to Die Hard' Extended Cut Blu-ray Announced[teaser]More shootouts, explosions, and "yippee ki yays" are heading our way when John McClane returns to Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox is bringing 'A Good Day to Die Hard' to Blu-ray on June 4. Bruce Willis is back in action — mind-blowing, heart-stopping, rip-roaring action — as John McClane, the heroic New York cop with a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time. John’s latest predicament takes him all the way to Russia to track down his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney), who has been imprisoned in Moscow. But the mission takes a deadly turn as father and son must join forces to thwart a nuclear weapons heist that could trigger World War III! Featuring a double dose of McClane power, the film will be available as an “Extended Edition” with over two hours of extreme bonus material just in time for Father’s Day. The Blu-ray/DVD/DigitalHD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD MA 7.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Commentary by Director John Moore and First Assistant Director Mark Cotone; Deleted Scenes; Making it Hard to Die; Anatomy of a Car Chase; Two of a Kind; Back in Action; The New Face of Evil; Pre-vis; VFX Sequences; Stills Gallery; Theatrical trailers; and Maximum McClane. The suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.99. You can find the latest specs for 'A Good Day to Die Hard' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 4.Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 05:20 PM PDT by: -
Don't Miss 'The Croods' in Dolby ATMOSBy Michael S. Palmer My favorite movie experiences are the surprises -- films from which you expect so little, everything on screen forces you to question avoiding it in the first place. Despite a filmmaking team that includes 'How to Train Your Dragon' co-director Chris Sanders, DreamWorks Animation's 'The Croods' was completely off my theatrical "must see" radar. Maybe it was the marketing; maybe I simply don't watch enough Saturday morning cartoons, but it just didn't seem worth my time. This gut-assumption continued when TV and radio ads quoted critics complimenting its "beautifully rendered" animation. 'Cause when a movie's no good, you can at least say it's pretty, right? God, I love being wrong. [teaser]Last week, Dolby called, offering a couple free passes to see 'The Croods' in Dolby Atmos (I'm fortunate to live quite close to one of the equipped cinemas). After a brief hesitation, I figured why not. A free movie. A new sound experience. And a chance to tell our readers where this flick ranks next to auditory Atmos spectacles like 'Life of Pi', 'The Hobbit', and 'Taken 2'.[/teaser] Basically, is it worth your hard-earned coin? Very much so. 'The Croods' is tremendous fun thanks to terrific voice performances, a well-structured script, and, yup, beautifully rendered animation. Sure, academics could argue the film's thematics and character arcs aren't exactly subtle. Yet, in a four-quadrant family film, I never count that as a bad thing. Also, some of the settings and animals seem a little too 'Avatar' influenced, but overall, 'The Croods' has something for every audience. Brilliant colors, cute animals, and endless sight gags for the kiddos. A buried stream of darker jokes for the adults (like a running gag about the father hoping his mother-in-law dies). Fully stunning landscapes for the animation geeks. And we could spend hours discussing various creatures, which are inventive multi-animal combinations (mutations?). Then there's Atmos for the sound geeks. Barring some catastrophe, this should make one hell of a 7.1 mix on Blu-ray, but if you live near an Atmos theatre (how do you know? check here), do yourself a favor check this movie out before the "print" moves. While not quite an audio masterpiece like 'Life of Pi', I enjoyed it more than 'The Hobbit' -- 'An Unexpected Journey' was a near-continuous assault, but 'The Croods' holds its show-stoppers for a few key sequences. Most of these involve The Croods running away from The End of the World, depicted as continents violently ripping apart, a thundering menace leveling mountains and splitting plains. These sequences are literally awesome. But my favorite Atmos moments were set in the cave sequence. After the family is separated in various tunnels, they call out to each other and, as this happens, the cinema auditorium turns INTO a cave environment. My second favorite part about going to see 'The Croods' in Atmos wasn't the movie itself, but rather listening to the family sitting directly behind me. A Grandfather and Grandmother had taken their three Grandkids to see what seemed like everyone's first 3D picture. I have to assume these folks had no idea they were sitting in one of the best cinema auditoriums in the country (in terms of access to this brand new format). The Grandfather was particularly struck when the Atmos trailer/logo played before the feature film; in this one, the camera moves through an animated forest as a Maple Tree "helicopter seed" detaches, whips around the room, and splashes into a glassy pond. I heard further murmurs as various sound effects panned on and off the screen, around the cinema, and over our heads. The movie, thanks in no small part to the sound, impressed everyone that I could see. There were a lot of smiling, surprised faces in the lobby as we exited the theatre. Obviously, that's just one family and sound mixes shouldn't really pull you OUT of the movie you're watching, but I go to movies with a slightly different analytical point of view compared to general audiences. I don't necessarily need an aggressive mix, but I try to compare and contrast various surround sound experiences to see how they're tricking my brain and affecting my emotional connection to the movie (to my suspension of disbelief). Most Atmos mixes are terrific, authored by the best craftsman and artists Hollywood has to offer; for audio geeks, 'The Croods' offers a range of subtle and dynamic sound sequences that perfectly complement my favorite 2013 movie-surprise (thus far). Check out this movie on a big screen with the best sound possible before it's too late.Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest's Essential Picks: March 2013by Steven Cohen Every month, dozens of Blu-rays hit shelves, littering stores with high-def temptation. New releases, catalog titles, complete TV seasons, and elaborate box-sets all vie for affection, and with so many worthy releases targeting our wallets, choosing which discs to spend our hard earned cash on can be rather tricky. To make things a little easier, we here at High-Def Digest thought it might be helpful to bring you our top three must own recommendations for the month. From important classics to contemporary blockbusters, these are the discs that we consider to be the absolute cream of the crop. High quality releases with great video, audio, and supplements, these are the Blu-rays that are truly worth every penny. Last month we spotlighted a 007 blockbuster, an epic clash of kings, and a thrilling Best Picture winner. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Essential Picks for November, December, January, and February. [teaser]This month, we're covering a noir mystery with an animated twist, a controversial historical thriller, and a visually stunning examination of survival.[/teaser] Please be aware, that if you haven't already seen them, there might be some spoilers for the films listed. If you can only buy three titles that hit Blu-ray in March, here's what we suggest you pick up, starting with the most essential... 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' - When I think back on my early movie watching experiences as a kid, there are five specific films that instantly jump to mind. Five particular films that left an indelible impression on me, helping to define my burgeoning taste in motion pictures. They are, in no particular order, 'The Wizard of Oz,' Richard Donner's 'Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 12:30 PM PDT by: -
'The Odd Couple' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]The classic comedy based on the play by Neil Simon will hit Blu-ray in June. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers is preparing 'The Odd Couple' for Blu-ray on June 4. Neil Simon has a special genius for finding the great hilarity in ordinary people doing everyday things. Like two divorced men who decide to share a New York apartment. That’s the premise of The Odd Couple, though there’s nothing odd in the casting of two Oscar®-winning talents like Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathau. The two veteran funnymen work together with the precision timing of a vaudeville team, but always with bright spontaneity. Lemmon plays fussy Felix, fastidious to a fault. He proves that cleanliness is next to insanity. Matthau is Oscar, who wreaks havoc on a tidy room with the speed and thoroughness of a tornado. An enduring and endearing picture, with the intelligence one usually misses in comedies. Specs and supplements have yet to be revealed, but the suggested list price has been set at $19.98. You can find the latest specs for 'The Odd Couple' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under June 4.Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
'Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special' Blu-ray Announced[teaser]Seth Green's stop-motion comedy series invades the DC universe on Blu-ray in July. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers says 'Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special' is coming to high-definition on July 9. Robot Chicken and DC Comics collide! Who will survive with their super-dignities intact? Nobody! In Robot Chicken's hands, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and even Mr. Banjo could end up dead, or naked, or both, or neither. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Writers' and Actors' Commentaries; The Making of the RCDC Special; RCDC's Aquaman Origin Story; Chicken Nuggets; Stoopid Alter Egos; Outtakes; 5.2 Questions; DC Entertainment Tour; and Thirteen Deleted Sketches. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is still undetermined at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under July 9.Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Screen Innovations Introduces Motorized Options for Its Black Diamond Screens[teaser]The resulting effect is a screen that can float and disappear at will.[/teaser] Screen Innovations has pulled together several innovations in order to produce a motorized version of their Black Diamond Screen that both impressive and extravagant. The Black Diamond itself is designed to diffuse ambient light to such a degree that the glaring power of the setting sun cannot separate the viewer from the content on screen. This resilience is coupled with plasma-like black levels. With the Black Diamond screen created in mind for residential application in living room environments, the goal was also to eliminate any unnecessary or unsightly aspect of the screen. Not only is taping unnecessary, but now, if desired, no edifice of screen is visible when not in use. The Black Diamond Motorized rests within a ceiling recess until needed, at which point the projector's housing lowers itself to the preset height before unrolling the screen. Ultimately the screen is suspend by two cables, for the absolute minimum non-screen visible out-crop when in use. Despite containing an elaborate motor system, the whole thing mounts with relative simplicity, and because the screen is hidden when not in use, it is actually cheaper than a wall mounted motorized version. Prices for the Black Diamond Motorized Screen line range from $5000 - $8000 depending on size and options. Source: Screen Innovations via Electronic HousePosted Tue Mar 26, 2013 at 09:00 AM PDT by:
