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'Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite' Blu-ray Bonus Features Revealed[teaser]Supplements have now been finalized for the animated crime spree coming to Blu-ray in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Warner Brothers has revealed 'Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite' is planned for Blu-ray on May 21. When Bruce Wayne receives the man of the year award, fellow billionaire Lex Luthor becomes jealous and decides to run for President. To create the atmosphere for his type of fear-based politics Lex recruits the Joker to perfect a Black LEGO Destructor Ray which wreaks havoc on Gotham. As Lex destroys Batman's tech, Batman reluctantly turns to Superman for help. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Building Batman: Ever thought about making your own Batman movie? Join a group of children as they learn from master LEGO builder Garrett Barati and animate their own Batman mini-movie with LEGO; Lego Batman Jumps Into Action: Garrett Barati's original Batman teaser, created for LEGO Super Heroes, shows what this master stop-motion animator can do with just a few click, click, clicks of LEGO; LEGO/DC Universe Super Heroes Video Contest Winners: The excitement of DC Universe Super Heroes and the joy of LEGO building brings together action-packed short films from five winning submissions; Bonus Episodes: "Triumvirate of Terror" and "Scorn of the Star Sapphire" from Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and "Overdrive" from Teen Titans; and Assorted Trailers. The release will also include a Clark Kent Lego figure. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray combo pack is $24.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Superheroes Unite" linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 21.Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Best Buy in Peril: A Loss for Consumers?[teaser]"People who thought we were dead have to go through the painful process of revisiting that point of view." [/teaser] Best Buy just reported its best news in some time, an increase in sales for the quarter when compared with last year. That increase, which still resulted in a narrow loss for the quarter, only exists when factoring out the 49 large-format stores that were closed in the fiscal year for 2013. Nevertheless, new CEO Hubert Joly was encouraged enough after his first full quarter as CEO to state that, "People who thought we were dead have to go through the painful process of revisiting that point of view." As Best Buy continues to make several stores redundant (5 to 10 more will close in the 2014 fiscal year), the question left for consumers as poised by CNET, is whether or not the world is better with Best Buy alive or dead. According to the CNET article, if Best Buy, with its imperfect sales experience, follows in the footsteps of CompUSA and Circuit City, consumers will lose the best place to encounter and compare electronics and gadgets, "I've wondered many times if my regular weekly visit to the local Best Buy would be my last. And still do. But I like knowing the store is there. Best Buy is really the only electronics specialty store besides Fry's Electronics (mostly a West Coast phenomenon) that packs lots of PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones into relatively small abutting areas, allowing you to easily comparison shop." As Best Buy was clobbering competitor Circuit City ten years ago, HD televisions were integral to the experience. If Best Buy fades away, great swathes of the US will be without a place to compare displays, at least with the naked eye. Source:CNETPosted Mon Mar 4, 2013 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Contest: Win 'The Terminator' (Remastered) on Blu-ray!Are you ready for another contest? This week, High-Def Digest is giving away the newly remastered Blu-ray edition of 'The Terminator'. For your chance to win, enter our blog contest today.Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013 at 06:15 AM PST by: -
'Life is Sweet' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]Mike Leigh's acclaimed 1990 dramedy is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment in May. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion has announced 'Life is Sweet' on May 28. This moving film is an intimate, invigorating, and amusing portrait of a working-class family in a suburb just north of London—an irrepressible mum and dad (Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent) and their night-and-day twins, a bookish good girl and a sneering layabout (Claire Skinner and Jane Horrocks). In it, Leigh and his typically brilliant cast create, with extraordinary sensitivity and craft, a vivid, lived-in story of ordinary existence, in which even modest dreams (such as the father’s desire to open a food truck) carry enormous weight. Perched on the line between humor and melancholy, 'Life Is Sweet' is captivating, and it was Leigh’s first international sensation. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements will include: New audio commentary featuring director Mike Leigh; Audio recording of a 1991 interview with Leigh at the National Film Theatre in London; and a booket featuring an essay by critic David Sterritt. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Life is Sweet' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 28.Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
'Cleopatra' Blu-ray Dated and Supplements Detailed[teaser]We now have a date and supplement details for the 1963 Academy Award nominee for Best Picture coming to Blu-ray later this year! [/teaser] As previously reported, 20th Century Fox is working on 'Cleopatra' for Blu-ray on May 21. Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, the glamorous and cunning queen of Egypt. To secure her hold on power, she seduces the rulers of Rome, only to meet her match in Mark Antony, played by Richard Burton. Their passionate romance could decide the fate of the world's greatest empires. Directed by Academy Award winner Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the historical epic shot on 70mm film was the highest grossing film of 1963, bringing in more than $24 million in its initial release. The film cost an unprecedented $42 million to make (equivalent to over $300 million today) and nearly bankrupted Twentieth Century Fox. In addition to elaborate sets and costumes, production delays and the relocation of principal filming from London to Rome added to the skyrocketing budget. A very public love affair between Taylor and Burton that blossomed during the three-year production meant that there was as much romance and intrigue off-screen as on-screen. The film later won four Academy Awards, and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture. The opulence and grandeur of this epic spectacle has never been more glorious, as it comes to Blu-ray for the very first time. This 2-Disc 50th Anniversary Edition includes a collectible book that provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of this legendary film. Artfully packaged with a full-color book featuring rare images from the making of the film, the 2-disc Blu-ray edition is packed with dazzling bonus materials featuring never-before-seen exclusive content including Cleopatra's lost footage, commentary from Chris Mankiewicz, Tom Mankiewicz, Martin Landau and Jack Brodsky, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. Additionally, fans can watch footage from the film's original theatrical premieres in both New York and Los Angeles. To kick-off a global celebration commemorating the film and its special edition Blu-ray release, Richard Burton will receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today, Friday, March 1. Burton's star will be placed next to Dame Elizabeth Taylor's, honoring one of the most famous theatrical relationships and greatest love stories in history. The campaign for Burton's star was spearheaded by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama to celebrate the actor's heritage. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $24.99 while a Blu-ray digibook will also be available at $34.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Cleopatra' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under May 21.Posted Mon Mar 4, 2013 at 05:00 AM PST by: -
HDD Deal of the Week: 'The Transformers Trilogy Gift Set' Blu-ray $26.99 at Amazon[teaser]Save over fifty percent on Michael Bay's first 'Transformers' trilogy this week at Amazon! [/teaser] Amazon is currently offering 'The Transformers Trilogy Gift Set' for $26.99 (53% off suggested list price). The box set includes: 'Transformers,' 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' and 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon.' Click here to transform and roll out! This deal is in effect from now through March 10.Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013 at 08:47 AM PST by: -
Bonus View Digest - March 1, 2013[teaser]So long February and your miserable excuse for weather. Now we head into March full of wonder. Will Spring perk up from its long hibernation, or will we get freak snowstorm after freak snowstorm? Either way, you'll still have The Bonus View at your disposal.[/teaser] Blu-ray News Contest time! Today is your last day to enter to win a free copy of 'Skyfall.' That's right, we're giving away one copy to whoever can come up with the funniest caption for the picture we posted. What do you have to lose? You can enter as many as 10 captions. So get captioning! Today's the deadline. Our trusty Blu-ray Highlights column has all the information you need to make your purchasing decisions for the week. Not a whole lot of new releases this week, but we do have some promising films like 'The Hudsucker Proxy,' 'The Master,' and 'Holy Motors.' Monster Madness We're getting down to the last monsters. These are the baddest of the bad. This week we had a very tight race going on between the Balrog and Gamera. Check it out to see who won the voting. Grendel vs. Predator – Gamera vs. Balrog Killer Rabbit vs. Stripe – Cthulhu vs. Vermithrax Theatrical News We have quite a few new releases to talk about this week. The crappy movie-going month known as February has finally passed us by. Hopefully, March has better movies in store for us. Find out what Luke thought about the year's first big-budget adventure movie with his review of 'Jack the Giant Slayer.' Also, Bryan tells us what he thought about the theatrical release of 'Stoker' and whether or not '21 & Over' is worth seeing. Last Sunday the Oscars happened. 'Argo' took home the top prize, but there were plenty of other surprises along the way. Find out what Josh thought about the show in his Oscars Winners & Losers column. Our Mid-Week Poll was similarly Oscar-related. Did you like Seth MacFarlane as the host? Or did you think he was too crass for the classy affair? Video Game News Brian Hoss has been providing ongoing coverage of the newly announced PS4 console. Find out where he thinks Sony's newest venture is lacking in his latest post. TV Recaps We're still (reluctantly) following along with 'The Walking Dead.' We also have a recap for 'Community.' Special Features The Mid-Week Poll was discussed above. That leaves the Weekend Roundtable from last week where we discussed movies that focus on life-threatening weather. Thanks for joining us here, for the latest and greatest in theatrical and Blu-ray news. March is a new month and we'll no doubt have a lot of stuff to talk about. Stay tuned.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 01:00 PM PST by: -
Weekend Roundtable: Best & Worst Fairy Tale MoviesHollywood seems to love mining old fairy tales for movie scripts. This week's theatrical release of 'Jack the Giant Slayer' (adapted from 'Jack and the Beanstalk') is just the latest example. In today's blog Roundtable, we take a look at some of the best and worst examples of this trend.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
The Future of THX[teaser]The company to take a starring (and possible streaming) role in the home.[/teaser] Rumblings from THX indicate that that THX certification for home theater equipment will be dialed back in favor of products directly developed by the longtime cinema standard. In an article at Digital Trends, the history of THX from 'Return of the Jedi' until now has been outlined in a effort to illustrate that "no longer will THX be a sidekick to better-known brands as a shiny badge on a piece of some other company’s electronics." Several quotes from Chris Golson, Senior Director of Business Development at THX, allude to a new business direction, "Instead of thinking of us as THX certification, think of it as THX certification that falls under a new umbrella. We’re thinking of it as THX lifestyle." Contemplating the "THX lifestyle" while reading Golson's repeated referencing "of people accepting a lot of different qualities of content for a lot of different reasons" strongly suggest that THX is ready to market to customers who routinely think in terms of situational bit rate standards. THX's possible role in a streaming is further illuminated by their recent partnership with eyeIO, who has been key in getting Netflix quality up while saving bandwidth. Even while expecting THX to invade living rooms and smartphones, the company has not forgotten its initial purpose. The 2011 purchase of cineSpace Color Management Suite ensures the company will still be working behind the scenes to ensure and promote standards for film post-production and playback for the foreseeable future. Even so, consumers should not be surprised to see THX begin appearing directly to the end user in more ways than one. Source:Digital TrendsPosted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'The Sandlot, 20th Anniversary Edition' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The endearing fan favorite will be throwing a curve on Blu-ray with a 20th anniversary double dip next month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox has revealed 'The Sandlot, 20th Anniversary Edition' is coming to Blu-ray on March 26. You'll have a ball with the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Sandlot featuring a complete set of 10 collectible trading cards created exclusively for this release! When fifth-grader Scotty Smalls moves to a new town with his folks, he strikes out with the neighborhood kids, because he can't even throw a baseball until the leader of the local sandlot team shows him the ropes. It's the beginning of a magical summer of wild adventures, first kisses, hilarious hijinks and fearsome confrontations with the dreaded "beast" that lives behind the left field fence. Co-starring Karen Allen, Denis Leary and James Earl Jones, The Sandlot has major-league laughs for all ages! In connection with the release, FHE will embark on a partnership with Benny the Jet's favorite shoe brand PF Flyers, for a special one-of-a-kind promotion. Beginning March 26, a limited run of "The Secret Weapon," will be made available inside a vintage 1960's shoe box, along with a $3 SANDLOT coupon inside. Additionally, all Blu-ray and DVD combo packs will feature a 10% PF Flyer discount coupon inside the packaging. Further information on this exclusive purchase can be found at www.pfflyers.com. Additionally, The "Sandlot Baseball Field Program" will be comprised of partnerships with Major League Baseball teams nationwide in connection with the FOX Sports Networks. Notable teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins will coordinate baseball field renovations across the Unites States so that loyal fans and baseball lovers everywhere will get the chance to enjoy their own "Sandlot" field in their backyards. Furthermore, screenings of The Sandlot will be hosted at several Major and Minor League ballparks across the country with Director, Writer and Narrator, David Mickey Evans. The Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include a featurette, theatrical trailer, and TV spots. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray combo is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'The Sandlot, 20th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 26.Posted Fri Mar 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM PST by:
